1. 20th WEPA Annual Meeting
2. 10th World Water Forum in Bali
3. Expectations after completion of WEPA Action Program in Lao PDR
4. Water environment in Thailand
5. Where to find information on WEPA website
6. Greetings from new advisor on WEPA Advisory Board |
|
| 1. 20th WEPA Annual Meeting |
|
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Inspection of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan,
and the WEPA Secretariat will organize the 20th WEPA Annual Meeting and International Workshop on 24 and 25 February, 2025 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, followed by
a field visit on 26 February. These events will be held as in-person meetings, but on-line participation will be arranged at the same time.
The Annual Meeting aims to share the progress and plans of overall WEPA activities with WEPA partner countries, in addition to providing
updates on water environmental governance in the partner countries. WEPA Outlook 2024 is now being prepared as a collaborative project between partner countries and
the secretariat. The report will be presented at the meeting before being published online. An International Workshop will also be organized to share practical information
on addressing emerging issues, with topics for discussion selected based on current global interests.
The agenda and other details of the meeting and workshop will be announced in due course.
|
|
| 2. 10th World Water Forum in Bali |
|
The 10th World Water Forum (WWF10) was held in Bali, Indonesia, from 20 to 25 May, 2024, under the main theme of “Water for Shared Prosperity”.
The WEPA Secretariat contributed to WWF10 by participating in Thematic Sessions 2A2, “Accelerating Water Quality Improvement: Avoid, Reduce,
Recycle and Reuse to Solve the Water Pollution Enigma” and 2D3, “Towards a circular economy transition through safe collection, treatment and
resource recovery of wastewater and fecal sludge”. In addition, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan set up a booth in the Japan Pavilion and
presented WEPA and the Model Project for Improvement of Water Environment in Asia.
Dr. Ngoc-Bao Pham from the Secretariat introduced WEPA in 2A2, and presented the regional efforts in Asia to participants from a wide
range of countries and regions. Dr. Yoshitaka Ebie, WEPA Advisory Board, delivered a keynote speech in 2D3 stating the importance of standardizing
wastewater treatment systems. Key messages from 2A sessions were “the importance of data for decision-making,” “Wastewater = Resource,” and
“the importance of not separating water quality and quantity issues”. One of the coordinators of 2A mentioned that co-creation of in-situ science is
important, but governance and institutional arrangement are the foundation which should never be skipped. It was also mentioned that collaboration with
the private sector and taking demography into account would be needed. Outcomes from the forum including the Ministerial Declaration can be found
at:
https://worldwaterforum.org/outcomes.
|
|
|
3. Expectations after completion of WEPA Action Program in Lao PDR |
|
The action program in Lao PDR was implemented from FY2022 to FY2023 with the objectives of understanding the actual conditions of existing
decentralized wastewater treatment facilities, preparing training materials for operation and maintenance, and strengthening the capacity
of national and subnational government officials, based on issues identified in the literature review conducted in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Inspection (DNREI) of the Lao Ministry of National Resources and Environment,
the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) and the National University of Laos (NUL) participated in the project to create a framework with
great potential to implement the results on a society level. The project has formulated a structure that is expected to provide continuous support from academia.
A fact-finding survey revealed problems with the current system, such as insufficient budget planning for maintenance, and failure to meet effluent standards.
It also confirmed several points that should be included in future national guidelines, both in terms of technology and systems. Training materials were prepared in
collaboration with the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), taking into consideration the results of the aforementioned survey. It is hoped that the materials will serve
as a basis for future national guidelines. During the compilation process, many ideas were put forward from industry, academia, and government, including what was missing,
who should be the target of the guidelines, and what a more appropriate title would be to better reflect the contents. Participants exhibited an ever-deepening understanding
of the issues involved, as discussions evolved into a variety of substantive exchanges, such as what were appropriate costs for maintenance and cleaning, and whether a license
should be required to carry out maintenance and cleaning services.
Yoshitaka Ebie (WEPA Advisor, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan)
|
|
|
4. Water Environment in Thailand |
|
|
Thailand's water environment is diverse and vital to the nation's ecological balance, economy, and people's livelihoods. The country's geography,
with its extensive coastline, rivers, and wetlands, presents a rich tapestry of aquatic ecosystems. Although the exact number can vary depending
on the classification criteria, there are approximately 231 major rivers and 3,220 small rivers in Thailand. In addition, there are over 2,000 natural
and artificial lakes scattered across the country. However, these water bodies face numerous challenges, including pollution, overexploitation, and climate change impacts.
|
|
Many rivers, lakes, and streams in Thailand experience varying degrees of pollution, particularly in urban and industrialized areas.
Rivers like the Chao Phraya River, often referred to as the "Mother of Water" in Thailand, serves as the lifeblood of the nation.
Stretching over 370 kilometers, it flows through the heart of the country, sustaining agricultural activities, facilitating transportation,
and providing water for industrial and domestic use. However, rapid urbanization and industrial expansion have led to pollution from untreated
sewage, industrial effluents, and agricultural runoff, threatening the river's water quality and biodiversity. Efforts to address this issue
include the construction of wastewater treatment plants and the implementation of stricter regulations, but more comprehensive measures are
needed to ensure the long-term health of the Chao Phraya and its surrounding ecosystems.
Thailand's coastal areas, which span over 2,000 kilometers along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, including popular tourist
destinations like Phuket and Koh Samui, are susceptible to environmental degradation due to overdevelopment, pollution, and unsustainable
tourism practices. Coral reefs, mangroves, and marine biodiversity are under pressure from coastal development, overfishing, and climate
change-induced phenomena such as coral bleaching and sea level rise. Conservation efforts, including marine protected areas and community-based
initiatives, aim to mitigate these threats and promote sustainable coastal management.
|
|
Climate change poses additional challenges to Thailand's water environment, exacerbating water scarcity, droughts, and floods. In response,
the government has implemented adaptation strategies, such as water management infrastructure improvements and the promotion of water-efficient
practices in agriculture and industry.
Overall, Thailand's water environment faces numerous challenges, including pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change impacts.
However, through concerted efforts in conservation, regulation, and community engagement, there is hope for preserving these vital ecosystems
for future generations. Collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, businesses, and local communities will be essential in achieving sustainable
water management practices that balance environmental protection with socio-economic development.
Nuttakan Wongfun (Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment)
|
|
|
5. Where to find information on WEPA website |
|
The main purpose of WEPA is to provide information to understand the water environment and develop necessary polices to conserve it.
To this end, a database was created on the WEPA website in the 2nd phase. After making some minor modifications, our website was renewed
on 8 March, 2023 . This renewal makes it much easier to navigate our website even with mobile devices.
However, some users may also wish to view contents included in the old database such as technologies in operation and case studies in the past.
For those items, please click on “Archive” at the bottom of
the WEPA website
and you can view the WEPA Database before renewal.
|
|
|
Information on the new WEPA Outlook 2024 will be uploaded to the database in due course. We will continue to update and improve the website
to provide valuable information on water environmental governance in WEPA member countries.
|
|
|
6. Greetings from new advisor on WEPA Advisory Board |
|
We are pleased to introduce a new advisor on the WEPA Advisory Board, Dr. TANAKA Hiroaki, who was appointed in April 2024.
|
|
Dr. Tanaka:
I have studied many issues relevant to the water environment including conventional pollutants, chemicals, pathogens,
and control technologies in municipal wastewater for more than four decades. One of the most urgent issues in Japan when I graduated
from Kyoto University was water pollution control. As such, I was involved in practical installation activities of sewerage systems
in central and local governments for the first six years of my career. Then, I moved to a national research institute, the Public Works
Research Institute, and served in a research and management position for water pollution control in rivers, reservoirs, and lakes for the
next 17 years. Following that, I became a professor at the Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, in the field of wastewater engineering
and water environment engineering for the following 17 years. I have worked on many overseas projects regarding research and education of Human
Security Engineering in Asian Mega Cities. Currently, I hold the position of Specially Appointed Professor, Faculty of Engineering,
Shinshu University and also serve as an Emeritus Professor at Kyoto University.
My most recent area of research is the JST Mirai Project, which aims to identify critical control points on human health risk factors in the water cycle,
carry out risk evaluation to lower the human health risk to reasonably acceptable levels, and develop high-performance, cost-effective water and wastewater
treatment systems, as well as developing wastewater-based epidemiology for social implementation, which is introduced to water infrastructures to ensure
safe and secured water application.
I hope my experiences and knowledge will support WEPA activities.
|
|
|
Call for your contribution to WEPA News! (Please send us any updated information) |
|
|
We are seeking a cooperative agenda with partners. To ensure smooth progress, we welcome information on any new developments on water
environmental governance in your country. If you have any related information, please send it to the WEPA Secretariat by email
< WEPA_secretariat@iges.or.jp >.
|
|
|
|
