Developing countries could save billions of dollars if they start to invest in sanitation now, according to a new World Bank report which stated that investment in Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) in Asian countries would yield a rate of return from 30%-200%.
It added that between 1.3%-7.7% of Gross Domestic Product is lost because of a lack of sanitation. In five countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam, economic costs amounted to over $9.2 billion a year due to poor sanitation and hygiene (in 2005 prices).
"We know from the that poor sanitation has considerable negative economic consequences for societies," said WSP's economist Guy Hutton, author of the report. "We are looking at how much of these costs can be averted, and which are the sanitation interventions that can bring the greatest economic and financial benefits and at least cost,"he said.
"The data are confirming our story for which we had little concrete evidence up to now: That investment in sanitation is an efficient use of a society's resources," WSP Regional Team Leader for East Asia and the Pacific Almud Weitz added.
"Governments not only possess the economic evidence that supports increasing budget allocations towards reducing the millions of people currently living without access to sanitation, with the analysis of a variety of investment options, they will now also be able to decide what would be the best use of additional funding made available for the sector. There is no more excuse not to act," he said, as quoted by Xinhua newsagency.
The WSP is a multi-donor partnership created in 1978 and administered by the World Bank to support poor people in obtaining affordable, safe and sustainable access to water and sanitation services.
Showing posts with label sanitation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sanitation. Show all posts
Monday, February 1, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
UN, ADB recomend low cost Sulabh toilet
Experts from the United Nations and Asian Development Bank have asked developing nations to adopt the low cost Sulabh toilet to streamline their sanitation system.
"The Sulabh technology is one of the solutions to the sanitation crisis and this low cost Indian method should be utilised in developing countries," senior ADB official A Thapan said at a follow-up conference of the International Year of Sanitation being hosted in Tokyo by the UN and the Japanese government.
Thomas Steltzer, Assistant Secretary-General, UN, also advocated the Sulabh model for streamlining sanitation systems in developing and third world countries. Appreciating the work done by Sulabh in the field of sanitation, Chizuru Aoki of UN Environment Programme laid stress on the need for such kind of innovative toilet technology.
Sulabh Social Service Organisation developed a new technology for production and utilisation of biogas from human wastes for different purposes. Its founder, Bindeshwar Pathak, is participating in the conference which is seeking to explore how sustainable sanitation services can be delivered to every citizen in the world.
Another ADB representative Amy Siu Ping Leung hailed the role of Pathak in promoting toilets in slums, schools and small villages and emancipating scores of manual scavengers and named him the 'Champion of Sanitation'.
"The Sulabh technology is one of the solutions to the sanitation crisis and this low cost Indian method should be utilised in developing countries," senior ADB official A Thapan said at a follow-up conference of the International Year of Sanitation being hosted in Tokyo by the UN and the Japanese government.
Thomas Steltzer, Assistant Secretary-General, UN, also advocated the Sulabh model for streamlining sanitation systems in developing and third world countries. Appreciating the work done by Sulabh in the field of sanitation, Chizuru Aoki of UN Environment Programme laid stress on the need for such kind of innovative toilet technology.
Sulabh Social Service Organisation developed a new technology for production and utilisation of biogas from human wastes for different purposes. Its founder, Bindeshwar Pathak, is participating in the conference which is seeking to explore how sustainable sanitation services can be delivered to every citizen in the world.
Another ADB representative Amy Siu Ping Leung hailed the role of Pathak in promoting toilets in slums, schools and small villages and emancipating scores of manual scavengers and named him the 'Champion of Sanitation'.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
ADB funds Philippine river pollution study
The Asian Development Bank is jointly financing the study with Manila Water Company Inc to boost efforts to revive one of the Philippines' most polluted rivers. The Manila-based ADB is providing $300,000 for the six-month assessment of wastewater and sanitation needs along the Pasig River, the main waterway flowing through the capital city.
The bank said the study "should provide key information that will lead to the building of a wastewater treatment system" along the 27 km river, once a source of drinking water and fish, but now unable to support any life after receiving untreated municipal and industrial wastewater for decades, as well as solid waste.
"This study will assess what needs to be done to turn the Pasig River back into the healthy, thriving heart of the city that it once was,' said Philip Erquiaga, director general of ADB's private sector operations department.
The ADB said it was considering a loan to Manila Water for wastewater treatment system in the river, as part of its Pasig River Catchment Sewerage Project, once the study is completed. The bank said it is also providing $50,000 dollars for an education project to teach residents not to discharge waste in the river.
The bank has previously approved multimillion-dollar loans to help enhance water quality of tributaries and canals around the Pasig River and to promote redevelopment along its banks.
The bank said the study "should provide key information that will lead to the building of a wastewater treatment system" along the 27 km river, once a source of drinking water and fish, but now unable to support any life after receiving untreated municipal and industrial wastewater for decades, as well as solid waste.
"This study will assess what needs to be done to turn the Pasig River back into the healthy, thriving heart of the city that it once was,' said Philip Erquiaga, director general of ADB's private sector operations department.
The ADB said it was considering a loan to Manila Water for wastewater treatment system in the river, as part of its Pasig River Catchment Sewerage Project, once the study is completed. The bank said it is also providing $50,000 dollars for an education project to teach residents not to discharge waste in the river.
The bank has previously approved multimillion-dollar loans to help enhance water quality of tributaries and canals around the Pasig River and to promote redevelopment along its banks.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Europeans, Australians aid Vietnam Clean Water Program
Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the Embassy of Denmark and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on 22 January signed an agreement for non-refundable aid from the UK worth 17 million pounds. The DFID’s chief representative in Vietnam, Fiona Lappin, expressed her hope that the program will continue to grow in the next three years, focusing on environmental hygiene for the poor.
The assistance supports the second phase of the National Program for Clean Water and Rural Environmental Hygiene (2005-2010) sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Ministry of Development Cooperation, with a commitment worth $125 million.
The program has helped 79% of the rural population get access to clean water and 51% of households in the countryside to acquire hygienic toilets. To date, 75% of schools, 77% of medical stations, 67% of communal People’s Committee offices and 45% of public markets have used the program.
The assistance supports the second phase of the National Program for Clean Water and Rural Environmental Hygiene (2005-2010) sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Netherlands Ministry of Development Cooperation, with a commitment worth $125 million.
The program has helped 79% of the rural population get access to clean water and 51% of households in the countryside to acquire hygienic toilets. To date, 75% of schools, 77% of medical stations, 67% of communal People’s Committee offices and 45% of public markets have used the program.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
USA helped reduce diarrhea incidence in Indonesia through improving clean water and sanitation practices
The United States Agency for International Development has announced that is has helped Indonesia "dramatically reduce diarrhea incidence" in communities where clean water and sanitation practices were adopted. The number of people suffering from the water-borne disease dropped from 18.3% in February 2007 to 7.7% in June 2009, in Aceh, North Sumatra, West Java, Central Java/Yogyakarta, East Java, DKI Jakarta and Papua.
In preparing for a USAID workshop on clean water and sanitation, Mission Director Walter North noted that USAID’s Environmental Services Program (ESP) had made tremendous contributions to the improvement of better health through improved water resources management, and expanded access to clean water and sanitation services. ESP was a sixty-four month program that worked with government, private sector, NGOs, community groups and other stakeholders to promote better health through improved water resources management and expanded access to clean water and sanitation services.
“Unsafe drinking water is a major cause of diarrhea, the second leading killer of children under five. Three out of every ten Indonesians suffer from water-borne diseases,” said North. “Fortunately, in the last few years we have seen growing interest and support by all stakeholders to increase access to safe water for the people of Indonesia.”
The ESP also contributed to improvements in conservation management of 78,144 ha of forest area and rehabilitated 52,561 ha of degraded land to support the conservation of water resources. It helped more than 1.25 million people obtain access to clean water and 60,000 people to benefit from community sanitation services. Achieved in close collaboration with Indonesian government and civil society partners, ESP helped meet important Millennium Development Goals.
NFXW3HWH98YA
In preparing for a USAID workshop on clean water and sanitation, Mission Director Walter North noted that USAID’s Environmental Services Program (ESP) had made tremendous contributions to the improvement of better health through improved water resources management, and expanded access to clean water and sanitation services. ESP was a sixty-four month program that worked with government, private sector, NGOs, community groups and other stakeholders to promote better health through improved water resources management and expanded access to clean water and sanitation services.
“Unsafe drinking water is a major cause of diarrhea, the second leading killer of children under five. Three out of every ten Indonesians suffer from water-borne diseases,” said North. “Fortunately, in the last few years we have seen growing interest and support by all stakeholders to increase access to safe water for the people of Indonesia.”
The ESP also contributed to improvements in conservation management of 78,144 ha of forest area and rehabilitated 52,561 ha of degraded land to support the conservation of water resources. It helped more than 1.25 million people obtain access to clean water and 60,000 people to benefit from community sanitation services. Achieved in close collaboration with Indonesian government and civil society partners, ESP helped meet important Millennium Development Goals.
NFXW3HWH98YA
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Joint action urged for Indonesia's water woes
UNESCO has called for an integrated approach to Indonesia's problems of flooding and contamination of the water supply. During a workshop organized by the Sustainable Water Management Improves Tomorrow’s Cities Health group (Switch), Hubert Gijzen, director of Unesco’s Jakarta office, said the country had prioritized water crises in the past, but only “in an ad-hoc, incident-driven way. For instance, when it floods, suddenly everybody’s concerned about flooding. What we typically do is just channel the water as quickly as possible to the sea.”
“If we think of a clever solution, then it might be useful to keep water on the land and to retain it, allow it to recharge the aquifer so that we wouldn’t have land subsidence and we’d also have a sustainable water supply in the dry season,” he said, as quoted by The Jakarta Globe.
Indonesian cities regularly experience seasonal flooding during the rainy season and water shortages during the dry season. Reports of contamination by pathogens such as E. coli bacteria are also common.
Switch project manager Carol Howe said water issues were never discussed among different levels of government despite the fact that several different sectors were connected to the issue. She said different governmental departments never met to “really discuss water issues because, basically, they all have different goals.”
Agoes Widjanarko, secretary general of the Public Works Ministry, said the ministry worked with two major partners — the State Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Forestry — in conservation efforts such as protecting critical river. “We do not just deal with physical issues, but also with the ‘software,’ which is ensuring water sustainability, including ways to encourage people to preserve water themselves,” Agoes said.
“If we think of a clever solution, then it might be useful to keep water on the land and to retain it, allow it to recharge the aquifer so that we wouldn’t have land subsidence and we’d also have a sustainable water supply in the dry season,” he said, as quoted by The Jakarta Globe.
Indonesian cities regularly experience seasonal flooding during the rainy season and water shortages during the dry season. Reports of contamination by pathogens such as E. coli bacteria are also common.
Switch project manager Carol Howe said water issues were never discussed among different levels of government despite the fact that several different sectors were connected to the issue. She said different governmental departments never met to “really discuss water issues because, basically, they all have different goals.”
Agoes Widjanarko, secretary general of the Public Works Ministry, said the ministry worked with two major partners — the State Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Forestry — in conservation efforts such as protecting critical river. “We do not just deal with physical issues, but also with the ‘software,’ which is ensuring water sustainability, including ways to encourage people to preserve water themselves,” Agoes said.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
ASEAN focus on improving school health, water and sanitation
The Philippines Department of Education is hosting the 45th Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC) Conference and the 5th ASEAN Ministers of Education (ASED) Meeting on January 26-30, 2010 at Mactan Shangrila Hotel, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines.
The conference will discuss effective measures to provide access to quality education to Southeast Asians and attain the goals of Education for All (EFA). It will further discuss significant issues and concerns that would relate to the provision of basic education to the underprivileged children in Southeast Asian countries.
Strategies in improving school health, water and sanitation, setting up of new instructional delivery using the internet, and cooperation and quality assurance in higher education, will be focused on.
The conference will discuss effective measures to provide access to quality education to Southeast Asians and attain the goals of Education for All (EFA). It will further discuss significant issues and concerns that would relate to the provision of basic education to the underprivileged children in Southeast Asian countries.
Strategies in improving school health, water and sanitation, setting up of new instructional delivery using the internet, and cooperation and quality assurance in higher education, will be focused on.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Japan conference on beyond International Year of Sanitation
The Follow-up Conference of the International Year of Sanitation will be held on 26-27 January at the United Nations University, Tokyo.
Organised by the Government of Japan, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations University, the coneference's theme is “Beyond IYS – How can we deliver sustainable sanitation services to every citizen of the world?”
Attendees will include Ms Uschi Eid, Vice-Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) as well as experts from the Government of Japan, international organizations and civil society.
Organised by the Government of Japan, the Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations University, the coneference's theme is “Beyond IYS – How can we deliver sustainable sanitation services to every citizen of the world?”
Attendees will include Ms Uschi Eid, Vice-Chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) as well as experts from the Government of Japan, international organizations and civil society.
Poor sanitation conditions throughout Indonesia
Poor sanitation habits have led to the large-scale contamination of Indonesia’s water supplies which, in turn, has led to massive financial losses for the nation, Nugroho Tri Utomo, head of the department overseeing drinking water and waste at the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) has disclosed.
About 70 million people out of a population of 230 million defecate in the open, he told The Jakarta Globe, adding that many houses do not have septic tanks, or if they have a tank, it is not cleaned regularly.
This kind of behavior, Utomo said, has played a major role in the contamination of some 75% of the country’s drinking water, which is proving costly. “The worsening contamination means more [chemical] substances are needed to purify the water, which in turn forces water tariffs up,” he said.
The biggest cost is in terms of health; diseases such as diarrhea, dengue fever, typhus and cholera are strongly correlated with low sanitation standards. “Indonesia lost Rp 57 trillion [$6 billion] in 2008 due to health problems brought about by poor sanitation ... Medical costs and losses due to time off work related to poor sanitation are costing our country,” he said.
Utomo said data from Bappenas showed that some 100 cities in the country had urban drainage management problems. However, provincial and municipal governments are now allocating more funds to the issue. “Some regions have increased their budgets for sanitation to 4% [of the total budget],” he said.
About 70 million people out of a population of 230 million defecate in the open, he told The Jakarta Globe, adding that many houses do not have septic tanks, or if they have a tank, it is not cleaned regularly.
This kind of behavior, Utomo said, has played a major role in the contamination of some 75% of the country’s drinking water, which is proving costly. “The worsening contamination means more [chemical] substances are needed to purify the water, which in turn forces water tariffs up,” he said.
The biggest cost is in terms of health; diseases such as diarrhea, dengue fever, typhus and cholera are strongly correlated with low sanitation standards. “Indonesia lost Rp 57 trillion [$6 billion] in 2008 due to health problems brought about by poor sanitation ... Medical costs and losses due to time off work related to poor sanitation are costing our country,” he said.
Utomo said data from Bappenas showed that some 100 cities in the country had urban drainage management problems. However, provincial and municipal governments are now allocating more funds to the issue. “Some regions have increased their budgets for sanitation to 4% [of the total budget],” he said.
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