Ethiopia: Improving Sewerage Services

The Water and Sewerage Authority of the Addis Ababa City Administration is the sole responsible body for water supply and sewerage systems in the metropolis. Apart from building sewerage networks, the Authority also offers a septic tank emptying service. Currently, about seven per cent of City’s liquid waste has been disposed through established sewerage network lines while other eight per cent are being moved by vehicles.

In general, there are small established sewerage network lines in the city. Now the Authority says it has planned to improve the City’s sewerage service coverage from the current 15 per cent to 50 per cent in the coming five years (Addis Zemen, Amharic daily reported on Monday 24 September 2012).

Although the Administration’s effort to improve the rather low coverage of sewerage system is encouraging the set target remains still very low. Given the City’s existing bad sewerage systems and considering its status as a seat for many regional and international organizations a lot remains to be done.

Addis is a home for about three million people and as metropolis it is booming in many aspects. The number of its inhabitants is also increasing from time to time thereby worsening the deep-rooted challenges of sanitation and sewerage services. Hence, it is only when this problem is properly addressed in a manner that fits the international standard that Addis Ababa will continue to be a preferable city to host international events.

But, due to its grossly inadequate sanitation provisions and limited modern sewerage networks, some part of Addis Ababa has been facing seasonal flooding and pollution problems. Pollutant industrial activities in the metropolis include tanneries, textiles and food processing. Most liquid wastes being generate by households, factories and hospitals are also entering into rivers and small streams crossing the city.

Therefore, the organizations plan to improve City’s sewerage services to 50 per cent within the coming five years is still very low and hence no need to be complacent. So, the Authority need to revisit its plan in a manner that enables it to address the deep rooted sewerage system of the metropolis.