Sanitation on the Upswing:
Turning Asia's Sorry Situation Around
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Investments in sanitation have lagged behind demand for decades. It's bad enough when the lack of sanitation and wastewater facilities results in smelly, foul, turgid rivers that spoil cities and surrounding areas. What's worse is an outbreak of typhoid and cholera, which can claim thousands of lives. Postponing action will cost a great deal more. This issue focuses on reforms undertaken by different stakeholders to cope with sanitation problems. It also highlights ADB's accelerated actions to provide millions of Asians with improved sanitation in the next few years.
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Jack Sim on Flushing Down the Toilet Taboo
Is toilet talk sexy? Ask Jack Sim, CEO of the World Toilet Organization, and he’ll give a resounding yes. “Toileting is natural, and we should be able to talk about it comfortably,” says Mr. Sim. “Talking leads to demand, and demand leads to supplies. The more we talk, the more we understand, and that is the first step to finding solutions to our sanitation problems.” |
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ADB Urges Asian Governments to Make Sanitation a High Priority
ADB advocates that sanitation be an urgent priority for Asian governments. At the recent Stockholm World Water Week, ADB launched a new set of actions focusing on better facilities for individuals, disease prevention and healthy environments for communities, and financial viability for provider governments and utilities. ADB also plans to double its $2.2 billion pipeline of sanitation and wastewater projects. |
Maldives: Life After 100% Urban Sanitation
Having reached universal coverage in urban sanitation should leave the Malé Water and Sewerage Company (MWSC) staff feeling good. But nobody’s relaxing yet. They’re too busy monitoring the city’s growth to ensure preparedness for future demands. Sanitation in Malé has evolved from open defecation to high-tech sewerage networks over just a few decades. With the urban scene conquered, MWSC is setting its sights on rural areas. |
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Philippines: Manila Water’s Neo-Way with Sanitation
Who said a citywide sewage network was impossible for Metro Manila? Manila Water did, back in 1997 when it first took over services for a third of Metro Manila, and only a measly 7% of households were connected to the sewerage system. Nonetheless, it successfully raised this number through a strategy of desludging and decentralized sewerage. Could this be a model for other megacities in Developing Asia? |
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| News |
 Water Investments in Asia-Pacific Get Much Needed Boost
Water and sanitation are essential for reducing poverty, improving livelihoods, and promoting sustainable economic growth. Two countries heeded ADB’s call to increase water investments in the Asia-Pacific region.
Japan extended a $2 million grant to improve Asian water utilities through ADB’s Water Operators Partnership program. The Netherlands also agreed to contribute $19.75 million to support the ADB’s Water Financing Partnership Facility. |
 Plans for Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS) Going Smoothly; ADB VP Calls for Governments’ Leadership and Commitment
The APWS Steering Committee met for the second time to report on progress and continue preparations for the 3-4 December Summit. Speaking at the meeting, ADB vice president Liqun Jin pledged ADB’s continuing support “to make the Summit an action-oriented meeting which will enable Asia to achieve the Millennium Development Goal and Target on water in the region.” Read the speech. |
 Experts to Discuss Asian Water Development Outlook Draft
In preparation for its November 2007 publication, the draft of the Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) report was the focus of intensive consultation and discussion involving government officials, water champions, and representatives from institutions involved in the Asia-Pacific Water Forum. The consultation meeting was held in Singapore on 23 August. |
 Pakistan: ADB, World Bank Undertake Joint Assessment of Cyclone and Flood Devastation
ADB and the World Bank are gauging the reconstruction and rehabilitation needs of southern Pakistan devastated by Cyclone Yemyin and flooding in June. The banks will provide the national government with a Damage and Needs Assessment. “We are committed to working closely with the government to strengthen disaster preparedness,” says ADB Pakistan Resident Mission's Peter Fedon. |
 Philippines: ADB, Small Scale Water Providers Discussed Water Provision to Urban Poor
Small scale water providers nationwide convened for a conference to discuss their role in providing water to urban poor communities. Organized by the Philippine Water Partnership, the conference also addressed common concerns and explored technical and financial options. ADB’s Tony de Vera presented progress in pilot projects with Maynilad and Manila Water involving small piped water networks. |
| Water Actions |
 Indonesia: Simple Science Solves Slum Water Problem
“Plastic bottles and lots of sun—these are all that poor people need to purify contaminated water,” says the Emmanuel Foundation, a nongovernment organization working in Indonesia. By following a simple scientific process called solar water disinfection, slum communities can have clean, inexpensive, drinking water within their reach. So why are some still reluctant? |
 Australia: Squeezing Wine from Wastewater— Lessons in Reuse
Wine from wastewater doesn't exactly sound palatable but wastewater is what grape growers in South Australia used when their groundwater and soil started drying up, leading to declining crop yields and property values. They soon discovered that the right treatment, regulatory framework, tariff structures, and financing partners can transform wastewater into safe and affordable irrigation water. |
 Discussion Note: Dignity, Disease, and Dollars—
Asia’s Urgent Sanitation Challenge
The factors holding back investments in sanitation are widely understood—the high cost of sanitation projects, the lack of financial returns for providers, the lesser priority given to it by governments. But these barriers should no longer stand in the way of sound investments. This discussion paper posits that making sanitation a high priority delivers big economic, health, and environmental benefits. |
 CD-ROM: Smarter Sanitation
"Smarter Sanitation" is the key to cleaner communities. It is also ADB's electronic toolkit that offers national and local implementers a range of ideas and practices for sanitation policies, financing, community participation, and options for technologies. The CD-ROM includes SANEX™—a high-powered software for assessing and planning sanitation systems. Get a free copy. |
 Model Terms of Reference: Planning Urban Sanitation & Wastewater Management Improvements
Governments and city leaders tend to favor conventional sewerage systems. But these are expensive, technically and organizationally difficult to operate, and rarely benefit the poor. This TOR directs the project team to review a comprehensive range of sanitation and wastewater management options, including conventional and low cost, centralized and decentralized sewerage, and more. |
| 1-13 September |
2007 Asia-Pacific Cities Summit: Renewing Asia Pacific Cities (Brisbane, Australia)
Will focus on business growth, trade, investment, and economic outcomes in Asia-Pacific cities. |
| 3-6 September |
10th International Riversymposium & Environmental Flows Conference (Brisbane, Australia)
Will focus on river management and environmental flows, highlighting the management of river flows for people and ecosystem health. |
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10-13 September |
4th International Conference on Debris-Flow Hazards Mitigation
(Chengdu, People’s Republic of China)
Will focus on knowledge exchange, related technologies, and solutions to the hazards of debris flow. |
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23-25 September |
Water & Wastewater Asia Conference and Exhibition
(Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam)
Will confront important water sector issues by bringing together over 2000 key decisionmaking water professionals. |
| We need your feedback |
- What did you think of this issue?
- Our next issue will focus on climate change. What ongoing water reforms should we feature?
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issues that affect the pace of development.
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