KENYA – Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) in Kenya, one of the leading beverage manufacturers in Kenya, has commissioned a new wastewater treatment plant at its Equator Bottlers Ltd plant to promote sustainable water use and help reduce the factory’s environmental impact.
Located in the lake city town of Kisumu, Equator Bottlers manufactures Coca-Cola beverages including Coca-Cola, Fanta, and Sprite for distribution in western Kenya counties including Kakamega, Busia, Siaya, Vihiga, Bomet, Kericho, and Kisumu.
Water for use at the plant is sourced from Lake Victoria and undergoes a series of primary and secondary treatments to achieve the potable water quality standard required for industrial use and human consumption.
After use in manufacturing, water from the plant is treated through the wastewater treatment plant before being discharged.
CCBA noted that the new facility will enable Equator Bottlers Ltd to treat and recycle wastewater generated from its production facility, which will be used for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and cleaning.
This will in turn reduce the factory’s environmental impact as more freshwater resources will be conserved and less wastewater discharged into the environment.
By implementing this initiative, CCBA is taking a significant step towards the goal of replenishing 100% of the water used in production.
“The launch of our Kisumu wastewater treatment plant is a testament to CCBA’s continued efforts to adopt sustainable practices across our value chain,” said John Mwendwa, Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability Director CCBA in Kenya.
Mwenda noted that CCBA recognized that water is a precious resource, and was committed to using it responsibly and minimizing its impact on the environment.
“Our new wastewater treatment plant is just one example of our commitment to creating a more sustainable future for all,” added Mwendwa.
Susan Maingi, Country Lead, Regulatory and Stakeholder Engagement further revealed that the company is working with the Water Resource Authority and the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) towards minimizing its environmental impact across the whole value chain.
Earlier, in an opinion editorial, Jacques Vermeulen, CEO of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, said that CCBA continues to manage water resources through country projects that reduce water use in its operations, protect local water resources, and provide safe, clean drinking water to communities in need.
“Across all our facilities, we conduct thorough assessments of local water resources and put water protection plans in place so our presence doesn’t harm communities’ vital water resources,” Vermeulen said.
As an example of how CCBA supports access to safe drinking water for communities, the CCBA CEO highlighted a project in Tanzania that has enabled 70,000 rural Tanzanians in 14 communities countrywide to have safe water access through solar-powered water systems.
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