CWIS Current Status and Future Priorities: Insights from Asia

The next-generation toilet technologies are on their way and are shifting away from the current “flush-and-dispose” and “drop-and-store” models. It is envisaged that the new generation of technologies will be point-of-use or beneficiation generation systems which aim to eliminate human waste at source. New systems will incorporate in it the water sensitive design planning and thinking. It aims to be smart, working off-the-grid and treating human wastes at source, eliminating pathogens, and possibly generating products of beneficial value. The next generation toilets could also be coupled with the latest developments in online monitoring and sensing.

The main purpose of this newly established Specialist Group is to bring together experts, scientists and practitioners with experience in FSM and non-sewered sanitation - to generate, collate and disseminate knowledge in the area worldwide. This knowledge aims to guide sanitation service provision in a sustainable way thus improving the quality of life for millions of people using on-site sanitation systems and therefore contributes towards achieving SDG target 6.2. In this effort, we will work closely with other Specialist Groups, including Resource Orientated Sanitation, Sludge Management and Sanitation and Water Management in Developing Countries, in areas where there will be interest in jointly furthering knowledge and understanding of FSM.

The NSS SG focus is on but not limited to the following areas:

• Baseline data: building a data base of FS accumulation rates and characteristics,
• Educational: capacity building in local context, technical and non-technical competency to deal with non-sewered sanitation.
• Technical: Promoting and sharing the science on new and novel treatment process, design requirements and techniques.
• Institutional: strengthening governance and reform to facilitate non-sewered sanitation; supporting business model and incentives; paradigm shift to technical solutions that recover resources (water, energy, nutrients). Building a new sanitation circular economy.
• Social: stimulate behavior change and acceptance; developing awareness and educational products; consideration of vulnerable groups, which are adversely affected by the lack of appropriate sanitation.
• Communication: It is of the utmost importance to communicate all the above in an effective, approachable and convincing manner in order to achieve a desired global impact.
• Training and Capacity Building: developing a new cohort of practitioners and specialists.
• Group activities:
• - Organisation of workshops at key international events (IWA World Water Congress; IWA Development Congress; World Water Forum) to report on progress and content of NSS Specialist Group and to raise awareness of the work amongst international audience.
• - Organisation of international and regional specialised conferences on NSS as a Specialist Group Participation in workshop / presentations in world regions where it is most needed (developing countries) to disseminate experience and knowledge within the NSS and promote the development and implementation of some of NSS innovative and novel technologies appropriate for the local context.
• - Communications and interactions between NSS members with IWA Connect.
• - Promotion of science, technology and practice development of the NSS field through The Source magazine, partners platforms, short articles, group newsletters, special publications etc.
• - Establishing a new community of practice which include innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs, policy makers and municipal officials.