Ecosanitaion in Ukraine: success and prospects Adriian Hrytsyshyn, Vladislav Sych Volunteers of the Western Center of the Ukrainian Branch of the World Laboratory September 9-14,2015 Hel, Poland

Our main goal is: -to protect the water of the river, near which we live, against pollution and to preserve its cleanness over its length -to show other European countries that we are the nation that cares about health of its people and future generations.

The water of the Zakhidnyi Buh river is used not only by Ukraine but also by Poland and Belarus. Its water is the main source of drinking water for Warsaw. Polluted waters of the Zakhidnyi Buh together with Vistula river pollution are the source of environmental problems of the Baltic Sea. Therefore our task is to ensure the required quality of water running from Ukraine. In the basin of the Zakhidnyi Buh live about 1,3 million people.

Zakhidnyi Buh basin

According to the data of the Zakhidnyi Buh basin management department the river water pollution is caused by: Waste waters from industrial enterprises - 60% of the total pollution of surface waters In the Zakhidnyi Buh river basin 21 treatment plants are in unsatisfactory state. These installations do not treat water even to our standards, which values are five-fold higher than that of the European ones. 18% of pollution is caused by agriculture 20-22% of sewage waters come from unauthorized landfills, septic tanks, dump wells of private homes and communal organizations

Problem formulation: In our villages canalization systems and treatment plants have never been constructed and at present are not soon expected We also understand that we can not influence the conscientious treatment of industrial and household sewage waters But we can prevent the river water pollution caused by private homes and communal organizations in rural areas!! One of the ways of pollution prevention is introduction of ecosanitation

Principles of ecosanitation – separation of urine and faeces, that are later used as organic nutrients For this purpose the so called “ dry toilets” i.e. toilets which do not use water for flashing, are introduced in the world. Thus, biological pollution of environment, surface, ground and river waters decreases.

What is our goals? To decrease water pollution in the Zakhidnyi Buh basin by: awareness raising of people of their role in this process; ability of people to solve by themselves their ecological and social problems; ensuring sustainable development of village communities

What are our tasks to reach these goals? To define the local problems and inform local authority and public about them; To initiate public environmental assessment of the ecological problems on the territory of communities; To inform people on ecosanitation principles Lobbying the decisions that promote introduction of the ecosanitation technologies, which decrease the amount of sewage waters and waste from household and communal organizations.

Our actions Different types of educational activity with population – talks, interviews, environmental propaganda teams, meeting with teachers and school art master competitions;

Our actions Information campaigns in schools, press releases in mass media. publishing, distribution of leaflets and other printed materials

Our actions Seminars and trainings on ecosanitation as means of preservation of river water cleanness

Our actions Informing and consulting local leaders on development of dry toilet projects in schools

Our actions Beginning of ecotoilet construction in Zabuzhzha school

Our success The present view of the school toilet in Zabuzhzha village

Our success Planning and construction of ecotoilet in Uhnev school

Our success The present view of the ecotoilet in Uhnev school

Success achieved in introduction of ecosanitaion in Zakhidnyi Buh river basin promoted the dissemination of this technology also in private homes

THANK YOU!