Inauguration of the First Pilot School Based Sanitation Project in Lao PDR

On March 16, 2011, the official inauguration and handing over ceremony for the first School Based Sanitation (SBS) Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS) project in Vientiane, Lao PDR took place. This project, at Khualuang Primary School and near Buddhist Temple, was implemented by LIRE-BORDA in collaboration with the Public Works and Transport Institute (PTI) and the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of the JICA Team Study on “Improvement of Water Environment in Vientiane City”. The ceremony concluded the end of the project, officially transferring the ownership to the School owner and users.

SBS projects aim to improve the sanitation conditions for schools with improper or no waste water treatment, such as the Khualuang Primary School, through a variety of measures including the construction of a DEWATS. To ensure a sustainable improvement to health and sanitary conditions, this simple technology-based solution is accompanied by a variety of social interventions. The school’s toilets were renovated and upgraded, and trainings, operation and maintenance of the system were carried out as well as health and hygiene education for the teachers and students. Since the beginning of the year, the system has been fully operational and providing treatment for the 87 pupils from the school, the 4 teachers and the 25 monks living at the neighbouring Vat Khualuang.

The handing over ceremony was attended by students and staff as well as representatives from concerned sectors. Representatives from the parties involved in the implementation of the DEWATS system gave speeches, and the system was officially handed over by Mr. Yoshiharu YONEYAMA, Senior Representative of JICA in Laos to the Chanthabuly District.

Mr. Saythong KEODUANGDY, the district governor expressed his gratitude to the whole project team, JICA, PTI, and LIRE- BORDA. Following the official ceremony, the guests visited the DEWATS plant and discussed its functioning on site to learn about the technology.