ConstructedWetlandsinDevelopingNationsSustainable

,Click to edit Master title style,Click to edit Master text styles,Second Level,Third Level,Fourth Level,Fifth Level,*,*,Constructed Wetlands inDeveloping Nations,Sustainable Systems as Solutions,Ian Markiewicz,Ecology 474,1,Global Sanitation,A Key Concern,2,Sanitation in Developing Nations is a Problem,1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water,1/3 to 2/3 of the global population currently lives in unsanitary conditions,Populations continue to grow; so,despite progress, we are no better off than we were in 1980!,3,Consequences,3.2 million people die each year from drinking contaminated water,Malaria, cholera, and other sanitation related diseases are running rampant,1,340,000 cases of cholera, leading to 11,300 deaths, emerged in Latin America alone between 1991 and 1995,4,Geographic Spread of Cholera in the Americas 1991-1995,5,Improper Waste Disposal Is a Central Concern,More People = More Waste,Improper Disposal = Increased Disease,Less than 5% of all wastewater collected in Central and South America receives treatment,Similar statistics (ranging between 5% and 10%) are found throughout the rest of the developing world,6,Clearly,Something Must Be Done!,7,Solution:Constructed Wetlands,Constructed Wetlands have been used to treat wastewater since the 1970s,Unfortunately, the majority of projects have been limited to industrialized, developed nations,Several similar projects in developing nations have failed,WHY?,8,Sustainability !,Sustainability refers to the long term and continuing viability of a specific project,Long term longevity is dependant upon sustainable systems,True solutions cant be temporary!,Systems that have failed have lacked sustainability,9,Community Is Key,Constructed wetlands require local dedication, support and cooperation,Eventually, the community will assume project ownership,Ultimately, benefits must be enough for the community to want to keep the project intact,For this to happen, community must be compensated,10,Economic Importance,Unfortunately, health concerns and sanitation are not always the #1 priority,heath benefits can be subtle,Sustainability of systems in developing nations is dependent upon economic factors,A more tangible return is often necessary,11,Advantages of Constructed Wetlands,In developing Nations,12,1) Cheaper than Traditional Counterparts,Local labor and materials are used for construction,No need to import expensive equipment,Reduced maintenance and operation costs on completed systems,13,2) Community Interaction,Local resources are used during project construction,Variability of constructed wetlands allows for community feedback,Overall, increased dependency upon the local community throughout construction process,This is the 1,st,step,towards sustainability!,14,3) Prolonged Compensation via potential “products”,Constructed wetlands are capable of using the treatment medium itself to produce revenue,Agriculture, construction materials, creative implementations,Habitat creation potential,Ecotourism,Goal is to spur economy at a local level,This is the 2,nd,step,towards sustainability,15,Case Study,Naco Constructed Wetlands:,Sustainability in Action,16,History,1996 Naco, Sonora suffered from inadequate wastewater treatment facilities,Only capable of handling %41 of the towns inflow,Frequent overflow and spilling of untreated sewage into Naco, Sonora, and Naco, Arizona,New solutions to the problem were in order,17,Short-term Solution,Updated mechanical wastewater system,New pumps,Expansion of existing settling ponds,Total Cost = $830,000,Project fully covered through grants from U.S. and Mexican governments and organizations,18,Long-Term Solution,Implementation of constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment,Initially, pilot test cells would be installed to measure:,Efficiency,Economic feasibility,Geographic practicality,Prolonged sustainability,If successful, the project would be expanded,19,Focus on Sustainability,Constructed wetlands would be designed to serve several purposes, focusing on economy:,Vegetation would do more than treat wastewater (brief list),Mesquite-construction, heating,Bamboo-construction,Gourds-food/water storage, revenue through crafts market,Ornamental flowers-apiculture,20,Progress,In 1997, the Naco Constructed Wetlands received an $76,459 to expand the project,In 2000, Constructed Wetland treatment facility supported 5% of the communities wastewater,Today: expansion continues,While progress may be slow, its being done carefully to ensure success,21,Naco as a Model,The Naco facility encourages viewing effluent as a resource, not a problem,The project has succeeded thus far due to:,Careful planning tailored to the unique situation,Proactive community involvement,Emphasis on community desires, concerns, and benefits throughout the project,Creative solutions,22,Final Thoughts,The Naco facility is destined to serve as a model for effluent treatment throughout the developing world,Sustainability can never be guaranteed, but odds in favor of prolonged existence can be increased,Constructed wetlands cannot solve the worlds sanitation problems, but they are a step in the right direction,23,References,1.,World Health Organization Reports on Water and Sanitation,. World Health Organization, 22 Mar. 2001. .,2. “Action, Not Words: Safe Water and Sanitation for the Developing World.”,World Summit for Sustainable Development, National Resource Defense Council, 28 Aug. 2002. .,3. Wallace, Scott D. “Putting Wetlands to Work.”,Civil Engineering, July 1998 68.7: 57-59.,4. Napalkov, Nikolai P. “Water for All: A Human Right.”,World Health, July-August 1992: 3.,5. Idelovitch, Emanuel, Klas Ringskog.,Water Treatment in Latin America: Old and New Options,. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Aug. 1997.,6. Ward, Robert M., Wen Liang. “Shanghai Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal.”,The Geographical Review, April 1995: 141-56.,7. Etnier, Carl, Bjorn Guterstam.,Ecological Engineering for Wastewater Treatment,. London: CRC/Lewis Publishers, 1997.,8. Vymazal, J.,Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment in Europe,. Leiden: Backhuys, 1998.,9. Robbins, Dave. ECI Environmental Compliance International, Ltd. President. Personal Interview. 17 Oct. 2002.,24,References Continued,10. Heskett, Julia, Wayne Bartholomew. “Constructed Wetlands for Community Wastewater Treatment and Wildlife Habitat in Texas.”,Nature and the Environment,. Texas Parks and Wildlife, Fall 2001.,11.,Hornsby Bend,. June 2002. University of Texas. .,12.,Water Supply, Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project for the City of Naco, Sonora,. Border Environment Cooperation Commission. 15 March 1996.,13. Ellman, Eric, Dave Robbins. “Merging Sustainable Development with Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement on the U.S.-Mexico Border.”,Journal of Environmental Health, 60.7 (Mar. 1998): 8-13.,14. Varady, Robert G., et al. “The U.S-Mexican Border Environment Cooperation Commission: Collected Perspectives on the First Two Years.”,Journal of Borderland Studies,11.2 (1996).,15. Simpson, B.,Mesquite: Its Biology in Two Desert Systems,. Hutchinson and Ross, 1977.,16. Wilson, Michael.,Plants for Microenterprise at Naco,. Drylands Institute, 1997. .,17. Burgett, B.M. “Anti-Bacterial Systems in Honey, Nectar, and Pollen.”,Honeybee Pests, Predators, and Diseases,2,nd,ed., Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1990.,18. “Dialogue Participants Tour Naco, Sonora, Wetlands.”,Dialogue San Pedro, May 2000.,19. Costanza, Robert, et al.,Institutions, Ecosystems, and Sustainability,. London: CRC/Lewis Publishers, 2001.,25,