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Pitch

Diseases after climate-related events are associated to safe water and sanitation availability. WWT technology is an outstanding solution.


Description

Summary

Long health effects associated with epidemic diseases after natural disasters are connected to safe water and sanitation availability.

The water priority after an event is focused in drink water. The wastewater is the last action taken, but is the one those are making great impacts in the public health and environment.

CORÓH System is an unique WWT technology those can reduce the risk of epidemic diseases after climate-induced natural disasters because is the only one those maintain operative after that. We can assume it as a sustainable solution.

Our proposal is taking in consideration the long-term health effects of such disasters by anticipate and prepare for sanitation hazards. We propose action where sanitation will be not a Emergency Plan after event, but a Sanitation Policy.

Sanitation must be a priority in the affected areas creating a real capacity to absorb shocks by protection risk reduction technology: CORÓH System.

The CORÓH SYSTEM is a solution that due to its characteristics as part of a systematic Sanitation project would quickly recover and restore the treatment efficiency after a major impact or event.

The COROH SYSTEM consists of a set of intercommunicated tanks and reactors with waste water purification and digestion of organic biomass through liquid transport, gas transport and solid control (LAUCEVICIUS, 2014) . It uses compressed air as a driving force, through density pumps, and as a promoter of biological reactions.


What actions do you propose?

Climate-related hazards and disaster-related deaths are overwhelmingly caused by the initial traumatic impact of a big event. However, the long health effects associated with epidemic diseases after natural disasters, big or small, is underestimated and in the long term is one of the major public health problems in the affected region. Often is the result of inadequate access to safe water and sanitation facilities, because both are damaged after an event.

The history of climate-related hazards and disaster shows that the risk for diarrheal disease outbreaks following natural disasters was reported in 85% of residents in the town of Calang, Indonesia, 2 weeks after the December 2004 tsunami. Also, clusters of both hepatitis A and hepatitis E were noted.

Outbreaks of leptospirosis occurred in Taiwan, Republic of China, associated with Typhoon Nali in 2001; in Mumbai, India, after flooding in 2000; and in others places affected by climate-related disaster. Malaria and dengue outbreaks in the wake of flooding are a well-known phenomenon. More complex diseases are also reported, as tetanus and rabies.

The water priority after an event is focused in drink water. The wastewater is the last action taken, but is the one those are making great impacts in the public health and environment.

Why the sewage and wastewater infrastructure are damaged after climate-related events? Storms and extreme precipitation, flooding, sea-level rise, heat waves and others, can affect the pipes infrastructure causing breaking or clogging; and impact the wastewater treatment (WWT) plants causing overflow and damages in machinery. This damages has high costs of repair and in a disaster scenery, it is low-priority.

The sewage pipes and infrastructure is preference underground. It is made by resistant material and any move to fix it requires a lot of activities. Conventional WWT plants are open tanks equipped with bombs, motors and equipment very susceptible to damage after misuse.

CORÓH System is the unique WWT technology those can reduce the risk of epidemic diseases after climate-induced natural disasters because is the only one those maintain operative after that. We can assume it as a sustainable solution.

Our proposal is taking in consideration the long-term health effects of such disasters by anticipate and prepare for sanitation hazards. We propose action where sanitation will be not a Emergency Plan after event, but a Sanitation Policy.

Sanitation must be a priority in the affected areas creating a real capacity to absorb shocks by protection risk reduction technology: CORÓH System.

That includes several steps:

·         Rapidly restore wastewater service after an emergency.

·         Minimize wastewater system damage.

·         Minimize negative impacts on public health and safety.

·         Minimize adverse effects on the environment.

·         Provide wastewater system information for first responders and other outside agencies.

We propose the evaluation of installation of CORÓH System in coastal cities and island who are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and so vulnerable to such disasters.

The CORÓH SYSTEM is a solution that due to its characteristics as part of a systematic Sanitation project would quickly recover and restore the treatment efficiency after a major impact or event.

A sustainable sanitation is a system which is economically viable, socially acceptable, and technically and institutionally appropriate as well as protects the environment and the natural resources. A sustainable sanitation is a system which is economically viable, socially acceptable, and technically and institutionally appropriate as well as protects the environment and the natural resources. There are some key aspects to consider, which are guidelines of the CORÓH SYSTEM:

Health and hygiene including the risk of exposure to pathogens and hazardous substances in the catchment: The CORÓH SYSTEM is totally underground, reducing the dispersion of pollutants to the surrounding communities. Maintenance requires minimal contact with the wastewater. In case of floods, the system has a reduced income of waters outside the process, and its construction technique works like a boat, keeping its structure intact.

Environment and natural resources including the inputs and the emissions into the system: The CORÓH SYSTEM does not generate sludge and has a greenhouse gas emission percentage of 75% less than the emission baseline. The treated water is compatible to discharge to bodies of natural waters respecting the environment.

• Technology and operation including the construction, operation, monitoring and robustness of the system: The CORÓH SYSTEM is automated, requiring a minimal need for operation, which can occur remotely. It has no mechanical parts in contact with waste water, which increases the useful life of all your equipment. Repairs are feasible to find at any local store.

Financial and economic issues including the capacity to pay for the sanitation and its costs and benefits and possible externalities: Water projects generally have financing facilities from local governments. Maintenance costs are compatible with developing countries, estimated at US $ 1 per person.

Socio-cultural and institutional aspects including acceptance, gender and legal compliance: The use of the SYSTEM CORÓH goes together with a commitment of strong environmental education, generating a sense of belonging of the populations served. Women are an important part of the system, ranging from scientific, managerial and executive positions. It has no illegality.

The COROH SYSTEM consists of a set of intercommunicated tanks and reactors with waste water purification and digestion of organic biomass through liquid transport, gas transport and solid control (LAUCEVICIUS, 2014) . It uses compressed air as a driving force, through density pumps, and as a promoter of biological reactions.

The COROH SYSTEM works within a closed circuit that consists of four independent tanks, intercommunicated and without recirculation. It is classified as a Combined Biological Residual Water Treatment where an Aerobic Element is observed under the Deep Shaft activated sludge process, aerobic fluidized bed reactor, aerobic digestion process, secondary sedimentation reactor; Another Anoxic element with suspended growth process and finally an Anaerobic element, through an anaerobic biological filtration process. You can found more information onwww.sistemacoroh.com

With this configuration, per a study presented at congresses, COROH SYSTEM achieves an efficiency of removal of BOD5 above 95% and manages another term called "Bioeffectivity of Removal of Organic Matter", which consists of evaluating the overall efficiency of the system, including Production of sludge, handling a value of 90% of Bioeffectivity. The higher the bioeffectivity, the lower the production of sludge.

All CORÓH SYSTEM is totally underground and protected from floods. The parts in contact with the wastewater are made of plastic and easily purchased materials in the local markets. The most complex equipment is the air compressor system, which is easily replaceable. When the CORÓH SYSTEM stops working, it maintains treating the wastewater aerobically for up to 3 days and after this period, activates an anaerobic treatment that has an efficiency in the BOD removal of 40%.

That is, in case the air compressor system is damaged by the effects of natural disasters, the system keeps the treatment at a lower efficiency, never leaving the user totally unattended.

Due to its compact and modular design, parts of the treatment eliminate the pumping stations, allowing the sewerage system to be of smaller caliber and therefore easy to replace.


Who will take these actions?

The main actors for this type of proposed solution are the governments of areas at risk of disasters caused by climate change.

Currently we work with the private sector, which acquire CORÓH SYSTEM as a regulatory compliance, but also under the knowledge that it is making an important investment and that this can not be lost due to impacts of natural disasters.

However, our main goal is for municipalities to take responsibility for introducing wastewater treatment to resilience measures.

As will be seen in "where actions will be taken", we are currently implementing the first CORÓH SYSTEM in two municipalities that are impacted by natural disasters in the Panamanian Caribbean region.


Where will these actions be taken?

These action can be taken in any area vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and so vulnerable to such disasters, like Caribbean Region, Indonesian Islands, Coastal Areas.

Currently we have designed and are building and installing CORÓH SYSTEM on two island of the south caribbean region, Colón and Careneros Islands, Province of Bocas del Toro, Panamá Republic. This islands was struck in November 23, 2016 with Hurricane Otto, the last hurricane of the season, and the most southerly that occurred in the last century, a result of the processes generated by the Climate Change.

Although, at this moment, the former WWT of Colón Island, located on the shore of the island, was in the process of deactivation, we witnessed how the force of Hurricane Otto affected its structures. Overflow of tanks and flooding of the contiguous slum was observed. Surely, in situations of total operation, the WWT would be lost and would take long periods of time for its reactivation.

The CORÓH SYSTEM designed for Colón Island, with a population estimated at 25 years of 18 thousand inhabitants, is composed of four decentralized parts, in different parts of the island, that congregate to a single point. This reduces the possibility that all modules will stop working at the same time. Likewise, in case of total break up, the activation by modules reduces the costs and allows that the health condition is not totally unattended.

In addition, the CORÓH SYSTEM does not produce sludge, eliminating potential effects of the accumulation of sludge in waste disposal sites. Accumulated sludge is a source of sanitary problems, especially during natural disasters, as they can be "washed" to the population. This model can be replicated throughout the region that is vulnerable to natural disasters.


What are other key benefits?

  • People - The main beneficiaries are the inhabitants of the regions that are built and install the SYSTEM CORÓH. In addition to ensuring that they will not have post-disaster health impacts, they will receive training and jobs to operate and maintain.
  •  
  • Capacity to generate recycled water for reuse - an interesting benefit is to generate water for reuse that will be able to generate water of quality to facilitate the recovery of the impacted areas, through cleaning of area for example.
  •  
  • Climate Bonds - The CORÓH SYSTEM is the smallest producer of greenhouse gases, and can be used to certify Carbon and Water credits


What are the proposal’s costs?

The cost of construction of a CORÓH SYSTEM depends on the population served and the pollutant load, being proportional to values of conventional systems of waste water treatment.

Our differential is that it is not necessary to invest in a single central system, with prospecting for years, that requires millionaire investments.With the modularity of the system, you can start with investment priorities, to areas compatible with the municipalities budget. The entire system can then be interconnected with the same treatment efficiency.

The maintenance is much more economical too and repair parts are found in hardware.We are looking for ways to license the system to local companies in the area, providing all the technical support and know-how to those who demonstrate the interest and responsibility to act under the guidelines of technology.


Time line

Short term Planning

The CORÓH System is a final successful product in the Panama Republic market in the las 18 years, with more than 200 units sold and installed for the wastewater treatment. However, we did not find the way to make the technology reach other regions of the planet, generating a real global impact. We need to scale, reinforce synergy and reduce overlaps of adventurers who constantly knock on the door.

The CORÓH SYSTEM has a moral commitment to humanity.

For this reason, in the short term, up to 12 months, we are looking for:

·         Contact with people genuinely concerned about the global impacts of climate change and the effects they cause to water.

·         That the CORÓH SYSTEM be submitted to validations and certifications.

·         That the CORÓH SYSTEM  in construction on Isla Colón, Bocas del Toro, Republic of Panama  be knowed and evaluated

Medium Term Planning

We are looking for a pool of investors and governance that will support the implementation of CORÓH Systems to reduce the impacts of natural disasters generated by Climate Change and at the same time manage Carbon Credits benefits, Green Bounds or Water Credits, plus treatment Service fees as ROI for such investments.


Related proposals

There is no proposal like this one.


References