How New Sewage System Construction in Lagos is Benefitting The Health of Citizens

The use of untreated and poorly treated sewage is highly correlated with diseases and illness in any population. As a result, many cities are taking steps to upgrade and modernize their sewage systems. A new sewage system construction project in Lagos, Nigeria that began in late 2017 is set to improve the sanitation conditions of the city by 2021. It’s hoped that these efforts will help reduce the risk of waterborne diseases. The current situation regarding sewerage services in Lagos is alarming. In some areas, raw or partially treated sewage flows directly onto streets or open areas where it can be accessed by animals and humans. The combination of climate, dense population, and poor sanitation conditions has resulted in a major outbreak of disease-carrying mosquitos which has further exacerbated the problem.

What’s the current state of sanitation in Lagos?

A large portion of Lagos’ population has limited or no access to sanitation services. Most Lagosians use on-site sanitation systems such as pit toilets, septic tanks, or sand or clay pits which are often rudimentary and not maintained properly. For example, a portion of the population living in slums and informal settlements does not have access to sanitation services at all. They instead use open areas to defecate, or dispose of human waste in the form of sewage directly into waterways. This has led to the contamination of groundwater and nearby surface waters. Poor sanitation is one of the leading causes of diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, and dysentery. It’s estimated that poor sanitation results in the death of 1.8 million people annually while sickening another 2.6 billion. It’s also estimated to cost the world economy $32 billion each year.

What are the new sewerage construction efforts?

The Lagos State Government has approved a $25 billion investment to construct a state-of-the-art sewerage system for the city. This investment is part of broader efforts to improve the standard of living in Lagos. The new sewerage system construction project is expected to be completed by 2021. It will feature 260 wastewater plants, over 1,000 wastewater treatment facilities, as well as over 4,000 kilometers of pipelines that will transport the treated water to various bodies of water. The new system will be designed to treat all of Lagos’ wastewater and rainwater so that it can be safely released into the ocean. It will also collect and treat wastewater from nearby towns and villages in order to reduce the pollution of rivers and streams.

How will this help mitigate the risk of disease?

Construction of a new sewerage system in Lagos will bring many benefits to the city including a reduction in the risk of disease. A new wastewater treatment system will reduce the amount of harmful bacteria in water and improve the quality of water that’s released into local bodies of water. - Diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, and dysentery can be spread when people come into contact with untreated or poorly treated sewage which can flow into waterways and other areas where people live, work, and play. - The construction of a modern sewage system is expected to reduce the amount of bacteria and other harmful substances in the water. This will improve the quality of the water in the city and surrounding areas. It’s hoped that this will reduce the likelihood of residents and tourists contracting waterborne diseases.

Conclusion

A new state-of-the-art sewerage system is set to revolutionize sanitation conditions in Lagos, Nigeria. It’s expected that this will reduce the risk of contracting waterborne diseases as well as improve the quality of life for Lagosians. The use of untreated and poorly treated sewage has a detrimental effect on the environment and the health of a population. As a result, many cities are taking steps to upgrade and modernize their sewerage systems. This new sewage system construction project in Lagos is set to improve the sanitation conditions of the city by 2021. It’s hoped that these efforts will help reduce the risk of waterborne diseases.