Authors and Editors Solomiya Babyak Mattie Wolters Annemarie Mohr

Margriet Samwel Sascha Gabizon

Sustainable Rural Development in Ukraine Demonstrating solutions for water supply, sanitation and agriculture Case Study September 2007 Publication Data 2007 WECF Published by WECF Utrecht/Munich, September 2007

Prepared for WECF by Case Study

Authors Solomiya Babyak Mattie Wolters Sustainable Rural Annemarie Mohr

Editors Development in Ukraine Margriet Samwel Sascha Gabizon Demonstrating solutions for water supply, sanitation and agriculture

Layout by Frauke Paré

Source of figures: WECF, MAMA-86, TUHH

WECF, Women in Europe for a Common Future

The Netherlands / Germany Email: [email protected] http://www.wecf.eu

WECF The Netherlands WECF e.V. Germany PO Box 13047 St. Jakobs-Platz 10 3507-LA Utrecht D - 80331 Munich The Netherlands Germany Tel.: +31 - 30 - 23 10 300 Tel.: +49 - 89 - 23 23 938 - 0 Fax: +31 - 30 - 23 40 878 Fax: +49 - 89 - 23 23 938 - 11

This publication was realized with financial support of Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Bank account numbers for tax deductible donations:

Authors The Netherlands: Germany: Account Number: 1266 45 11 Account Number 1313 90 50 Solomiya Babyak IBAN: NL96 RABO 0126 6451 16 Bank code 701 500 00 Mattie Wolters BIC: RABONL2U IBAN: DE68 7015 0000 013 1390 50 Annemarie Mohr BIC: SSKMDEMM Stadtsparkasse München, Munich Editors Margriet Samwel Sascha Gabizon About WECF Contents Acknowledgements ...... 4 Women in Europe for a Common Future is a network of organisations and individuals working for sustainable development, protection of human health and environment and poverty reduction. Our international network Summary...... 5 consists of members and partners in Western and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. 1 | Introduction...... 6 WECF supports partners with sustainable rural development projects in 12 countries: 2 | Methodology ...... 7

• Afghanistan 3 | Project Results...... 8 • Armenia • Belarus 3.1 Bobryk and Vertijivka...... 8 • Bulgaria 3.1.1 Awareness raising, education and empowerment...... 9 • Georgia 3.1.2 Safe drinking water entails: groundwater protection...... 10 • Kazakhstan 3.1.3 Ecological sanitation in Bobryk: slow bureaucracy, fast construction...... 11 • Kyrgyzstan 3.1.4 Organic agriculture: first steps towards sustainable potato cultivation. . . . . 12 • Moldova • Romania 3.2 Gozhuly...... 14 • Tajikistan 3.2.1 Awareness raising, education and empowerment...... 15 • Ukraine 3.2.2 Safe drinking water: a restored well improves the health of 96 families. . . . 15 • Uzbekistan 3.2.3 Ecological sanitation: the first indoor ecosan school toilet in Ukraine...... 16 3.2.4 Organic agriculture: Gozhuly farmers start organic farming...... 19

3.3 Vorokhta...... 20 3.3.1 Awareness raising, education and empowerment...... 21 3.3.2 Safe drinking water: the highest priority in Vorokhta...... 22 3.3.3 Ecological sanitation: a good solution for a mountainous area...... 23

4 | The project at national and international level...... 25

5 | Conclusions and lessons learned...... 26

6 | Recommendations ...... 28

Annexes ...... 29

1 Costs of construction of the ecosan toilets in the project areas ...... 29 2 Conclusions of the Chernigiv Institute of Agricultural Microbiology on potato cultivation in Bobryk and Vertijivka...... 30 3 Publications and other educational materials, MAMA-86...... 30 4 Media coverage in Ukraine ...... 32 5 Other WECF publications...... 33

Map of Ukraine with the project villages Vorokhta located in Ivano-Frankivsk, Bobryk/Vertijivka in the Chernihiv and Gozhuly in Poltava oblast. 1 Vorokhta; 2 Bobryk/Vertijivka; 3 Gozhuly. Acknowledgements Summary

We would like to thank all the citizens of the project villages the Ukrainian partners Anna Tsvetkova of MAMA-86 Kiev, This publication presents the results of the which were established to identify local To promote organic agriculture, explain Bobryk, Vertijivka, Gozhuly and Vorokhta, and their local and Valentina Shchokina of MAMA-86 Nizhyn , Julya Kovalyova multi-stakeholder project ‘Co-operation for problems and look for suitable and af- its benefits and give the (subsistence) regional authorities; without their co-operation and contribution of MAMA-86 Poltava, Matha Korchemlyuk of MAMA-86 Sustainable Rural Development’, that took fordable solutions, participated in work- farmers practical support and information, the realisation of this project would not have been possible. Yaremche, and Stefan Deegener of the Hamburg University place in Ukraine between 2003 and 2006. shops, and contributed in-kind to several an Organic Agriculture Informational In particular we would like to thank the children and staff of of Technology for their co-operation, contribution, support The project was funded by the Dutch projects. Pupils of the local schools tested Centre was founded in Vertijivka. A local the schools of the project areas for their support, patience, and persistence. Finally, we would like to thank the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and has carried over 250 drinking water wells, and found consultant trained farmers continuously, enthusiasm and willingness to participate. They all played Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Without their financial support, out by the NGOs MAMA-86, Ukraine, and that most of the wells were highly pollut- integrating local knowledge. In Bobryk, a very crucial role in the project activities. the project “Co-operation for Sustainable Rural Development” Women of Europe for a Common Future ed with nitrates. where the local population is highly Furthermore, we would like to express our gratitude to would not been realised. (WECF), the Netherlands. In the area of water, the project team depended on potato cultivation, healthy The rural population of Ukraine has extre- tested drinking water on pollution and and more suitable potato strains were  mely low incomes, high unemployment found high levels of nitrates, micro biologi- introduced to the subsistence farmers,  rates, limited access to safe drinking water, cal pollution and high fluoride levels, all improving the yield. An expert in Gozhuly and a poor infrastructure. Since the inde- causing health problems. The project team developed a strategy how to switch from pendence of Ukraine little has been done helped looking for alternative drinking unsustainable agriculture to organic to stimulate the development of the rural water sources, cleaned and restored farming, and the participating farmers areas and the situation is worsening. In drinking water wells, installed a water filter joined the Ukrainian Federation of Organic order to contribute to the rural develop- for a kindergarten and water meters for Agriculture Movement. ment and to improve the public health private households and contributed to the In all three project areas, more than half and the economical situation, this project extension of a central water supply sys- of the project committees consisted of implemented demonstration projects and tem. Due to these improvements hun- women. These women took a very active organized awareness raising campaigns in dreds of people in the project area now part in the project implementation. the areas of water, sanitation and agricul- have access to safe drinking water. At the national level, the project team ture. To empower the local population and In the area of sanitation, the project team addressed and discussed the issues of authorities, they were actively involved constructed dry urine diverting toilets and water, sanitation, agriculture and the into the project. The three project villages hand washing facilities for local schools problems in the rural areas on national Bobryk/Vertijivka, Gozhuly and Vorokhta, and private households. Through the television, radio and in national newspa- were selected according to their specific construction of these ‘ecosan’ toilet facili- pers and had a substantial impact on the local needs. ties the project team aimed to demonstra- Ukrainian National Program on Drinking To make the population aware of the te an alternative to the traditional pit Water, in which they managed to include consequences of water pollution, bad latrines and to show how management of the rural areas. hygiene and sanitation practices and human waste can contribute to a better The project results and experiences were unsustainable agriculture, and of the ground and drinking water quality and presented and discussed on various alternatives and solutions, the project how the reuse of human excrement can international forums, for example the team developed and distributed informa- be a part of sustainable agriculture. Be- World Water Forum in Mexico, the World tive material and organized numerous sides that, it improved the health and life Water Week in Sweden and the II seminars and workshops. Citizens orga- of the toilet users, especially that of the International Dry Toilet Conference in nised themselves in project committees, pupils of the local schools. Finland.

Project team and local authorities of Gozhuly in front of the new ecosan school toilet facility 1 | Introduction 2 | Methodology

Ukraine is one of the Newly Independent of human and animal waste and unsu- It was carried out in three different villages: The methodology of this project consisted mes like drinking water, ecological The choice of these pilot projects were States (NIS) that appeared on the world stainable agricultural practices. Poorly Vorokhta in the western, Bobryk in the of the 5 following steps: sanitation (ecosan), organic agriculture based on community needs and the map after the collapse of the Soviet Union. managed obsolete pesticides also cause northern, and Gozhuly in the eastern part and decentralised wastewater manage- willingness of people to contribute and Besides the economical and environmen- permanent groundwater contamination. of Ukraine, all having different geographi- 1. Collecting background information on ment, using tools as seminars, work- cooperate and included: tal crisis, it inherited an insufficiently Consumption of polluted drinking water cal, developmental and social characteris- the needs and priorities of the project shops, handouts, posters and films. developed infrastructure from the Soviet in rural areas leads to outbreaks of infec- tics, but all facing similar problems regar- areas by conducting a socio-economical ‘Learning by doing’ was one of the main • Construction of ecosan toilets for Union, which mainly aimed to fulfil the tious diseases, hepatitis, and blue baby ding drinking water and sanitation. and gender survey using the Rapid approaches of this project. schools and households demands of urban and highly industriali- disease. Ukrainian legislation, however, The specific project goal was to Rural Appraisal approach (RRA). The 3. Empowerment of local citizens and • Cleaning and restoring public wells sed areas while the rural areas were often does not regulate the quality of decentrali- ‘Empower key target groups of rural citi- quality of drinking water was tested in authorities to identify local problems • Improving water supplies for private neglected. Since the independence of sed drinking water sources, leaving the zens in 3 rural communities, as well as their accredited laboratories, e.g. on metals, and to involve the target groups looking households, schools and kindergartens Ukraine, little has been done with regard rural population with uncontrolled drin- local authorities to play an effective and fluoride and microorganisms. In additi- for low-cost solutions, integrating local • Demonstration projects to introduce to rural areas. As a result, the rural popula- king water. stimulating role in societal transformation on, well water was tested on nitrate and knowledge. The project team set up organic agricultural practices  tion of Ukraine has extremely low inco- This situation has worsened the last few by carrying out practical replicable impro- nitrite pollution using fast and reliable public committees to involve local 5. Working at national and international  mes, high unemployment rates and years. The government of Ukraine, howe- vement projects in the areas of water, express indicators. The project teams citizens into the decision making pro- level included working with mass media, limited access to infrastructure. ver, committed itself to fulfil the Millenni- sanitation and agriculture, which have a obtained the existing, or ordered new cess. Women were especially encoura- influence national policy um Development Goals (MDGs). One of direct benefit for the economic and health hydro-geological studies to identify the ged to apply. processes regarding water supply and Nowadays the water situation of the rural these goals was: ‘Increase the proportion situation of the 3 rural communities, and potential groundwater pollution sources 4. Implementing pilot projects as alternative sanitation for rural areas, presenting areas in Ukraine is one of the worst of all of people of the urban and rural populati- strengthen participation of women in this and the pattern of distribution. solutions for environmental and health the project results to the national and European and NIS countries. According to on with access to clean drinking water by process.’ 2. Awareness Raising. Local citizens and problems in co-operation with the local international community and establish the Ukraine National Report on Drinking 12% from 2001 to 2015’. However, without In order to reach this goal, the project authorities were informed about the- population and authorities. international knowledge exchange. Water (2004) only 26% of the rural popula- any policy on improving sanitation, espe- team aimed to raise the awareness of the tion is connected to a central water supply cially in the rural areas, this target is not local population about health risks associa- system; while only about 6% has a direct likely to be reached. ted with poor sanitation and drinking Box 1: Box 2: Box 3: in-house connection. The remaining rural The topics water, sanitation, agriculture water quality, improve the access to safe Organic agriculture Ecological sanitation High nitrates and population gets their drinking water from and health are all interrelated and influ- drinking water, introduce the concept of methemoglobinemia private or public wells. Moreover, only ence in their turn the rural development. ecological sanitation and promote su- 4.4% of the rural population is connected Therefore, the Ukrainian NGO’s MAMA-861 stainable agriculture. to the central sewage systems, while the in partnership with and coordinated by The used methodology will be discussed Organic agriculture differs from Ecological sanitation (‘ecosan’ in Methemoglobinemia is a condition rest either uses pit-latrines or septic tanks, Women of Europe for a Common Future in chapter two. The third chapter is divided other argricultural systems in a short) is based on the principle of caused by the inability of the blood which are hardly ever emptied. Since the (WECF) carried out a 3 year multi-stake into three parts, describing the socio- number of ways. It favours renewab- the reuse of wastewater or human to deliver enough oxygen to the body. independency of Ukraine, existing central holder project in Ukraine focussing on all economic situation and the project results le resources and recycling, returning excreta in agriculture, instead of One of the most common causes is water and sewage systems are often these issues simultaneously, in order to for each of the project areas Bobryk, Go- to the soil the nutrients found in considering it waste. In a dry urine nitrate in drinking water. Water from collapsed or maintained badly, because an contribute to sustainable rural develop- zhuly and Vorokhta. Chapter four describes waste products. Where livestock is diverting toilet, urine and faeces wells in rural areas is of special con- adequate financing system for operation ment. This project, called the project activities and outcomes on ‘Co-operation for concerned, meat and poultry pro- are collected separately and cern. Bottle fed infants are most often and maintenance is lacking. , was national and international level. The report Sustainable Rural Development’ duction is regulated with particular sanitised by storing the excreta for affected, and may seem healthy, but Well water in Ukraine has often high levels funded by the MATRA programme of the ends with the conclusions and recommen- concern for animal welfare and by an extensive period. Storage and show signs of blueness around the of nitrate and/or microbiological contami- Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and took dations for national policy makers in the using natural foodstuffs. Organic treatment of the excreta should be mouth, hands, and feet, hence the nation, due to inappropriate management place between November 2003 and 2006. final chapters. farming respects the environment‘s carried out according the WHO common name “blue baby syndrome”. own systems for controlling pests guideline for the safe use of waste- These children may also have trouble and disease in raising crops and water, excreta and greywater in breathing as well as vomiting and livestock and avoids the use of agriculture (WHO, 2006). Hereafter diarrhoea. In extreme cases, there is synthetic pesticides, herbicides, the urine can be used as fertiliser marked lethargy, an increase in the chemical fertilisers, growth hor- and the faeces as compost. Water production of saliva, loss of conscious- mones, antibiotics or gene manipu- pollution and consumption are ness and seizures. Some cases may lation. Instead, organic farmers use a reduced. Therefore, ecosan is as an be fatal. Controlling nitrate levels in range of techniques that help susta- economically and environmentally drinking water sources to below in ecosystems and reduce pollution. sustainable solution. around 50mg/litre is an effective preventive measure (WHO Sanitation and Health). In the project areas nitrate levels are found as high as 500 mg/l.

1 The NGO´s are: MAMA-86 Kiev, MAMA-86 Nizhin, MAMA-86 Poltava and MAMA-86 Yaremche. Figure 4: 3 | The project results An informational center on organic agriculture now provides the inhabi- tants with information 3 .1 Bobryk and Vertijivka people are depended on their own agri- unhealthy lifestyles and unbalanced on environmental Bobryk, with 396 inhabitants, is referred cultural land. With poor soils and the diets lead to serious health problems. issues to as ‘a dying village’: most initiative rich Colorado beetle affecting their potatoes, Despite all this, there is a good people moved out because of limited some people of Bobryk are depended on community spirit among the residents opportunities, leaving pensioners and a cow for additional income or food: of Bobryk. Bobryk is one of the nine embittered people behind. People live ‘Without this cow, we could do nothing else villages forming the municipality of in self built houses with a pit latrine and than lie down and die’ (a pensioner, living Vertijivka. Vertijivka has a population a drinking water well in the yard. The of a pension of 19 Euros/month). It is not of 4.864 people and has a much better infrastructure is poor: there are almost no surprising that people try to forget developed infrastructure, which allows means of transport, nor a central water about their situation with the help of the residents to seek employment or sell Figure 5: or gas supply system. The unemployment alcohol. Garbage is not seen as a problem: the products of their land elsewhere. Like Nitrate test strips are cheap tools to give a rate is high and incomes extremely low ‘We have very little garbage, as we are not in Bobryk, people are involved in subsis- reliable and fast estimati- 10 (varying from 19-41 Euros a month), so Poverty, lack of hygiene, tent agriculture. 11 buying much’. on of the nitrate concent- Figure 6: rations in drinking water The samples of well water, brought to the public meetings by local citizens, were tested on the spot and showed very often high nitrate concentrations

Figure 1: Almost all residents in 550 Bobryk are depended 500 450 on shared or private 400 wells for their drin- 350 king water 300 mg/l 250 3 200

NO 150 100 50 0

Nov 04Dec 04Jan 05Feb 05Mar 05Arp 05Arp 05May 05Jun 05Jul 05Aug 05Sep 05Oct 05Nov 05Dec 05Jan 06Feb 06 Graph 1: Fluctuations of NO Figure 2: 3 concentrations in The infrastructure in national standard water from 5 wells in Bobryk is poor: the Well 1 Well 2 Well 3 Well 4 Well 5 Bobryk, 2004 - 2006 roads are unpaved and horses are used for transport and in agriculture 3 1. .1 Awareness raising, education and meetings. events, took action: several households and empowerment In 2004, the project team tested well in Bobryk and Vertijivka started to use Figure 3: From a survey held among the residents water in Bobryk and found high nitrate nitrate-poor water from their neighbours’ The residents of Bobryk of Bobryk, the project team could conclu- levels. The possible causes, consequences wells. Moreover, in Vertijivka some house- spend most of their time working in their de that almost nobody was aware of the and solutions of this pollution were holds had 20-40 deep wells drilled for safe own garden, which is bad drinking water quality. Therefore an discussed with the well owners. This drinking water. usually more than 2 ha intensive campaign on drinking water raised so much attention, that soon The children from Bobryk’s school moni- big. Most of the work is pollution, (ecological) sanitation, (organic) people started to bring their own well tored, for two years long, 5 wells on done by hand agriculture and the impacts on human water samples to the project events. In nitrate fluctuations. The results showed health took place. An Informational the end, 173 wells in both Bobryk and seasonal fluctuations. This confirmed that Centre on Organic Agriculture, opened in Vertijivka have been tested this way. It the majority of the wells in Bobryk are too February 2006, now provides the inhabi- appeared that in Bobryk almost half of shallow for an adequate decomposition of tants with information on organic agricul- the wells, and in Vertijivka 78% of the anthropogenic pollutants by the soil layer, ture and environmental issues and con- wells, have very high nitrate concentra- and therefore rainfall and surface polluti- ducts individual consultations, lessons tions2. The residents, motivated by these on strongly affect the water quality.

2 In Bobryk the nitrate levels were exceeding with 500 mg/l the national standard of 50 mg/l up to 10 times, in Vertijivka the nitrate concentration varied from 150 - 500 mg/l. Figure 8: water daily, losing precious time. Thanks to the school by the Hamburg University of costs can be found. The children and The project team discovered a 40 m deep borehole, drilled under Technology. Before an ecosan toilet could teachers were informed well on the basic an obsolete pesticide stockpile near Bobryk. Through the supervision of the project team, the be constructed in the school of Bobryk, rules of using and maintaining ecosan hole in the wall, people can teachers can now dedicate all their time the project team had to collect 8 different toilets and there have been no complaints. easily enter the building to teaching. This allowed 70 more children permits and approvals from different Now, 35 pupils and their teachers have to join the kindergarten. Soon after, a district authorities. This bureaucratic access to clean and sustainable toilets. Figure 7: The obsolete pesticides, water filter to remove iron and manganese process was slowed down even more by partially banned from was installed as well. Currently, the corruption: obtaining the permit from the Moreover, in order to promote the prin- use, are stored in plastic children have access to healthy and tasty fire brigade took half a year, since the ciple of ecological sanitation, two ecosan bags and metal containers drinking water. concerning official was expecting a bribe. toilets have been built for private house- In Bobryk, the project team helped the The construction itself took only two holds in Bobryk and Vertijivka. Prior to the local school renovating the canteen and months and the first indoor ecosan toilet construction, the residents were informed provided the school and the canteen with in Ukraine and one urinal were put to use on the principles of ecological sanitation an indoor water connection, a hand in 20063. In annex 1 an overview of the and how to construct a toilet. 3 .1 .2 Safe drinking water: latrines, manure heaps, a cemetery located tests were compiled into a map and washing facility and a grey water disposal protecting groundwater too close to the wells, and a decaying displayed in the school of Bobryk. system. To be able to realise this, two wells 12 A hydro-geological survey confirmed that storage place for pesticides and fertilisers. Since the water wells in Bobryk are not were restored and pump installations were 13 the wells in Bobryk are too shallow for Cleaning the wells would consequently being cleaned at all, the water quality only provided. Now the schoolboys can focus Box 6: providing safe drinking water under the improve the water quality only for a short decreases. Therefore, 3 private wells ow- on their schoolwork, instead of carrying Technical data of the indoor urine diverting facilty in Bobryk, local conditions. Surface water with high period. The only solutions to obtain safe ned by families with children, with a high buckets of well water several times a day. used by 35 pupils and 16 staff microbiological and nitrate pollution drinking water on a short term are to share microbiological pollution but low nitrate All children benefit from the improved percolates into some of the wells in less “clean wells” or to deepen the wells. On concentrations, have been disinfected. hygienic and sanitation conditions in their than 24 hours, and does not get naturally the long term the groundwater should be The local kindergarten in Vertijivka had to school. • One restroom with one plastic urine diverting squatting pan purified sufficiently. Identified sources of protected against infiltration of pollutants. use water from a polluted well, from which • One restroom with one urinal, with alternative odour blocker pollution were desolated boreholes, pit The results of this survey and the water the caregivers had to carry 80 buckets of 3 1. .3 Ecological sanitation: slow • Two PE urine tanks of each 1 m3 for the collection and a 6-month storage time bureaucracy, fast construction • One faeces chamber with two wooden doors for isolation To improve the sanitary conditions of the • 80 litre container for collecting faeces school children and staff members, and • Sanitising the faeces; by storage, alkaline treatment , composting to avoid having to leave the school for Box 4: Box 5: • Construction materials: bricks and cement visiting the toilet, an indoor dry urine Obsolete Pesticides in Ukraine Obsolete pesticides stockpile near Bobryk diverting toilet facility was designed for

20.000 tonnes of obsolete pesticides The project team found a stockpile of obsolete pesticides 1 km from Bobryk, a are stockpiled throughout Ukraine, potential source for the groundwater pollution. Among other mineral fertilizers and many in rotting, rusting containers or pesticides, nitrophen and polychlorocamphene, banned pesticides according to Figure 12: bags that were stored or discarded WHO regulations, were stored here in large amounts in bags and metal containers This toilet is one of the first up to 40 years ago. As a result, tens of from 1975 until 1993. What kinds of pesticides are still left in the storage place examples of an indoor ecosan thousands of tonnes of soil have remains unclear, and further investigation is needed. Since there is a hole in the school toilet in Ukraine, has no been contaminated by toxic chemi- wall and the roof, anyone can enter the storage room and rainwater falls directly bad smell and is hygienic. The boy shows how one should cover cals, including persistent organic onto the pesticides, which leach into the groundwater. Sometimes pesticides the excrement with soil or wood pollutants (POPs) banned internatio- disappear: in all probability people took them for own use or resale. The issue of chips after a toilet visit nally by the Stockholm POPs Conven- management of the OP stockpile has been raised to district and oblast level. Based tion. As these chemicals spill and on collected information, a booklet “Watch out – obsolete pesticides” was publis- leach from their containers, they hed. The authorities see incineration as a possible solution for the OP, but the threaten rural and urban populations project team opposes, as this will lead to air pollution. and contribute to land, air and water Figure 11: degradation, affecting some of the The school latrines in poorest communities across the Bobryk were unhygie- continent. According to recent natio- nic, attracting flies Figure 9: and had a bad odour nal inventory, over 80% of all obsolete The project team constructed an indoor pesticides on the territory of Ukraine Figure 10: water connection for have unidentified chemical formulae The school latrines were hand washing, located outside of the (www.pops.org.ua). accompanied by an schools, which was inconve- educational poster nient and cold in winter- explaining why and time for the pupils how to hand wash

3 Due to lack of space, a single vault dry ecosan toilet was constructed. Figure 14: 3 .1 .4 Organic agriculture: pesticide application. A survey showed of plant disease. Of some households, The potato strains best first steps towards sustainable that the residents lack even the most over 70% of the potato seed samples suitable for the region potato cultivation basic knowledge about good agricultural were infected. Households do not practi- are demonstrated and sold at a project event Almost everybody living in Bobryk and practices. Therefore, the project team, in ce adequate crop rotation and do not Vertijivka is involved in subsistent agricu- co-operation with the Chernigiv Institute update their seed material regularly, lture and all of these households culti- of Agricultural Microbiology, presented causing a decrease in harvest quantity vate potatoes, also referred to as ‘the and promoted better potato cultivation and quality. . A short outline of the second bread’. Since this crop makes up practices in Bobryk and Vertijivka. conclusions prepared by Chernigiv Figure 15: Experts from the Chernigiv such an essential part of the diet, very A study carried out by the Chernigiv Institute can be found in Annex 2. The Institute of Agricultural Micro- limited or no crop rotation takes place. Institute showed that more than half of project team organised a seminar in biology monitored the pilot fields This results in a huge infestation of all collected and analysed potato seeds, Vertijivka during which potato strains and crops closely in order to make recommendations on organic potato fields with pests, bacteria and used by the residents of Bobryk and suitable for this region were presented. potato cultivation viruses which leads to uncontrolled Vertijivka, were infected with some kind These healthy seeds could be purchased

14 afterwards. This event caused enormous materials. The whole cultivation cycle establishing sites for potato seed cultiva- 15 interest among the residents. was monitored and the harvests were tion in their private gardens. This will During this project, three farmer house- analysed. As a result, the most suitable assure that the people in Bobryk will be holds agreed to cultivate their potatoes potato strains for this region could be able to update their potato seed material according to the principles of organic identified and more specific recommen- in the future. Additionally, the partici- agriculture. The farmers allocated land dations on for example crop rotation, soil pants received training on organic pota- on which previously neither fertilisers nor preparation, seed selection and prepara- to cultivation. pesticides had been applied. They were tion and pest control could be made. Although this project was small scale, provided with several species of healthy it played a significant role in improving seeds, environmental friendly plant During the next season of cultivation five potato cultivation practices among the protection substances and educational volunteers from Bobryk participated in local inhabitants.

Table 1: Project results in Bobryk and Vertijivka.

No Demonstration solutions Number of beneficiaries

1 2 private ecosan toilets (1 in Bobryk, 1 in Vertijivka) 10 persons

1 school ecosan facility with 1 one-vault dry urine 2 51 pupils and staff diversion toilet and 1 urinal in Bobryk

1 restored school canteen well with a pump and 3 51 pupils and staff indoor connection in Bobryk

1 restored school technical well with a pump, indoor 4 51 pupils and staff connection and grey water pipe in Bobryk

Well water tests on nitrate concentrations in Bobryk 5 173 families and Vertijivka

140 m deep well with indoor connection for Vertijivka 6 100 children + kindergarten staff Figure 13: kindergarten Many people in Bobryk spray 7 3 wells disinfected 3 families with children pesticides uncon- trolled and 8 1 Organic Agriculture Information Centre in Vertijivka All villagers of Vertijivka, Bobryk and nearby villages unprotected to fight the Colorado beetle that ruins 9 Demonstration garden in Bobryk on potato cultivation All gardeners/farmers of Bobryk their potato yield 3 .2 Gozhuly volvement is very low. After Soviet fluorosis. 80% of all school children have Gozhuly is a green suburban village times and bankruptcy of the kolkhoz, dental problems. Dental fluorosis can be surrounded by sloping agricultural land services as garbage collection, mainte- recognized by spots on the teeth or in with 3.600 inhabitants, 8 km away from nance of the central water supply more severe cases by brown teeth. the famous and historical city of Poltava. system (cwss) or the organization The sanitation situation in Gozhuly is Most residents commute to this city for of social events and clubs ceased unacceptable. Most people use pit latrines.

work; 70% of the people in Gozhuly are to exist. Some people, for example the apartment Figure 22: employed and household incomes in building residents, have a water flush The majority of Gozhuly vary from 23-215 Euros per Gozhuly was chosen as a project area toilets and are connected to the sewage Figure 20: private wells in During seminars residents Gozhuly contain month. Because of the threat of un- because there were several cases of blue system. The treatment plant, though, is were informed about issues nitrate concentra- employment and low incomes, having baby disease (methemoglobinemia) not functioning anymore, and sewage as drinking water pollution, tions that are up to own agricultural land is for many resi- registered. This is an indicator of high pipes are rotten so wastewater leaks on sanitation, hygiene and 5 times higher then organic agriculture the national dents a necessity. There is a group of five nitrate level in drinking water, often the streets, even just a few meters away standard Figure 23: collaborating farmers that cultivate 70 ha, caused by industrial agriculture and/or from the cwss tower. Sometimes the A new hand and a private enterprise that cultivates mismanagement of human and animal sewage collector overflows, and the washing basin at 240 ha of land, but the farmers can not waste. 800 households in Gozhuly are wastewater runs downhill into the recrea- Figure 21: the school in Children of the school in Gozhuly 16 17 live from the profit alone. The village has depended on this polluted well water. The tional lakes, putting people’s health in Gozhuly checked over a quite developed infrastructure com- remaining households are supplied by two danger. There is no garbage collection 150 private wells on pared to an average Ukrainian village; badly maintained, unsafe and unreliable service in Gozhuly; many residents dump nitrates and found that the majority of the wells there is a central water supply and gas cwss. The users of the cwss, especially the their garbage usually nearby gullies or were polluted system. The community spirit and in- young ones, suffer greatly from dental obsolete buildings.

3 2. .1 Awareness raising, education project team decided to lobby intensively Box 7: and empowerment with the provincial and district authorities Dental Fluorosis During awareness raising activities, the in order to improve the sanitation situati- residents of Gozhuly were informed on, and with success. A representative of about drinking water, ecological sanitati- the Poltava Province Sanitation and Epide-

Figure 16: Dental fluorosis is an irreversible on, the principles of organic agriculture, miological Station helped with raising These apartments in condition caused by excessive ingesti- and gender issues. Users of the cwss were 25.000 Euros that was used for the restora- Gozhuly were built in warned about the high fluoride levels tion of the wastewater collection system Soviet times by factories Figure 19: on of fluoride during tooth forming in their drinking water and how this by the replacement of a 640 meters long and kolkhozes for their The treatment plant years. It is the first visible sign that a is not functioning workers, but since their child has been overexposed to fluo- affects their health. Parents were advised sewerage pipeline and the reconstruction bankruptcy services, like anymore ride. Other chronic effects from inhala- to give their children bottled drinking of a wastewater pumping facility. the maintenance of the water instead. central water supply and tion or ingestion are weight loss, heating system, malaise, anaemia and osteosclerosis Although the public participation among 3 2. .2 Safe drinking water: discontinued (brittle bones, calcified ligaments) adults in Gozhuly was very low, the a restored well improves the Figure 18: (WHO, 1984). The WHO standard of children were very eager to join the well health of 96 families Sewage pipes are water monitoring program and tested 150 The residents of Gozhuly expressed their rotten, so waste flouride levels in drinking water is set water is on the on 1.5 mg/l, although this level varies private wells in one year. 6-13 year old doubts about the quality of their tap water streets and even in between 7-9 mg/l in Gozhuly. children used inexpensive nitrate testing provided by the cwss to the project team. Figure 17: the water catch- strips to test the local well water and They decided to have this water tested by Most people in ment area Gozhuly live in found that the nitrate levels were high: independent laboratories in Germany and private houses with up to five times the national standard. The Ukraine. And indeed, contrary to the their own gardens results were compiled in a map of Gozhuly ‘official’ analyses, the results indicated very and use private or shared water wells and in this way made easily accessible for high fluoride concentrations in this tap the residents. Another highlight was the water4. The assumption that the children celebration of the World Water Day 2006, have brown teeth (dental fluorosis) during which the children could learn because of their drinking water was Figure 24: about environment and health issues in confirmed. Besides this, the tap water High fluoride concentrations a playful atmosphere. appeared to have high concentrations in drinking water can lead to fluorosis which causes, The community and public committees of sodium, which makes it unsuitable among other things, discussed the sanitation issues in the for babies. brown teeth. village, which attracted attention of local The users of the cwss decided that the Photo by John Colquhoun, DDS and regional authorities. Since the best way to improve their drinking water project’s own budget was limited, the situation was to restore a nearby public

4 The fluoride concentration in the water of the Gozhuly cwss varied from 7-9 mg/l, while the WHO standard is set at 1.5 mg/l. well. With common efforts of the residents and the village council, the public well Box 8: was cleaned up. It was closed from the Double vault and single vault dry urine diverting toilet top to avoid people throwing garbage in it, as this used to happen in the past. Every apartment received a key to the A urine diverting toilet has two outlets and two collection systems; one for well. The water analyses that were con- urine and one for the faeces, in order to keep these excreta fractions separate. ducted after the well was cleaned The double vault toilet has two chambers for the storage of the faeces. While Figure 30: showed that the quality now complies one chamber is in use, the not in use chamber/slab is covered with a lid. Is one New urine reservoirs were with the national standards. The restorati- chamber filled, the second chamber can be taken in use, and the first chamber placed in an on of this well reduces the risk to be with content can be stored and hygienised according to the WHO guidelines. underground room affected by dental and bone fluorosis of After the second chamber is filled the other chamber has to be emptied and with brick walls 96 families significantly. prepared for its reuse. The single vault toilet has one chamber for the storage of faeces. After the chamber is filled the content must be removed and hygie- Figure 31: 3 .2 .3 Ecological sanitation: the first nised on another location (e.g. by composting). The dry urine diverting toilet The urine tanks of the ecosan toilets had indoor ecosan toilet in Ukraine does not need water for flushing, and therefore does not need a connection to to be taken out of the 18 The kindergarten, primary and middle a central water supply system or sewage system. Instead, dry organic material ground again: they 19 school of Gozhuly, situated under one roof, ike ashes or wood ships are used for covering the faeces. Well maintained and were not able to withstand the soil offer education to 160 pupils. The school is constructed, a dry urine diverting toilet does not smell or attract flies and pressure connected to the cwss and has two water prevents the infiltration of excreta in groundwater. flush toilets for the smaller children. The

older pupils still had to go outside to very because of high material and transporta- Box 9: unhygienic, smelly and in wintertime very tion costs and specific Ukrainian regulati- 5 Figure 25: Technical data of the school ecosan cold latrines. For these children, the first ons on school building constructions. One of the 4 new facility in Gozhuly, constructed in ecological sanitation toilet facility in In annex 1 an overview of the costs can urine diverting toilets conjunction with the school Ukraine was built, with 3 double vault dry be found. of the school. The toilet on the left will urine diverting toilets (squatting models) be used until the and 3 waterless urinals. With the support Technical problems faeces chamber is full, • Three restrooms with one plastic of the Hamburg University of Technology After a couple of months the boys started after which it will be closed for two years to urine diverting squatting pan a design was developed and the facility to complain about bad smell in the toilets. give the collected • One restroom with three urinals, was constructed in 2,5 months by a local The many flow-off holes in the installed faeces time to sanitise Figure 29: with alternative odour blocker certified constructor with approval of the urinals were identified as a possible cause All but one flow- • Two PE urine tanks, each with school administration and the village of the ammonia odour. All but one flow- Figure 26: off holes were a volume of 2 m3, for collection, council. In addition a simple hand-wash off holes were blocked in each urinal to The older children blocked in each allowing a 6-month storage time facility for the toilet users was installed. minimise the interaction between urine of Gozhuly’s school urinal to had to use these minimise the • Three double vault faeces chamber The project team hired and instructed a tank and the restroom, which causes this unhygienic pit interaction with each a volume of 0,9 m3 caretaker, who monitors and maintains smell. Later on, a smell blocker was placed between urine latrines, located far Figure 27: and air • Sanitizing the faeces; storage, the facility. Since the opening of the in the outlets of the urinals. After the from the school. Through the brown alkaline treatment , composting ecosan toilet, the water expenses have implementation of an additional passive doors one can access and empty • Ventilation pipe connected with decreased with 20%. The ecosan school ventilation system for the restrooms all out the faeces the faeces chambers project drew the attention of the waste- odour problems were solved. chambers • Construction materials: bricks water department of the Technical Univer- In springtime 2005 it appeared that, in Figure 28: and cement sity Poltava, Ukraine, and the regional spite of the promises of the vendor, the The project team school administration Poltava. urine tanks that were buried under the installed 3 waterless urinals in the The total costs of the ecosan facility were ground, had not been able to withstand school of Gozhuly high for an average rural school in Ukraine, the soil pressure. They were deformed and

5 The walls of the facility should be 50 cm thick and the foundation min. 120 cm, and should be built by certified, and thus more expensive, construction companies. 6 These were two 5 mm Poly Ethylene (PE) tanks with a volume of each 2 m3. had to be renewed6. Nevertheless, local

authorities supported the project by 100% finding appropriate solutions for the storage facility of the urine. They decided 80% to construct and finance a sub-surface chamber, where the new urine tanks could be placed. 60% Figure 34: In the meantime, the school children had Residents learned, during one of to use the pit latrines again, and were the many project events, how to 40% recycle their organic waste and pleased that in November that year the construct a compost heap ecosan facility was reopened. satis ed Analyses done on the collected urine 20% 40 % 60 % 25 % 75 % Figure 33: The organic showed that the urine is rich in nutrients not satis ed farmers of Germa- which means it can serve well as a fertili- 0% ny paying a visit to April 2005 April 2006 ser for gardening and agriculture (see the corn fields of Ukrainian farmers table 2). In autumn 2006 a farmer applied 20 the collected urine from the ecosan school 21 toilets on his field to fertilise his crops. Figure 32: Farmers of Gozhuly attending training Graph 2: on organic Satisfaction with agriculture ecosan school toilets among pupils in 2005 and 2006 in Gozhuly

Table 2: Results of urine analyses for macronutrients (July 12, 2006) 3 2. .4 Organic agriculture: Gozhuly organised between the local farmers and benefits of crop rotation, biological pest farmers start organic farming organic German and Ukrainian farmers. control and the reuse of organic waste. Parameter Units Value Gozhuly is situated in an agricultural area Theories were put into practice: an organic This happened in very practical ways, for pH [-l] 8,94 with fertile soils, which offers opportuni- agriculture consultant tested the soil of example by showing them how to com- ties for organic farming. Therefore, the local farmers, and explained them how to post and how to construct a compost bin. El. Conductivity [mS/cm] 37,9 local farmers were informed about the improve it, how to deal with weed, etc. In By establishing contact with universities total N [mg/l] 5350 principles, the opportunities and benefits 2006 the participating farmers became and certifying institutions, and raising the of organic farming to the environment members of the Ukrainian Federation of issue of organic agriculture to the provin- total P [mg/l] 176 and the consumers’ health. To inspire the Organic Agriculture Movement. cial level, the project team tried to pave local farmers, there were exchange trips Local gardeners were informed about the the way for organic farming in the region. total K [mg/l] 2290

TOC [mg/l] 1420

TC [mg/l] 4030 Table 3: The project results in Gozhuly

No Demonstration solutions Number of direct beneficiaries

To estimate the acceptance of the new especially teenage girls. Perhaps this urine diverting toilets as a part of eco- 1 More than 50 educational events Over 400 residents of Gozhuly toilets by the pupils, surveys were held. was the case because there were no logical sanitation. General water tests from 2 central water supply systems in All residents connected to Gozhuly central water Although the acceptance of the facility cleaning tools and water available in the 2 Gozhuly supply system was not as high as expected in 2005, the restrooms in the beginning. However, the 160 children now have access to ade- amount of children being content with teachers were all very pleased with the quate sanitation due to the construction 3 Well water tests for nitrate concentrations 150 families the toilets, increased in 2006. This increase new toilet facility. of clean school toilets and hand washing 1 school ecosan facility with 3 double-vault dry urine diver- could be explained by the reduction of Without a doubt, this ecosan toilet served facilities and are more aware of the 4 160 schoolchildren ting toilets and 3 urinals bad smell, and intensified education on its demonstration purposes: after seeing consequences of bad hygiene practices topics as hygiene, health and environ- the facility during an opening festivity in and environmental problems. Thereby 5 Renovation of 1 public well 96 families ment. The results the surveys held are November 2004, other requests for this the groundwater and soil will not be summarised in the figure below. toilet for other schools were received. The polluted anymore by infiltration of urine 6 Organic agriculture consultations for farmers + soil tests 3 farmers experience showed that with proper and faeces and the water expenses of the The survey showed that more girls were education even 6 year olds can under- school are reduced by 20% since the 7 1 demonstration waste composting site 8 households unhappy with their new toilets than boys, stand the principle of dry double vault opening of the new facility. Figure 39: Booklets about environmen- tal issues and their impact on health are being presen- Figure 36: ted. With these educational Vorokhta is surrounded events the project team has by the Ukrainian been able to reach over Carpathian mountains 1000 children. and is located in Carpathian National Nature Park and attracts many tourists

Figure 35: The infrastructure of Figure 40: Local citizens of 22 Vorokhta is semi-urban; 23 most citizens have gas and Vorokhta attending electricity and have access a workshop on how to shops, bars, a post office, to construct an a school and a kindergarten ecosan toilet

3 .3 Vorokhta Although part of this town is served by The town of Vorokhta, which has 4000 a central water supply system, the water inhabitants and is located in the heart of a that flows from its corroded and broken National Park, attracts 35.000 tourists every pipes is micro-biologically polluted and year. Because of its nice climate and fresh the supply is regularly interrupted. Most air it also hosts 2 tuberculosis sanatoriums. people have pit latrines in the yard and Figure 41: These businesses make up the major are very unhappy with them. The latrines An anouncement for a workshop on source of employment and income. Since are considered unhygienic, dirty, smelly ecological the area is mountainous it is not quite and cold and inconvenient in winter- santitation suitable for agriculture. Nevertheless, most time. Bathrooms and hand-wash facili- people have a small plot where they grow ties are rare. Wastewater flows almost vegetables for own use. Men do the most untreated directly into the river and and heavier work on these plots, while garbage is being piled up in enormous women do most of the house work. After mountains of waste. These poor sanitary Figure 37: Soviet times a lot changed in this village circumstances have a great impact on With latrines in the as well; most community organisations the inhabitants’ life and health. For yard and piles of were closed down and people lost their example, there has been a dramatic garbage near the houses, the faith in politics: “Many promises, nothing increase of hepatitis A (1999), dysentery 3 3. .1 Awareness raising, education During seminars, the residents of Vorokhta sanitation situation done”, “Only a strong person can improve (2001) and gastroenterocolitis (2002). In and empowerment were made aware of how mismanage- in Vorokhta is far from addition, unbalanced diets have a nega- With an awareness raising campaign, the ment of human waste can cause nitrate optimal. the situation, but nice and honest people cannot achieve much...” tive health impact. project team reached 1000 children in and microbiological pollution of drinking Vorokhta of 7-16 years old and educated water and the possible solutions that can them on issues like safe drinking water, prevent this. One solution is installing an waste management, organic agriculture, ecosan toilet. Due to workshops on this environment, hygiene and health. The theme, participants became very interes- schools and libraries received the educa- ted in this concept. tional materials. To get the children even To give the local population means to more involved, the project team took the empower themselves, a public committee ‘learning by doing’ approach. The pupils was established. The members showed tested 89 wells on nitrate pollution and immediately great enthusiasm and initiati- monitored the water quality of the local ve. This committee, together with the local river Prut. They also were given the oppor- authorities, prepared a ‘Program on the Figure 38: tunity to share their experiences with Improvement of the Hygiene and Sanitati- Many residents of pupils of other schools in the area. on in Vorokhta’, which was Vorokhta use public wells that can dry up in dry seasons, so the users have to search for alternati- ve drinking water sources. faeces-vault- ventilation

roof- drain urine- diverting squatting Figure 45: pan The foundation of accepted and adopted by the concer- this from being implemented within the renovate the whole water supply system, +1,20 ned authorities7. timeframe of the project and a decision after a long period of lobbying by the the ecosan toilet is being laid, with the about an alternative had to be taken. local authorities, the public committee help of the prospec- leachate- faeces-vault drain 3 .3 .2 Safe drinking water: the high- The project team involved the local and the local project partner. tive owners vault-drain 1% 0,00 est priority in Vorokhta community in finding the best alternative For two years, the project team monito- Improving access to safe drinking water solution for the problematic drinking red the quality of 5 public wells for micro- urine- was a priority for this project, starting water situation in Vorokhta. According to biological and nitrate pollution. The tank with the restoration of the existing cen- their wishes, this project contributed to results of these tests were made easily tral water supply system (cwss). For more the construction of an additional 265 m accessible to the well users. In addition, than 20 years this problem has been long pipe-branch of the cwss, connecting the wells have been cleaned. This means Figure 46: Graph 3: discussed but no decision was made. more than 100 people. Additionally 41 that 400 people now have access to Foundation is Cross section of a dry Besides renovation of the pipes, reservoirs water meters were installed. Another drinking water of improved quality. By being prepared urine diverting toilet and water catchment, a water filtration result from this project and its aim to the end of the project, the Village Council (source: TUUH) system came out as a necessity. Unfortu- empower people was the awarding of included the maintenance and operation nately, bureaucratic barriers prevented a fund from the Ukrainian government to of public wells into their duties.

24 25 7 The Executive Committee and the Village Council of Vorokhta.

3 3. .3 Ecological sanitation in Figure 42: Vorokhta: a good solution for The drinking water treatment a mountainous area of the old central supply system Since the soils are very rocky in Vorokhta, of Vorokhta consists of a pan that is slowly adding hypochlorite to it is difficult to dig a pit for a latrine. This is the water one of the reasons the ecosan toilets were a welcome alternative for the residents. With the help and input of the prospective owners and under the supervision of an expert from the Hamburg University of Technology the project team constructed 5 ecosan toilets as demonstration models. A local citizen was intensively trained on the principles, maintenance and construc- tion of ecosan toilets. With a mould the toilets seats were made out of cement and Figure 43: The public commit- the toilet owners contributed with labour tee and project to the construction of the new toilets. In partners are Figure 47 - 48: annex 1 an overview of the construction checking out the The frame of central water the ecosan costs can be found. Given good weather, supply system toilet is being an ecosan toilet can be constructed within constructed one week. The new toilets are now used by 31 people. As a result of this project, the topic sanita- Figure 44: An additional 265 m long tion was put on the agenda of the local pipeline was needed, a authorities. In general it looks like the local branch of the central water authorities are trying to fulfil their duties as supply system, was built, connecting more than described in the ‘Program on the improve- 100 people ment of hygieneic and sanitation’, menti- oned above. By the end of 2005 an anae- robic sewage facility was constructed for the centre of Vorokhta. For the other part of Vorokhta the authorities plan to cons- truct a soil filter, also referred to as bio- plateau. Furthermore, the local authorities purchased a garbage truck and installed several garbage containers. Figure 49: With cement and a plastic mould, the urine diverting | toilet seat is 4 The project at national and international level made locally

WECF aims to involve people, organiza- the project team, the rural areas were colleagues of the water works of Munich tions and governments at all levels. This is included into this program, which was in 2005, and so did 8 Ukrainian farmers, Figure 50: why WECF and her project partners were adopted by the Parliament in March 2006. who discussed agriculture with organic The urine diverting toilet seat is almost not only active on a local level, imple- Throughout the project World Water Day farmers in Germany in 2006. finished menting practical projects, but were celebrations were organised yearly in simultaneously addressing issues such as different parts of Ukraine. Children that In the framework of this project, many environmental and sanitation problems participated in the well water monitoring booklets, handouts, articles and posters in rural Ukraine at a national and interna- presented their results, and were given were prepared to inform people at a tional level. the chance to present their results at the national and international level on pro- Youth Water Parliament in Moldavia in ject related issues (see Annexes). In Ukraine, taboos prevent people from 2006. The first experience with ecological During a final international seminar discussing human waste management sanitation in Ukraine was presented at named “Public participation in improve- 26 Table 4: Summary of the project results in Vorokhta issues in public. The national media many international conferences like, in ment access to safe drinking water and 27 avoids this topic as well, leading to una- 2005, the Almaty Ministerial Meetings in sanitation in the rural areas of the Ukra- wareness about the existing sanitation Yerevan, the Women for Water Con- ine” the problems identified during the No Demonstration solutions Number of beneficiaries problems in the rural areas. The project ference in The Netherlands and the World project were pointed out by the project Educational events Over 1000 children team tried to break this taboo and filled Water Week in Sweden, and in 2006, the team8. These were: the lack of attention 1 for children (7-16 years old) Figure 51: up the informational gap by organising IV World Water Forum in Mexico and the at all governmental levels to water and Well water tests on nitrate Ready for use... talk shows about sanitation on regional II International Dry Toilet Conference in wastewater problems in rural areas, low 2 89 families pollution and national radio and television. Also, Finland. Extensive international know- level of awareness and knowledge about 5 public wells cleaned and the project activities and results were ledge exchange was ongoing during the sanitation system maintenance and 3 Approximately 400 persons disinfected covered by the media. project. International experts from Ger- hygienic rules, and the absence of skilled 265 m long pipe branch of The project team participated in the many (TUHH), Sweden (SIDA) and the staff and financial resources, and high 4 100 persons cwss public hearings on the Ukraine National Netherlands (Aqua for All) visited all the bureaucratic barriers to solve these Program on Drinking Water. In its initial demonstration sanitation projects and problems. Among the more than 100 5 41 water meters 41 families state, this program did not mention the provided valuable recommendations. participants were representatives of the 6 5 household ecosan toilets 31 persons rural areas and its problems. Due to the Water service representatives from the government, science, water manage- comments and additions submitted by project area visited their German ment, rural communities and NGOs. 1 connection to sewage 7 2 persons system 8 This seminar was held within the framework of the IV International Water Forum “AQUA Ukraine-2006”

Figure 52: In total 5 of these ecosan toilets for private households Figure 54: were built Ukrainian partners and authorities visit a water utility station in Germany and exchange knowledge about ground water protection and water supply

Figure 53: The urine of the ecosan toilet users is collected in a reservoir and reused Figure 55: on the fields The project coordi- nator of mama ‘86 presents the project experiences on the third World Water Forum in Mexico 5 | Conclusions and lessons learned

Social participation and activities to increase this awareness has ed by experts, like making water • The authorities pay no or very little • The final success of ecological sanitation • The absence of ecological sanitation community spirit proven to be a very successful strategy connections attention to the problems of the school partially depends on the involvement of experts and equipment in Ukraine is • The success of a project highly de- • Solutions to local problems do not sanitation local farmers, who should be informed a barrier for the further spreading of the pends on the involvement and co- Politics, bureaucracy and corruption necessarily have to be very expensive, • Due to lack of financial resources and well and be willing to use the urine on ecosan technologies operation of all stakeholders and desire • Bureaucracy, very often in combination but require co-operation of all different lack of awareness, safe management of their fields as fertiliser for change and action with corruption, can be a major barrier stakeholders. In this case, NGOs could human waste is absent • It is important to have an appointed Agriculture • It is important to involve the local to the implementation of demonstrati- play the role of facilitators and/or • Attention of the regional school autho- caretaker to monitor and maintain the • In the three project areas most residents population while identifying the main on projects and can even slow this mediators rities was attracted with pilot projects school facility, and to sanitise the urine are subsistence farmers, where the issues and finding solutions process down for years on indoor dry urine diverting toilets for and faeces fractions according the potato is the main crop. There is no • Too many local resource persons • The more innovative the solution (e.g. Drinking water schools; school sanitation got an issue guidelines of the WHO culture of crop rotation and composting 28 (teachers, doctors etc.) involved in a ecological sanitation), the more re- • In Gozhuly children suffer from dental for the decision makers • Any construction attended for schools • In all the project areas the potato Colo- 29 committee, though, might restrain the sistance can be expected, as the officials and bone fluorosis, caused by high • It was shown, that even without a in Ukraine will require higher costs than rado beetle is the main pest in house- rest of the local population from are not willing to take responsibility fluoride concentrations in tap water. connection to the central water or average because of national regulations, holds’ gardens. Pesticides are frequently joining • Since a project can stagnate due to These concentrations exceeded the sewage system, the dry urine diverting transportation costs and mandatory used, often without protection • In the regions where public participati- bureaucracy and corruption, alternative national standard for drinking water 5 toilet is a very fast and easy to realise certified constructors • Organic farming was in the area a rather on is low, a personal approach is essen- programs should be prepared in advan- to 6 times, a fact neglected by the tool to protect groundwater • Since ecological sanitation is a new new issue. Demonstrations and sho- tial. Ideally, the project partners should ce for large scale projects with a limited responsible authorities • It was shown, that the new approach concept to many authorities, it takes wing succesful examples proved to be be local citizens time frame • In all three project areas nitrate levels of ecological sanitation improved the much time and effort to obtain their a good tool to convince some farmers • To motivate and get people involved, • Water, wastewater and waste manage- of well water exceeded the national sanitary conditions of the school in an approval and the permits needed to • Lack of legal framework, access to it can be useful to implement some ment in Ukraine is a political post – the standards 5-10 times, posing a health affordable and sustainable way, and construct an ecosan facility information, support by consultants and demonstration solutions in the first managers are appointed according to risk on the users thus improved health conditions • In Ukraine it is difficult to find suitable common price policy for organic agricu- part of the project period their political preferences instead of • In Bobryk, the old pesticide storage and affordable tanks for the collection lture and processing is a barrier for the • Involvement of children into project their experience. This situation puts a place poses a risk on the environment Ecological sanitation- dry urine diver- and storage of urine and that can development of this method of farming activities brings positive results, and strain on rural development as obsolete pesticides leak into soil ting toilets withstand high soil pressure a ‘learning by doing’ approach both • The responsible local authorities of and groundwater, and need to be • A very crucial factor is the real under- • The project design of ecosan facilities in National and International level raises awareness and increases social Gozhuly kept information on the high cleaned up standing of the dry urine diverting temperate climates should include • International funds focus on urban areas participation of the young generation fluoride levels in cwss water from the • Water supply and waste water systems facility and its effects by the stakehol- measures concerning ventilation, cold and totally neglect rural ones • It is impossible to change the life-style local population are in state of decay posing a health risk ders. This was addressed in workshops, and freezing of the ecosan products • There is no effective rural state pro- of people in a few years. However, by • After Soviet times a lot of administrative on the citizens and need restoration which were held before and after the (e.g. insulation of the doors of the gramme in Ukraine. This is partially a offering knowledge and means information disappeared or got missing, • In Vorokhta , there are several multi installation of the toilets, and by com- vaults) consequence of the lack of awareness (ecosan toilets, potato seeds, biological like locations of obsolete pesticides or storage houses without a connection to prehensible posters for children • It is important to assure that there are on the rural situation of national pesticides etc.) the mentality can be the quality of public drinking water a water supply system • With proper education also young means for abstraction of the stored policy makers influenced • In Vertijivka, extremely high nitrate children understand the principle of urine from the tanks, its transportation • The sanitation situation at schools Lack of experience, expertise and concentrations in all the wells were urine diverting toilets as a part of to the farmers’ fields and for its should receive more attention from Awareness financial recourses found. In former times a fertilizer stock- ecological sanitation application national authorities. • In general, the level of awareness of • The execution of a development project pile was located close to the village • To have access to an indoor toilet • There is a big interest in ecological environmental and sanitation issues in requires authorities to create a good • In general there is no tradition of clea- facility without having to walk through sanitation in Vorokhta because the project areas is low plan of action that involves all stakehol- ning the drinking water wells the cold or rain, was for the users a real the rocky soil makes it difficult to dig • On local level there is very limited ders and experts. However, local go- • As the example of the kindergarten in improvement. The new toilet system a pit. For ecosan toilets no pits access to information on environment vernments are often lacking experience Vertijivka showed, access to safe drin- was accepted very well are needed or water quality and a low awareness and expertise king water is crucial for the children’s about the relation between environ- • Most municipalities lack financial resour- development ment, water quality and health ces and adequate systems, leading a • On local level there is a low awareness deficient maintenance and operation of Sanitation about sustainable agriculture and public services, like drinking water, • In general the level of sanitation in gardening, leading to loss of nutrients, wastewater treatment or heating the rural areas is very low: in particular and plant and livestock diseases systems the toilet facilities in the schools and • The implementation of demonstration • On local level households carry out other public institutions are in a solutions together with educational activities that should actually be execut- disastrous state. 6 | Recommendations Annexes

There is a need to give priority to rural development through: • A realisation of a stringent identification and protection Annex 1 • The implementation of stricter environment and water of water catchments zones Costs of construction of the ecosan toilets in the project areas protection measures • Developing a more efficient government • The establishment of regional public water and wastewater • Establishment of international co-operation on low chemical 1. The costs for the indoor school ecosan toilet facility in Bobryk, serving 35 pupils companies input (organic) farming, sustainable and affordable water and 16 staff members. • Appointment of specialists on water and wastewater and wastewater management management positions should be based on expertise and Cost items: Euro experience – it should no longer be a political appointment For ecological sanitation to develop there is a need: Required documentation 400,- € • Developing a program for monitoring and emergency • To approve and regulate ecological sanitation on measures (e.g. according the WHO Water Safety Plan”) national level Materials 1020,- € • Strengthening of and co-operation with civil society • For national regulations on safe reuse of human waste Transportation 150,- € • Developing and introducing legal certification of in agriculture organic produce • To develop a market for ecosan equipment Construction 1680,- € 30 • Introducing incremental, cost covering water and • To develop decentralised wastewater management 31 Total costs 3060,- € wastewater tariffs (ecological sanitation) expertise in Ukraine Costs per user 60,- € There is a need for prevention measures: Finally there is a need for financing the rural areas: Costs per square meter (5,56 m2) 550,- € • Agriculture is one of the sectors responsible for the drinking • The state budget should set priorities for the development water pollution; therefore establishment of environmental of rural areas, like rural water infrastructure regulations for this sector could solve part of the problems • Investments should be made in affordable, decentralised 2. The costs of the indoor school ecosan facility in Gozhuly, serving 160 children • Training of farmers and gardeners on good agricultural practi- and sustainable systems ces, integrated pest control etc. • In general, at least the converting from conventional to Cost items: Euro • A regulation for current pesticide use in agricultural sector and organic farming should be subsidised on household level • Water protection measures carried out by farmers in water Total construction and material costs 9292,- € Urine tanks + transportation 895,- € • An urgent clean up policy and implementation of all obsolete catchment areas should be subsidised pesticides stockpiles • The government should negotiate with international financial Sub total costs 10.187,- € • Adjusting regulations for easier implementation of on-site institutions for the implementation of rural development Improvement of the system: decentralised wastewater treatment, like ecological sanitation programmes • New urine tanks, ventilation, rehabili- 1.597,- € tation of the area • Contribution of authorities for sub- 1500,- € surfaced storage place for tanks Total costs 13.284,- €

Costs per user 83,- €

Costs per square meter (5,56 m2) 553,- €

3. The costs of an out-door ecosan toilet in Vorokhta, serving one family

Cost items: Euro

Material for basic construction 115,- € Finalizing the facility 58,- € (paint, screws, linoleum, etc.) Urinal and home-made seat riser 27,- € Total costs 200,- € (exclusive transport costs) Total costs per square meter 78,- € (2.56 m2) Annex 2 Booklets Conclusions of the Chernigiv Institute of Agricultural 1. Ecological sanitation - a new approach to solve wastewater problems in Ukraine; Microbiology on potato cultivation in Bobryk and Vertijivka March 2006 (2500 copies). 2. About ecological sanitation and its advantages. The short outline of the conclusions prepared by Chernigiv Institute of Agricultural Microbiology of Ukrainian Academy of Agrarian Sciences after the survey of the potatoes seeds material Leaflets conducted in the private households in Bobryk and Vertijivka. 1. World Water Day 2004; Water and Disasters; 22d of March - World Water Day; About World Water Day; World Water Resources and Water Resources of Ukraine; Millennium Develop- 1. The phyto-sanitation conditions of the household gardens do not meet the elemen- ment Goals: Ukraine; World Water Monitoring Day – 18 October; Water Monitoring Instruc- tary requirements for potato cultivation: tions for Safety; Water Monitoring; World Water Day 2006 and Water and Sanitation week; • the potatoes are not isolated from other vegetables by high plants (e.g. maize, beans); Water related diseases; Recommendations to well users; Ground water protection; Iodine in • the crop rotation is not appropriate; the environment and in water; Clean rivers – the healthy environment; How to prepare safe • nobody uses green fertilizers that also help to fight with potatoes diseases. drinking water; Let‘s take care of water - a cradle of everything alive on the Earth; Take care: 32 fluorine in water; How can one protect family from nitrates; Fluorine. 33 2. The cultivation techniques and the equipment needed for potato cultivation in the 2. Dry ecosan toilet; Ecological sanitation. What and how?; Ecological sanitation. What and households meets only basic requirements: how?; Dry toilet; Ecosan toilet. What is it?; Microorganism: safe water at home. • the potatoes are being seeded too early; 3. Composting is simple and effective; Pesticides! Your health is in danger; Plant-doctors; • only few households use mechanical equipment while potatoes are seeded; Dakar Declarations; Dakar Declarations: actions and obligations. • when the potatoes are seeded manually; 4. Solid waste and our health. • the distance between the rows is too small; 5. Take care: Pesticides!; Aspects of organic agriculture in Ukraine; Potato - a second bread; • the households apply fresh (not composted) manure which creates favorable conditions Handle soil with love and passion; Nizhyn cucumber is our wealth. for fungi’s and bacteria; 6. Hygiene for girls; Hygiene for boys; Hygiene for every day. • chemical pesticides against Potato Colorado Beatle are applied and often in inappropriate way, thus causing the plants and soils contamination, intoxication of persons who apply Abstracts the pesticides and/or the consumers of young potatoes. 1. 4 Abstracts for the scientific-practical Conferences of International Water Forum; AQUA Ukraine-2003, Kyiv, 2004, P. 290- 318 3. Tsvietkova Ganna, Kovalyova Olena. “First eco-san-toilet in Ukraine: co-operation for su- stainable rural development” – Abstract for the 15th Stockholm Water Symposium, 2005, P. Annex 3 163. Publications and other educational materials, MAMA-86 4. 15 Abstracts for the scientific-practical Conferences “Water, sanitation and hygiene for all in Ukraine. “AQUA-2005”, Kyiv, 2005, P. 280- 317. Publications 5. The abstracts of 4 presentations of the MATRA seminar “Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for 1. Final Report of the MATRA project “Co-operation for sustainable rural development: water all in Ukraine“, IV International Water Forum, AQUA Ukraine-2006, 19-21 September, 2006. – supply, ecological sanitation and organic agriculture” (600 copies in Ukrainian, 500 copies Kyiv, 2006, P.474- 490. in Russian and 300 copies in English), 2006. 6. An abstract “The practice, problem and strategy of ecological sanitation toilets with urine 2. Magazine „Ekomama“ N 4 of MAMA-86; October 2006 (1000 copies). diversion in rural areas of Ukraine (The experience of NGO MAMA-86 in eco-sanitation 3. Ukrainian version of WECF publication “Dry Urine Diverting Toilets: Principles, operation and project implementation) and presentation for The Second International Dry Toilet Con- construction “; September 2006 (500 Ukrainian copies) ference. August 16-19, 2006, Tampere, Finland. 4. Practical recommendations on organic agriculture and modern methods of material and technical recourses’ use reduction in crop production – 2005. Posters 5. Ukrainian version of WECF publication “Ecological Sanitation and Associated Hygienic Risk. 1. Sustainable Sanitation for Children in Ukraine An overview of existing policy making guidelines and research”. 2. Water Basins of Ukraine 3. GTZ Poster in Ukrainian “ Ecosan – closing the loop in wastewater management and sanitation” Annex 4 Annex 5 Media coverage in Ukraine Other WECF publications

• Radio: 5 interviews with project partners of MAMA-86 were held, 4 news items on local radio were Other WECF-projects related publications are available on the website of WECF: broadcasted and a representative of participated in 1 talk-show www.wecf.eu/publications • Television: 2 films about the project results were made, two interviews were held, 7 news items were broadcasted on TV channels and representatives participated in 3 talk-shows and TV programs. Romania Gender Socio Economic Analysis Report, • Newspaper articles were published by project partners of MAMA-86 on the following themes: A report on a short survey of the socio-economic and gender situation in Garla Mare, Romania, 2004. http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2004/Romania_Report.php Sustainable rural development Water Sanitation and environment in general Experience in Roma District, Who will protect the consumers Eco-toilet for schoolchildren, in: Kolo, Co-operation for sustainable rural from bad water quality?” in: Carpa- 10.11.2004 development, in: Carpathian Natio- An insight into the safe drinking water project in Garla Mare, Romania, 2004. 34 thian National, November 2003 nal, November 2003 http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2004/roma_experience.php 35 Ecological sanitation over all, in: Inhabitants of Vertijivka would like to Yaremche messenger:September Future for our children, in: Carpathi- Ecological sanitation and Associated health Risks, have clean water, in: Nizhynsky 2005 an National, April-June 2004 An overview of existing policy making guidelines and research, 2004. Visnyk, 17.06.2004 http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2004/eco_san_pub.php Opening of the ecosan toilet in The environment and health are Let the springs be clean, in: Nizhyns- Bobryk, in: Nizhynsky Visnyk, synonyms, in: Nizhynsky Co-operation for Sustainable Rural Development - Involving Citizens and Local ky Visnyk, 24.06.2004 07.09.2006 Visnyk,,12.08.2004 Authorities in Rural Ukraine in the Improvement of Drinking Water, Sanitation and Agriculture. Clean water for all, in: Nizhynsky Toilet in the school, in: Sivershchyna, How the project „Sustainable Rural Socio-economic and gender survey of Vorohkta, Bobryk and Gozhuli. 2005. Visnyk, 16.10.2004 13.09.2006 Development” worked in Bobryk, in: http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2005/socioecon_survey_ukr.php Nizhynsky Visnyk, 13.11.2004 To Save water – to save life, in: Visti, The ecosan toilet in Gozhuly – to be Solid waste management in Garla Mare, 25.03.2005 or not?, in: Kolo, 21-27.09.2006 And they think about us, in: Nizhyns- Solid waste management report for the village of Garla Mare, Romania, 2005. ky Visnyk, 19.11.2004 http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2005/solidwaste.php Water, you are life yourself, in: Niz- hynsky Visnyk, 24.02.2005 Agriculture The environment – a priority num- ber one, in: Visti 02.09.2005 Small-scale environment-friendly tourism in Garla Mare, 22 March – World Water Day, in: Mountain farming as element of A report on small-scale ecotourism on the borders of the Danube. Opportunities and chances Carpathian National, March 2005 organic farming, in: Carpathian People in Bobryk are wise, in: Niz- for the villagers in Romanian Garla Mare, 2005. National, April-June 2004 hynsky Visnyk, 26.05.2006 http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2005/tourism_gm.php Water quality is being checked by children, in: Carpathian National, You harvest what you have sown, in: “MAMA” will help Gozhuly school Socio-economic and gender survey of Topoli, Sulitsa and the Stara Zagora Spa, Bulgaria, 2005 Nizhynsky Visnyk, 20.01.2005 and kindergarten” in: Visti, 11.11.2005 Developing a Model for Sustainable Water and Waste Management for Rural Areas in Bulgaria. Once more about water, in: Stolyt- You harvest what you have sown, in: Young parliamentarians made http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2005/survey_bulgaria.php sya, 01-07.04.2005 Visti 04.02.2005. Ukraine famous, in: Carpathian National, October – December 2006 Armenia - Pesticides Guidelines and Project Report, „World Water Day in 2006, in: Carpa- On the edge to pesticides poiso- Two publications by the University of Wageningen on pesticides use in Armenia, 2005. ning, in: Sivershchyna 26.08.2005 thian National, January-March 2006 http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2005/hayanist_rep.php

“New Approaches to Water Resour- How to manage to feed children?, in: Armenia - Socio-Economic and Gender Survey ces Management”, in: Carpathian Nizhynsky Visnyk, 01.09.2005 National, January-March 2006 A survey conducted by WECF and AWHHE as part of the TMF project Who will help a farmer in Ukraine, in: „Tapping Resources“, 2006. “Children projects in Vorokhta, in: Nizhynsky Visnyk, 18.02.2006 http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2006/armenia_socio_economic.php Carpathian National, April-June 2006 Opening Organic Agriculture Centre Dry Urine Diverting Toilets, Principles, Operation and Construction, 2006. in Vertijivka, in: Nizhynsky Visnyk, “The problem with bad water quality http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2006/ecosan_reps.php in Gozhuly is not solved yet”, in: Kolo, 18.03.2006 28.09-04.10.2006 Regional programme on sheparding From pit latrine to ecological toilet, Results of a survey on dry urine diverting toilets and “World Water Day. Water should be – to help farmers, in: Carpathian pit latrines in Garla Mare, Romania, 2006. valued”, in: Visti, 21.04.2006 National, October – December 2006 http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2006/ecosan_pitlatrines.php N ot e

Sustainable Development for All, Reducing effects of polluted drinking water and inadequate sanitation on children´s health in rural Romania, 2006. http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2006/sustain_all.php

Urine Diverting Toilets in Climates with Cold Winters, Technical considerations and the reuse of nutrients with a focus on legal and hygienic aspects., 2007. http://www.wecf.eu/publications

Documentaries: CD or DVD 36 No Drinking Water, Documentaries on Women and Water, CD-rom/DVD, 2004. 37 http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2004/wecf_dvd.php

Poverty, Pollution and Bad Health “in Prislop” a Romanian settlement, Welcome to the European Communitiy / Willkommen in der europäischen Union. DVD 2007. http://www.wecf.eu/cms/publications/2007/prislop_dvd.php WECF The Netherlands PO Box 13047 3507 LA, Utrecht The Netherlands Phone: +31 - 30 - 23 10 300 Fax: +31 - 30 - 23 40 878

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