Workshop to introduce the DEWATS monitoring program in the CDD office, Bangalore

The new BORDA monitoring and evaluation (MonEv) program for DEWATS plants was introduced in the CDD office in Bangalore, India during a 4-day-workshop in June.

The main goal of the monitoring program is to identify technical, social, operational or institutional problems in DEWATS plants. The collected results from DEWATS projects all over BORDA’s regional offices (SA, SADC and SEA) will be used to evaluate the DEWATS performance and start discussions how to optimize or improve future project implementations and make DEWATS projects more sustainable.

The MonEv concept was developed together with representatives from all regional BORDA offices during the last months. Regional MonEv teams have already been established and will be responsible for implementing the monitoring activities in all regions next year.

During the workshop in Bangalore, the MonEv-team discussed how to operationalise the new MonEv procedures and forms in CDD, India. After the class room training the team tried out activities in different CDD projects in Bangalore and Mysore. Three monitoring activities could be conducted together with the local community organization and operational staff from the DEWATS plants. Beside the technical and social check of the plant, also effluent sample and sludge sample were taken to analyse the DEWATS performance.

The operator in Mysore surprised the MonEV-team with his cobra that likes to live in the PGF of the DEWATS plant.