The visit exposed students to the practical operations of the facility, particularly the primary, secondary and tertiary stages of wastewater treatment.

Grace Chiwaka, the Civil Engineering (Water) class representative, said the tour had helped students relate classroom theory to real-life wastewater treatment processes.

“I have appreciated what I learnt in class because I have seen the stages of water treatment that we learn, starting from primary, secondary to tertiary water treatment,” said Chiwaka.

However, she expressed concern over the discharge of treated wastewater into rivers, suggesting that the facility could partner with the Blantyre Water Board to promote water reuse.

Chiwaka also urged the public to conserve water, citing increasing demand resulting from population growth.

“As the population increases, the amount of water needed also increases, so it is important to conserve water,” she said.

Meanwhile, Steve Issa, an Engineering Technician at Zingwangwa Sewerage, explained that the facility collects sewage through vacuum tankers and sewer lines.

He raised concerns over the improper disposal of waste through sewer lines, saying some people dump inappropriate materials, including dead animals, which creates challenges for sewage management.

Issa also emphasised the importance of exposing engineering students to wastewater facilities, saying such visits help them understand how infrastructure is constructed and operated.

He added that despite some of the facility's infrastructure being old, the visit provided students with valuable exposure to the practical application of engineering concepts.