Water and Sanitation Extension Program
Encyclopedia
The Water and Sanitation Extension Program (WASEP) is an initiative by the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan
to provide clean drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities to prevent the high incidence of waterborne diseases
in disadvantaged communities of Pakistan
.
WASEP was launched in 1997 and has to date provided potable water and installed over 9200 latrines in 225 villages, benefiting over 165,000 people in the Northern Areas
of Pakistan and the province of Sindh
. According to World Health Organization
, WASEP has reduced incidences of diarrhea
reported in local health centers by at least 25%, while the reduction at the household level has been approximately 60%.
• Infant mortality
is approximately 80 per 1000 live births
• Mortality rate for children under five is 60 per 1000 live births
• 45% of infant and child mortality is due to diarrhea
• 30% of reported illnesses and 40% of deaths in Pakistan are attributed to waterborne diseases
Additionally, a large amount of women labor and household expenditures are needed to meet high domestic water requirements. Women in rural parts of Pakistan are typically responsible to fetch water for their family needs. Spending a large part of their day in this basic chore prevents them from possible opportunities for income generation, education and taking better care of their family.
All in all, WASEP’s integrated intervention package consists of:
1. Community Mobilization and Participation
WASEP trains partner villages to take ownership of all aspects of the intervention including water supply, sanitation, drainage
, operation, maintenance and health and hygiene education. Responsibility for a scheme is entrusted to a village Water and Sanitation Committee and beneficiaries pay tariffs to cover the operations and maintenance costs. WASEP’s design process is participatory in nature involving communities, particularly women, at all stages of the intervention.
2. Water Quality Management
A key objective of WASEP is to provide potable water to meet World Health Organization standards. WASEP most often sources water from natural mountain springs or water channels of the Indus River
requiring installation of village level filtration plants. The system is easy to operate, and does not require electricity, making it ideal for rural settings. The plant design is the result of extensive research and helps mitigate the high level of turbidity and mirco-biological contamination experienced in many of the target areas.
3. Potable Water Supply
After source testing, water is collected and piped through high density polyethylene pipes to a storage reservoir, and then onwards into the village where each home or cluster of homes is provided with a tap-stand providing 45-70 liters of water per capita per day. Responsible water use and management is promoted in areas where water supply is limited through village education sessions. Communities contribute to the construction of the water supply scheme by providing local material and unskilled labor free of cost to the program. WASEP ensures that water is potable at all points in the supply chain.
4. Gray Water Drainage
WASEP installs infrastructure for the disposal of dirty (gray) and excess (spillover) water at each tap-stand, comprising cemented platforms with a drain, leading to either a soakage pit or an existing overland channel, where it is diluted before re-entering the system of water supply.
5. Household Sanitation Infrastructure
Hygienic sanitation facility plays an important role in WASEP’s intervention. Following a comprehensive and objective information session on the options available, communities choose the sanitation technology of their preference. Three basic types are available to communities to meet different cultural preference for latrine facilities. Households are motivated to construct the latrine themselves and are provided with technical assistance and construction advice to build efficiently.
6. Health and Hygiene Education
To focus on health and hygiene awareness WASEP has initiated a Community and School Health Improvement Program through which household and schools visits are made once every two months. This program addresses topics such as diarrhea, worms, personal hygiene and operation and maintenance of water scheme. Additionally, at each visit, health and hygiene promoters monitor progressive changes in the health and hygiene related behavior of each household.
WASEP is providing sustainable access to safe drinking water in combination with capacity building and raising awareness at all levels. WASEP is able to “integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs.”
Combat HIV
/AIDS
, malaria
and other diseases
By targeting water borne diseases and illnesses. WASEP is striving to “halt and be able to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.”
Reduce child mortality
45% of cases of infant and child mortality in Pakistan are a result of water-borne diseases. WASEP is working to “reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five.”
Promote gender equality and empowering women
By insisting on equal male and female participation in its schemes, WASEP is able to break traditional gender barriers as a first step towards empowerment, giving women a greater voice in their homes and communities.
Prize for Sustainability for its efforts to improve housing conditions as well as water and sanitation facilities in Pakistan through the Water and Sanitation Extension Program (WASEP).
Aga Khan Planning and Building Services
The Aga Khan Planning and Building Service was established in 1980 as an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network . The agency works to improve the built environment, particularly housing design and construction, village planning, natural hazard mitigation, environmental sanitation, water...
to provide clean drinking water and hygienic sanitation facilities to prevent the high incidence of waterborne diseases
Waterborne diseases
Waterborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms which are directly transmitted when contaminated fresh water is consumed. Contaminated fresh water, used in the preparation of food, can be the source of foodborne disease through consumption of the same microorganisms...
in disadvantaged communities of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
WASEP was launched in 1997 and has to date provided potable water and installed over 9200 latrines in 225 villages, benefiting over 165,000 people in the Northern Areas
Northern Areas
Gilgit-Baltistan , is the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. It borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Azad Kashmir to the southwest, and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the...
of Pakistan and the province of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. According to World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
, WASEP has reduced incidences of diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
reported in local health centers by at least 25%, while the reduction at the household level has been approximately 60%.
Program overview
In Pakistan, like many countries of the developing world, inadequate quality and coverage of water and sanitation infrastructure is a major issue and is duly reflected in its poor basic health indicators:• Infant mortality
Infant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
is approximately 80 per 1000 live births
• Mortality rate for children under five is 60 per 1000 live births
• 45% of infant and child mortality is due to diarrhea
• 30% of reported illnesses and 40% of deaths in Pakistan are attributed to waterborne diseases
Additionally, a large amount of women labor and household expenditures are needed to meet high domestic water requirements. Women in rural parts of Pakistan are typically responsible to fetch water for their family needs. Spending a large part of their day in this basic chore prevents them from possible opportunities for income generation, education and taking better care of their family.
WASEP’s integrated approach
To design, provide and then maintain sustainable water and sanitation services requires the development of local capacity. WASEP provides communities with engineering and construction training and services, non-local materials, skilled labor, and health and hygiene education. Partner villages provide local materials, unskilled labor and operation and maintenance funds, which account for over 45% of the total costs. Both male and female villagers are involved at all stages of the intervention, to ensure that they are motivated to independently take ownership of completed projects.All in all, WASEP’s integrated intervention package consists of:
1. Community Mobilization and Participation
WASEP trains partner villages to take ownership of all aspects of the intervention including water supply, sanitation, drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
, operation, maintenance and health and hygiene education. Responsibility for a scheme is entrusted to a village Water and Sanitation Committee and beneficiaries pay tariffs to cover the operations and maintenance costs. WASEP’s design process is participatory in nature involving communities, particularly women, at all stages of the intervention.
2. Water Quality Management
A key objective of WASEP is to provide potable water to meet World Health Organization standards. WASEP most often sources water from natural mountain springs or water channels of the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
requiring installation of village level filtration plants. The system is easy to operate, and does not require electricity, making it ideal for rural settings. The plant design is the result of extensive research and helps mitigate the high level of turbidity and mirco-biological contamination experienced in many of the target areas.
3. Potable Water Supply
After source testing, water is collected and piped through high density polyethylene pipes to a storage reservoir, and then onwards into the village where each home or cluster of homes is provided with a tap-stand providing 45-70 liters of water per capita per day. Responsible water use and management is promoted in areas where water supply is limited through village education sessions. Communities contribute to the construction of the water supply scheme by providing local material and unskilled labor free of cost to the program. WASEP ensures that water is potable at all points in the supply chain.
4. Gray Water Drainage
WASEP installs infrastructure for the disposal of dirty (gray) and excess (spillover) water at each tap-stand, comprising cemented platforms with a drain, leading to either a soakage pit or an existing overland channel, where it is diluted before re-entering the system of water supply.
5. Household Sanitation Infrastructure
Hygienic sanitation facility plays an important role in WASEP’s intervention. Following a comprehensive and objective information session on the options available, communities choose the sanitation technology of their preference. Three basic types are available to communities to meet different cultural preference for latrine facilities. Households are motivated to construct the latrine themselves and are provided with technical assistance and construction advice to build efficiently.
6. Health and Hygiene Education
To focus on health and hygiene awareness WASEP has initiated a Community and School Health Improvement Program through which household and schools visits are made once every two months. This program addresses topics such as diarrhea, worms, personal hygiene and operation and maintenance of water scheme. Additionally, at each visit, health and hygiene promoters monitor progressive changes in the health and hygiene related behavior of each household.
Addressing the MDGs
Ensure Environmental SustainabilityWASEP is providing sustainable access to safe drinking water in combination with capacity building and raising awareness at all levels. WASEP is able to “integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs.”
Combat HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and other diseases
By targeting water borne diseases and illnesses. WASEP is striving to “halt and be able to reverse the incidence of malaria and other major diseases.”
Reduce child mortality
45% of cases of infant and child mortality in Pakistan are a result of water-borne diseases. WASEP is working to “reduce by two thirds the mortality rate among children under five.”
Promote gender equality and empowering women
By insisting on equal male and female participation in its schemes, WASEP is able to break traditional gender barriers as a first step towards empowerment, giving women a greater voice in their homes and communities.
National Energy Globe Award and Nominee for Water Category Award, 2009
WASEP was awarded the National Award for Pakistan by Energy Globe 2009. WASEP was also shortlisted in the top three projects worldwide for the Water Category Award for its sustainable, environmentally friendly and efficient supply of safe water, low-cost sanitation facilities and health & hygiene education in many marginalized parts of Northern Pakistan.Dubai International Award for Best Practices, 2008
WASEP was awarded the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment (DIABP) 2008 for its tangible impact resulting from the transfer of sustainable and life-improving ideas, skills, knowledge and technology.Alcan Prize for Sustainability, 2005
In 2005, the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service received the US $1 million AlcanAlcan
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal. It was created on November 15, 2007 as the result of the merger between Rio Tinto PLC's Canadian subsidiary, Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc., and Canadian company Alcan Inc. On the same date, Alcan Inc. was renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc..Rio...
Prize for Sustainability for its efforts to improve housing conditions as well as water and sanitation facilities in Pakistan through the Water and Sanitation Extension Program (WASEP).
See also
- Aga Khan Development NetworkAga Khan Development NetworkThe Aga Khan Development Network is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies that seek to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East...
- Aga Khan Planning and Building ServicesAga Khan Planning and Building ServicesThe Aga Khan Planning and Building Service was established in 1980 as an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network . The agency works to improve the built environment, particularly housing design and construction, village planning, natural hazard mitigation, environmental sanitation, water...
- Building and Construction Improvement ProgramBuilding and Construction Improvement ProgramThe Building and Construction Improvement Program is a program of the Aga Khan Planning and Building Service, Pakistan and is engaged in developing and promoting solutions to housing and built environment related issues of rural communities living in the Northern Areas of Pakistan and the...