Guidelines Municipal Wastewater Management
Resources
Strategic
Approach
Enabling
Policy
Small
Islands
Institutional Arrangements
participation,
partnerships
reform,
capacity building
advocacy,
awareness
Technologies
technology
selection
pollution
prevention
on-site
treatment
sewerage
and drainage
reuse,
ecosan
conventional
treatment
Financing
cost recoverywillingness-to-pay
investment options, PPP
Best Practices
Guidelines Municipal Wastewater Management
Executive Summary
While migration of people to coasts is still increasing it is estimated, that almost half of the world population already lives within 100 km of a coastline. This reflects in the fragile coastal ecosystems being altered or destroyed, natural resources being overexploited, pollution and eutrophication being a common phenomena. The pressure on coastal zones is increased by human activities farther inland, especially due to "out of sight-out of mind" attitude, which makes marine ecosystems the ultimate recipient of inland pollution.
UNEP-GPA has identified municipal wastewater discharges as one of the most significant threats to sustainable coastal development, affecting not only quality of the environment but also human health. The reasons for inefficient and inadequate wastewater management were identified as:
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low prestige and recognition;
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weak policies and institutional frameworks;
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lack of stakeholder interests and adequate funding;
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inappropriate technologies; and
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low public awareness.
In order to improve the existing situation Guidelines on Municipal Wastewater Management were developed in the framework of the UNEP/WHO/UN-HABITAT/WSSCC Strategic Action Plan on Municipal Wastewater (SAP), adopted in 2001 at the UNEP/GPA Intergovernmental Review Meeting in Montreal. Guidelines provide a practical guidance on development of appropriate and environmentally sound municipal wastewater discharge systems. A red line through these guidelines are 10 keys, which focus on wide variety of issues in policy making, financing mechanisms, technologies and management processes.
The main four elements in the Guidelines, with their sets of management tools, are as follows.
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Enabling Policy (Chapter 1): demand-driven, opportunity-driven, and integrated management approaches.
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Institutional Arrangements (Chapter 2): public participation, new partnerships with the private sector and water users.
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Cost-effective Technologies (Chapter 3): steps for choosing the most appropriate technology including the consideration of wastewater as a resource.
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Financial Mechanisms (Chapter 4): private capital and public-private partnerships.
For each of the stated elements checklists have been formulated, which can serve as orientation points on options consideration before making the final decision in compliance with national policies and plans. Furthermore, in Guidelines each of the four Chapters includes Boxes to give examples of good practice or additional facts and figures. Suggestions for further reading and glossary complement the guidance given in the four main Chapters.
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