UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT NATIONAL REPORT ON STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN MAURITIUS FINAL REPORT OCT 2007 J. A. RADHAY UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT NATIONAL REPORT ON STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN MAURITIUS TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Tables (iii) List of Annexes (v) List of Abbreviations (vi) List of Photographs (viii) Executive Summary 1 Introduction 3 Country Profile 5 Chapter 1 – National Level Review of the GPA Guidelines 1.0 – Introduction 8 1.1 - Enabling policy environment for sustainable wastewater management 8 1.2 – Institutional Arrangements and Social Participation 9 1.3 – Planning Sustainable and Cost-Effective Technologies 9 1.4 – Financial Mechanisms for Wastewater Management 10 1.5 – Specificities of Mauritius that can affect applicability of the GPA Guidelines 11 1.6 – Applicability of the ten keys for local and national actions on MWW 12 1.7 – Conclusion 15 Chapter 2 – Review of Enabling Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Environment for Municipal Was tewater Management 2.1 – Assessment of existing policy framework 16 2.2 – Assessment of existing legal regulatory framework 28 2.3 – Assessment of existing institutional mechanisms 39 2.4 – Assessment for mechanisms for stakeholder involvement in MWW Management 52 2.5 – Assessment of existing financial mechanisms 59 2.6 – Conclusions and recommendations 63 Chapter 3 – Inventory of Municipal Wastewater Infrastructures 3.1 – Background 66 3.2 – Public Sewer Systems 79 3.3 – Inventory of Major Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants 84 3.4 – Overview of Most Important Wastewater Producing Enterprises 97 3.5 – Major Rivers draining Wastewater into the Ocean 100 3.6 – Standards for Assessment of Performance of Wastewater Treatment Plants 101 3.7 - Sludge Management in Mauritius 104 3.8 – Re-use of wastewater and sludge in Mauritius 105 3.9 – Status of Sanitation in Rodrigues 108 3.10 – Conclusions 109 Page (i) J. 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Radhay Oct 07 FINAL REPORT UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT NATIONAL REPORT ON STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN MAURITIUS Chapter 4 – Assessment of Existing MWW Management Practices and Methods 4.1 - Assessment of existing MWW management practices and methods 110 4.2 – Assessment of existing constraints in MWW management practices and methods 116 4.3 – Recommendations for improved MWW management practices and methods 122 Chapter 5 – Review Existing Technologies used for MWW Management 5.1 – Overview of existing technologies in Mauritius 127 5.2 – Description of existing technologies and constraints in MWW 132 5.3 – Recommendations for Appropriate Technology 142 Chapter 6 – Lessons learnt and ‘best practices’ from projects on MWW Management 6.0 – Introduction 147 6.1 – Selection Consultant 147 6.2 – Securing of Funds 148 6.3 – Involvement of Other Stakeholders 148 6.4 – Internal and External Processes for Approval 149 6.5 – In –house capacity to handle major projects 149 6.6 – O & M facilities and commissioning 149 6.7 – Use of equipment & material from abroad 150 Chapter 7 – Mechanisms for Domestication of Regional Guidelines 7.1 – Mechanisms for Domestication 151 7.2 – Opportunities for Domestication 152 7.3 – Impediments for Domestication 152 7.4 – National Mechanisms, Strategies and Policies that can be used to internalize the Regional Guidelines on MWW Management 152 References 156 Photographs Page (ii) J. 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Radhay Oct 07 FINAL REPORT UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT NATIONAL REPORT ON STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN MAURITIUS LIST OF TABLES Table 2.1 Summary of Key Institutions Involved in the Environmental Aspects of Water Resources 47 Table 2.2 Water Utilization in Mauritius per category 49 Table 2.3 Responsibilities of Main Institutions Involved in Wastewater Management 54 Table 2.4 Sector Policy Tariffs and Tariffs applied for the period 2000-2006 61 Table 3.1 Mid -year geographical distribution of population as at 2003 66 Table 3.2 Estimated Mid -Year Resident Population of Towns – 2003 67 Table 3.3 Estimated Mid Year Resident Population of Large Villages as at 2003 67 Table 3.4 Number of towns and villages within different bands of population density 68 Table 3.5 Pamplemousses Sub-areas: Population and Housing 69 Table 3.6 Riviere du Rempart Sub-areas: Population and Housing 70 ` Table 3.7 Flacq Sub-areas: Population and Housing 71 Table 3.8 Grand Port Sub-areas: Population and Housing 72 Table 3.9 Savanne Sub-areas: Population and Housing 73 Table 3.10 Moka Sub-areas: Population and Housing 73 Table 3.11 Black River Sub-areas: Population and Housing 74 Table 3. 12 Influent and Treated Effluent Characteristics for St. Martin WWTP 86 Table 3.13 Influent and Effluent Characteristics for Grand Baie WWTP 89 Table 3.14 Influent and Effluent Characteristics for Baie du Tombeau WWTP 93 Table 3.15 Influent and Effluent Characteristics for Montagne Jacquot WWTP 96 Table 3.16 Annual flow of Major Rivers 100 Table 3.17 Environment Protection (Standards for Effluent Discharge) Regulations 2003 101 Page (iii) J. A. Radhay Oct 07 FINAL REPORT UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT NATIONAL REPORT ON STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN MAURITIUS Table 3.18 Environment Protection (Standards of Effluent for Use in Irrigation) Regulations 2003 102 Table 3.19 Environment Protection (Standards for Effluent Discharge) Regulations 2003 103 Table 3.20 Sludge Management in Mauritius 104 Table 7.1 Applicability of the ten keys for local and national actions on municipal wastewater 151 Page (iv) J. A. Radhay Oct 07 FINAL REPORT UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT NATIONAL REPORT ON STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN MAURITIUS LIST OF ANNEXES Annex 3.0 Geographical Position of Mauritius and its outer islands in the Indian Ocean Annex 3.1 Geographical Districts of Mauritius Annex 3.2 Districts Indicative Built-up Areas Annex 3.3 Sewered Regions of Mauritius Annex 3.4 Distribution of CHA Estates across Mauritius Annex 3.5 Distribution of NHDC Estates across Mauritius Annex 3.6 Location of Nine Public Wastewater Treatment Plants Annex 3.7 Plaines Wilhems Sewerage System Annex 3.8 Grand Baie Sewerage System Annex 3.9 Baie du Tombeau Sewerage System Annex 3.10 Port Louis North and Port Louis South – Lower Beau Bassin/Coromandel Sewerage System Annex 3.11 Flow Process Diagram for St. Martin Wastewater Treatment Plant Annex 3.12 Flow Process Diagram for Grand Baie Wastewater Treatment Plant Annex 3.13 Flow Process Diagram for Montagne Jacquot Wastewater Treatment Plant Annex 3.14.1 Details of Most Important Sewered Industries Annex 3.14.2 Details of Coastal Hotels Having Wastewater Treatment Plant Annex 3.15 Rivers of Mauritius and Their Catchment Areas Page (v) J. 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Radhay Oct 07 FINAL REPORT UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT NATIONAL REPORT ON STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN MAURITIUS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AFRC Albion Fish Research Centre AREU Agricultural and Research Extension Unit AGR Average Growth Rate AHRIM Association des Hoteliers et Restaurateurs de Maurice BOD Bio Oxygen Demand BRL Bas Rhone - Languedoc CAATT Computer Aided Audit Tools and Techniques CHA Central Housing Authority COD Chemical Oxygen Demand CSO Central Statistical Office CWA Central Water Authority DI Ductile Iron DoE Department of Environment DWF Dry Water Flow EC European Community ECC Environment Co-ordination Committee E.coli Escherichia coli EDF European Development Fund EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EIP Environmental Investment Programme ELO Environment Liaison Officer EPA Environment Protection Act EU European Union FA Financing Agreement FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FC Faecal Coliform GoM Government of Mauritius GPA Global Programme of Actions GRP Glass Reinforced Plastics HRAP High Rate Algal Pond IA Irrigation Authority IBRD International Bank Reconstruction Development IFC International Finance Corporation IRS Integrated Resort Scheme IT Information Technology JEC Joint Economic Council KPI Key Performance Indicator MCCI Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry MDG Millennium Development Goal MEPZA Mauritius Export Processing Zone Authority MHQL Ministry of Health and Quality of Life MoE Ministry of Environment MOFED Ministry of Finance and Economic Development MPN Most Probable Number MPU Ministry of Public Utilities Page (vi) J. 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Radhay Oct 07 FINAL REPORT UNEP-GEF WIO-LaB PROJECT NATIONAL REPORT ON STATUS OF MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT IN MAURITIUS MTEF Medium Term Expenditure Framework MWW Municipal Waste Water NDS National Development Strategy NEC National Environment Commission NEL National Environment Laboratory NDU National Development Unit NEAP National Environmental Action Plan NGO Non Governmental Organization NHDC National Housing Development Company NNSD National Network for Sustainable Development NSP National Sewerage Programme O&M Operation and Maintenance PE Population Equivalent PE pipe Poly -Ethylene pipe PER Preliminary Environmental Report PR Public Relations PRB Pay Research Bureau PS Pumping Station PSO Private Sector Operator PSP Private Sector Participation PVC Poly Vinyl Chloride PWSP Plaines Wilhems Sewerage Project RBC Rotating Bio-Contactors SAR Sodium Absorption Ratio SBR Sequential Batch Reactor SPL Sector Policy Letter SSV Solid Sludge Volume TA Technical Assistance TDS Total Dissolved Solids TKN Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen TSS Total Suspended Solids UASB Upward Air-flow Sludge Blanket UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UPVC Unplasticised Poly Vinyl Chloride URA Utility Regulatory Authority UV Ultra-Violet WAC Water for Asian Cities WMA Wastewater Management