NWSC Lira Area Boosts Water Production, Targets 12.5 Million Litres Per Day.
LIRA CITY – The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Lira Area, has reassured the public of ongoing efforts to improve water production and stabilise supply through phased investments in water treatment infrastructure, pumping capacity and the distribution network.
Speaking to the media last week at his office in Lira City, NWSC Lira Area Manager, Eng. Gerazio Tukahirwa, outlined the progress made in addressing the growing demand for water in Lira City and the surrounding service areas.
He explained that in 2021, the water supply system produced approximately 6.5 million litres of water per day against an estimated demand of 7.7 million litres, resulting in water rationing in some areas.
“Our commitment is to ensure that water is available to all our customers, not just a few. We look at water for all, but not water for a few,” Eng. Tukahirwa said.
He noted that NWSC subsequently developed a two-phase improvement programme to increase production capacity, strengthen the supply system and address the growing demand for water.
Phase One: Increasing Production Capacity to 10 Million Litres Per Day
According to Eng. Tukahirwa, the first phase of the project was designed to increase water production from 6.5 million litres to 10 million litres per day.
The key interventions included upgrading pumps at the lake intake, Kachung Water Treatment Plant and Agwatta Booster Station; upgrading generators at the three facilities; improving pipework at the pumping stations to accommodate the increased pumping capacity; and upgrading transformers at Kachung and Agwatta to support the power requirements of the new equipment.
He explained that these improvements were necessary to strengthen the system’s capacity to abstract, treat and distribute larger volumes of water.
However, the subsequent elevation of Lira to city status, accompanied by rapid population growth and urban expansion, significantly increased water demand, which rose beyond the planned production capacity of 10 million litres per day.
“This growth created the need for further investment in treatment infrastructure to ensure that production keeps pace with the increasing demand for water,” he said.
Phase Two: Expanding Treatment Capacity to 12.5 Million Litres Per Day
To address the additional demand, NWSC commenced implementation of the second phase of the project in 2024, focusing on expanding treatment capacity at Kachung Water Treatment Plant.
The project involves the construction of additional treatment facilities, including a coagulation and flocculation tank, two clarifiers and three rapid sand filters. It also includes the installation of two additional pumps: one at Kachung Water Treatment Plant and another at Agwatta Booster Station.
Eng. Tukahirwa said the additional treatment units will enable the plant to treat more water, while the upgraded pumping infrastructure will improve the movement of treated water through the supply system.
He noted that the project had reached its final stages of completion at the time of the interview, with commissioning planned for the following month.
Upon completion and commissioning, the second phase is expected to raise the system’s production capacity to approximately 12.5 million litres per day, significantly improving the availability and reliability of water supply across the service area.
Ireda Project to Improve Water Supply to Elevated Areas
In addition to expanding production at Kachung, NWSC Lira Area is implementing improvements to the distribution network to address supply challenges in areas located at higher elevations.
Eng. Tukahirwa explained that the former Ireda water supply system, which dates back to 1993, had been decommissioned. The system included two elevated steel water tanks that could help serve areas experiencing pressure challenges due to differences in elevation.
NWSC subsequently undertook to rehabilitate the Ireda infrastructure to improve water distribution and extend reliable supply to areas that cannot be adequately served by the existing reservoirs.
The project includes the rehabilitation and reconstruction of two elevated steel tanks with capacities of 450,000 litres and 250,000 litres, respectively. It also involves the construction of a booster station with a pumping capacity of 200,000 litres per hour, together with two pumps, a pump house, a generator house, a chain link fence and an attendant’s house.
Other works include power extension and installation of a transformer to support the station’s operations.
According to Eng. Tukahirwa, the project is substantially complete, with the construction of the 250,000-litre elevated tank remaining outstanding at the time of the interview. He said the remaining works were expected to commence soon, with commissioning of the Ireda facilities planned alongside the second phase of the Kachung Water Treatment Plant project.
He emphasised that increasing production alone would not be sufficient without corresponding improvements in storage, pumping and distribution infrastructure.
“The objective is to ensure that the additional water produced at Kachung reaches our customers, including those in elevated areas that have previously experienced supply challenges,” he explained.
Permanent Solution Planned for Lira Water Supply
Eng. Tukahirwa further said NWSC had designed a permanent water supply project for Lira, with projections extending to 2050.
The project will include a new water intake, a new treatment plant at Kachung, a new DN700 transmission line, new reservoirs and a mother reservoir at Ngetta Rock. It will also involve the upgrading of approximately 80 kilometres of the existing water distribution network.
He said the project was currently at the tendering stage and would provide a long-term solution to the water supply challenges associated with population growth, urban expansion and increasing demand in Lira and the surrounding areas.
Serving a Growing Customer Base
NWSC Lira Area currently serves approximately 124,800 consumers under Lira Branch, reflecting the growing demand for safe and reliable water services in the area.
Eng. Tukahirwa said the corporation remains committed to investing in infrastructure and strengthening operational capacity to meet the needs of the growing population.
Eng. Tukahirwa reaffirmed the corporation’s commitment to improving service delivery and ensuring that more customers have access to reliable water supply.
He urged the public to continue working with NWSC by reporting leaks and supply interruptions, protecting water infrastructure and using water responsibly as the corporation continues to expand and improve its services.
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