Nearly a month after Inkundamahoro Building was closed over sanitation, safety and environmental concerns, some of the problems identified have been addressed while others remain under repair. The building was closed on August 8 following inspections that found a range of sanitation, safety and environmental problems. It reopened three days later, on August 11, although management said at the time that corrective works would continue. ALSO READ: Inkundamahoro Building reopens as sanitation fixes are underway Among the outstanding issues are wastewater treatment, waste management, drainage and upgrades to parts of the building’s water infrastructure. Emile Niyonshuti, Managing Director of Inkundamahoro Building, said one of the main problems identified during the inspections was the mixing of wastewater with clean water from three water sources passing through a tunnel in the area. “The main issue was wastewater mixing with clean water. That has been addressed. The tunnel was restored, and the water is now passing through the proper channels,” Niyonshuti said. ALSO READ: Inkundamahoro Building closed over sanitation issues He said management is now working to install a wastewater treatment system that will allow the water to be treated and reused, instead of being removed from the building by trucks every day. “We are now looking at treating the wastewater so that it can be reused instead of having to remove it every day. Using a truck every day is very expensive, so we need a proper wastewater management system,” he said. Niyonshuti said a company to carry out the work has been identified, while a supplier for the required equipment has also been secured. “The company that will do the work has been identified, and the company that will supply the equipment has also been secured. The place where the equipment will be installed has been prepared,” he said. ALSO READ: Funding lined up for major waste treatment projects New waste facility Another major intervention is the construction of a new waste management facility with separate sections for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. “The new facility will have different sections for sorting biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. We also want to make sure that waste brought into the building is removed on the same day,” Niyonshuti said. He said management hopes to establish the facility within September. The company selected to undertake the work has already submitted an architectural study, while requirements for the project are being finalised. Other ongoing works include painting and restoring parts of the building, as well as improving drainage and water infrastructure. Niyonshuti said responsibility for maintaining the building is shared between management, room owners and tenants. “The responsibility is shared between the building management, room owners and tenants. Management has to look at the budget and mobilise the resources needed, while room owners also have responsibilities towards their tenants,” he said. Tenants, he added, are expected to maintain the spaces where they operate. “Tenants have to take responsibility for their areas. They need to keep them clean, paint when necessary and have security cameras and fire extinguishers where required,” Niyonshuti said. Management met with tenants on August 30 to discuss the measures, he said. Drainage, water upgrades Niyonshuti said some of the building’s water pipes and drainage channels also need to be upgraded because the infrastructure was not designed for the current number and type of businesses operating there. “When the building was designed, it may not have been expected to have this many operators or the type of businesses we have today. Some businesses deal in horticultural produce, and vegetable leaves can enter the drainage system and rot there,” he said. “This is why some of the water pipes and drainage channels need to be upgraded,” he added. The building also plans to replace its existing analogue security cameras with a system capable of storing footage for longer periods and producing clearer images. Management is also working with the Water and Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) on the possibility of installing individual water meters for users of the building. “We are still working with WASAC to assess whether individual water meters are viable and how they can be installed properly,” Niyonshuti said. October deadline Niyonshuti said management expects the remaining works to be completed by the end of October. “Our target is to have all these issues addressed by the end of October. The urgent ones have already been addressed,” he said.
