AbstractSixty to seventy percent of the population in major cities of less-developed countries relies ononsite sanitation systems (OSS) such as septic tanks and pit latrines for the disposal ofcontainment of human excreta. A critical and persistent challenge in these urban settings isunsafely managed faecal sludge (FS)- defined as raw or partially digested material, typically ina slurry or semi-solid form, and anything else that accumulates in on-site sanitation systems,which poses a serious public health risk and widespread environmental contamination.Approximately 3,100 m3 of FS were generated daily within Lusaka’s peri-urban areas, andmore than half of which remained uncollected, continuing to negatively affect public health andcontaminate the environment. In the past two decades, there has been consensus amongresearchers, sanitary engineers, public health practitioners, and governments that FS must becontained at the point of generation, emptied, collected, and transported to a properly operatedFS treatment plant for treatment (FSTP) and resource recovery. Manchinchi FSTP was designedto dewater both latrine and septage sludge with a combined capacity of 109 m3/day, as a meansof safeguarding public health and minimizing environmental contamination. However, FSTPsare a relatively new waste treatment technology; as such, some of the treatment mechanismsand operational parameters are not fully developed relative to those associated with wastewatertreatment plants. Therefore, there was a dearth of need to regularly conduct operationalperformance assessments to determine their functionality and effectiveness in meeting theirdesign objective and fill the knowledge gap. Therefore, a case study following a mixed methodwas designed to serve that purpose, and in so doing, compared the operational and designhydraulic and organic loading rates, determined the efficiency and effectiveness of individualtreatment units in meeting their design objectives, observed the turnaround time for vehiclesthat deliver FS to Manchinchi FSTP, and the occupational health and safety practices of itsoperators. Primary data was collected through FS sample analysis, field observation, and KeyInformant Interviews, and secondary data was collected through relevant literature review andplant records. The major findings of the study are that more volumes of FS are delivered toManchinchi FSTP than it was handling, the FSTP was serving its primary design purpose ofdewatering FS, albeit with a few operational challenges, and most importantly, the grit chamber orsand trap installed was inadequately designed to handle the type of FS generated across Lusaka.Additionally, recommendations were made on how best to improve its operation and availableresource recovery options. Key: Faecal Sludge Treatment Plant, Operational Performance,Lusaka, Occupational Health and safety and resource recovery.