MASTER'S THESIS - SuSanA

APPENDIX C – Site visits
Figure C.9: School for 380 students in commune Qelez
has no water supply (Niebel 2012)
The commune has prepared a feasibility study that prioritises the needs. Wastewater handling and solid
waste management are included, as it is stated by the law, but there is no hurry for projects, because there
is not even enough money for other projects that are considered more important.
2.3 Conclusion of village visit
The villages of the commune Qelez are located very far from each other and also the houses of the different
villages are very scattered. As people take drinking water from sources in the mountains there is no risk to
pollute the drinking water by wastewater discharge. If information is correct that people discharge their
wastewater into unlined pits it is at least guaranteed that the water is not running down the hill on the
surface but infiltrated into the ground. It can be assumed that the discharge of liquid into the ground is a
save solution as soil can absorb the pollution before water reaches any groundwater source. As the villages
are very poor and do not have money for any action, the situation will not be changed in the near future.
The reuse of excreta that is collected in the pit is a very good solution as the soil does not seem to be very
fertile. To prevent health risks for people that empty the pits, special training and education should be
implemented. Also gloves and protection material for the pit emptiers would be a helpful measure to
prevent contact with faeces as an infection source.
C.8