The Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) has said that the ongoing La Digue sewerage project is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2023.
Once completed, the centralised sewerage system will bring about numerous benefits, among them a reduction in the levels of pollution of the ground water and surface water resources, environmentally sustainable developments and potential for recycling water for irrigation purposes.
The PUC embarked on the construction of a centralised sewerage system on La Digue early this year. The works comprise two main parts; the installation of a sewer collection system along the coast of La Digue and the construction of a sewage treatment plant at L’Union Estate with the capacity to treat an average flow of 1,000 m3 per day.
The first component of the works, namely the sewer collection system, has been divided into two lots and awarded to Earth Development Pty Ltd and Ascent Projects Sey Pty Ltd respectively and now stands at 9.5% completion. It comprises on and off-road excavation for pipe laying works including the installation of manholes along the main sewer pipeline and construction of individual inspection chambers at the boundary lines of each household within the designated sewer area. So far, these works have remained off the main road.
In the weeks to come, works undertaken by Ascent Project Sey Ltd, in the vicinity of L’Union Estate will be carried out along the main road, while works undertaken by Earth Development at La Passe will remain within the confines of secondary roads until later this year.
The construction of lifting stations is expected to commence in 2023 and will run parallel with ongoing pipeline installation. These are the parts of the network which will be visible above ground.
With the aim of minimising the levels of disruption on the island and completing the project within the shortest possible delay, PUC is exploring the possibility of installing pre-fabricated stations which will then be assembled on site.
To date, way-leave issues still remain one of the major challenges of this project in view that ownership of some private land parcels cannot be clearly established.
The procurement process for the construction of a sewage treatment plant at L’Union Estate is expected to be finalised imminently.
The total project, based on the level of progress to date, is on schedule to be completed by the end of 2023.
Once completed, the centralised sewerage system will bring about numerous benefits, amongst them a reduction in the levels of pollution of the ground water and surface water resources, environmentally sustainable developments and potential for recycling water for irrigation purposes.
La Digue residents or other stakeholders are invited to direct any queries or concerns vis-à-vis this project either to the full-time liaison officer stationed at PUC’s on-site office at L’Union Estate, La Digue or via the designated email address ladiguewwtp@puc.sc.
Source: Seychelles Nation
