animal manure disposed of in the open
The quality of the Black Sea and drinking water and sanitation is in particular concern in Georgia. Although Georgia has no comprehensive national water policy, a number of laws and regulations relate to the management and protection of Georgia’s water resources and related environmental issues; the most relevant is the 1997 Law on Water (as amended 2000). The Law on Water governs pollution control, protection of drinking water, licensing of water use and discharge, categorization of and protection of resources, and flood control, among other topics. The Law on Water states that water protection is a major element of environmental protection for Georgian citizens; drinking water has the highest priority.
RCDA in Cooperation with WECF-Women in Europe for a Common Future implemented the project “ Managing Wastewater through Global Partnership – Reducing the pollution of the Black Sea by Introducing sustainable wastewater and nutrient management in rural Georgian Communities”.
The project addressed a holistic approach to the problem of water contamination, caused by widely used pit-latrines, poor management of water resources, uncontrolled animal grazing, intensive use of chemical fertilizers, open and unsafe disposal of waste, including animal manure. The project identified an appropriate simple, affordable decentralized sanitation systems, such as urine-diverting dry toilets (UDDT) and promoted their adaptation. The action demonstrated appropriate technologies (for toilets, animal manure disposal, production of fertilizers, arranging community-managed landfills, recycling, composting, water treatment, etc.) with the participation of the communities to be served. The action focused on the prevention of environmental pollution, on health and hygiene education so that physical facilities would be properly used and maintained, and that hygienic behaviour would support the improvements brought about by the infrastructure. The activities provided the community basic knowledge for successful planning and implementation of ecological and affordable sanitation, and provide knowledge and support on their implementation of community-based water and sanitation safety plans (WSSP).
The activities were divided into 3 blocks:
- Increasing public participation and awareness-raising
A. Organizing public meetings and establish community based working groups
During the meetings, community-based, gender-balanced working groups (WG) established
B. Disseminating project information and results via local, regional and national media
WECF, project partner RCDA and the community based working groups published regularly about local events and project results
C. Disseminating project results at the international level
2. Development and dissemination of information
The materials were disseminated on a local level, were available in the nearby Khamiskuri Resource Centre and be downloadable in Georgian and English on the WebPages of GWI, WECF and RCDA.
3. Practical training, implementation of demonstration objects and workshops
Besides the theory, trainings were accompanied by demonstration objects and activities
Publication