WASH Forum: Present situation of DEWATS and FSM in some of Asian and Asia Pacific countries

WASH Forum: Present situation of DEWATS and FSM in some of Asian and Asia Pacific countries

Paschim Paaila in collaboration with ENPHO successfully conducted 29^th series of WASH Forum, an interaction program entitled, “Present situation of Decentralized Waste Water Treatment System (DEWATS) and Faecal Sludge Management (FSM) in some of Asian and Asia Pacific countries” on 25^th April, 2014 at ENPHO Hall, Thapagaun, Kathmandu. 

Dr. Saroj Kumar Chapagain, Senior Research Engineer at Environmental Engineering and Management School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand was the key speaker during the program. The main objective of the program was to share and know about DEWATS and FSM in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Altogether, 35 youths from different organizations, institutions and different youth networks actively participated in the discussion program.

Mr. Roshan Chaulagain, Advocacy Coordinator of Paschim Paaila introduced about WASH Forum highlighting its objectives which was then followed by the welcome speech by Dr. Suman K. Shakya, Executive Director of ENPHO. Dr. Shakya shared, “This kind of interaction program play vital role for advocacy and for sensitizing youths on the issues. This forum is the platform for the youths.” Meanwhile, Mr. Bipin Dangol, Program Manager of ENPHO introduced the resource person and further highlighted the importance and necessity of DEWATS and FSM for developing countries like Nepal.  

Dr. Chapagain, shared the methodologies and current practices of the management of feacal sludge in Asian countries through decentralized wastewater treatment system. Dr. Chapagain mainly focused on onsite sanitation and its technologies prevalent in Thailand. The program was very interactive and new technologies were introduced to the participants. “At present there is no National policy for sewerage management in Nepal so feacal sludge management is the most challenging task for advocating at National level and for implementing as well.” informed by Mr. Dangol.

Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Network Coordinator of Paschim Paaila delivered vote of thanks to the resource person and to the participants and finally concluded the program by appreciating the resource person by token of love. 

WASH FORUM (monthly talk program)

WASH FORUM (monthly talk program)

June Series

Talk program on“Fecal Sludge Management – Current Need for Sustainable Sanitation”

WASH Forum is monthly talk programme on issues related to WASH, Environment sanitation and Disaster. On 28^th June 2013, with the mutual effort of Paschim Paaila and Environment and Public Health Organization (ENPHO), 23rd series of WASH Forum was successfully conducted in ENPHO hall with the facilitation of Mr. Roshan Chaulagain.

Mr. Bipin Dangol, Programme Manager, ENPHO was the key speaker of June series in which there were total 45 participants from different organizations, colleges and institutions . The main objectives of this series was to provide an opportunity for social interaction and knowledge sharing on fecal sludge management and to analyze critically the issues of current  fecal sludge for sustainable sanitation.

This topic is new in the context of Nepal. During the program he highlighted important information related to Fecal Sludge Management and Sustainable Sanitation. He also discussed about sanitation and current practice in Nepal. According to Census Report; among 100%, only 62% Household have their own toilet (Sewerage 8.3%, Ordinary toilet 19.5%, Septic tank 33.5%) and remaining 38% are without having toilet. He also presented the fact, Average volume of fecal sludge generated per year in Kathmandu valley is 76,600m3\year.

After completion of his Presentation part, floor was open for discussion. Different queries were raised and solved regarding the issues of social acceptance and space management for septic tank. On a question ‘What are the strategy plan of government to manage fecal sludge? ’, Mr. Dangol answered that Nepal Government has not made any strategy plan for fecal sludge management till now. The management of fecal sludge by promoting ECOSAN Toilet, off site sanitation was discussed in the mean time. He concluded the session with the Note“Policy is most important for sustainable sanitation”.

Meanwhile, the winner of Facebook photo Competition entitled “My effort to save environment, was announced . The winner of competition was Mr. Anish Sapkota from Bhairawa, and awarded a Token of Love, which was facilitated by Ms. Manusha Thapaliya, Media coordinator, Paschim Paaila. Also the upcoming events of Paschim Paaila were shared by Mr. Buddha Bajracharya, Campaign coordinator of Paschim Paaila. At the ending, Ms. Merina Shakya, Network coordinator of Paschim Paaila appreciated the efforts of Mr. Dangol and handed over the Token of Love which was followed by group photo.
                                                                                                                 - Karuna Bhattarai