During the one-week visit to Kabwe by three staff members of Gelsenwasser in May 2023, the focus was on the drinking water work package. The partners from Lukanga Water Supply and Sanitation Company Limited (LgWSC) had procured repair materials from the project budget, and together the two sides were able to install the parts and repair the damage. As an innovation, the project team was able to use repair clamps instead of coupling sleeves for the first time, which is more cost-effective and allows for smaller pits. The first zone meters were installed and the measuring accuracy of the meters was checked.

Another focus was improving the Geographical Information System (GIS) for the management and monitoring of the sewer network. The two sides reviewed old analogue planning documents, and checked whether relevant information could be integrated into the GIS. The initial analysis was promising. The team also developed approaches for a plan to make pipe network information available digitally to all employees via smartphone or tablet. The task now is to implement this.

LgWSC faces the challenge of introducing an asset management system. For this purpose, the experts of Gelsenwasser provided the managers of LgWSC with training in the basics of asset management.

In the next few weeks, the team from LgWSC will install more zone meters so that the pilot area can be surveyed, enabling the team to draw conclusions concerning the actual water losses. Processes for data collection to improve the GIS database are important, as is the timely repair and documentation of leaks in the pilot area with the materials procured as part of the project.

Impressions

Alle Fotos: Gelsenwasser AG