UNPROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT OF WASTE WATER CONTAMINATES BOREHOLES – MATANMI

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – The General Manager of the Lagos Wastewater Management office, Engr Adebola Matanmi has advocated for an effective wastewater management practice in the State. Matanmi made this declaration recently at an advocacy and sensitization visit to the State Ministry of Education. While addressing the large gathering of stakeholders in the education sector, he noted that 80% of the water we use is returned as wastewater adding that when wastewater goes to the septic tank, it becomes contaminated.

Once contaminated it becomes carcinogenic  to our immune system and ultimately dangerous to the safe drinking water in our boreholes. He stressed that the State Ministry of Education is chosen because students are in the high class.”A student will use at least 76 litres of water per  day, if the water gets to the septic tank it contaminates the boreholes in our schools, homes and offices, hence the need to treat our wastewater to avoid the spread of epidemic and bacteria to our body system”

He said that the agency is charged with the responsibility of managing wastewater through its various treatment plants spread across the State and also  to provide, improve and extend a system of public sewers, cleanse and maintain the sewers to ensure the area is continually drained  in line with approves best practices. The agency monitors and regulates the periodic evacuation of septic tank in all public premises in the State and prepare development plan for the establishment and maintenance of public wastewater and sewerage system in the State.

The objective of the advocacy visit according to Matanmi is to collaborate with the ministry of education to actualize the provision of appropriate wastewater treatment system in all public and private schools  and secondly through visitation of schools to sensitize both public and private institutions on appropriate wastewater management practices and also to achieve a paradigm shift and behavioural change in the younger generation as it relates to the mgt of wastewater in the State.

The advocacy visit will also be spread to all the nooks and crannies of the State in order to achieve the set objectives the agency was established for. A presentation on WASTEWATER,EFFECTS AND PROPER HANDLING was delivered by the Head of the advocacy unit of the agency,Mrs Sessi Abodunde.The presentation hammered on the following areas-Definition of wastewater, ideal wastewater management practices,why treat wastewater Effects of improper wastewater management and inappropriate wastewater mgt practices in Lagos state.

The Permanent Secretary Min of Education,Tutor Generals and Directors present applauded the General Manager and his team for a job well-done and assured the office of future collaborations..