Field Testing of Innovative On-site Sanitation System: Solar Septic Tank

The objective of this pilot and demonstration activity (PDA) is to introduce the AquaRating Tool, an independent water-auditing tool, to the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), as part of an ADB-funded investment program that will improve access to sustainable water supply and sewerage services in the Greater Suva Area. Piloting the tool in Fiji will provide a comprehensive performance assessment of the water utility and aid in evaluating the applicability of the AquaRating tool in Asia and the Pacific.

Snapshot

Description

For this pilot and demonstration activity, three solar septic tanks will be installed in Klong Slong municipality in Thailand and five in Cambodia as part of the Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project – Additional Financing. In Thailand, where the households will likely have their own toilets, these will be retrofitted with the system. In Cambodia, complete units (toilet and solar septic tank) will most likely be installed.

Once the sites have been selected and tanks are in place, various performance indicators will be monitored, such as water quality of nearby groundwater, temperature distribution inside the septic tank, and effluent quality, among others. Following the technical evaluation of the solar septic tanks, stakeholders will be interviewed regarding their perception and satisfaction level.

Expected Results

With eight solar septic tanks to be installed by the end of the PDA, this will reduce contamination of groundwater and surface water, thus confirming the feasibility of using solar-powered septic tank as a an alternative sanitation option.

The projected environmental improvement could serve as a platform to create a policy brief in consultation with key agencies of the respective countries. It could also lead to replication in other communities and/or other countries in the region.