VicInAqua partners organised Study Visits of outstanding and novel RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture Systems) and wastewater treatment plants in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. They addressed more specifically aquaculture operators, researchers and further stakeholders in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to boost community building and best-practice sharing in the fields.
Past
Thika, Kenya (21 May 2019)
Partner JKUAT (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology) organised a Study Visit to the Thika Water and Waste Water Treatment Company (THIWASCO) in May 2019. The plant has 11,000 active connections to the sewerage system. It was constructed in the 1970s and operated under the Thika Municipal Council until 2009. In September 2009, the department started working as a company under the Athi Water Services Board (AWSB). Its core mandate is the provision of clean water, wastewater disposal and maintenance of developed water and sanitation infrastructure in Thika sub-county. The design of the plant takes advantage of gravity with regards to the flow of water and combines series and parallel layout of twenty biological oxidation ponds. The incoming water passes through an inlet section and is then directed to a number of oxidation ponds. Various interconnected lagoons receive the effluent and take it through the natural process before it is discharged into Komu stream. A modern wastewater treatment plant is currently under construction.
Musoma, Tanzania (7 December 2018)
Partner STIPRO (Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organisation, Tanzania) organised a Study Visit of a wastewater treatment plant of MUWASA (Musoma Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority). MUWASA was established with the objective of supplying water and implement the removal of wastewater in the Musoma Municipality in a sustainable manner.
The visit was conducted in the frame of a VicInAqua Round Table on technologies for wastewater treatment helping to improve environmental impact in Tanzania. More information about our Round Tables here.
Entebbe, Uganda (20 November 2018)
Partner NARO (National Agricultural Research Organization, Uganda) organised two Study Visits of a MBR site in the Lubigi Fecal treatment plant at Lubigi wetland managed by National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), followed by a RAS - recirculating aquaculture system - site for live fish marketing in Naguru, Kampala.
The visits took place in the frame of several VicInAqua community events in Uganda: a technical training on MBR, two Round tables on Gender & Aquaculture and Water Management & Policy, as well as an Information Session titled "The environmental impact of improved sanitation, aquaculture and fisheries". Read more here.
Murang'a County, Kenya (16 August 2018)
Partner JKUAT (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya) organised a Study Visit of Makindi Fish Farm. The farm is 52km from Nairobi, 7km from Thika Town on the old Murang'a road behind Thika Greens Golf Resort. The farm was established in 2015 as an agricultural division of Makindi Banks Limited. Currently the farm has a total of 91 ponds; 35 tilapia production ponds, 28 catfish concrete tanks, 17 nursery ponds, 6 broodstock ponds, 4 harvest ponds and one water reservoir. In addition to this, the farm has a modern processing room and a Reciruclation Aquaculture System (RAS) hatchery and a modern training resource center under construction. The farm specializes in the production of table size tilapia (350 - 800g) and catfish (1kg - 1.5kgs) as well as production of YY monosex tilapia fingerlings and a quality catfish fingerlings.
The visit was conducted in the frame of a VicInAqua Information Session with special focus on wastewater treatment with MBR (membrane bio-reactor) technology. More information about this Information Session here.
Mwanza, Tanzania (28 November 2017)
Partner STIPRO (Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Research Organisation, Tanzania) organised a Study Visit of the backyard RAS facility of Mr. David Msakulo in Mwanza. The facility consists of a 15 m³ tank for catfish and tilapia culture, a main pump, aerator, substrate filter and biofilter, where were culture in the tank, separated by a screen. The owner of the system explained how the system worked and also the problems they face like, power cuts, mixed sex fingerlings, and location of the pump.
The visit was conducted in the frame of the VicInAqua training on RAS and special aspects of fish hatchery. More information about this training here.
