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In February 2009, the Principal of the Molar Band MCD School in New Delhi, explained to Lotika Shaunik Paintal, founder of Water Centric, how the construction of a small septic tank can make a huge difference in the lives of a 1000 young school girls:
“I am so grateful that Water Centric will be building a septic tank for our school. Our toilets, although constructed four years ago are unusable, as the city sewers still do not extend to our school. The new septic tank will allow our 1000 students to maintain their dignity and get some privacy by using toilets –instead of squatting outdoors as they currently do every school day to relieve themselves!”
Water Centric wasted no time. The septic tank was completed in less than 2 months while the school was closed for summer recess. Funds were raised in the USA with help from H2O for Life and the Asian Club at Chelsea High School. The Molar Band School in New Delhi also made an in-kind contribution. Meanwhile, Water Centric’s NGO partner in India, Sakshi, made sure that the construction process went smoothly on the ground.
The facilities are now operational. The 1000 students have resumed classes after vacation – and are finally able to access functioning toilets for the first time ever.
Although the global economy is suffering, Asia continues to urbanize and industrialize, increasing their demands on water and waste treatment systems. The Asian governments, however, are failing to meet the demands efficiently and provide significant infrastructure.
Ranajay Dasgupta, an Asia-based environmental and buildings technology consultant with Frost & Sullivan, an industrial research and consulting firm, discusses the situation in an e-mail exchange.
Changi Water Reclamation plant in Singapore
He answers questions such as “How much of a priority are water and wastewater treatment projects in Asia?” and “Which are the fastest growing regions and how do they compare to the rest of the world in terms of environmental awareness and waste processing infrastructures?”
Dasgupta also talks about international players getting involved and developing projects in Asian nations:
Industrialization, urbanization, and shortage of water and waste treatment facilities in China are attracting international players from the U.S., Japan and Europe.
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