CALL TO THE COMMUNITY

Support needed for founding Botswana Ecological Engineering Association

The following request has reached the editorial team of this newsletter via email on Nov. 26, 2004:

To whom it may concern:

My name Mrs Oarabile Serumola, I work with the Botswana Department of Water Affairs in Gaborone Botswana. I work as head of the Water Quality, Pollution and Conservation Division. In the pollution control unit our main job is to do waste management as part of the pollution control programme.

In order to sensitise the general public about the impact of indiscriminate dumping of various types of pollutants including human waste and changing the mindset of people som that they look at waste as a potential resource, we are thinking of establishing an association for the country that its main objective will be the following:

• a) The promotion of waste and wastewater treatment using low-tech and low cost technology that will be affordable Botswana
• b) To explore different options for re-use of treated effluent taking into consideration the adopted WHO Guidelines for re-use of Wastewater in Agriculture and Aquaculture (1989)
• c) To serve as a focal point for information service and exchange on waste and wastewater treatment and re-use options and available technology that utilise natural agents that are low tech and low cost.
• d) The advancement of education in public awareness of the importance of treating waste and wastewater and re-using it for various options either than for domestic use;
• e) The encouragement of networking nationally, regionally and internationally amongst stakeholders in the practice of utilising wastewater as a potential resource
• f) The promotion of capacity building at all levels in wastewater treatment and utilisation to enable the development of appropriate technology for Botswana's condition;
• g) The lobbying and advocacy for the formulation of a wastewater treatment and re-use Policy and Act to be incorporated in the National Water Master Plan and other relevant policies;
• h) The collection, collation, analysis and dissemination of information locally, regionally and internationally on wastewater treatment and Utilisation to all stakeholders.

In the furtherance of the aforesaid objects and for the better attainment thereof, the Association shall have the powers:

• a) To do all act and things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above-mentioned objects.

We are a small group of scientist and engineers and would like to affilliate with bigger organisations or associations abroad that will help us to make this initiative a success for our country. Botswana being an arid and semi arid country with scarce water resources needs to continuously look at waste and wastewater as a potential resource that will augument the already limited water resources that we are encountering in the country.

The potential benefit that we think we will derive from this endevour is zero-discharge to protect our potential and critical ground water resources of which 75% of the people of Botswana depends on. The other added advantage is that treated effluent can be utilised for activities that otherwise dont require water quality of potable standard hence relieve potable water use for domestic and other priority areas.

Waste for example, can be transformed from a disposal-based linear system to a recovery-based closed-loop system that promotes the conservation of water and nutrient resources and contributes to food security and public health. Please help us and give us ideas of how best we can approach this initiative and what mother bodies exist else where in the world that we can affliate with.

Thanks in Advance

Regards

O. Serumola (Mrs)

Links:

• Background information about the Botswana government:
  http://www.gov.bw/home.html