Ivory Coast: Koumassi wastewater treatment plant rehabilitated to cope with flooding

After more than five years of rehabilitation work, the Koumassi Digue wastewater pre-treatment plant is back in service. The wastewater treatment plant, located 17.5 km from the Abidjan district in Ivory Coast, was handed over on 16 June 2023 and relaunched by Ivory Coast’s Minister for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Bouaké Fofana. The plant has a capacity of 78,000 m³ per day, three times more than before its renovation.

Koumassi wastewater treatment plant©Ivorian Ministry of Hydraulics

The plant provides primary treatment of effluent from the Abobo to Port-Bouët network, via Koumassi. This treatment consists of removing solid matter (plastic bags, paper, wood, etc.) from the wastewater, followed by sand and heavy matter, and light substances such as oils, petrol and various greases.

Funding from the French Development Agency

This process is necessary to protect the raw water lift, the pipes against blockages and the other treatment equipment against abrasion.

Thanks to the rehabilitation of the Koumassi Digue station, the drainage pipes should be less clogged, reducing the risk of flooding during the rainy season. As a reminder, Koumassi Digue is one of the seven main Abidjan communes regularly hit by flooding. The other six are Cocody, Adjamé, Attécoubé, Abobo, Bingerville and Marcor.

The pre-treatment plant, which is being refurbished for the second time following work carried out in 2010, will also help to reduce pollution of water bodies by wastewater in Abidjan. This effluent is generated by some 900,000 inhabitants of the Ivorian district.

The Koumassi Digue sewerage project, implemented as part of the Priority Sewerage and Drainage Programme, required an investment of 30 billion CFA francs (around €46 million). The Ivorian government received financial support from the French Development Agency (AFD) under phase 2 of the Debt Reduction and Development Contract (C2D).

Inès Magoum