Ranadi dumpsite sewage waste treatment poses risk
LACK of proper sewage waste management at the Ranadi dumpsite in East Honiara poses greater risk to human lives if there are no proper storage and treatment facility in place.
This was revealed by the Ranadi dumpsite Land Field officer Joe Kelesi from the Honiara City Council during a visit to the site on Wednesday.
Mr Kelesi said, the management of the sewage waste from the city is a problem due to lack of proper storage facility and treatment plant.
During the visit it was revealed that all sewage wastes that have been collected from domestic and business households within the Honiara City are dumped each day in an unmanaged manner.
Therefore, homes and residents located next to the sewage waste dump area are at a high risk of catching a disease called gastro-enteritis, it was highlighted.
Gastro-enteritis is a disease caused by aerosol exposure due to contaminated water. Oral exposure to sewage-contaminated water can also cause hepatitis, an infection of the liver. Dermal exposure to sewage-contaminated water often results in the infection of open cuts or rashes.
Mr Kelesi last week said, all the sewage wastes are not treated properly after being dumped at the site.
“We do have a big problem facing the environment and humans because sewage wastes dumped here are not stored and treated properly.
“And even the HCC staff working here can’t control or managed these wastes due to lack of facilities, because people just come in and dump these wastes knowing the impact of it to the environment and humans.”
He said, responsible authorities can’t do much due to lack of funds to build a better storage and treatment facility.
“Everyday sewage waste trucks just come into to dump these wastes and it is going to cause problem in the times ahead if not controlled.
“In the past there are some green plants growing here but as a result of the effect of these wastes, most of the plants have died out.
“Our concern is also with the people living close by the dumpsite because they are at risk from air pollution.”
Mr Kelesi said, at the moment HCC is unable to do anything about the management of waste control in the city due to lack of funds.
“But we are hoping some aid donors will step in to assist us address this problem.
“If nothing is done to address this problem then very soon we will be facing a big problem and more people getting sick just by breathing the bad air from these wastes.”
He said, its important that something is done to manage sewage wastes in the city.
By DENVER NEWTER
