The establishment of the Center for Advanced Sanitation Solution (CASS) in India

Duration: 2008-2009

Donor:
The Senator for Environment, Construction, Transport and European Affairs / Development Cooperation, City of Bremen and set up in cooperation with Rajeev Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation LTD.

Background:
The project is a collaboration between RGLHCL and CDD (Consortium for
DEWATS Dissemination). RGLHCL is based in the state of Karnataka and has the mandate to provide shelter to the EWS in this state. They do this by alternate systems and construction materials and cost effective technologies to suit green building technology. They have built 14 houses in 8 years.
There is a huge knowledge gap in the field of sustainable sanitation. The main reason for this is that advanced sanitation is not part of the regular academic curricula. The sanitation solutions that are offered in this region are based on self-styled providers and even of these providers there are only few. A connection between the providers and the academia is also lacking. So there is a huge demand for sanitation solutions that meets a number of proven solutions to attack the problem.

Aim:
The project aims to increase the awareness and knowledge about sustainable sanitation in the Indian region of Karnataka. The knowledge should also be transferred into sanitation solutions for the inhabitants, which will improve public health and decrease environmental pollution through wastewater that is out flowing untreated.

Activity:
The CASS (Center for Advanced Sanitation Solutions) is supposed be the way to attack the sanitation problem in Karnataka. It will close the knowledge gap by the

Upgrading of practical skills to suit modern sustainable sanitation provision requirements
Showcasing integration of different basic needs services in sustainable urban infrastructure development.
One-stop-shop concept to access best available options.

Especially the One Stop Shop is important for the learning. There are five departments that constitute a complete solution:

1. Exhibition Unit
Permanent display of suitable sanitation infrastructure elements

2. Training Unit
Capacity building courses for concepts, designs and construction of sanitation options; technical and socio-economic subjects

3. R&D Unit
Facilities for applied research and development of solutions

4. Information and Documentation Unit
Subject-related documentation facilities, library. Information/ awareness generation

5. Practical Skills Training Unit
Workshops for practical training, construction methodologies, testing of appropriate materials and components

Attached to the CASS are also three sites where learning projects are offered and carried out. There is a SSS linked DEWATS, which is attached to the center; a CBS Complex at a 15 minutes drive and DEWATS for Institutions at a 20 minutes drive. All these learning projects are built with energy recovery.

Outcomes:
The outcomes of this project will be better sanitation systems for the whole region and all the improvements on public health and environmental protection that go along with this. There will also be the chance of further co operations on this topic with the Universities and government agencies like the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, the Urban Development Department and the Slum Clearance Board. A closer co operation between the academia and the providers of sanitation solutions will also be established. So the whole region will benefit on this center.