The Lagos State Government has stressed the importance of effective wastewater management in protecting public health, preventing pollution and ensuring a safer environment for residents.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu stated this at a two-day training workshop on the effective operation and management of sewage treatment plants, organised by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, LASWAMO, in conjunction with the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers.
Rotimi-Akodu, who said proper wastewater management had become critical given Lagos’ large population and high population density, noted that failure to properly manage wastewater could increase the risk of disease and pollution, stressing the need for the state to continuously improve its strategies, systems and practices.
He said the training was designed to identify gaps in the operation of sewage treatment plants, share practical experiences among practitioners and develop better ways of monitoring and managing wastewater facilities.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Drainage Services and Water Resources, Mahamood Adegbite, said the effective operation of sewage treatment plants should be treated as a priority because of its direct impact on environmental quality and community health.
He noted that the construction of treatment plants alone was not sufficient, stressing that proper maintenance, monitoring, inspection, documentation and timely intervention were necessary to ensure that the facilities function effectively.
Adegbite urged operators to embrace preventive maintenance, warning that poor maintenance could undermine investments in environmental infrastructure.
He said the workshop would equip participants with knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, laboratory analysis, operational procedures and regulatory requirements, adding that the knowledge gained should translate into improved plant performance and better environmental outcomes.
The General Manager, Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, LASWAMO, Engineer Adefemi Afolabi, said the training was organised to strengthen the capacity of operators and consultants managing wastewater treatment facilities in hotels, eateries, estates and other establishments.
According to him, properly functioning treatment plants help prevent pollution before wastewater is discharged into the environment, particularly in Lagos, where the state’s low-lying terrain makes its water resources vulnerable to pollution.
Afolabi explained that wastewater from toilets, bathrooms and kitchens is channelled into treatment facilities, where it is treated before discharge or, in some cases, reuse for purposes such as gardening and toilet flushing.
He disclosed that LASWAMO monitors wastewater facilities across the state and collects laboratory samples to ensure that discharged effluent conforms with prescribed environmental standards.
The LASWAMO General Manager also warned residents against discharging untreated wastewater into drainage channels, noting that stormwater drains were not designed to carry untreated domestic wastewater.
He said the agency combines public sensitisation with enforcement, reaching residents through radio, television, workshops, town hall meetings and roadshows, while monitoring teams identify and sanction persistent offenders.
Afolabi added that the state had introduced mobile laboratory facilities to enable monitoring teams to test wastewater at locations across Lagos and obtain results promptly.
On his part, the Lagos State Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Environmental Engineers, Engineer Azeez Abayomi-Agoro, said the partnership with LASWAMO was necessary because awareness precedes compliance.
He explained that proper wastewater management begins with appropriate design and sizing of treatment plants, followed by effective operation and regular maintenance to ensure that the final effluent meets environmental standards.
For participants, the training is expected to translate into improved practices within their respective workplaces.
A chef at the Wheat Baker Hotel, Akwenze Augustina, said the programme would help her improve kitchen waste management and prevent practices that could lead to sewage blockage and environmental pollution.
She said she would also share the knowledge with other members of staff to promote cleaner operations and reduce the risk of food contamination.