BAYAWAN CITY ADOPTS ECOSAN AS A TOOL IN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

PROFILE OF BAYAWAN CITY Located in the 3rd Congressional District of the Province of Negros Oriental, it encompasses a total land area of 69,908 hectares composed of 28 barangays (7 urban, 21 rural). Current population is estimated at 105,000 with an average annual growth rate of 2.59%. Average household size is 5 members, and population density is 1.46 per hectare. The city envisions of being the agriculture capital of the province.

THE ROAD TO ECOSAN In 2003, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bayawan City decided to construct a new coastal road to decongest traffic in the main highway and open up new areas for development, but more crucially, to address the blight and state of deterioration befalling the urban coastal area brought about by the unabated buildup of informal settlers. The displaced informal settlers had to be relocated to a new housing project. But while implementing the housing project, the LGU realized that in order to comply with the provisions of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, among other regulations, sewage collection and wastewater treatment facilities had to be incorporated in the design and construction of the housing project components. The search for solutions eventually led to a partnership with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in 2005 thru the Department of the Interior and Local Government, for technical assistance in the design, construction and operation of a Constructed Treatment Wetland (CTW) for the housing project. Subsequently, initial assessments conducted by GTZ experts on the local health situation and related data, brought to light an equally important problem: Contamination of groundwater sources particularly from human excreta, and proliferation of unsanitary and substandard toilets. To help the LGU cope with this concern, the GTZ introduced the idea of ecosan dry toilets. The potential benefits from adopting such toilets were easily appreciated by the LGU especially considering its water conservation and waste recycling aspects, as well as contribution to agricultural productivity.

CHALLENGES IN LOCAL SANITATION In terms of sewage disposal management, only the urban barangays have access to sewerage facilities in the city. However, the system drains directly into the rivers and canals, or directly into the sea without treatment. Virtually almost all households utilize backyard septic tanks for their wastewater disposal but these tanks are mostly either flawed in design, or no longer capable of containing fecal pathogens and organisms from contaminating ground water resources. Records from the City Health Office showed a high incidence of morbidity and mortality arising from water-borne diseases, particularly in areas where residents rely heavily on shallow wells as source of drinking water. At present, the citys water utility is only able to supply potable drinking water to the urban barangays. A sizable segment of the populace, mostly in the rural barangays, still depend on communal wells or faucets from level II village waterworks for their domestic water needs. In view of the challenges confronting the city in ensuring and providing sanitation in the context of practicability and sustainability, the LGU forged a partnership with the GTZ to avail of technical assistance in the design, construction and use of Urine Diversion and Dehydration Toilets (UDDT), especially in remote areas without access to sewerage and wastewater treatment facilities. Page 1 of 4

BAYAWAN CITY ADOPTS ECOSAN AS A TOOL IN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

COLLABORATION and MOBILIZATION

On June, 2005, a Technical Working Group (TWG) was formed thru Executive Order Num. 2005-20 issued by the City Mayor. This body was tasked to appraise existing sanitation practices and limitations, and identify areas where UDDT projects could be piloted. The TWG would also formulate project plans and proposals, and conduct social preparation, training activities, and information campaigns. Implementation of the various components of both projects were jointly undertaken by the City Health Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Planning and Development Office, City Engineering Office, City Cooperative and Manpower Development Office, and the City Agriculture Office. Other key partners were the GTZ, the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Provincial Government, and the Barangay officials where the projects were initiated. An initial funding in the amount of 500,000 Pesos was allocated for social preparation activities and proposed construction of 40 toilets in pre-selected areas in the city.

DESIGN FEATURES The parameters adopted by the TWG in choosing the design for the UDDTs are: Disease prevention, environmental protection, nutrient recycling, affordability, acceptability, and simplicity. A final criterion is embodied in the Sanitation Code of the Philippines which mandates that sanitary toilets should not contaminate water source. The recommended design utilizes 2 chambers for the containment and storage of feces, requiring only a realignment of the toilet bowl with the empty chamber when the 1st has been filled up. Urine is diverted to a separate storage container. The user has the option as to the type and quality of construction material to be used for the superstructure, depending on availability and financial capacity. The toilet bowls used in the project are manufactured by the Center for Advanced Philippine Studies, a non-government organization based in Metro Manila. The bowls are made of porcelain material and costs Php 967.00 per unit.

TARGET BENEFICIARIES / USERS The dry toilets are intended firstly for households which have no access to existing or planned sewerage, water treatment, and water supply facilities. In addition, the city will also construct UDDT units in all Barangay Agricultural Development Centers (BADC) in the City. Since BADCs are where farmers and rural folks congregate for regular trainings and updates on agro practices and technology, the ecosan concept of re-use can be effectively applied and reinforced. Another target group are elementary and high school students. For this purpose, the city plans to install ecosan toilets in all public schools in order to encourage hygienic behavior among the young in a learning environment.

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BAYAWAN CITY ADOPTS ECOSAN AS A TOOL IN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

PROJECT COST AND IMPLEMENTATION The initial funding in the amount of Php 500,000 allocated for social preparation activities and targeted construction of 40 toilets in pre-selected areas in the city are broken down as follows: Construction Materials..P 280,000.00 Skilled Labor. 74,000.00 Fuel 26,000.00 Social Preparation. 120,000.00 Total P 500,000.00 ========= 9,500.00

Per Capita Cost .P

As a promotional strategy, a sharing scheme is being adopted whereby the city assumes the cost for the toilet bowl and sub-structures, while the prospective beneficiary is required to shoulder the construction expenses for the main structures. The cost for the super structure will be variable since the owner has the option of using any available material, be it surplus, indigenous or recycled items. Social preparation is strictly implemented to ensure that users are properly oriented of their roles and responsibilities especially in the operation and maintenance of the toilet. A monitoring mechanism has also been put in place in order to provide feedback and operational support to beneficiaries (including modifications / improvements in design). In January and March, 2006, the City formally turned-over the first two prototypes to the beneficiary families residing in the selected pilot areas. As of December 31, 2006, a total of 16 toilets were constructed and turned-over.

BENEFITS and ADVANTAGES The benefits that the city hopes to gain from the full-scale implementation of ecosan: 1. 2. 3. Reduction of pollution of the downstream environment particularly the contamination of surface and ground water for the protection of human health. Conservation of scarce water resources. Enhancement of agricultural productivity by treating human waste as a resource and utilizing nutrients from urine and feces in the production of compost which can be safely used as fertilizer and soil conditioner. Some users have already applied this ecosan concept in their backyard gardens. Protection of the environment and promotion of the communitys general well-being.

4.

Being self-contained sewage treatment facilities by themselves, sustained wide-spread use of ecosan toilets will definitely contribute to significant compliance with the provisions of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, mandating the prevention, control and abatement of pollution of the countrys water resources. With regard to the CTW, a recent analysis of effluent quality was rated as Excellent and would pose no risk if discharged to marine outfall. The treated water is presently harnessed for the following uses and applications: 1. 2. 3. 4. Concrete mixing Toilet flushing Housekeeping and maintenance of government facilities Firefighting Page 3 of 4

BAYAWAN CITY ADOPTS ECOSAN AS A TOOL IN HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

One of the livelihood projects recently introduced in the housing project known as the Fishermens Gawad Kalinga Village, is a vegetable production using organic farming methods. Treated water from the constructed wetland is now used to irrigate the crops. The LGU also stands to benefit from the constructed wetland in terms of effective utilization of financial resources in the sense that constructed wetlands can be built with lesser expense than conventional treatment options. CTW are easy to maintain since they do not require complicated equipment or machinery and expensive chemicals, requires less energy, and can be constructed using local materials. The CTW built by the LGUs Engineering Department is comprised of 2 cells filled with sand and gravel and planted with a tabon-ak, a locally abundant reed. The media serves as a filter while the plants, thru their root system, break down pollutants into simple components of water and gas.

REPLICATION AND SUSTAINABILITY The ecosan principles are harmonious with the other programs being implemented and developed by the city. These are the Healthy City, Food Security, Integrated Solid Waste Management, the Character First, and the Organic Farming programs, among others. The corroborative aspects of ecosan with all these other endeavors will help ensure its long term integration in the affairs of the city. For this year (2007) alone, a supplemental budget of Php 1.2 Million has been allocated to replicate 500 additional ecosan toilets among the targeted beneficiaries mentioned earlier. The LGU intends to implement the ecosan dry toilets on a continuing basis until all areas, especially those in the hinterlands, are fully saturated. Since the city has available space, the LGU shall put up five additional Constructed Treatment Wetland facilities in strategic areas of the city, starting with a 130 square meter facility for the exclusive use of the District Hospital. Expansion plans for ecosan projects shall be carried out in collaboration with the Barangay officials, peoples organizations, non-government organizations, Parent-Teachers-Community associations, and other stakeholders.

CONCLUSION The launching and inauguration of the CTW facility at the Fishermens GK Village on September 4, 2006a pioneering venture in the country, is a landmark testimony to the common vision of the LGU and the GTZ to achieve a cleaner environment and healthier population. The turnover of the ecosan dry toilets to the beneficiaries also signaled the turn of a new leaf in the citys on-going health and environmental initiatives. With little doubt about their positive impact to social equity and welfare, the LGU rightly believes that the widespread and proper use of ecosan systems can ultimately contribute to the attainment of the long-term goals of the city, particularly in terms of protecting human health and the environment, as well as effective utilization of natural resources. But because ecosan is not so much a technology than a sanitation philosophy, the bigger and more crucial battleground will lie more on the psychological and social arena. The City Government of Bayawan hopes that with the strategies it plans to carry outalong with a firm resolveits constituents would be able to discern the inextricable link between health, sanitation, and the environment.

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