Direct Discharge of Sewage into Drainage: KEPA Moves Against Offenders
From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
In its renewed commitment to ensuring proper sewage management, the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) has issued a strong warning to residents against discharging human waste directly into drainages and water channels.
The agency warned that offenders will face prosecution before a mobile court.
Acting General Manager of KEPA, Mr. Yahaya Victor, disclosed this to newsmen, stating that the environmental regulatory agency has reactivated its weekly surveillance patrols to enforce compliance across the state capital.
He emphasized that the move aims to protect the environment and prevent outbreaks of diseases caused by improper sewage disposal.
During the surveillance exercise, which covered areas such as Badarawa, Tudun Nupawa, and Unguwan Rimi in Kaduna North, as well as parts of Kaduna South and Chikun Local Government Areas, shocking discoveries were made.
Some households were found to have no septic tanks commonly known as soakaways and were discharging their sewage directly into water channels.
According to the KEPA boss, such contaminated water is often used by farmers for irrigation, posing serious health risks as it contains feces, urine, and other waste materials.
“This act may lead to outbreaks of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and other epidemics capable of claiming many lives,” he warned.
Victor further stated that the current administration under Governor Uba Sani, through the Commissioner for Environment, is determined to address the menace by enforcing proper sewage practices statewide.
“We have started issuing abatement notices to defaulters and will not hesitate to sanction or seal off properties that fail to comply in order to safeguard public health and prevent possible epidemics,” he added.
A public health practitioner, Ibrahim Usman, also highlighted the dangers of discharging human waste into water channels, listing pollution of crops, disease transmission, and ecosystem damage among the major hazards.
He commended KEPA for its proactive intervention, noting that the measure would go a long way in promoting a clean, safe, and healthy environment suitable for human habitation.
