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Knowledge Exchange on Sustainable Sanitation in western Georgia

41 participants from 9 EECCA Countries , the Netherlands, and Germany gathered in Khoni in Western Georgia

20.11.2009 |Gero Fedtke

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Matkhoji Convent: integrated demonstration with biogas, solar collectors and UDDT

During a 4 day knowledge exchange meeting in Western Georgia 41 participants from various ELA-projects visited 3 demonstration sites on sustainable sanitation and rural development and took part in a 2-day meeting, exchanging their practical experience.

The participants were representatives of 21 partner organizations of the WECF ELA program. Together they  constructed, in the framework of this program,  about 700 Urine Diverting Dry Toilets (UDDT), for about 17400 users in the years 2008 and 2009, 650 toilets for households and 30 school toilets. These numbers correspond to a great variety of technical designs and available materials, as well cultural and social settings.

Sharing practical experience

All participants were very keen to share their own practical experience, and to learn about that of the other participants. The knowledge exchange was conducted as an Open Space meeting, giving maximum possibility to the participants to form the agenda and organize into working groups according to their interest and experience.
The most discussed topics were practical and legal aspects of sanitization of urine and feces and their reuse in agriculture. Participants shared results of research on sanitization under different conditions, as well as effects of fertilizing a wide range of plants on different soils, with different amounts of urine, and during different phases of growth. A legal basis is still lacking in the EECCA countries. Many technical aspects were discussed like smell prevention, production of seats and slabs. urine storage. A special section was devoted to school toilets. Many participants shared their experiences with mentalities, as well as religious and cultural behavioral patterns and their effects on changing sanitation behavior.

Developing plans for the future

Drawing conclusions from their experiences, participants developed plans and strategies on how to work towards formulating a legal basis for ecological sanitation in the EECCA countries, how to raise awareness, knowledge, and acceptance of UDDT and reuse of nutrients in agriculture among religious leaders, general public, and state organs, how to set up structures for servicing ecological sanitation systems.
The knowledge exchange was completed by excursions to the demonstration center of the Rural Communities Development Agency near Tbilisi, and to a biological farm in Ereda, which is using Urine Diverting Dry Toilets, solar fruit dryers, and biogas. A special excursion led to the convent in Matkhoji close to Khoni, where solar collectors for water heating, a biogas plant, and Urine Diverting Dry Toilets are being used.

Facilitator Sergej Laboda opens the space for knowledge exchange

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