Lib'- 'Ah'Y )NTËi-N-Vr:-;;At, REFERENCE ÜW FOK CO^ivH.WITY WATCH üUPPL.Y SANITATION (hVC) Water, Sanitation and Environment Exposure Visit and Seminar 3-14 October 1994: Objective, Methodology, Programme and Material Descriptive report IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre Water, Sanitation and Environment Exposure Visit and Seminar 3-14 October 1994: Objective, Methodology, Programme and Material Descriptive report international water and sanitation centre A Background In order to alleviate problems in states in Central and . Eastern Europe (CEE) and the former Soviet Union (FSU) regarding quality and quantity of drinking water, the Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (VROM) has in 1992 taken the initiative to identify areas and means for transfer of Dutch expertise for this purpose. VROM has contracted IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) in The Hague to study the need for transfer of information and expertise on water supply and sanitation. A part of the assignment was an exposure visit to gain an impression of Dutch sector experiences and a seminar which was organized in September 1994 for representatives of four CEE countries (Bulgaria, The Czech Republic, Romania and The Slovak Republic) in the Netherlands together with their hosts. The participants came from relevant Ministries of their countries or were managers of large water supply or sewerage utilities. During the seminar it became obvious that the objectives, the structure and the programme as well as the material produced and presented during the event was very valuable for all participants. To learn from the experience of organizing this exposure visit and seminar VROM asked IRC to develop the material, to collect it and to present it as a report. This activity can be seen in context of the recently held Ministerial Drinking Water Conference, as a follow-up activity to promote exchange of experiences and information in the sector. B Overall objective The overall objective of the exposure visit and seminar was to expose the participants from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania and the Slovak Republic to the Dutch water and sanitation sector and to exchange experiences gained in the Netherlands and the four countries in transition. Recommendations for possible future cooperation were expected as well, based on the exposure visit, discussions in the seminar and working groups in the seminar. The idea behind the exposure visit was to show how the Dutch water and sanitation sector is managed and operated in a market economy to support a change of management and financing practices in the four countries after the political change. The content of the programme was selected on the basis of a desk study, a mission to Slovakia and Bulgaria and an exchange of views among the participants. From the above studies it became clear that these countries have technically skilled people, the basic infrastructure and sufficient water resources. They are, however, lacking knowledge on how to sustainably manage these resources. They also lack the experience of using the resources in a cost-effective manner. Thus it was concluded that knowledge related to management operation and financing of water and sanitation systems were the essential issues to focus upon in the programme. Within these issues there were also few aspects that needed special attention, such as relations between legislation and control mechanisms, public relations, integrated water resources management and pollution control. Programme of the Exposure Visit and the Seminar The programme was designed to correspond to the adult learning cycle to achieve the overall objective of it. Experiencing (seeing, doing an activity) Applying Processing (making use (reflecting of the on, generalizat discussing ion to the activity) change behaviour to become more effective) Generalizing (inferring from the experience at a higher level of abstraction; some "truth" about how things work) The cycle starts from experiencing, continues with processing, followed by generalizing and is concluded by applying. Each day was designed according to the adult learning cycle. The introductory part consisted of a small number of lectures which guided the discussions and the observations/experiences, which followed. The first week had an emphasis on the professional level and the second on the decision-making level. The objective, procedure and material presented to the participants is given below. Day 1, Monday, Introduction Objective To make the participants feel welcome for the exposure visit and to clarify what participants and coordinators could expect from each other and from the programme during the two week event. procedure The participants and representatives from the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment and from the IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre introduced themselves to each other. The programme of the two weeks was presented and the expectations of the visit were discussed. It turned out that three of the participants wanted to visit another three sites, which could be arranged as an extended programme for the three participants. In the evening a dinner was arranged for all the participants and the representatives of the hosts. During the informal dinner the participants had an opportunity to get to know each other and the coordinators gained a clearer idea of the aspects the participants would like to discuss at the various sites. Material Exposure visit and Seminar Programme. Tourist information about Holland. Key-issues Introduction of the event / getting to know each other / clarifying expectations. Day 2, Tuesday, Presentations on water and sanitation sector status in participating countries Objective To present the water supply and sanitation conditions in the five participating countries and to introduce and discuss together the major issues to be dealt with during the programme. Procedure The four country delegations presented state-of-the-art information on water supply and sanitation. From the Netherlands a number of persons from the water sector had been invited to share information on their organizations and place in the overall Dutch water sector, touching on issues such as legislation, water and sanitation management, investment policy and tariffs, information sources in the sector and water boards and elections. After their presentations the participants had an opportunity to ask questions as well as to tell how these things work in their countries. Material IRC (1994) Background papers. Exposure Visit and Seminar Water, Sanitation and Environment, The Hague, 3-14 October, 1994. Key-issues Introduction to the sector status in the countries / discussion on focal points. Day 3, Wednesday, Regional water supply system - Gelderland Objective To gain an understanding on how Dutch regional water supply systems are designed, constructed and managed. The emphasis was given to client/consumer orientation and to the set-up of a socially controlled commercial company as well as the relationships between the water supply system and other actors in the sector, such as legal institutions and the users. Procedure The participants visited N.V. Waterleiding Maatschappij Gelderland, a regional water supply system. The managers of Gelderland gave lectures about their system, showed the participants one of the production units and participated in the concluding discussion. The visit was very much appreciated by the participants. They got a good idea on how the system is managed and operated and what problems this system is facing and how the problems are being tackled. The presentation on consumer relations was of special interest to the participants Material WMG (1994) Water supply company Gelderland, Cooperating in finding solutions for groundwater management problems in Gelderland. Ir. S. van Dongen, Distribution. WMG Key issues Regional water supply organization / self financing principle / consumer relations. Day 3, Wednesday evening. Visit to a consultancy firm - DHV Objective To get an understanding how a private consultancy firm is working in the Dutch water sector, which tasks they undertake, financial management, expertise, etc. Procedure The representatives of the company introduced their enterprise and gave lectures about their projects and contractual procedures. After discussion where the participants and their hosts clarified their positions towards consultancy in the sector, a demonstration of computer aided design was made. The hosts offered a dinner to the participants to conclude the visit. Material DHV (1994) DHV Integrated sewer management system DHV (1994) Broadening horizons and setting the trends DHV - Description of project areas Key issues Role of an international consultant / technical competence / role of the client. • Day 4f Thursday morning. Sewage treatment plant - Delfland Objective To get an understanding of how a Dutch sewage treatment plant is managed, operated and financed. Procedure The participants were introduced to the overall organization and management of Hoogheemraadschap van Delfland, to the government requirements they have to follow and to how a specific water treatment plant is managed and operated (The Nieuwe Waterweg). The participants also had an opportunity to visit the treatment plant described to them. 6 Material Hand-outs related to the Waste water treatment plant - The Nieuwe Waterweg. Key issues Line of responsibility in sanitation and drainage / control mechanism from the point of view of