A Successful Week of Wastewater Training in Ethiopia: Highlights from the Blue Deal Programme
16 October 2024This week marked a significant milestone for the Blue Deal initiative in Ethiopia, with a series of training sessions and hands-on activities focused on wastewater management. The training, which took place in Adama, was a collaborative effort involving several partners to enhance local capacities for water quality monitoring, vacuum truck management and using MWater for wastewater asset mapping. Here are some of the key highlights from this transformative week:
Day 1: Focus on Water Quality Monitoring and Vacuum Truck Management
On Tuesday, the training officially began with participants from the water utilities of Adama, Shashemene, and Hawassa. The sessions were centred on water quality monitoring techniques and vacuum truck management, emphasising safety, logistics, and finance. This practical training helped local water professionals understand the critical aspects of maintaining and managing wastewater systems efficiently, with a strong focus on ensuring safety in operations.
Day 2: Opening of Adama Constructed Wetland
Wednesday was a momentous day as the newly constructed wetland in Adama was officially opened. This project was generously funded by the Dutch NWB Fund (Nederlandse Waterschapsbank), an important partner in advancing sustainable water solutions. The wetland will serve as a natural system for treating wastewater, providing a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to local challenges. This initiative not only enhances water quality but also contributes to the health and well-being of the community.
Day 3: MWater Training and Wastewater Asset Mapping
Thursday’s activities focused on the introduction of MWater, a powerful tool for mapping and managing water-related data. Participants were trained on how to add locations for wastewater assets and conduct surveys using this technology. This training helps utilities keep track of their infrastructure more effectively, ensuring better planning and maintenance. It also builds the technical capacity of local teams to manage wastewater systems in a more data-driven, efficient manner.
Day 4: Wrap-Up and Certificate Ceremony
On Friday, the week-long training came to a close with a wrap-up session where participants presented what they had learned throughout the week. A ceremony followed, where certificates were handed over to the attendees, recognising their commitment and successful completion of the training. Congratulations are in order for the water utility employees from Adama, Shashemene, and Hawassa who completed this programme!
Key Partners and Contributors
This successful week would not have been possible without the invaluable contributions of several partners. The training was supported by World Waternet. Waterschap Aa en Maas, Gemeente Groningen, and Gemeente Urk also played vital roles in facilitating this initiative. Special thanks go to Hach for providing essential water quality monitoring equipment, MetaMeta, Waste and Ecofyt, who contributed to the eco-friendly solutions implemented throughout the week.
The collaborative effort of these partners demonstrates the power of partnerships in addressing global water challenges and highlights the shared commitment to ensuring sustainable water management systems across Ethiopia.