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Ann Thomas , International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

Health Impacts of Wastewater Reuse: Assessing the Feasibility of the WHO Guidelines in Low-Income Communities. Ann Thomas , International Development Research Centre (IDRC). IRC MUS Meeting, Delft, February 12th, 2007. Overview. What is IDRC? ‘ Livelihoods,health and wastewater reuse’

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Ann Thomas , International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

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  1. Health Impacts of Wastewater Reuse: Assessing the Feasibility of the WHO Guidelines in Low-Income Communities Ann Thomas,International Development ResearchCentre (IDRC) IRC MUS Meeting, Delft, February 12th, 2007

  2. Overview • What is IDRC? • ‘Livelihoods,health and wastewater reuse’ • Overview of other IDRC projects in environmental sanitation, productivity, livelihoods. • Partnering with IDRC

  3. What is IDRC ? • A crown corporation created by the Parliament of Canada in 1970 • Board appointed by Government of Canada • Mission: “Empowerment Through Knowledge” • Supporting researchers in developing countries in finding practical, long-term solutions to social, economic, and environmental problems

  4. The Program Areas • Environment and Natural Resource Management – ECOHEALTH, Rural Poverty and Environment, Urban Poverty and Environment • Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) • Innovation, Policy and Science • Social and Economic Policy

  5. Urban Programming at IDRC • Previous themes under ‘Cities Feeding People’ – urban agriculture, wastewater reuse • Present themes under UPE: Urban agriculture, water and sanitation, vulnerability to disasters, solid waste management, land tenure • Global Focus City Program: 8 cities globally, capacity building, decentralization, environmental sanitation prioritized, partnerships between governments, ngos, research institutes, communities • Other Programming: Combination of analysis/diagnostic, piloting/testing and policy/best-practice influence.

  6. Urban Agriculture, Wastewater Reuse and Livelihoods • Prioritisation of greywater reuse research (1998) at an IDRC workshop; • Greywater/wastewater projects in Palestine, Jordan , Lebanon and Dakar; • Wastewater reuse a key issue in urban agriculture … a strong perceived need for better planning, innovation and integration….

  7. Health vs. social benefits

  8. Hyderabad Declarations (2002) • Appropriate/realistic guidelines needed to adapt and apply international (WHO) guidelines for wastewater treatment and reuse for the benefit of poor stakeholders. • Non-treatment options may play a significant role in reducing disease risk in such circumstances.

  9. WHO/IDRC/FAO Guiding Principles • WW is a resource and economic catalyst; • Multi-stakeholder approaches and dialogue may help guide effective municipal planning and knowledge of UA and wastewater reuse; • A balance of various approaches and interventions needed; • Increased research capacity is key to effective risk reduction.

  10. Four Cases in MEWA • Selected via competitive call of shortlisted institutions in MEWA; • Kumasi, Tamale, Jordan, Dakar selected; • Complementarity: Analysis of risk chains and various stakeholder approaches: farmers, farm workers, neighbours, consumers, vendors; • Focus on non-treatment but also includes basic/low-cost treatment where feasible.

  11. Research Questions • Locally feasible exposure control strategies? • Best methods for increasing awareness of health hazards for farmers, workers, consumers? • Cost-effectiveness? • Enabling environment for reduced risk? • Capacity building needs for all stakeholders in order to successfully reduce exposure?

  12. Challenges • Balancing health and economic gains. • How to improve (through incentives?) adoption of best practise by various stakeholders? • Increasing awareness amongst decision-makers of the importance of wastewater reuse to productivity and food security. • Leveraging the link between productivity and environmental sanitation to incentivize improved, integrated services.

  13. Other project examples: environmental sanitation and livelihoods • Jakarta: Examining economic incentives for improved water, sanitation, and solid waste services: linking enhanced services to productivity and livelihoods; • Dakar: Strengthening/formalizing scavenger organizations; • Gianyar,Bali: Linking the benefits of carbon emissions reductions at landfill to poor (neighbouring) communities;

  14. Partnering with IDRC • Development research grant-making is the core of our activities; • Upcoming calls on Productive Strategies, Compensation for Environmental Services, Migration and Remittances; • Rural-urban linkages: Globally; • Climate change in Africa.

  15. Contact us Ann Thomas International Development Research Centre (IDRC) 250 Albert Street, Ottawa Ontario email: athomas@idrc.ca Web: http://www.idrc.ca/

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