UMZINGWANE Rural District Council has announced plans to upgrade its waste stabilisation ponds to cope with its ballooning population.
Waste stabilisation ponds are large man-made basins designed and built for wastewater treatment.
They are frequently used to treat sewage and industrial effluent, but may also be used to treat municipal run-off or stormwater.
Council chief executive officer Sithembiso Sibanda said the system upgrade was meant to ensure that its waste systems cope with the growing population.
“The designs have been completed and we would like to start very soon,” she said.
“We are waiting for approval from our parent body, which is the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works which, in turn, will seek approval from the Ministry of Finance on our behalf. We have also engaged engineers that will be involved in overseeing the upgrade.”
Sibanda said the upgrade was long overdue.
“No upgrade has ever been conducted, making this one the first.”
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She went on to state that residents have been consulted on the matter and have agreed to pay a special levy of US$3 per household each month for 36 months with effect from August this year.
“Residents from the new suburbs are the ones that will pay this new levy as it is for their benefit,” Sibanda said.
“We have followed protocol by engaging the residents involved prior to making any decisions on issues that affect them.”
