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The Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company (LWSC) has commenced a major upgrade of the Chunga Wastewater Treatment Plant, increasing its treatment capacity from 9 million litres per day to 18.7 million litres per day.
Company Public Relations Manager, Ruth Mukuwa, said the company was also constructing a new wastewater treatment plant at Ngwerere with a capacity of 54 million litres per day.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, Mukuwa said financing for the wastewater treatment components at Chunga and Ngwerere includes a €33 million grant from the Government of Germany through KfW to the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
She added that the project also benefited from a €102.5 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Construction works commenced in the first quarter of 2025 under a Design and Build contract, with detailed designs and preliminary works currently underway.
“The expansion, being implemented under the Lusaka Sanitation Programme, aims to improve wastewater treatment, protect the environment, and enhance public health outcomes in Lusaka,” Mukuwa stated.
She said both wastewater treatment plants will be designed as 100 percent energy-autonomous facilities, with the capacity to supply excess power to ZESCO, marking a significant step towards sustainable and climate-resilient sanitation infrastructure.
Mukuwa said the project was being implemented with support from cooperating partners, including KfW Development Bank and the European Investment Bank.
Additional infrastructure under the programme includes the construction of 20 kilometres of trunk sewer pipelines and five new sewage pump stations, with overall progress currently estimated at 19 percent.
She said sewer connections in the Chunga catchment area began in the first quarter of 2026, with over 60 connections completed to date.
Mukuwa said LWSC was also engaging industries to install pre-treatment facilities before discharging wastewater into municipal sewer systems, as untreated industrial effluent continues to damage infrastructure and reduce treatment efficiency.
She said the Chunga and Ngwerere wastewater treatment plants project represented a major milestone in advancing sustainable sanitation services in Lusaka, contributing to a cleaner environment and improved quality of life.
Speaking during a site visit by a German delegation and senior government officials, LWSC Managing Director Engineer Jilly Chiyombwe described the initiative as a transformative investment in Lusaka’s sanitation systems.
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“This investment will significantly strengthen wastewater management in Lusaka, improve public health outcomes, and support economic growth through enhanced service delivery and job creation. It reflects our commitment to building a resilient and sustainable sanitation system,” he said.
Chiyombwe added that the project included key sustainability measures such as the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for training plant operators and capacity-building for operations and maintenance.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Engineer Romas Kamanga, reaffirmed government’s commitment to improving sanitation services and achieving national development priorities, including Vision 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal 6.
“The support from cooperating partners remains critical in delivering improved sanitation services and ensuring sustainable development for our citizens,” he said.
State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Niels Annen, said the project would significantly improve sanitation and water security in Lusaka, particularly in densely populated areas.
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