Dr Seungho Lee

UNESCAP Consultant

15-16 October, 2014

Kathmandu, Nepal

Introduction

Water issues & challenges in the region

Eco-efficient water infrastructure

Enabling policy environment

Implications for Nepal

Conclusions

Purpose ◦ To suggest enabling policy environment to

promote eco-efficient and integrated urban water management for sustainable urban development

◦ To consider implications for urban water management in Nepal

Rationale ◦ Water shortage, water pollution, natural disasters,

more acute than before in Asia and the Pacific ◦ Compounded risks culminated in urban areas ◦ Water infrastructure management needs a new

approach centered on urban areas

Urbanization: 1.96 billion (46%) in the region living in urban areas by 2020, the portion, increasing up to 50% (additional 500 million) ◦ Inadequate access to water, spread of communicable

diseases & shortages of adequate and affordable shelter

◦ Higher levels of urbanization, resulting in the need for an increase quantity of food, which leads to more intensive farming practices

Green House Gases ◦ GHGs increase in the region: exacerbating climate

change ◦ Since the 1990s, the world has reduced GHG emissions

whereas the region’s GHG has increased policies to reduce GHG necessary

Access to water & sanitation services ◦ By 2011, the population without access to safe

drinking water, halved from the 1990 level success to meet the target 7.C of MDGs

◦ Progress towards the need for improve sanitation slow in the region less than 50% of the population without access to improve sanitation facilities, i.e. Cambodia 33%, India 35%, and Nepal 35%

Water availability & use ◦ 2011, total renewable water resources in the region,

20,521 billion m3, about 38% of the total world water availability

◦ The high level of freshwater withdrawal: large population, geographical size, intensive farming & other economic activities

Natural disasters ◦ Asia & the Pacific: the world’s most disaster prone

region & the most frequently occurring hazards, hydro-meteorological, i.e., Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia & the Philippines

◦ UNDP: every dollar invested in preparedness saving US$7 in the aftermath of a disaster The need to increase resilience to water related

disasters

Increasing need for a genuine breakthrough ◦ Continuous economic growth without

compromising a guarantee of ecological balances ◦ The need for introducing an innovative approach eco-efficient water infrastructure

Concept of eco-efficient water infrastructure ◦ Physical and non-physical infrastructure in the

water sector for achieving an optimal level of water utilization and a less burden to limited water resources

Balanced policies for tackling physical & non-physical challenges in the water sector ◦ Avoidance of overemphasis of physical

infrastructure, and centrally planned water & wastewater systems

◦ Ecologically & economically efficient policies with accommodation of decentralization & community-based approaches

Source: UNESCAP (2011).

Physical

Infrastructure

Dams, water supply

& wastewater

treatment facilities,

aqueducts, sewers

Non-Physical

Infrastructure

Laws, regulatory

programs,

government bureaus,

civil society groups,

stakeholder dialogues

Eco-efficient Water

Infrastructure

An optimal level of

water utilization and

a less burden to

limited water

resources

Integrated policy approaches for eco-efficient urban water management ◦ To avoid sector-based policy fragmentation &

remove inefficiency in governance structures together with an adequate degree of integration of sectors & policies for urban areas

◦ To establish roadmap & strategies

◦ Policy approaches: political, institutional & financial issues with democratic decision-making & introduction of public private partnership schemes

Integrated Policy Approaches Eco-Efficient Water Infrastructure

Political Willingness

Political willingness Coordinating institution Feedback system Public awareness

Legal, regulatory & administrative

Settings

Eco-efficiency principle embedded in Basic Water Law and establishment of relevant roadmap & strategies Financial incentives or levying penalties to companies depending on how eco-efficient they are Appropriate standards and conditions of eco-efficiency in the water sector Coordinating mechanism (institutions, regulations, programs) between ministries River basin management for ecological efficiency

Financial & economic practices Rational water tariffs with provision of safety nets for the poor and the marginalized Promotion of water saving technology for eco-efficiency

Stakeholder participation Principle of stakeholder participation embedded in Basic Water Law and other laws and regulations

Private sector involvement

Institutional incentives for private players and improvement of service quality through private investment, advanced technology and management skills Adequate regulatory settings prepared prior to invitation of private players to ensure universal access to water & sanitation services for the poor and the marginalized

Roadmap to eco-sustainable water infrastructure in Indonesia ◦ Eco-sustainable water infrastructure in 2013: ‘an

integrated approach in water infrastructure development to achieve ecological & economic efficiency’

Working on establishment of the roadmap

Roadmap to eco-efficient water infrastructure in the Philippines ◦ Established in February 2013: integration of

EEWIn in development, consolidation, and operational phases of water management & use

Decentralization ◦ Side effects of centralized water & sanitation

services: a lack of voices from local communities

◦ Sharing political, administrative, financial power with diverse stakeholders

◦ Decentralized wastewater management system: 1) public health management; 2) water & energy conservation; and 3) environmental protection

Vietnam ◦ A treatment process through the baffled septic

tank with anaerobic filter, the most appropriate solution for wastewater treatment in the residential areas

China ◦ Underground & individual household scale and

anaerobic digesters promoted since the 1970s to deal with rural organic wastes Digesters producing biogas & fertilizers used as

energy source and for agricultural production

Centralized system

Decentralized system

New waters ◦ Water reuse & recycling: careful management of

limited water resources, not interrupting the hydrological cycle with less impacts

◦ Rainwater harvesting: benefits of soil erosion prevention, water resources conservation, green infrastructure & groundwater management

South Korea ◦ Development of ‘diverse water portfolio/diverse

water supply sources’ with application of decentralization of water supply services

◦ Smart Water Grid introduced

◦ Water self-sufficiency in urban areas via diverse water sources, i.e. desalination plant, water reuse, rainwater harvesting, groundwater

‘Smart Water Grid Promotion Law’ suggested, led by the Ministry of Land and Transport

Diverse Water Sources

Dam

Seawater

Surface Water Groundwater

Rainwater

Wastewater

Industrial Water Agricultural water Household water

ICT

Telecom Tech

Analysis

Sensors & meters

Reduction of supply cost

Preparedness for emergency

Water saving

Sup

pliers

C

usto

mers

Smart Water Grid in Korea Integration of ICT into water and wastewater service

process

Stakeholder participation ◦ New ideas & information presented

◦ Identification of issues addressed

◦ A consensus building for effective implementation

◦ Key to success of eco-efficient water infrastructure: stakeholder engagement at the central & local levels, supported by institutional settings

Guarantee of political legitimacy

Local community involvement in Thailand ◦ Local community involvement in decision-

making & implementation with reference to ecosystem protection in Thailand

◦ Led by the Towards Ecological Recovery & Regional Alliance (TERRA) in Thailand in Ban Pah Chan village in the Ubonratchathani Province

◦ Local people encouraged to map & monitor river ecosystems in March 2011 A success of conducting an in-depth study on

the ecosystems in the region Enhancement of eco-efficiency through an

increase of fish catch & a rise of tourism industry

Community research in the Lower

Mekong River Basin (TERRA 2012)

(L) Mapping & the survey of the river ecosystem with village

members, local NGOs and TERRA (regional NGO), Ban Nasai village,

Ubon, Mar, 2011

(R) Local knowledge: River morphology, sub-ecosystem, land use in

the river bank & etc.

Eco-efficiency education ◦ Construction & operation of green schools at local

communities (incl. greening existent schools)

◦ Empowerment of local residents in design, construction & operation of facilities

◦ Concept of eco-efficiency, understood through eco-efficient practices of facilities in schools

◦ A venue to educate the next generation for adopting the idea of and implementing projects on eco-efficient urban water management

Green school in Cebu, the Philippines ◦ To help sustain the environment & mitigate

climate change effects through storm water management, temperature moderation, emission reduction & water conservation

◦ To bring in a healthy & productive society through enhancement of the users’ health, comfort, and productivity

◦ Economic benefits generated: 1) water & energy saving; 2) a decrease of operational management budget; and 3) a multiplier effect of cost reduction

Source: KORA (2013)

Incorporation of eco-efficiency & urban water management into the current system ◦ Essential to establish a roadmap and strategies in

order to achieve eco-efficiency and integrated urban water management

◦ Such new initiatives reflected into the National Water Plan in Nepal

◦ Relevant institutions, organizations, and legal settings prepared

◦ Lessons learned from other Asian countries

◦ Continuous partnership with UNESCAP

Integrated

approach

Decentralization

New Waters Stakeholder

Participation

Eco-efficiency

education Integrated

Eco-efficient urban water management

The need to adopt eco-efficiency for water infrastructure in the region ◦ The complexity of water issues: shortage, pollution,

floods & ecosystem damage ◦ Compounded risks prompted by climate change

Implications for Nepal ◦ Roadmap & strategies: signpost for future path ◦ Institutional & legal settings essential ◦ Step-by-step through pilot projects

Enabling policy environment ◦ Integrated approach, decentralization, new waters,

stakeholder participation & eco-efficiency education ◦ Urgency to adopt policy measures for sustainable

urban development in the region