Project Results
I. First progress report (March 30, 2009):
Activities undertaken:
1. Building capacity of target population on relates subjects of environment: GEF SGP, solid waste management, composting and bio-fertilizer
2. Conducting survey to identify proper sites for installation of filter pits
Results of activities:
1. Confirmed interest and participation of target population witnessed through eagerly sharing idea to improve and modify technicality of the subjects
2. Acquired technical assistance from the Royal Irrigation Department who is a major stakeholder in project location
3. Six project members volunteering to produce ionic plasma for demonstration
Project Communication:
During the period, the project had not carried out much on communication , except through personal communication with community leaders and local government offices .
Experience and Lessons Learnt:
1. The original design of filter pits was not exactly compatible to the condition or terrain of the project thus require modification of the design. The idea for modification came from project members.
2. Winning support from majority of community members required successful demonstration of the project which project leaders were working on and were committed to provide close assistances ,upon requests from interested members.
3. As the reporting period fell on a canvassing season of the municipality, assistances from the municipality and official community leaders were rather limited.
Project Expense:
The project report the expense of THB: 217,000 out of the first disbursement of THB:342,740.52.
II. Second progress report (September 30, 2009):
Activities undertaken:
1. Building capacity of target population on canal watch
2. Demonstrating waste management approach for reuse/recycle at both household and community level
3. Launching monitor of water quality ? physically, biologically and chemically
Results of activities:
1. Formulated plans for water quality monitoring with the first batch of sample being collected with approximately 1,500 litres of ionic plasma being produced for community use
2. Eight community schools in project location demonstrating conservation awareness through initiating production of ionic plasma and garbage bank
3. Approximately 1.5 tons of solid waste and 1.2 tons of unwanted plants being managed
4. Sixteen households being equipped with filter pits
Project Communication:
1. On March 26-27, the group together with the Metropolitan Water Work Authority , was invited to launch an exhibition on ? Water Knows No Frontier? , at Muangthongthani, a public convention centre.
2. Project activities titling ? Synergy for Water Protection? were aired on Television Channel 9 on August 12, 2009 for one hour.
Experience and Lessons Learnt:
1. Persistent campaign was necessary to secure cooperation from communities who were used to disposing waste carelessly.
2. Before going out seeking collaboration or support from other public organizations, the project must be better equipped with data and information. This could save a lot of times and unnecessary additional burden.
Project Expense:
The project report the accumulated expense of THB: 706,000 out of the sum of first & second disbursement of THB: 694,322.15.
III. Monitoring visit by the NSC and University UNV (January 15, 2010)
Findings and Observations:
At the project location in Moo 6 Phatthana Community, the visiting team interacted with and witnessed project activities carried out by the project. Through natural and simple approach, waste water from communities has been taken care of in this neighborhood located in the surroundings of one of the several canals draining into the Chao Phraya River. Since the project started, waste water is treated by locally-designed filtration system.
Every filter pit consists on two phases; the first one is used for filtering big solids, and the second one for finishing cleaning the suspended solids remaining. The filter pits work by gravity system drainage. The waste goes into the first tank through a big particles filter where big solids are deposited. At the bottom of this tank, particles precipitation takes place; meanwhile, the already filtered water goes into the next tank by gravity.
At the beginning, the project?s stakeholders found some difficulties while trying to set up the filter pits due to the gravity flow. The project tried to implement one filter pit per household, but after introducing 20, it realized that not all of them worked properly due to differences in elevation of location. So in the end, it was concluded that establishing common collectors would be better. Every collector would filter water waste from 30 households. So far, they have finished one collector, the second one is under construction and there is another one expected to come soon.
Apart from the filter pits, they use Ionic Plasma as a method for clarifying the water. Ionic Plasma is a natural substance obtained by a fermentation process of vegetables, fruits and molasses. The fermentation process creates a group of micro-organisms that can solve pollution and bad smell problems coming, for example, from the kitchen or animal dens.
Ionic Plasma was produced by the local inhabitants themselves by putting the organic waste into an oxygen-free tank (anaerobic process) and keeping it closed for 30-45 days. Every month, about 1,000 liters of Ionic Plasma was produced, selling price in the community is THB:9/ litre, THB: 25 / liter in bigger markets, and, sometimes free for community members who wanted to try to see how it works. There are also some companies in the area, among them companies that produce spare parts of cars, beer and prebuilt houses, which buy ionic plasma from the community to decrease the pollutants being dumped into canals. It was cheaper in long-term than using chemicals, according to project leaders. In addition, the Ionic Plasma had led to the production of bio-fertilizers ,a by-products, that can be used for fertilizing soils.
To test the water quality, people from the community take a sample of water every Sunday and measure some variables, especially, Dissolved Oxygen (DO). Other parameters such as pH, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Solid Dissolved (TSS), Suspended Solids (SS) and Electrical Conductivity (EC) are said to be taken care by other stakeholders.
The first tank of the filter pit is cleaned every year, and bio-fertilizer can also be produced from these sediments. They also have to clean the second tank, but every month, because this one is where fat and oils precipitate, and it gets dirty much more easily.
Capacity building among target population can be observed. Increased technical capacity and understanding of the project among all the communities participating in the project is evinced through relating stories about the essence of project and sources of fund in a received briefing at the arrival. Additional gained of technical experience of project leaders and capability to resolve new problems and issues. A learning center has been established to increase awareness among environmental issues and producing ionic plasma and filter pits. The activities include capacity building through trainings & seminars, demonstrating approaches through projects and formulating strategies for better manage the waste water.
Note: Metropolitan Waterworks Authority kindly reimbursed the amount of THB: 3,000 for the visiting team meals and transport to the project location.
