PCWS

Improving the water supply, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) situation of the poorest communities in the Philippines

PCWS engages in interrelated activities of a bigger effort combining

policy recommendation, awareness raising, capacity building,

hygiene promotion, environmental protection, and strengthening

partnerships to ensure access to potable water and improved

sanitation in communities.

PCWS

PCWS (www.itnphil.org.ph) used to be known as International Training Network (ITN) when it started in 1990 as a project of the Netherlands-based International Institute of Infrastructure, Hydraulics and Environmental Engineering (IHE). From 1990 to 1998 ITN was funded by the Dutch Government. Towards the end of Dutch Government funding support in 1998, the remaining personnel registered the project organization with the Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission as Philippine Center for Water and Sanitation – The ITN Foundation. Since 1998, PCWS has been supporting itself through its professional fees obtained from training, technical support, research, advocacy and consultancy services provided to UN agencies, local governments, NGOs, national government agencies, corporations, and communities.

PCWS

This presentation is about PCWS’ experiences in working with

communities in the Philippines …

• Community resiliency is reinforced by introducing low-cost water supply and

sanitation technology options applicable to the local situation.

• PCWS safeguards the human right to water and sanitation by building the

capacity of communities to sustainably manage their water supply and

sanitation resources.

• Skills in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of water supply,

sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems are transferred to local people through

hands-on trainings.

Low-cost Water,

Sanitation, and

Hygiene (WASH)

Technologies

PCWS

PCWS

Water and sanitation systems need not be expensive.

They must offer quick solutions and encourage innovations.

Ferro-cement Construction Technique • An alternative to costly conventional concrete construction

• Closely-spaced mortar and small diameter reinforcement: wires, meshes

• Costs 65-85% less than conventional reinforced concrete

• Reusable molders – makes replication easier and cheaper

• Curved shapes = stronger structures

PCWS

Water & Sanitation Technology Options

PCWS

Water & Sanitation Technology Options

PCWS

Water & Sanitation Technology Options

PCWS

Material Cost: PhP 1,500 to 2,000 per unit Labor Cost: PhP 1,000 to 1,500 per unit Mold Fabrication Cost: PhP 1,500 to 2,000 per mold set

Water & Sanitation Technology Options

PCWS

• Purifies water up to 99.9 % • Easy to build and use • Minimal maintenance • Per unit materials and installation

cost: PhP 500.00

Water & Sanitation Technology Options

PCWS

A 4-cubic meter capacity biogas digester can serve as communal septic tank for 6 household toilets.

Biogas digester septic tanks built in wetland communities produce clean energy for cooking and

serves as an alternative to mangroves being cut for fuel.

• Material Cost: PhP 2,000 to 2,500 per cubic meter

• Labor Cost: PhP 1,500 to 2.000 per cubic meter

• Mold Fabrication Cost: PhP 1,000 to 1,500 per cubic meter

Water & Sanitation Technology Options

PCWS

Wastewater is a resource that can be collected, treated using natural

processes, stored, and used for food production and horticulture.

A simplified, low-cost wastewater treatment plant composed of biogas

digester, anaerobic filter, gravel filter, planted gravel filter and lotus pond

designed for small spaces

Parts of a wastewater treatment plant • Biogas digester • Settler • Filters - Up-flow gravel filter - Planted gravel filter - Sand filter • Lotus/fish pond

Water & Sanitation Technology Options for Small Islands

PCWS

Parts of a small household-scale wastewater treatment plant: gravel filter, planted gravel filter, and sand filter integrated into the fish pond

The process

of treating

wastewater

can beautify

shared social

spaces and

enable people

to grow

vegetables

and

ornamental

plants.

PCWS

PCWS

A low-cost wastewater treatment facility for institutions and households with limited resources can take various forms and designs based on available space and other resources, as well as whether the community is water logged or flood prone.

Building the community’s capacity to construct, operate, sustain, innovate and scale-up low-cost wastewater treatment systems can become a shared goal.

It is hoped that this initiative could encourage other innovative community-based researches, ideas and analysis that would benefit especially those with limited resources.

IMPLICATIONS and

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Enforcement of Clean Water Act using this simplified

low-cost wastewater treatment technology.

• Backyards and corridors can be converted into useful

spaces for aesthetics, waste management, horticulture,

food production and environmental protection efforts.

• Sustainability of water and sanitation infrastructures --

such as a simple wastewater treatment facility -- would

also need social infrastructures such as citizens that

are aware and protective of the land, people powered

efforts initiated by households and communities, etc.

Even a small area of land can make a massive

difference as it can link together protected forests,

wetlands and other vital ecosystems that still survive.

IMPLICATIONS and

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Going green requires shifts in mind set

and policy, as well as significant

financing.

• Take this initiative forward … Support

and finance efforts for more pilot

testing and up-scaling of practical

technologies useful to low-income

communities with limited resources.

Some Ways to make Community Water and Sanitation Systems

Resilient against Threats and Climate Change:

PCWS

• Practice household water treatment and safe storage.

• Ensure there are diverse water

sources available and protect them from pollution.

• Treat wastewater for

environmental protection and water conservation .

• Avoid drilling of more wells. • Promote environmental

sanitation and hygiene to avoid polluting water resources.

• Reduce overall water demand

and use water more efficiently. • Increase participation of

community members in decision-making on water resources management.

Some Ways to make Community Water and Sanitation Systems

Resilient against Threats and Climate Change:

PCWS

• Rainwater harvesting is one way of coping with uncertainty amidst

climate change.

• Other ways of ensuring community resiliency:

- Promoting informal, small-scale water and sanitation systems

- Greater understanding of the options for storing water

- Creating and maintaining a strong association focused

on water, sanitation and energy concerns

- Reducing the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

- More efficient and sustainable water management

- Using simple technologies to improve

water and energy resources management

- Minimizing groundwater extraction and recharging it

with rainwater

- Soil and water conservation

- Tapping personal and social capacities:

simplified lifestyle,

technical and organizational self-sufficiency

- Undertake researches that build upon indigenous knowledge

pertaining to the provision and maintenance of energy

systems for remote rural islands.

Salamat po!

(Thank you!)

PCWS