Football organization KNVB informs young African footballers on water and personal hygiene

March 27th, 2012 by nwp

The Dutch football organization KNVB started a water & sanitation project by football coaches advising African students on water and personal hygiene.

The project was launched during a special celebration of World Water Day at Wageningen University on March 22.

State secretary Ben Knapen announced a 13.5 million euro support on behalf of the Dutch government.

The other parties to this public-private partnership are UNICEF, Simavi, Vitens Evides, Aqua for All and AKVO. ‘This is a first-rate example of public-private cooperation,’ said state secretary Knapen.


State secretary Ben Knapen for international cooperation

Teaching not only football
With the initiative ‘Football for water, sanitation and hygiene’, the KNVB has made a flying start. This programme will provide clean drinking water and sanitation to pupils at 1,100 schools in Ghana, Mozambique and Kenya.

Additionally over 700.000 students will be advised on water and hygiene. This is part of Worldcoach project that teaches students in developing countries not only football but also ‘life skills’ such as respect, cooperation and decision making.

Extra chapters Life Skills manual
For the occasion of the water project the WorldCoaches Life Skills Manual .has been extended with five chapters on water and hygiene.

Worldwide over 500 football coaches are involved in the WorldCoaches project.


All photos: Bart de Gouw, copyright 2012 WUR CS/BdG

High expectations
In the case of the KNVB’s public-private partnership, the Dutch government will contribute 3.4 million euro annually in the first four years, and the private partners will double that amount. After that, the project should be able to run without government funding. Knapen is counting on more good pps-projects on water and sanitation (WASH). ‘If I’m right, around 40 parties are already drafting project proposals. I have high expectations of them.’

Secretary of State Ben Knapen endorsed the importance of water management in the future. Netherlands has under him a lot of knowledge on water management. Knapen launched a Sustainable Water Fund, where this year 50 million euro.

Famous Dutch football players
Also present at the celebration of World Water Day 2012, the Prince of Orange and Dutch football personalities Ruud Krol, Ruud Gullit and Ben van Marwijk congratulated the organisations and wished them all the best working together.

The Prince said he was delighted to see two important strong Dutch ingredients working together: Water and Football.

More information
World Coaches
www.worldcoaches.nl/en

KNVB
Oeds-Willem Miedema oeds-willem.miedema@knvb.nl
programma Football for WASH
Zeist, the Netherlands
+31 9008075
www.knvb.nl

Posted in News.

Real water use of the average world citizens is an astonishing 4000 liter per day

February 14th, 2012 by nwp

The average global water consumption has been 1.385 m3/y per capita over the period 1996-2005. This comes down to a average of almost 4000 liter per day. These figures were published in an article that appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA) on February 13.

The authors of this article, Arjen Hoekstra and Mesfin Mekonnen of the University of Twente (the Netherlands) calculated the average water footprint, including not only the domestic water use, but also the use of fresh water for agricultural and industrial use.

Tenfold water use
Normally the figures on average water use per capita are published by water supply companies and refer mainly to domestic use only. Normally these figures do not top a daily use of 400 liters per capita, not even in highly industrialized countries. The new study by Hoekstra and Mekonnen shows that the actual water use is a tenfold.

The study reveals how different products and nations contribute to water consumption and pollution throughout the globe. The authors hope that the findings help governments to establish commodity production and consumption policies aimed at managing the planet’s finite freshwater supplies more effectively.

The water footprint (WF) is measure of the total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services. The authors estimated the water footprint for an average citizen in each country, using three components:

  • blue – the volume of ground and surface water used

  • green – the volume of rainwater used
  • grey – the volume of freshwater polluted

Industrialized countries have water footprints in the range of 1.250–2.850 m3∕y per capita, whereas developing countries show a much larger range of 550– 3.800 m3∕y per capita.

Fast growing water stress in China
The water footprint of Chinese consumption is still relatively small and largely internal (90%), but given the country’s rapid growth and the growing water stress (particularly in North China), the country is likely to increasingly rely on water resources outside its territory, evidenced by China’s policy already today to buy or lease lands in Africa to secure their food supply.


With 92% the agricultural sector is by far the biggest freshwater consumer.

One-fifth for export
The study shows that about one-fifth of the global WF in the period 1996–2005 was not meant for domestic consumption but for export. The relatively large volume of international virtual water flows and the associated external water dependencies strengthen the argument to put the issue of water scarcity in a global context.

Need for sustainable water policy
For governments in water-scarce countries such as in North Africa and the Middle East, it is crucial to recognize the dependency on external water resources and to develop foreign and trade policies such that they ensure a sustainable and secure import of water-intensive commodities that cannot be grown domestically.

Some other remarkable figures for the average water footprint:

  • the global annual average was 9,987 Gm3/y (74% green = consumed rain water), 11% blue (= consumed surface & groundwater), 15% gray (= fresh water needed to assimilate pollution of surface & groundwater).

  • the global average consumer used 1,385 m3/y (in USA 2,842 m3/y and in China 1,071 m3/y)
  • consumption of cereal products gives the largest contribution to the water footprint (27%), followed by meat (22% and milk (7%)

Read the full article in the website of PNAS.

More information
Water Footprint Network
c/o University of Twente
Enschede, the Netherlands
+31 53 489 4320
www.waterfootprint.org

Posted in Features, News.

Minister Ben Knapen visited Benin and Ghana for establishing long term public-private water projects

January 19th, 2012 by nwp

Dutch minister for development aid Ben Knapen visited Ghana and Benin on January 9 – 12. His visit was the formal start of the new Dutch policy for water aid. The Dutch government has reorganized its development aid, narrowing it to 9 countries and four focus areas, including water.

The aid policy will concentrate more on the economic potentials of the countries involved. In addition to the classical donation projects, the Dutch government favors the funding of bilateral public-private water projects.

Benin and Ghana are two of the countries to benefit from this new focus.

Knapen travel to Ghana and Benin to visit a number of water projects and see how Dutch know-how is used to provide clean running water to slum districts, achieve efficient water use in agriculture and to introduce integral water management to prevent erosion and pollution.

New bilateral water programmes
In 2010, the Netherlands decided to concentrate development cooperation in four priority areas: water, food security, sexual and reproductive health and rights, public order and safety. Just prior leaving for Ghana and Benin, Knapen announced the details of the new water aid programme.

The coming years the budget for water programmes in developing countries will grow from 156 million euros to 254 million euros in 2015. Of this amount, an average of 125 million euros per year will be spent on bilateral water programmes in 9 focus countries: Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Mali,
Mozambique, Rwanda, South Sudan, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

More public-private partnerships
According to minister Knapen, development cooperation can never be a government monopoly, particularly in the field of water supply. Public-private partnerships are to help out: in the coming five years, 150 million euros will be made available for joint water projects set up by businesses, knowledge institutions and development organizations.

Ghana: Ghana water sector to make first steps
“It is up to the Ghanaians to devise a plan that is sustainable long term without external financing”, said Knapen in the capital Accra, when he discussed the new Dutch water policy with Ghana’s vice president John Dramani Mahama. He spoke with schoolchildren, business people, academic researchers, and representatives of NGOs.

In 2010 the economy in Ghana grew by 14% in Ghana but still many people lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation. The Dutch government has made 100 million euro available for improvement of the water facilities during the next five years.

Knapen wants the Ghanaians to initiate the water projects, and Dutch authorities, water knowledge institutes, non-governmental organizations and water companies to follow.

Benin: launch of Benin-Dutch water platform
During his visit to Benin, Knapen spoke in the capital Cotonou with prime minister Koupaki and the minister of foreign affairs about the political reforms and the future business climate.


Signing of the agreement to form a Benin-Dutch water platform.

With the minister of water he talked about the possibilities to intensify the relation between the Benin and Dutch water sectors. Both ministers agreed to form a special Benin-Dutch water platform.

The platform is scheduled to have its first meeting in March.

Tailor made projects
Director Lenart Silvis of the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) who joined the visits of minister Knapen to Ghana and Benin, expects the new Dutch aid policy to generate water projects that will address better the local needs.

“We agreed that Dutch water experts are to meet their Benin counterparts frequently and talk strategically about the water related problems. If necessary they can propose ideas for pilot projects to improve the water supply in rural areas or to improve the capacity for integrated river basin management”, says the NWP-director.

Public-private projects
In Ghana the situation is different, according to Silvis as the local water sector is further developed and new water projects are commercially better viable. “Our role as Netherlands Water Partnership will concentrate on bringing together the public and private water sector in both countries and stimulate public-private projects”.

The Dutch government has earmarked 30 million euros for the next five years as seed money for PPP-projects in Ghana.”

Two videos on the water situation in Benin (in French/local language). Local villagers and water authorities explain the current situation and express the need to change the water services to better meet the local demand for drinking water, waste water and sanitation.

More information
Ministry of foreign affaires
Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS)
The Hague, the Netherlands
+31 70 3486486

General information about Dutch development cooperation:
www.minbuza.nl

Development cooperation with Benin:
www.minbuza.nl

Development cooperation with Ghana:
www.minbuza.nl

Ambassade des Pays-Bas à Cotonou Bénin
www.larepubliquedubenin.nlambassade.org

Netherlands Embassy in Accra Ghana
www.ghana.nlembassy.org

Posted in News.

ICT supplier Unit4 chosen to deliver software for modernization water supply in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

January 19th, 2012 by nwp

Software supplier Unit4 Agresso Business World is going to deliver its computer programme for enterprise resource planning (ERP) to the Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) in Addis Ababa. The AAWSA is responsible for the supply of drinking water and the disposal of sewage in the Ethiopian capital.

The deal is worth three million euro in software and services over two years. The ERP software will support the water company by integration of all facets of operation, including development, manufacturing, sales and marketing.

Better meet demand for clean water
Addis Ababa Water is responsible for maintaining and improving the water supply in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is undertaking an ambitious project to modernize the water supply systems it has in place to achieve its objectives and better meet demand for clean drinking water.

Sponsored by World Bank, the project involves implementation of new hardware, software and networks and Agresso was selected over competitive offerings from Oracle and Microsoft to manage finances and project planning.

Implementing software key factor
“Developing countries are subject to ongoing change and significant environmental factors and implementing software that will support change is key to Addis Ababa Water,” said a spokesperson from the organization. “This is an ambitious and much needed improvement initiative for Ethiopia and a flexible system like Agresso that will account for changes in our structure and requirements as our work develops is important. Supported by a better system infrastructure, we continue our drive to give more people access to clean drinking water and an improved quality of life.”

This news item was originally published on the website of Unit 4

More information
Unit4 Agresso
Schiedam, the Netherlands
+31 184 44 44 44
www.unit4software.co.uk


Posted in News.

Arcadis to supervise construction of water supply network in Oman

December 23rd, 2011 by nwp

The engineering firm Arcadis announced that it won a large contract to provide consultancy and management services to oversee construction of a new water network for Oman’s Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW). When complete, the network will bring clean water directly to the taps of hundreds of thousands of residents in the Al Sharqiyah region.

Ending water supply with trucks
The project will eliminate the need to truck water from filling station outposts to residents, reducing PAEW’s carbon footprint as well as noise and traffic pollution. The three-year, multi-million dollar contract is scheduled to begin in January 2012.

Growing water demand
The water conveyance system is intended to support the region’s growing population and the development of a future planned shipping port in the region that will further bolster Oman’s economic growth. Arcadis will work closely with the PAEW and contractors to safely address the challenges of the region’s rugged terrain, meeting the fast-tracked project schedule on time and within budget.

Delicate balance of natural resources
“Arcadis will use its global expertise of finding solutions for groundwater depletion to bring clean, reliable drinking water to the region for what will be the first time for many residents, all while maintaining the delicate balance of development requirements and natural resources. We will share Arcadis’ knowledge and skills with PAEW in order to help sustain these projects over the long-term and meet Oman’s goals of improving the country’s infrastructure,” said Arcadis water director Bill Dee.

This news release was originally published on the website of Arcadis.

More information
Arcadis Corporate
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
T +31 (0)20 2011 011
www.arcadis.com

Posted in News.

Local enterprises hold key to low cost water supply in developing countries

December 18th, 2011 by nwp

To be able to upscale the low cost water supply in developing countries through so called non-piped interventions, it is important to raise awareness amongst potential consumers and to incubate a set of local enterprises that can copy the best local approaches, for instance the sale of water treatment devices, the servicing of a pumping place or a water kiosk. Such efforts cannot be borne by private players alone, and should be supported by philanthropic and public institutions.

This is one of the main outcomes of the study ‘Access to safe water for the base of the pyramid’ done by the Dutch water aid foundation Aqua for All, the foundation BoP Innovation Center and the consultancy firm Hystra.

The study on alternative low cost water supplies in developing countries, started with the identification of some 140 projects across the world and the interviews with 110 entrepreneurs, development specialists and water experts.

Four major clusters
This lead to the identifications of four major clusters:
- flacks & tabs – household purifying filters, tablets or chemicals
- pumping & harvesting – groundwater extraction and rain water collection
- plant & kioks – mini water treatment plants
- pipes & taps – a distribution system and a local operator
Finally 15 cases were selected and analysed in depth.


The scope of safe water solutions, in terms of appropriateness and
cost-effectiveness

Piped networks for urban areas
The in depth analyses of the cases learned that scaling-up access to safe water and reaching out to the 2.1 billion people without this common good is possible, and can even be profitable. For the fast growing urban population in developing countries – expected growth: almost 70% by 2030 – piped distribution networks seems to be the most appropriate.

Hybrid water utilities
Good opportunities lay ahead for utility operators (public and private), especially if they join forces and create hybrid water utilities formed by public, non-profit and private players. These partnerships can focus exclusively on serving fast growing communities in towns and slums of large cities.

The urban areas could be served with relatively low capital investments. For different reasons, such hybrid utilities could not be purely public or private, but rather require a blend of both, in terms of governance and financing.

Water kiosks for rural areas
For rural areas and areas where water is brackish/heavily polluted, other water solutions are better. The Hystra Project Team could identify successful individual projects, but the challenge is to develop – on that basis – entire industries to provide safe water for the poor and “to incubate many local enterprises that can copy the winning approaches”.

Scaling-up by private players alone
For areas with brackish/heavily polluted water there are plenty of opportunities for social entrepreneurs that can run mini-water-treatment stations (kiosks).

Scaling-up in rural areas can be realized by private players alone, but support from public and philanthropic institutions is needed to accelerate.

Acceleration of BoP-focused water industry
Extrapolating from the case study data, the Hystra Project Team estimates that over 6 billion US dollars will be needed to accelerate the development of BoP-focused safe water industries across all clusters. About one third of this amount would come from grants, while the rest would consist of loan and equity financing. Similarly, considerable financial innovation will be needed to create the right incentives for more corporates and investors to come in.

Read the original news release on the website of BoP Innovation Center.

Download Access to safe water for the base of the pyramid:
the report summary
or the full report

More information
Aqua for All
The Hague, the Netherlands
Marcel Schreurs, m.schreurs@aquaforall.nl
+31 70 351 97 20

or

BoP Innovation Center
Utrecht, the Netherlands
Taco de Nies, denies@bopinc.org
+31 30 230 59 15

Posted in News.

Water company Dunea and polder board Rhineland start five year water project in Mwanza, Tanzania

December 18th, 2011 by nwp

In January 2012 Dutch drinking water company Dunea and polder board Rhineland start a joint project in Mwanza, Tanzania. The European Union has granted one million euro.

New water installations
Mwanza is Tanzania’s second largest city. The city is entirely dependent for its drinking water from Lake Victoria. The local water company Mwauwasa recently completed the construction of new drinking water and waste water treatment installations.

Technically the installations work good, but the knowledge and organizational level of the local authorities, the water company Mwauwasa and the Lake Victoria Basin Water office administrator local water (LVBWO), are a problem.

Transfer of knowledge
The new project focuses on a ‘water partnership’ for transferring expert knowledge from colleague to colleague. The knowledge transfer concerns the entire water cycle: catchment, treatment, distribution, customer service, sewage and resource management (water quality).

The projects runs for 5 years and will be carried out mainly by Dunea. Polder board Rhineland is responsible for delivering manuals for waste water treatment plant and for combating eutrophication of surface waters.

This press release was originally published on the website of the polder board Rhineland (in Dutch only).

More information
Dunea
Voorburg, the Netherlands
+31 70 357 74 90
www.dunea.nl

or

Mwanza Urban Water and Sewerage Authority
Mwanza, Tanzania
+255 28 2500547
www.mwauwasa.or.tz

Posted in News.

Vitens Evides International assists Kenyan water supply sector in benchmarking

December 9th, 2011 by nwp

Vitens Evides International (VEI) and the Association of Dutch Water Companies (VEWIN) will be supporting the Kenyan water supply sector to improve performance by introducing sector wide benchmarking.

Best performers as example
Over the last 15 years, benchmarking and exchange of ‘best practices’ has led to significant sector performance improvement in The Netherlands. In 1990, the 10 Dutch water supply companies started periodical and transparent comparison of company results on a voluntary basis. VEWIN provided overall coordination. By exchange of experience, best performers became example to others.

Benchmarking nine Kenyan water providers
Within this 4-year cooperation, VEI, VEWIN and Water Services Providers Association (WASPA), will train the staff of 9 Kenyan water services providers in the introduction of a benchmarking cycle. At first, performance results of the 9 water services providers will be compared and best practice will be identified.

Based on national and international best practices, performance improvement plans will be prepared and improvements will be implemented.

Improvement of financial results
Three demonstration project aimed at reducing physical and commercial losses are part of the project. Within these projects, the international experience of VEI will be introduced.

This project is co financed by the ACP-EU Water Facility.

More efficient with water losses and non-revenues
Vitens Evides International is powered by the two largest water companies of the Netherlands, Vitens and Evides. It is specially founded to contribute to the improvement of drinking water supplies and sanitation in developing countries.

By entering into multiple-year partnerhips with local water companies, VEI assists these companies to become financially more healthy and to operate more efficiently with a minimum of water loss and non-revenues.

VEI is already operational in Ghana, Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Suriname and Vietnam.

This press release was originally published on the website of Vitens Evides International.

More information
Vitens Evides International
Utrecht, the Netherlands
+31 88 884 7991
www.vitensevidesinternational.com

Posted in News.

First full scale wind turbine RainMaker makes drinking water from air

August 31st, 2011 by nwp

The first full scale demonstration model of the RainMaker AW75 became operational at the Dutch business park Newton Park IV in Leeuwarden. The installation consists of a large wind turbine that captures air in a compressor with a cooling system. This makes the moisture in the air to condensate. After purification the water is collected as drinking water.

The wind turbine produces about 8,000 liters of water a day. It supplies its own energy.

The manufacturer Dutch RainMaker has a pilot installation in operation since 2008 and that is reported to work properly now.

Warm and dry areas
The RainMaker AW75 is primarily intended for agricultural areas in warm, dry areas where little or no water is available such as in Africa. Also the wind turbine may very well be used for drinking water supply in emergency situations when for instance an area that is affected by a natural disaster. Countries that have shown interest in the RainMaker are Kuwait, Suriname, Australia and the USA.

Dutch director of RainMaker, Gerard Schouten, is pleased with the demonstration model in Leeuwarden. “Now we have the RainMaker nearby, we can easily show it to interested parties. And we have the opportunity to further develop the concept nearby.”

European water technology hub
The next step in the technological scale of this particular water technology fits well with the role of the town of Leeuwarden, which is the home of the Water Campus, formed by the water technology centre Wetsus and network organization Water Alliance. “Leeuwarden wants to be a national knowledge hotspot and a European water technology hub”, says Schouten.

More information:
Dutch Rainmaker
Leeuwarden, the Netherlands
+ 31 58 280 07 30
www.dutchrainmaker.nl

Posted in News.

Dutch parliament adopts unique Delta act for protection against climate change

June 29th, 2011 by nwp

Protecting the Netherlands from high water, now and in the future, and ensuring the freshwater supply: that is the aim of the Delta Act which was unanimously adopted by the House of Representatives on June 28.

Crucial importance
State Secretary Atsma (Infrastructure & the Environment) believes water safety and the freshwater supply are of crucial importance to the Netherlands. “They require a long-term approach. The Delta Act guarantees this!”

Flood control and fresh water supply
The Delta Act constitutes the legal basis for the Delta Fund which can be used to finance the safeguarding of the freshwater supply and protection against high water in the future. The Act also provides for the role of the Delta Commissioner who is tasked with ensuring that a Delta Programme is drawn up every year and the progress is reported.

According to Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken, the adoption of the Delta Act signifies ‘a great step along the road to anchoring the Delta Programme in law. And that is necessary for the realisation of the Delta Programme.’

Prepared for the future
Over the last century, the sea level has risen, soil has subsided and the weather has become warmer. The figures of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) indicate that this trend will continue. More severe weather conditions, such as more rainy periods and periods of drought, are matters that must be taken into account. The Delta Programme is needed to get the current safety in order and to ensure that the Netherlands is prepared for the future.

Coordinated action by all authorities
To that end, the government needs to take the right measures to keep the Netherlands safe and attractive, with a sufficient supply of freshwater. The state, provinces, municipalities and water boards are working together with civil society organisations, the business community and knowledge institutions in the Delta Programme, under the direction of the Delta Commissioner. The State Secretary of Infrastructure & the Environment is the coordinating member of the cabinet for the Delta Programme.


Delta Commissioner Wim Kuijken.

One programme for all measures
Alongside the ongoing programmes such as Room for Rivers, Maaswerken (Meuse Works), Coastal Weak Links and the High Water Protection programme, the Delta Programme focuses on five Delta Decisions. By 2015, these decisions will be submitted to the cabinet.

These decisions involve the standards for our main dikes and other water barriers and the strategies for our water safety, the availability and distribution of freshwater, the level of the IJsselmeer, the way in which the Rhine Estuary & Drechtsteden region can remain safe without adversely affecting its economic value and how water can be taken into account during the construction of neighbourhoods and districts.

As of 2020 one billion euro annually
The Delta Fund is intended for spending in the areas of water safety and the freshwater supply. The Delta Act sets down that up until 2020 the funds from the Infrastructure Fund which have already been reserved for this purpose, will be transferred to the Delta Fund. In a supplementary policy agreement, the cabinet has agreed that from 2020 at least 1 billion euros a year will be available for the Delta Fund.

This news items was originally published on the website of the Delta Commissioner.

Posted in News.

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