3) IWK Technical Site Visit to Bunus Regional Sewage Treatment Plant – 21 June 2014, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A one day technical site visit to Indah Water Konsortium (IWK)’s Bunus Regional Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) took place on the 21 June 2014. This was jointly organized by IWK, Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and MyCDNet, under the River of Life Public Outreach Programme Phase 2. This excursion was also part of the ToT on Water Quality and Sanitation. A total of 25 professionals who attended this activity were briefed on the functions and services of Bunus STP. They also made a visit to the IWK Centre for Research and Innovation in Wastewater, followed by a visit to the STP facilities with IWK personnel who provided briefings and explanations on site. Post-visit evaluation showed that all of the participants agreed on the need to conserve and protect the rivers for present and future generations. Majority of the participants were willing to join the authorities and non-governmental organizations in river conservation efforts. Please contact Ms. Alicia Lim for more information. 

                   

4) National Workshop on Climate Change and IWRM – 9 to 11 June 2014, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The National Workshop on Climate Change and IWRM was held at the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 9 to 11 June 2014. This workshop was organized in collaboration with SOCOSADA-REDAR, Hacienda CUFA, Pronatura Fundation and REDICA. A total of 24 participants were introduced to IWRM and Climate Change, structural and non-structural measures within IWRM for Climate Change, Integrated River Basin Management in two case studies: Plan Yaque, Plan Sierra, and Climate Change Adaptation in the case study for Pilot Project Haina-Duei. A field visit was also carried out on this pilot project which consisted of series of small plot holders settled within National Parks’ buffer zones. The objective of this workshop was to reduce the impact of their activity and contain their plot from spreading.

For more information, please contact Ms. Liliana Arrieta.

                             

5) National Seminar on Hydroelectric Energy projects within IWRM Approach – 17 to 19 June 2014, Guatemala City. 

The National Seminar on “Hydroelectric energy projects within IWRM approach” took place between June 17-19th, at the Universidad del Valle (UVG) campus in Guatemala City, Guatemala. A total of 93 participants attended this REDICA supported activity with funds from its Network Core Support. The activity was also facilitated by thirteen Guatemalan and one Swedish experts. Ms. Arrieta facilitated “Clean Energy Proposals“ on the first day of the event. This presentation analyzed the region’s energy matrix, rate composition, water resource use for energy, payment for ecosystem services, and their impact in forest recovery in the region. Furthermore she facilitated a session on the second day of the event covering the practical applications of IWRM within the COMCURE case study in Costa Rica, which proved to be of great interest for participants. Mr. David Vega from Panama’s Technical University (UTP), presented on distinct methodologies for Environmental Flow under the case study “Eco-Hydraulic modeling in Panama“. On the second day he facilitated a session on “River Dam Safety Measures: Emergency Planning and Action“. Eng. Julio Luna disserted on “Hydrogeological and Geotechnical Aspects of Hydroelectric Projects“ on the final day of the workshop.

For more information, please contact Ms. Liliana Arrieta.
 

                             


6) Coastal Zones Institutional Replicate Workshop – 24 June 2014, San José,  Costa Rica.
 

The Coastal Zones Institutional Replicate Workshop took place at the Costa Rican Ground Water Bureau (SENARA) in San José, Costa Rica, on Tuesday June 24th, 2014. It was a replicate workshop of the Regional Workshop on Coastal Zones and IWRM held in March. During the regional activity, a total of 24 participants were given the opportunity to work on a proposal for a replicate workshop. They were divided into groups according to areas, public institutions, students and national universities, CATIE University, and foreign participants. The institutional group for this replicate workshop included collaborators from the Costa Rican National Comptroller, the Water Department, Ground Water Bureau, and the Ministry of Environment. The latter three participants’ intention on carrying out this activity and their efforts were clearly shown during this 1 day seminar.

For more information, please contact Ms. Liliana Arrieta.


7) Workshop on Hydro-Climatic Disasters in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) -  8 to 10 July, 2014, Bisee, Castries, Saint Lucia.

Caribbean Waternet in partnership with OECS Commission, Castries Saint Lucia - The OECS Commission hosted a three day workshop on Hydro-Climatic Disasters in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) from July 8-10, 2014 at the Conference Room of the National Emergency Management in Bisee, Castries, Saint Lucia.
 
The workshop was delivered by Dr Paulette Bynoe, a Caribbean Waternet member and Director of the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Guyana. WASCO (the National Water Utility Company) is a major beneficiary of this training, as it seeks to enhance its own management systems to improve the delivery of water services on the island. Ahead of the workshop, Justin Sealy, Strategic Planning Manager at WASCO, told the OECS Commission that the training will focus on providing WASCO planners and the wider water sector with valuable information that will facilitate disaster mitigation and adaptive measures in reference to hydro-climatic disasters affecting the country’s water resources.

During the three day workshop, participants, who were drawn from various government agencies working in water resources management, were exposed to:
 
• The key principles of IWRM and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR);
• The implications of climate change and variability for water resources management;
• Policy, legislation institutional and requirements needed at the community level to facilitate DRR in IWRM;
• The economics of disasters; and
• Emergency response issues.
 
For further information please contact Ms. Tecla Fontenard, Communications Specialist or visit the webpage.