1. GWP CEE Sustainable Sanitation
Programme
Sustainable Sanitation Workshop
04 - 05 April 2014, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Darja Istenič, PhD
Sustainable sanitation TF

2. Sustainable Saniataion TF overview
• Sanitation in CEE region
– Lack of sanitation in small settlements
- 30% of population lives in settlements with less than 2000 inhabitants (=
42 Mio people)
- 9% of these are so far connected to WWTP
- Pollution of surface and groundwater → drinking water → water related
diseases
- Lack of awareness, knowledge and application of good managerial and
operational practices
- According to EU Urban wastewater Directive, WWTP for settlements < 2000
PE are not obligatory
- BUT countries are obliged to meet the goals of WFD – to achieve good
status of waters

3. Sustainable Saniataion TF overview
• Problem of sanitation in small settlements has been
recognized
– The need for implementation and proper management of small scale
sanitation systems
– Adjustment of legislation – according to specific needs of the environment

4. Sustainable Saniataion TF overview
• Aims and scope of sustainable sanitation TF
– To increase the knowledge on sanitation planning and possible WW treatment
technologies
– Overcome legal, institutional and financial barriers for implementation
• How to do it
– Trainings, workshops, promotion of existing and production of new literature,
guidelines, web-sites, internet courses, cooperation with stakeholders etc.
– Implementation of pilot projects
• Trends
– Promotion of natural wastewater treatment approaches as sustainable solutions
– Taking into account specific geographical, social and economic conditions of
individual country
– Developing of new ideas and approaches on how to tackle the problem

5. Sustainable Saniataion TF overview
• 2007: Preparation of a book on Sustainable Sanitation in small and medium
settlements in CEE
– Translated into 11 national languages of CEE
– Available online: GWP CEE website
• 2008-2010: Promotion of the book at international conferences
• 2010-2011: Attempts of organizing internet training course for country experts
• 2011: An idea to prepare a technical guidebook on natural wastewater treatment
systems in rural areas
• 2011: Questionnaire on actual status on natural wastewater treatment in rural
areas of CEE countries
• 2012: Questionnaire study published (available online)
• 2013: Promotion of the Questionnaire study at an international conference
• 2013-2014: Completion of the guidebook Extensive technologies of wastewater
treatment – Natural Ways of Wastewater treatment

6. Results of the questionnaire study
• Prevailing WW
treatment in small
settlements:
– Septic tanks
– Activated sludge
systems
– Natural treatment
systems

7. Legislation demands

8. Activities in 2013 - 2014
• Completion of the guidebook „Extensive technologies of wastewater
treatment – Natural Ways of Wastewater treatment“
- The book is published Czech and English language
- It is peer reviewer by 2 reviewers – experts in natural and extensive
treatment technologies
- Foreword is written by prof. Jan Vymazal (Czech expert for constructed
wetlands)
- Now available on CDs for dissemination
• Guidebook summary on 10 pages and translation into all languages of CEE
- Planned but currently on hold
- Promotion of the book

9. Activities in 2013 - 2014
• Cooperation with WECF (UNECE – Protocol on water and
health)
- Policy paper on small scale water supply and sanitation in the pan
European region (WHO/UNECE publication)
- Target groups: decision makers on regional, national and local level;
policy arena
- Goal: to highlight the need for explicit programmes and policies to
improve SSWSS; to stress the need for inter-institutional collaboration
- Chapters:
- Legislation; Organizational framework and partnership; Financial aspects;
Standards; Networking; Education and qualifications; Awareness rising;
Access to information and public participation; Water Safety Plan, Resource
protection; Sanitation zoning; Surveillance; Reuse; Household treatment
- Publication in the end of the year

10. Activities in 2013 - 2014
• Preparation of project proposal
- Initiative of GWPO
- Global Water and Climate Programme (WCP) funds
- Based on the outcomes of Questionnaire study on small scale wastewater
treatment in CEE and work plans of sustainable sanitation TF
- Project title: Awareness rising and capacity building on sustainable water
supply and sanitation solutions for small settlements
- Drinking water – wastewater cycle
- Application was not successful
- The topic was not suitable for WCP funds
- Other calls to apply to

11. Project proposal
• Background
- 30 % of the overall population lives in the settlements with less than 2000
(42 Mio people). Only around 9 % of these are so far connected to
wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
- There is a lack of awareness, knowledge and application of good practices
in sanitation planning and available wastewater treatment technologies.
- The project aims at overcoming institutional and legislation barriers for
sustainable SSWSS solutions and at wider application of natural WWTPs
in CEE.
- Water supply and sanitation have to be addressed and solved as one
single issue (integrated approach) → sustainable water security.

12. Project proposal – work packages
• WP1: Increasing awareness and knowledge; capacity development
– Activity 1.1: Training of trainers on sustainable SSWSS policy and
planning
• Tailored training course in order to provide knowledge foundation on sustainable
SSWSS planning and policy preparation;
• Target groups: experts from SustSan TF, national experts from government
organizations; one or two trainers from each CEE country
• Training in cooperation with seecon gmbh and selected GWP CEE SustSan experts
(capacity building team)
• 3 day training

13. Project proposal – work packages
– Activity 1.2: National workshops on sustainable SSWSS
• To transfer gained knowledge from ToT to national/local level; transversal
networking between different levels of stakeholders
• Target group: national and local authorities, consulting companies from water
supply and sanitation sector, research and development institutions
• 2-day workshop in each CEE country for approximately 40 people
– Activity 1.3: Translation of the guidebook „Extensive technologies of
wastewater treatment“ into selected languages
• Now it is prepared in Czech and English language
• Ukrainian and Romanian were suggested
• With translation to Ukrainian and Romanian, the book will reach stakeholders in
two largest CEE countries with evident deficit of such literature.

14. Project proposal – work packages
• WP2: Overcoming institutional and legal barriers
– Activity 2.1: Regional workshop on sustainable SSWSS in CEE region
• To increase knowledge of policy makers on SSWSS, available solutions and needed
steps for their application
• Target groups: representatives of the Ministries and other governmental bodies
from all CEE countries and trans-boundary organizations
• 2-day workshop for approximately 40 people

15. Project proposal – work packages
• WP3: Demonstration Projects
– Activity 3.1: Design and construction of two small scale natural
WWTPs
• According to the results of questionnaire study, it is suggested to implement one
demonstration plant in Ukraine and second one in Romania, due to these countries have
the least examples of natural WWTP.
• Direct educational impact by learning by doing
• WWTP for marginal groups (schools, hospitals, Roma settlements…)
– Activity 3.2: Design and implementation of WSP development
• Introduction of water safety plan approach
• 2 pilot plants / demonstrations in two selected CEE countries for marginal groups
– Activity 3.3: Promotion and follow up of the pilot plants
• Excursions to pilot plants for schools, policy and decision makers, local communities
• Promotion and communication through local media

16. Project proposal – work packages
• WP4: Dissemination
– Activity 4.1: Preparation and promotion of the awareness rising
brochure in all CEE languages
• A summary of the guidebook on extensive technologies, presenting advantages of
natural WWTP and their types; including good examples of legal, institutional and
administrative solutions that enhance implementation of these systems
• Promotion of IWRM ToolBox and WSP
• Target group: decision makers at national and local level
– Activity 4.2: Website and social media
• Promotion of project activities and literature
– Activity 4.3: Dissemination of project activities and results
• Through fora, CWPs, GWP partners using different media (radio, TV, newspaper)
• Leaflet, video

17. Project proposal – work packages
• WP5: Project management and governance
– Activity 5.1: Project management
• Project coordination and management
• Project team will be appointed: project manager, steering committee, regional
coordinator, communication officer and financial officer

18. Project proposal
• Timeframe
– 3 year project
• Budget
– 0,7 Mio €
• Organization
– Organizations responsible for each task should be defined

20. Discussion
• Sustainable sanitation TF
– Aims and scope
– How to do it
– Trends, highlights
• Project proposal
– Problems to be solved
– Solutions to the problems
– Goals

21. Discussion: Project proposal – next steps
• Adaptation/upgrade of the contents
• Definition of organizations interested in application →
formation of consortia
• Identification of potential funding opportunities
– Find a call
– Adaptation of the contents to the needs of the call
– Formation of appropriate consortia
– …

22. • WP1: Increasing awareness and knowledge; capacity development
– Activity 1.1: Training of trainers on sustainable SSWSS policy and planning
• Longer training?
• Scopes and aims?
• Target groups?
– Activity 1.2: National workshops on sustainable SSWSS
• Way of training
• Target groups?
– Activity 1.3: Translation of the guidebook „Extensive technologies of wastewater
treatment“ into selected languages
• Is it needed?
• Which languages?
– New activities?
• …

23. • WP2: Overcoming institutional and legal barriers
– Activity 2.1: Regional workshop on sustainable SSWSS in CEE region
• Type of meeting – conference, workshop, extend, internationally sound…
• WP3: Demonstration Projects
– Activity 3.1: Design and construction of two small scale natural WWTPs
• Need to show innovative solutions
• More pilot plants (different designs) – which technologies to show?
• RTD component; nutrient and water cycling, reuse, WW as a resource…
• Target countries and stakeholders
– Activity 3.2: Design and implementation of WSP development
• Target countries and stakeholders
• The way of demonstration
– Activity 3.3: Promotion and follow up of the pilot plants
– Activity 5.1: Project management
– New activities?

24. • WP4: Dissemination
– Activity 4.1: Preparation and promotion of the awareness rising brochure in all CEE
languages
– Activity 4.2: Website and social media
• What contents do we want to promote?
– Activity 4.3: Dissemination of project activities and results
– New activities?
• WP5: Project management and governance
– Activity 5.1: Project management

25. What else do we need to point out?
• Sludge management and reuse
• Water recycling and reuse
• Promoting natural treatment systems
• Common problems and goals of the region?
• Preparation of guidelines for implementation
of SSWSS

26. Thank you for attention!
• Prepared by Darja Istenič
• darja@limnos.si