2013-02-18

WEPA International Workshop
Siem Reap, Cambodia on 18-20 February 2013

Current situation and future vision of domestic
wastewater treatment in Lao PDR
By: Phenghkamla PHONVISAI,
Director of Legislation and Information Division

Pollution Control Department, MONRE

Content of presentation• General Information– Current situation of domestic wastewater treatment in Lao PDR• Future vision for decentralized domestic
wastewater treatment in Lao PDR– Strategy for future development plan of domestic wastewater treatment;– Placing of decentralized domestic wastewater treatment;– Technology feasible for decentralized domestic wastewater treatment in
Lao PDR;– Management Framework needed for decentralized domestic wastewater
treatment in Lao PDR.

1

2013-02-18

General Information

Land Area (km2)

236,800

Population (2012)

6.3 (UNDP)

GDP (USD)

7,900
LKP/1USD

10,270,000
mil (2012)

Renewable water resources(m3)

270 billion

Total water withdrawal (m3) 5.7 billion(100%)
Water use by Agriculture
sectors(m3)(2000)
Industry(m3)
Domestic(m3)4,674 (82%)

570 (10%)456 (8%)Sources: MONRE, 2012

Sources: International River, 2007

Current situation of domestic wastewater treatment in
Lao PDR• They are poor domestic wastewater treatment andsanitation management in Lao PDR generally
contrib tes to wastewater
contributes
aste ater pollution
poll tion especially
especiall in theurban areas.
• The major water source:– Water Supply is available in urban areas and surface water– Groundwater is using in sub-urban and rural areas• Now,
No both the surface
s rface and groundgro nd waterater quality
q alit are
already declining although still within the acceptablelimits.
• Water pollution issues will become increasinglyimportant in the near future.

2

2013-02-18

Domestics Wastewater Discharge

Discharge of washing water due to broken pipe

Old septic tank spilling stored wastewater

Small pipes discharging gray water from households,
hotels and restaurants along the right bank in theupper half of this stretch

Domestic wastewater treatment in Lao PDR(Example Vientiane capital)ang

Hong KeSam Senthai Rd.
Saya Setta Thirath Rd.

Nong Chanh
Marsh

Drainage channel
MarshRoad

Bung
Khangong
Marsh

Dong Paina Rd.

Hong Ke System

Soak Pa Louang
LRd.

LEGEND

Hong Khoua Khao

Mekong RiverHong
Phone Thanh

Hong Ouay Louay

XneLae.
Av

That Luang Marsh

Honng Pasak

Nong BoneHong Thong

Luang Prabang Rd.

Phonnthan Rd.

Hong Kai Keo

Hong Wattay
T2 Rd.

To Makhiao River

Hong Xeng

Hong Xeng System

R107 Rd.

Sources: JICA, 2012
Route 13

Nong Ping Marsh

Phon Tong Rd.

Tong Khan Kan Rd.

Nam Pasak

The wastewater from individual households in urban areas
has been discharged into open drains along the roads and into
natural wetlands in and around the city3

2013-02-18

Wastewater Treatment in Lao PDR• The report released in May 2009 on Economic Impactsof wastewater and sanitation in Lao PDR by Water
Supplypp y Projectj (WSP)() revealed:– Lack of law and regulation of water environment;– Poor sanitation, including hygiene, causes at least three
million disease episodes and 6 thousand premature deaths
annually (1 death per 1000 inhabitants of 6.2 million totalpopulations) ;– About 82% of schools does not have sanitation facilities ;– Aboutb
40% off theh populationl i doesdnot havehsustainablei blaccess to improved water source (47% in rural areas);– About 52% of the national population does not have access to'basic' sanitation (62% in rural areas)

Strategy for future development plan of domestic wastewater
treatment• The strategy for future development plan shall be “to support
increased access to sustainable wastewater facilities andservices in the urban areas of urban areas in Lao PDRPDR”;;• Taking such situations into account, the concrete framework
can be enumerated as below:– To conserve the existing water environment in the entire River basin, in particularfunctional natural water purification in Marsh and lower reaches of the River;– To restore the lost water environment in the urban drainage canal system; forconserving and increasing inhabitable environment of aquatic life along the canalsystem; and– To treat the wastewater discharged from the urban households in urban areas, as adominant source of surface water deterioration, and to improve the water
environment in the drainage canal system.

4

2013-02-18

Placing of decentralized domestic
wastewater treatment• Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System ( DEWAT) would be one
placing to use in Lao PDR:
– DEWATS is an important component of the Community‐BasedSanitation (CBS) framework to improve sanitation conditions in areas
with improper wastewater and sanitation facilities;– DEWATS applications provide treatment for both domestic andindustrial sources;– DEWATS applications provide treatment for organic wastewaterflows from 1‐1000 m3 per day– DEWATS applications do not need sophisticated maintenance;– The system has the capacity to treat 10 m³ of wastewater per day
which is sufficient to significantly reduce pollution of water and soilby the wastewater effluent.

Technology feasible for decentralized domestic wastewater treatment52013-02-18

Institutional Framework• Capacity building for Institutional Management ofEnvironment;
pNeed for Regulations
gand Guidelines;;• Development• Necessity of Practicable Water Quality Standards;• Strengthening/Establishing
Implementing/Coordinating Agencies to Integrate
the Related Government Agencies andDonors/NGOs;• Disclosure and Dissemination of Information for
Awareness Development.

Management Framework needed fordecentralized domestic wastewater treatment• Early Implementation of the Structural Water
E iEnvironmentt Improvement
It Plan;Pl• Prevention of Concrete Covering on DrainageSystems;• Conservation of Marshes/Wetlands;• StrengtheningStth i off Administrative
Ad i i t ti Guidance;
G id• Strengthening of Maintenance Work and Monitoring
Activities for the Drainage Network.

6

2013-02-18

Q&A

Green + Clean = Beautiful

137