Kyrgyzstan - Decentralised and sustainable wastewater management

Consulting and supporting NGOs in Kyrgyzstan to develop ecolocial sanitation and wastewater management in rural areas

Country: Kyrgyzstan
Donors / Program: Ministry of Environment, Germany
WECF Partners: Habitat for Humanity, Alga, Ulgu, Biom
Issues: Sanitation, Water, Sustainable Development, Agriculture and Food
Duration: 03/2006 - 12/2011


Project Overview

The project will transfer and/or research the basic knowledge necessary for implementing a decentralisied and sustainable wastewater management in rural areas in Kyrgyzstan. Dry urine diverting toilets and soil filters for cleaning household wastewater reduce local pollution of the groundwater.

The waste products from dry urine diverting toilets are hygienized and made available as agricultural fertiliser. This closes the nutrient cycle, replaces chemical fertilisers and leads to a long-term reduction of human impact on the local environment. Ecolocial sanitation toilets also improve the health and quality of life of their users.

The project has been planned and will be executed in conjunction with four local NGO partners. These are ALGA, ULGU, Habitat for Humanity and BIOM. Together with these partners WECF will assess the functions, costs, environmental impact and practicality of the dry urine diverting toilets in the region and compare them to the conventional pit latrines.

The local partners will also form the nucleus of a future network for spreading and implementing ecological sanitation technology in the country. The project will conclude by drawing up a best practice document including implementation steps, construction and background information as well as concepts for wastewater management and sustainable water use.

Project goals – what does WECF want to achieve with this project?

The main goals of the project are to
  • Provide the basis for a country wide implementation of sustainable wastewater management
  • Develop a case study on dry urine diverting toilets for the region
  • Increase public awareness on local health and environmental issues
  • Develop a best practive handbook for ecological santiation
  • Support the public participation structures and methods of the local partners


Project implementation – how does WECF work to achieve the goals?

The project aims at providing direct consultancy for the local partners to develop, spread and implement ecological sanitation techniques in areas of Kyrgyzstan. This leads to a direct improvement of the quality of life of the affected population and a reduced local environmental impact.

Seminars and best practice presentations will provide for easily understood and simple solutions for improved wastewater management, sanitation and nutrient cycling. Acutal toilets and soil filters will be built to show citizens, local politicians and administrators the potential of ecolocial sanitation.

The emphasis on replication, best practice and the training of local persons gives the whole project a long-term outlook. The uncomplicated and effective sanitation technology will become more available and widespread in households around the country.

The following measures will be implemented to achieve the project goals:

1. Best practice facilities
  • Construction of 12 dry urine diverting toilets for demonstration and testing
  • Construction of 4 decentralised soil filters for demonstration and testing
  • Urine fertiliser is used in long-term field trials to assess effectiveness
2. Improving the competence of the local partners and local authorities in the area of sustainable wastewater management

3. Development of tools and methods for the replication best practice facilities
  • Development and availability of the case study for sustainable wastewater management
  • Development of a best practice handbook for constructing and using dry urine diverting toilets and soil filters as well as the sanitation and use of waste as a fertiliser
  • Presentation of the project results during a high level meeting with national policy and decision makers in Kyrgyzstan

Contacts

  • Farida Shorukova, Project Assistant: farida.shorukova(at)wecf.org
  • Gero Fedtke, Project Leader: gero.fedtke(at)wecf.org


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