Background

The World is facing immense challenges arising from rapid population growth and intense urbanization. In Asia, about 45% of the population now live in towns and cities, and by 2030 it is estimated that this will reach 60%. Population densities in Asian cities are much higher than other parts of the world, and the predominance of poverty in urban slums is ubiquitous throughout the region.

Against this backdrop, the lack of wastewater management continues to be a huge challenge. Conventional centralized approaches to wastewater management have largely failed to address the wastewater disposal needs of poor communities due to high capital investment, poor operation and maintenance or low connection rates. As a result, many urban dwellers remain unserved with basic sanitation and the vast majority of wastewater and septage is discharged without any form of treatment into rivers and water bodies, seriously polluting water resources and causing a diversity of economic impacts.

As a result of this crisis, demand for affordable but effective wastewater management systems is increasing and there is a growing body of science and practice which demonstrates the opportunities for implementing wastewater management systems based on a decentralized approach. The decentralized approach—referred to as DEWATS—has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective and efficient way of wastewater treatment to improve environmental health conditions as well as providing opportunities for re-use and resource recovery. Decentralized approaches also offer increased opportunities for local stakeholder participation in planning and decision-making.

The Conference is the third of a series to be organized by IWA in the Asia-Pacific, following on from the “Sanitation Options” Conference in Hanoi in 2008 and the “DEWATS in Developing Countries” Conference in Surabaya in 2010. This third conference in Manila will develop the DEWATS theme on a number of specific topics arising from the Surabaya conference.

Objectives

The conference will examine the decentralized approaches, from a technical and engineering perspective, but also taking into consideration the social, institutional and financial aspects that determine the success of these technologies.

Organizers

The conference is being organized by the International Water Association, with the Water and Sanitation Program, the Bremen Overseas and Research Development Association, Manila Water Company, Inc., and ADB.

Participants

Sanitation and wastewater management professionals from governments, donor agencies, the private sector, and nongovernment organizations are expected to participate.