Pollution levels in Lake Victoria are expected to reduce drastically following expansion works at the Kisumu’s Kisat Sewerage Treatment Plant.
The Principal Secretary in the ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Dr Richard Lesiyampe said only eight per cent of the Kisumu City is connected to the sewerage system with obvious negative environmental impacts on the lake.
Lesiyampe said with the expansion works by the Lake Victoria Environmental Project at a cost of Sh146 million, the rate of pollution in the lake as a result of raw effluent will reduce.
He said the expanded facilities will increase the dry weather sewer flow from 6,815 cubic metres per day to 7,950 cubic metres per day.
He noted that available data indicate that Lake Victoria water quality has declined significantly since 1970s mainly due to pollution as a result of rapid population growth.
"The Lake is home to many mammals and human beings use the water for drinking and other uses. It must now be saved from heavy pollution currently being witnessed," said Lesiyampe.
In a speech read of his behalf on Tuesday in Kisumu by Ms Agnes Yobterik, an officer from the ministry during the handing over of the expanded facilities, the PS noted the lake is the city’s main water supply source and must be conserved.
Lesiyampe said the expansion facilities include primary, secondary and sludge digestion tanks alongside trickle filter plus associated mechanical parts.
"The facilities here are modern and capable of performing very well. This is an achievement to the people of Kisumu," he said.