By Chioma Umeha
As the world celebrates the International World
Water Day this week, Nestlé Nigeria Plc was not left out, as they marked the
day in grand style with children and adults alike during the week.
The event which had this year’s theme of the
International Water Day – ‘Wastewater,’ took place at the company’s Agbara
factory, was attended by pupils and teachers from schools around the environ,
who are beneficiaries of Nestlé Waters project – Water Education for
Teachers(WET).
The programme trains teachers to help raise
awareness about water conservation and proper hydration among school children.
In his keynote address, the company’s Country
Manager, Jason Lambe, stressed Nestlé’s commitment to pursuing rigorous
management standards and water- saving programmes throughout its operations and
a continuous monitoring of their performance, to ensure that the present-day
water challenge is met.
Reading excerpts from UN-Water, he said wastewater
is in focus this year because of its huge impact on the environment.
Globally, over 80 per cent of the wastewater
generated by society flows back into the ecosystem without being treated or
reused, but the company recognises that it can make a significant contribution to
addressing this problem, not just in their factories and facilities, but in
their supply chains as well.
Therefore, as part of its shared value
commitments, Nestlé in Central and West Africa region (CWAR) to which Nigeria
belongs, is treating waste water to a level that is safe to return to the
environment.
Speaking on the importance they attach to
wastewater management, the Managing Director for Nestle Nigeria, Mr. Mauricio
Alarcon said that they recognise the growing water challenge, adding that
responsible management of the world’s resources by all water users is an
absolute necessity.
He reiterated that they are committed to tackling
the global water crisis through increasing water recycling and promoting the
safe reuse of wastewater.
He explained that this objective was set in line
with the Sustainable Development Goals Target 6.3 which requires that by 2030,
there should be “improved water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating
dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving
the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling
and safe reuse globally.”
Mr. Adegbesan Afolarinwa, the Maintenance and
Improvement Supervisor, Industrial Services, listed some of the measures and
techniques put in place to achieve the factory’s objectives of efficient water
management, which include wastewater treatment.
Afolarinwa said that wastewater in the Agbara
Factory is treated to remove Chemical and Biological toxic wastes to ensure the
water is conducive for Aquatic life survival.
The treated water is then discharged through the
factory’s fishpond to the Municipal Water Treatment facility before being
finally released into the environment.
The school children participated in a number of
educational games and exercises and were quizzed at the end to ascertain what
they had learnt. They were later given a guided tour of the factory where they
saw first-hand what they had learnt.
