top of page

(14/11) Guide to Decentralized Wastewater System Management for Developing Countries


Günter Langergraber - Boku University Paula Loureiro Paulo - Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

The morning of the final day of the 17th SWWS and 9th ROS Conferences featured a keynote by Günter Langergraber, senior scientist at the Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control at BOKU University, Vienna. He presented the DWA Guide – the German Association for Water, Wastewater, and Waste – as a unique and reliable source of data for services and products in the water, wastewater, and waste management sectors.


Langergraber highlighted that the DWA Guide is a widely used and trusted source of technical standards and guidelines for planning and operating decentralized sanitation systems. With 350 directives, the document serves not only as a guide for implementing sanitation solutions but also as a tool for selecting appropriate technologies and best practices for the operation and maintenance of these systems.


Günter emphasized the need for capacity building in technical and personnel management to implement these systems effectively. He stated that ensuring the sustainability of decentralized sanitation systems requires more than implementing suitable technologies; it is essential to invest in education and training programs to equip local teams and improve management. "Coaching and mentoring programs, as well as exchanges with partners and learning networks, are vital alternatives for successfully implementing these systems," said the scientist.


The Austria Case Study

Following the presentation of the DWA Guide, Langergraber shared a case study on the operation and monitoring of small wastewater treatment systems (WWTPs) in Austria. He noted that in Austria, licenses for these systems are granted based on an individualized assessment of each case, taking into account the specific conditions of each region.


He also highlighted that the operational and maintenance requirements for WWTPs are clearly defined in the licenses, and Austrian water and waste management entities offer training courses to ensure that professionals are qualified to operate these systems.


Concluding his presentation, Günter emphasized the importance of including decentralized wastewater systems in the initial planning phases of water management in emerging and developing countries. He stressed that adopting these systems should not be seen as a standalone alternative but as a complement to centralized wastewater treatment systems. "The entire sanitation service chain must be considered, ensuring that technologies can be applied at various stages of this chain to guarantee long-term operational systems," he concluded.

Comments


bottom of page