Project Detail

Water and Sanitation for Health and Environment (WASHE)

The project aims to reduce stress on the Indus delta water body through successful demonstration of sustainable water use and improved sanitation practices in the coastal communities of Thatta district.

Wastewater disposal has been a major major issue of Keti Bundar Town. The town is surrounded by the Arabian Sea from three sides. The natural ground level in parts of the town is below the normal sea level and during high tides the difference in level rises upto 5? high. The town is protected by a bund against the seawater constructed by the Government. Four outlets have been provided in the western side of the town for the disposal of communal wastewater and rainwater to the sea. These outlets work only during low tides when the water level in the sea is lower then the ground level of the town. No proper waste disposal system is available. The wastewater from the community houses is let flow into the streets that form seas pools in depressions and open grounds breeding mosquitoes.

+ View more

Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Aga Khan Foundation

Country:

Pakistan

Area Of Work:

International Waters

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 50,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 306,070.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 21,815.00

Project Number:

PAK/03/49

Start Date:

7/2003

End Date:

6/2005

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

A pilot demonstration of street surface drainage channel would be developed, and physical work undertaken to develop a street surface drainage for one street (connecting around 50-80 households) as a demo for replication in the entire village in future. This activity will succeed the formation of a community organization at Mohalla level to maintain and sustain the drainage channel from their own resources at a later stage.

Gender Focus

As users, and generally with prevailing responsibility of maintaining household and household infrastructure (in terms of minor repairs and cleaning), and sometimes with additional responsibility of maintaining housing stock and other related activities, women are the main target, and the main beneficiaries of these interventions. Women would be encouraged to assist and guide WASHE on sitting of household latrines, street surface drainage layout, wastewater disposal layout, and locations for installation of home improvement products. Women will also be involved in construction and usage of improved household products. Also formal/informal education to women on domestic health and hygience with focus on sustinable water use and indoor smoke related hazards would be imparted.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Awareness raising activities regarding preservation of fresh water, water wasteage, reuse of wastewater, water contamination and pollution, health, hygience and environmental issues etc., will include awarreness campaigns through field level briefing sessions, on the site demonstrations, workshops, mini models, leaflets, media, and institutional collaborations with local CBO's and community participation on a self help basis.

Notable Community Participation

Layout of the wastewater disposal scheme and construction channels would be identified in participation with the community members, particularly women, where the community members will also provide space for septic tanks and unskilled labour. WASHE will provide technical expertise, consturction supervision, construction materials and skilled technicians for the wastewater disposal scheme and the potential wastewater treatment plant.

Capacity - Building Component

Local craftsmen, technicians and entrepreneurs will be provided on the job techical training during the wastewater disposal system works, construction of latrines and installation of home improvement products. some skilled technicians / laborers would be trained as master craftsmen. Other artisans of a lowe level of skills would be targeted as assistants or sub-contractors of the master craftsmen. Overall, an anticipated 20-30 such craftsmen (including 5-10 women as health and hygience educators) are expected to be trained in various skills.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The WASEP approach provdes not only the physical infrasctructure and promotion of proper sanitation practices but also attemtps to ensure long term sustainability of operation and maintenance of the system. As a part of the Terms of Partnership (ToP), the village community must take the responsibility of operating and maintaining of the scheme, once WASEP installs the infrastracture and manage maintenance fund to pay for the salaries of part time staff (operators and monitors) as well as the purchase of a stock of spare parts.

Project Results

The project was successful in the design and implementation of a mohalla level waste disposal system with technical feasibility of village level system. A complete plan of waste disposal system for the village was prepared with complete technical details. Community was fully involved in the planning of this master plan identifying individual households, location of streets, public and private lands, area allocated for various communal facilities etc. In a joint meeting with all Mohalla leaders the Memon Mohalla was selected for this pilot project where the project constructed about 45 compost latrines and wastewater treatment system covering 100% households of the mohalla. Upon the successful completion of the project in the Memon Mohalla the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) approved a grant of Rs. 18 M to scale up the project to the complete town of Keti Bundar and other 6 neighborhood communities of the area. Work has already started in this regard.

2 Pilot demonstration of street surface drainage at mohalla level in Keti Bunder, Dist Thatta
A system was successfully designed and implemented for the drainage of surface water.
During rains many locations in the town turns into water ponds due to un availability of natural slopes or man made structures blocking the flow towards the outlets provided for the drainage of rainwater. A topographic survey was conducted and a built map of the complete town was prepared showing the ground levels. This map identified all those spots in the town where rainwater can form pools and stay for longer period of time. Such depressions were filled and raised in the streets of the target mohalla and slops were created towards the outlets through which the rainwater can be disposed to the sea. Underground pipes are laid to collect the water from kitchens and washing areas that formed pools at various locations. Special check/flap valve is designed and installed at the end disposal to stop the seawater entering the village during high tides and let the drainage water flow into the sea during low tides The community households did excavation or filling for the pipes. Each household took the responsibility to excavate or fill the area falling in front of its house.

AKPBSP has designed a village level water filtration system. In joint collaboration with the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), AKPBSP will construct this system in the town with household level connections, once the government scheme is complete.

Besides this WASHE introduced two types of water treatment technologies in the town.

1) A household level solar water desalination system, which purifies the seawater. It produced about 12 liters of water in one day. Although the product was much efficient but the cost was higher for most of the community households (about Rs.13000). AKPBSP is working with the PCSIR to reduce the cost by making some changes in the design

2) Household level biosand filter that is good for removal of biological contamination.

Total 150 Number of WASHE living environment improvement products were installed as demonstration models at the household level in Keti Bundar Town.

The project identified masons from the nearby town (Ghado) and trained them on the construction and manufacturing of the construction of the various components of the compost latrines. These are established artisans (masons) of the area enjoying good technical reputation. The two craftsmen (one mason and one carpenter) from Keti Bundar were also provided on the job trainings.

The project trained 12 people on the construction and manufacturing of Smokeless stove and its chimney. 10 of them were women.

Two of the Government?s Lady Health Worker?s were provided trainings on the health and hygiene education. Under their supervision a team of 8 other female members from the town were trained as female health and hygiene promoter that assisted in the implementation of the Community Health Intervention Program (CHIP) and School Health Improvement Program (SHIP) for the women and school children of Keti Bundar.

Overall 30 people were trained on the technical, social and other aspects of the project.

+ View more

Back to search results

Countries

Regions

Project Snapshot

SGP Country office contact

Country Website