Wastewater Management
The Gibe III hydro-power project, with its potential to
double the current electric power generating capacity of the
country, is a key part of Ethiopia’s five-year Growth and
Transformation Plan (GTP) that aims at making Ethiopia a
middle-income country by 2025.
However, serious concerns abound as to how modernization
and development should accommodate the interests and
values of indigenous communities.
Yared and Argaw criticize the government’s “noninclusive and non-participatory policy planning and
implementations.” Argaw also argued that what has been
done in the Lower Omo Valley was “largely a top-down
political decision without joint consultation and planning
involving the concerned communities.”
“The government can’t ensure sustainable development
while at the same time disregarding the interests and needs
of lots of marginalized local populations,” said Argaw,
adding that the Ethiopian government wants indigenous
peoples to be “wage labourers in commercial farms sooner
or later.”
Edited by Lisa Vives/Phil Harris
Source: Inter Press Service
Global Wastewater Initiative
W
astewater is a global concern. When poorly managed
it has a direct impact on the biological diversity of
aquatic ecosystems, disrupting the integrity of life-support
systems, upon which a wide range of sectors from urban
development to food production and industry depend. It
also leads to the loss of ecosystem services and economic
opportunities. Wastewater-related emissions such as
greenhouse gas are more harmful than carbon dioxide
and contribute to climate change. However, a major driver
for implementing effective wastewater management is
that wastewater is a resource. Indeed, properly managed
wastewater is a substantial source of water (even the
strongest domestic sewage is more than 99% water) and
nutrients for crop production. Wastewater sludge can be
used as a soil conditioner and fertilizer, in construction and
to generate biogas and biofuel. Despite these advantages,
there is a common perception that managing wastewater
is a waste of energy and money. UNEP is trying to change
that perception.
UNEP has therefore launched a multiple stakeholder
platform – the Global Wastewater Initiative (GWI)
– comprising UN agencies, governments, private
sectors, scientists, academia, private sectors, industries
and international organizations. GWI will provide the
foundations (including information, tools and policy
mechanisms) for partnerships to implement comprehensive,
effective and sustained programmes to address wastewater
management, prompt coordinated action and encourage
new investments in wastewater management. GWI intends
to bring about a paradigm shift in global water politics to
prevent further pollution and damage, and highlight the
importance of wastewater as a valuable resource for future
water security.
Major initiatives currently under implementation are:
• Economic Valuation of Wastewater
• Good Practices of Wastewater Management and
Reuse
• e-book and Factsheet (Wastewater laws, norms and
regulation)
• Technology matrix of (innovative) Wastewater
related treatment technologies and a guidance
document.
Source: United Nations Environmental Programme
Africa Water, Sanitation & Hygiene • July - August 2015
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