Katosi water works complete, project handed over to NWSC

This morning, Katosi Drinking Water Treatment Plant contractors and consultants handed over the newly completed 240million litres per day capacity Plant to NWSC.

The function was witnessed by the corporation’s Board Chairman Eng. Dr. Prof Badru.M.Kiggundu, chairman technical committee of the board George Runge, NWSC MD Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha and NWSC project engineers.

Speaking at the hand over ceremony, NWSC Board Chairman Eng.Dr. Prof Baddru.M. Kiggundu appreciated the management of NWSC for the excellent supervisory role of the project.

“This project was like a dream that has now come true. With it, we are going to resolve all the water supply challenges in Kampala City. “

“We are happy to note that some customers, previously in dry zone areas are already getting water. We are now working to serve other customers.” he said

Eng Kiggundu said that the project works have inculcated new innovative engineering skills among NWSC engineers which will subsequently improve services to the people.

He assured city dwellers of excellent water quality, excellent customer service and urged them to report all supply challenges to NWSC.

The chairman technical committee of the Board Mr. George Runge applauded the contractor and consultant for transformational works at Katosi. He reiterated NWSC’s commitment towards water for all across the country.

NWSC MD Dr. Eng Silver Mugisha congratulated the Government of Uganda and its people on this big milestone.

“This is an important day in our history as we receive the second water treatment plant for Kampala. With the additional water from Katosi, the combined water production from Ggaba and Katosi will help us address all dry zones in the city.” he said

According to Dr. Silver, customers in Seeta-Mukono, Mutungo, Sonde, Kyaliwajjala, Mbalwa, Namugongo, Kireka, Kyaliwajjala, Kungu, Nsasa, Kasangati, Gayaza, Najjera, Kiwatule, Naalya among many others are already connected to the new system.

“NWSC engineers have embarked on laying distribution mains to send the water to the entire Kampala Metropolitan service area. Plans are also underway to serve customers along Katosi road, Kisoga, Lugazi, Buikwe and the surrounding areas using the same system.” he added

He extended gratitude to the Government of Uganda, Ministry of Water and Environment and the development partners for the importance they place on the Water and Environment sector which has a fundamental role in ensuring the socio economic transformation and fulfilment of Government’s mission towards the development and Economic growth in the Country.

The Katosi Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Katosi-Kampala Transmission Mains Projects are part of the wider KW-LVWATSAN Project, whose objective is: To improve the living conditions of the residents in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area through provision of safe and reliable water supply services.

The Projects were funded by the Government of Uganda (GoU), National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), European Union Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund (EU-ITF), European Investment Bank (EIB), Agence Francaise de Development (AFD), and Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW).

The plant has a design capacity of 160,000m³/day (80,000m3/day + 80,000m3/day), with provision for future expansion to 240,000m³/day. The Katosi-Kampala Transmission Mains on the other hand was designed to evacuate and convey all 160,000m3/day produced in Katosi into the Kampala Water supply network.

Main Project Components

Katosi Drinking Water Treatment Plant;

500m of DN1500 Off-shore Water Abstraction Pipeline into Lake Victoria (laid on the lake bed at a depth of 11m)
Intake Structure and Raw Water Pump station on the shore of Lake Victoria
Drinking Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) and Drinking Water Pumping Station (80,000m3/d + 80,000m3/d)
Ductile Iron Pumping Transmission Main (10km, DN1400)
Four (04) No. Storage Tanks at Nsumba hill, each with a capacity of 10,000m3
33kV Power line extension from the new Mukono Industrial Estate Substation to the Katosi DWTP (over 40km)
Administration Office Block, Laboratory, Workshop, Staff Houses
Installation of SCADA and automation of the Plant operations

Katosi-Kampala Transmission Mains

39km of DN 1400 ductile iron clear water transmission main from Nsumba reservoir to Namugongo
2.3 km of DN 500/600 to existing reservoirs at Mukono and Seeta
Reinforced concrete water storage reservoir of capacity 15,000 m3 at Sonde
Booster station at Namugongo with two duty and one standby water pumps
10 km of DN 700 ductile iron clear water pumping main, from Namugongo booster station to the existing Naguru reservoir
Staff houses at Sonde reservoir site and Namugongo booster station site.
Installation of SCADA system

Katosi Water Treatment Plant at a Glance

The Katosi Water Treatment Plant uses the “Dissolved Air Floatation” Technology which is more suitable for raw water predominant with algae and low turbidity. Once the impurities and algae have been removed through the floatation process, the clarified water is filtered through Sand Filters before being disinfected and supplied to the distribution network. The Plant as such has a very low foot print, uses less chemicals in the treatment process, and uses less power because of the highly efficient process and equipment.

Project Implementation Process

Financing for the Project was secured in 2011. This was followed by the preparation of the Kampala Water Supply Master Plan between 2012 and 2014, and the Project Feasibility Study from 2013 to 2014. The Consultant to prepare Conceptual designs and Project Supervision was procured in 2015.

Subsequently, Conceptual Designs and Yellow Book Tender Documents for the Project were prepared between 2016 and 2017. The works contractor was procured between 2017 and 2018. Construction works for the Katosi Water Project commenced in August 2018 were substantially completed in March 2021.

The Plant has undergone a successful commissioning over the last three (03) months, and is currently supplying treated water to the Eastern, Northern, and Central parts of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Contract Details

Katosi Drinking Water Treatment Plant

Employer: National Water and Sewerage Corporation

Consultant: GkW Tractebel in association with Alliance Consultants Ltd

Contractor: Sogea-Satom in joint venture with Suez International

Contract Value: 82.2 million Euros

Date of Commencement: August 2018

Completion Date for Physical Works: March 2021

Plant Taking Over: July 2021

End of Defects Notification Period: March 2022

Katosi-Kampala Transmission Mains

Employer: National Water and Sewerage Corporation

Consultant: H. P. Gauff Ingenieure GmbH & Co. KG –JBG–association with Mott MacDonald Ltd, Mott MacDonald (U) Ltd & Gauff Consultants (U) Ltd

Contractor: Sogea-Satom

Contract Value: 81.9 million Euros

Date of Commencement: September 2017

Completion Date for Physical Works: March 2021

End of Defects Notification Period: March 2022

Why Katosi?

Feasibility Studies prepared in 2003 had earlier suggested the option of constructing another treatment Plant in Gaba i.e. Gaba IV. This proposal was however later dropped in the 2009 Feasibility Study update, largely because of the following;

Deteriorating water quality challenges in the Inner Murchison Bay at Gaba, which would further increase the water treatment costs at Gaba

Mitigate the risk of relying on only one Plant in a singular location i.e. Gaba

The expanding water supply coverage area especially towards the Eastern part of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area; need to zone the water supply and distribution network for proper management

As such, the Master Plan carried out in 2009 and later updated in 2014 recommended the construction of a Water Treatment Plant in the East (Katosi) and another South of Kampala (Wakiso West). It was on this basis that the Katosi Water Treatment Plant and Transmission Mains has been constructed. Important to note is that the Katosi site is located in a forest conservation reserve, which offers a long-term protection from encroachment and pollution, thereby guaranteeing good quality water.

Project Achievements

With the completion and operationalisation of the Katosi Water Treatment Plant and Katosi-Kampala Transmission Mains, the water supply situation in Mukono and Kampala has been turned around, with the formerly dry zones all eliminated and now saturated with water. The supply areas of Mukono, Seeta, Sonde, Namugongo, Kyaliwajala, Kira, Bulindo, Naguru, Buwate, Kasangati, Gayaza, Namanve, Bweyogere, Kirinya, etc which were previously dry and had perpetual water supply challenges are all currently receiving water 24/7 from the Katosi system.

Secondly, the overstretched Gaba System has been relieved of the extra demand, and is currently being used to supply the Southern, Western and Central parts of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area. This has resulted into improved water supply reliability in that geographical area.

Future Outlook

The current water demand within the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area is estimated to be between 280,000 to 300,000m3/day, while the Gaba Water Treatment Plant was only able to produce about 240,000m3/day. This is why there were numerous dry areas and water rationing within the City.

With the completion of the Katosi Water Treatment Plant (160,000m3/day), however, the total water production has increased to 400,000m3/day, and this is considered sufficient to meet the water supply needs in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area over the next 10-15 years.

Focus shall be put on restructuring and expanding the water supply and distribution network to reach all the potential customers in the unserved areas. Furthermore, there is need to conserve the Katosi Catchment from encroachment and pollution if the quality of water is to be maintained undisturbed.

COMPILED BY JOHN FISHER SEKABIRA