MASTER'S THESIS - SuSanA

8 Development of a guideline for the implementation of small size wastewater treatment plants
Presentation of small and medium size sanitation technology:
• The guideline should present technical solutions for rural areas. A pre-selection for different areas
would be helpful (e.g. areas along the coastline have different problems and needs than villages in
the mountain area). Included should be a presentation of the different components (collection,
transport, treatment, discharge) of a sanitation system for on-site and centralised solutions.
• A presentation of at least three small size sanitation systems according to different village types can
be helpful, like examples that are given in the following:
◦ Mountain area without big treatment needs: pits or septic tanks combined with soak pit
◦ Area with higher treatment requirements and dense settlements: centralised treatment, like
ponds and constructed wetlands with pre-treatment
◦ Areas with higher treatment requirements and scattered houses: on-site solutions, as septic
tanks (emptied by sucking vehicle) and on-site constructed wetlands with pre-treatment
◦ Areas along the coastline with water shortages: constructed wetlands with pre-treatment
Financial aspects:
• The guideline should give answer about the costs of wastewater treatment technologies and how to
keep them low. Costs include design and planning, construction, operation and maintenance as well
as depreciation.
8.2 Socio-economical part
The socio-economical part of the guideline should cover all the aspects belonging to people's commitment
to a wastewater treatment project and the acceptance of the selected technical solution. The income
situation and the real needs of the population have to be considered.
Commitment, acceptance and sustainablility:
• The guideline needs to show the necessity of involving people in the planning and decision making
processes. Only if people are committed to the implementation of a wastewater treatment
technology, they will use and accept it. This is necessary to make it sustainable and find the solution
that is most appropriate to the needs and wishes of the users.
• Construction and other costs have to be adapted to the income situation of the local people. People
need to be able to pay the tariffs.
• Ways to establish local involvement should be presented (forming local committee, user groups,
etc.).
• Description of the correlation of design and people's acceptance has to be provided (people want
to have indoor toilets; solutions installed underground are nearly not visible and therefore easier to
be accepted; etc.).
• Guideline can show how the construction phase can bring local employment.
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