Technology alternatives for developing countries

1
Technology alternatives for developing countries

• JN Bhagwan
• Director Water Use and Waste Management
• Water Research Commission

2
Introduction

• WSS related diseases such as diarrheoa, cholera,
  malaria, bilharzia take more lives than any other
  diseases
• The poor and children are most vulnerable
• 15 African children die every 10 minutes
• 800 000 deaths per year
• Millions more fall sick, which rob strength and
  vitality
• WSS provides the most effective barrier against
  these diseases
• Some two billion people in developing countries
  lack adequate sanitation.
• In the low-income high-density areas, some four
  billion people lack wastewater treatment that is,
  around two-thirds of the worlds population.
• The question then how can we meet the WSSD goals
  ?

3
Limitation of conventional technologies in
developing areas

• Centralised to provide economies of scale,
  however requires large quantities of resources to
  operate
• More cost effective to operate few large works
  than many smaller works, yet offers very little
  flexibility and decentralization
• Fewer skilled staff required, however those
  skills are hard to obtain and retain.
• High capital costs, very little flexibility in
  size and design horizon is long, mainly 20-30
  years
• Highly efficient and reliable, but high energy
  and OM costs
• Suited to environments where resources are not a
  constraint, water abundance etc. Most developing
  areas are water stressed/lack resources

4
Water supply, but no drainage.
Sewerage but no treatment
Cannot find it, poor infrastructure management