One of the main reasons why sanitation is a market which the private sector and businesses have tended to neglect is their lack of the awareness for business oportunities in wastewater and excreta management. However, sanitation provides further income possibilities besides the well-known wastewater treatment fees or septic tank faecal sludge removal fees. These could include operation and maintenance services or selling treated sanitation products such as digested sludge or urine as fertilizer or compost as soil conditioner. It may also include the income which can be generated from biogas as an energy source (obtained from anaerobic treatment processes).

The aims of this working group are to develop an open-source data base on best practices in integrated social marketing and to establish a formal network of experts in this field.

Still today, most people in industrialised countries do not know about the severity of the on-going sanitation crisis in developing countries and countries in transition. Even in those latter countries, the decision makers and affluent people tend to pay little attention to the plight of their (poor) country mates who have a daily struggle with inadequate sanitation. In addition, in the Western media, topics like climate change and water scarcity find their way into the global limelight much easier than the “taboo topic” of sanitation in developing countries.

On the other side of the coin, those people who would benefit the most from improved sanitation, have little knowledge on the possible options and costs involved for sustainable sanitation systems which would be suitable for their own circumstances.

This working group aims to create global awareness of sustainable sanitation options, and on how to make them more accessible and affordable in the local and global market especially for the poor.

Leads

The lead of this working group is Jack Sim and the co-lead is Carol McCreary: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it WTO Singapore   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it PHLUSH USA

 

How to join the working group?

Individuals who are not yet registered, but are interested in joining the thematic working group, are very welcome. Please register as a member and choose the respective working group(s) you wish to join: http://susana.org/index.php/lang-en/component/register/?view=member If you are already registered, but wish to join another or more working group(s), you can easily change the details by logging in here: http://www.susana.org/lang-en/your-details Why become a member of a working group? You can work with other experts on several issues to promote sustainable sanitation You will gain access to information on working group processes You can be active by hosting SuSanA meetings and/or by organising activities/events to promote sustainable sanitation You can take part in discussions within the working group by using the e-mail mailing list This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   Note that this e-mail list is moderated in order to avoid spam. You can join and take part in stimulating discussions on the SuSanA Discussion Forum in the WG 9 section