WEPA NewsThe 38th issue

1 November 2022
The Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA) is an initiative proposed by the Japanese Ministry of theEnvironment. It aims to strengthen water environmental governance and capacity building in Asia. For further
information, please visit the WEPA website (http://wepa-db.net/en/index.html).

TopicsWEPA Topics
1.

18th WEPA Annual Meeting and International Workshop on 8-10 February 2023

2.

Update of the WEPA Action Program in Cambodia

3.

Update of the WEPA Action Program in Myanmar

4.

Launch of the WEPA Action Program in Lao PDROther Topics
5.

10th International Workshop on Decentralized Domestic Wastewater Treatment in Asia

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1. 18th WEPA Annual Meeting and International Workshop
The WEPA Secretariat and the Ministry of the Environment, Japan, will organize the 18th WEPA
Annual Meeting and International Workshop on 8-10 February 2023 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
These events will be held as in-person meetings, but on-line participations will be arranged at thesame time.
The Annual Meeting will aim to share the progress and future plans of overall WEPA activities
among WEPA partner countries. In addition, the meeting, as well as the International Workshop,will be organized to discuss current issues and challenges on industrial wastewater managementin WEPA partner countries.
The agenda and other details of the meeting will be announced in due course.

2. Update of the WEPA Action Program in Cambodia
The WEPA Action Program in Cambodia aims to support capacity building activities of theMinistry of Environment, Cambodia (MOEC), for officers at sub-national level on identifying major
pollution sources and estimating pollution in Tonle Sap Lake (TSL). The program is implementingactivities to develop a guidebook for local environmental staff on estimating pollution loads frommajor sources, and to facilitate formulation of draft strategies for water quality management ofTSL. This is being carried out using a co-design/co-production approach and capacity building
training programs.
On 5 July 2022, a Kick-off Meeting for FY2022 activities was held on-line. From 19 to 25 August
2022, staff from the WEPA Secretariat visited Cambodia and discussed with the Cambodian
team about the progress of activities, including a field visit to the TSL area. The guidebook will becompleted after receiving comments from related central/local ministries and other stakeholders
at a Stakeholder Consultation Meeting, scheduled for 28 November 2022. A Capacity Building
Workshop for related central and local government officers will be held in the afternoon on 10February 2023, in conjunction with the 18th WEPA Annual Meeting and International Workshop.

3. Update of the WEPA Action Program in Myanmar
The WEPA Action Program in Myanmar supports activities of the Environmental Conservation
Department (ECD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar,
stipulating the National Surface Water Quality Standards, as well as enhancing the capacity ofthe ECD for water quality monitoring and assessment.
On 20 July 2022, a Kick-off Meeting for FY2022 activities was held on-line to discuss plans tofinalize the National Surface Water Quality Standards (NSWQS). Interim activity outputs take theform of revised proposals for NSWQS to be submitted to the Environmental Quality Standards
Technical Development Sub-Committee. In addition, guidelines are being developed to ensureharmonized and adequate classification and monitoring of the water environment. Based on theguidelines, a series of tailored training sessions for state/region ECD officers will be organizedfrom 31 October 2022.

4. Launch of the WEPA Action Program in Lao PDR
The WEPA action program in Lao PDR supports the Ministry of National Resources andEnvironment, Lao PDR to collect baseline data on water quality from septic tanks anddecentralized waste water treatment facilities, develop training materials for maintenance andoperation of septic tanks and decentralized wastewater systems, and strengthen the capacity ofofficers from relevant agencies for the purpose of law enforcement.
Following a visit to Lao PDR by WEPA Secretariat staff from 8 to 13 July 2022, a Kick-off
Meeting was held on 30 August 2022, to discuss and agree upon an implementation plan of theprogram. The program has thus been officially launched and has begun implementing its
activities. In FY2022, the program is undertaking a literature review on legal, institutional,financial and technical issues on wastewater management in Lao PDR, as well as a survey togather information on domestic wastewater in public canals and existing decentralized wastewater treatment facilities. In addition, an annual workshop and a stakeholder meeting will beorganized to exchange the results of FY2022 activities.

5. 10th International Workshop on Decentralized Domestic Wastewater
Treatment in Asia
The Ministry of the Environment, Japan will organize a webinar forthe 10th International Workshop on Decentralized Domestic
Wastewater Treatment in Asia on 4 November 2022, 15:00 -18:00(Japan Standard Time). The workshop will focus on 'Graywater
treatment by the Johkasou and its social benefit' and will discuss the social benefit derived fromgraywater, with the example of Johkasou in Japan. In addition, there are various benefits to thepublic through treating graywater, as well as regulations/subsidies provided by the central/local
government to conserve a good water environment, and the workshop will introduce relevantcases in Japan and Viet Nam.
Please register your participation in the Workshop at:https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3JIfuI-UQmiA4zA-DAriSg

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information)
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