The work of the Water and Wastewater Companies for Climate Mitigation (WaCCliM) project received a boost on July 1, 2016 when Mr. Chaikiat Hansumrit, Chairman of the Wastewater Management Authority (WMA) Committee, and Ms. Hatairat Likitanupak, Acting Director General of WMA witnessed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and agreement with GIZ during a study tour to Germany.
Cooperation under the GIZ-WMA WaCCliM project, which continues through 2018, was agreed under an earlier MOU signed on August 15, 2014. That MOU subsequently expired but the renewal has ensured continued corporation in progressively improving the carbon balance of water and wastewater utilities in Thailand, while maintaining or even improving service levels and cost effectiveness.
The WaCCliM project took this opportunity to invite the WMA delegates to participate in a study tour to Germany in order to present both GIZ WaCCliM’s work and German technology in wastewater management in line with climate mitigation and provide them with a better understanding and awareness of the project.
Because the WaCCliM project offers only technical advice to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but no financial support to its partner, it is expected that the more the WMA executives know about the project, the easier it will be for additional WMA investment to be agreed. For example, some energy-saving equipment is necessary for wastewater utilities if a reduction in GHG emissions is to be achieved.
The study tour started with a visit to the wastewater treatment plant at Darmstadt to see how domestic and industrial wastewater is treated at the same plant and how the tariff system is implemented. The delegation then visited Bilfinger Company to learn about a new vacuum sewage system which is to be implemented in Chiang Mai as part of the GIZ NEXUS project in parallel with WaCCliM’s wastewater treatment plant. These two GIZ projects are to be linked in the near future.
The study tour ended with a presentation by and discussion with the GIZ WaCCliM German team covering climate strategy and the project itself. This was particularly useful for those delegates who work in the policy or finance departments and thus require simpler explanations than the technical experts. The experience gained through the study visit and the renewed agreement offer an excellent opportunity for improving energy efficiency and greatly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through more energyefficient systems, as well as recovering energy, nutrients and other materials from wastewater.