Integrating Wastewater Agriculture and Sanitation

Title: Integrating Wastewater Agriculture and Sanitation

Authors: Mahesh Samaraeera (COSI), Jagath Kotuwegedara (COSI)

This paper discusses the Findings and Learning’s of WASPA (Asia) Project, which is funded by the European Commission under its Asia Pro Eco II Program.

WASPA Asia aims to involve a wide range of stakeholders in developing and testing solutions for sanitation and decentralized wastewater management, and mitigation of health risks from wastewater use in agriculture.

Abstract

As rain-fed or freshwater irrigated agriculture ceases to be an option, there rises the need to look beyond conventional and accepted agricultural practices and to promote for more sustainable solutions. The use of wastewater for irrigation is one such option that is being used globally but that is often poorly managed. Driven by rapid urbanization, increasing demand for freshwater and growing wastewater volumes, wastewater is widely used as a low-cost alternative to conventional irrigation water. Despite the associated health and environmental risks, wastewater agriculture supports livelihoods and generates considerable value in urban and peri-urban agriculture.

As a pilot action project, WASPA was initiated in Kurunegala where wastewater is used in agriculture and it rapidly became apparent that certain key aspects needed to be addressed. The canal wastewater compromises of wastewater from commercial establishments, particularly those producing large quantities of grease or hazardous material and wastewater from city residents; along with unsolicited solid waste that is being disposed into the canal. Hence, although the nutrient rich wastewater is ideal for agriculture, the farmers are in the danger of being exposed to some hazardous waste along with issue of solid waste in the agricultural fields. As clear tackling any of these would be a major challenge, particularly monitoring the discharge of untreated domestic wastewater, collaboration was sought with local government officials and community members, to build up an alliance for to develop collaborative action plan. The action plan was devised with the aim of creating awareness for behavior modification as it is critical that city residents and businesses are made aware of downstream uses and that they are encouraged to modify their behavior in ways that protect those uses without compromising those businesses. Secondly it was identified that collaboration is essential - no project can attempt anything on the city scale without the total support of the local government and the community.

The results are not yet evident but it can already be seen that there are some interesting outcomes, for example the interest and involvement of managers of commercial units, government officials and farmers. This work therefore provides lessons for other areas where wastewater is being used unregulated in agriculture.

To be presented at CAP net Symposium on 23rd June 2008