INTEC and the Yaque del Norte Water Fund present project results and manual on constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment
SANTIAGO. – In the Dominican Republic, there are approximately one million homes with septic tanks, which represent the largest source of diffuse pollution due to the limited coverage of sanitary sewer systems across much of the country. This situation creates environmental and public health challenges, especially in rural and peri-urban communities where traditional treatment systems are costly or impractical.
Given this context, the Yaque del Norte Water Fund (FAYN) and the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), with the support of public and private entities, presented the results of the project “Training communities in the sustainable management of domestic wastewater treatment systems based on constructed wetlands”as well as the educational manual “Constructed wetlands as a nature-based solution for wastewater treatment: questions and answers”.
The activity, held in the conference room of the Association for Development, Inc. (APEDI), It began with the words of Alberto Lizardo, FAYN Project Manager, who highlighted the importance of strengthening community capacities for the effective operation of sustainable sanitation systems.
Next, María Paula MiquelThe administrative director of the Propagas Foundation congratulated everyone involved in the project, especially the authors of the manual, Ulises Jáuregui and Enmanuel Vargas. “This educational material is extremely valuable, as wetlands have been a great success in both Santiago and Santo Domingo for wastewater treatment,” she said, while also highlighting that “Propagas promotes environmental education projects to foster a responsible civic culture regarding water issues,” in particular.
Daryelin TorresThe director of the Environmental Education department of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, valued the content of the manual, considering it a reference for generating a culture of water treatment in the population.
Results of the project
The person in charge of presenting the main findings of the project was Enmanuel Vargas, from Plan Yaque, co-author of the manual, who explained the progress achieved in the participating communities in terms of maintenance, monitoring and sustainable management of wastewater treatment systems.
Vargas explained that the project analyzed the motivations, barriers, and key findings related to wetland maintenance in the communities of Cristo Rey and San José, in Jarabacoa. Through surveys of community committee members, various factors influencing participation and the success of conservation efforts were identified. These elements will serve as the basis for developing effective strategies that address the community's needs and challenges.
Presentation of the educational manual
Subsequently, María Picón, from Di-Editores, presented the book “Constructed wetlands as a nature-based solution for wastewater treatment: questions and answers”, a work aimed at providing accurate and accessible information on the operation, benefits and applications of this technology.
Picón pointed out that the document is easy to read, as it consists of 21 questions and answers about wetlands that would allow any community to implement a wetland with the appropriate support.
Ulises Jáuregui, researcher at INTEC and co-author of the book, also shared reflections on the development process and the importance of having educational materials that bring scientific knowledge closer to communities and decision-makers.
The activity also included the assessments of Walkiria Estevez, executive director of FAYN, who highlighted the value of the new book as a practical tool to strengthen nature-based sanitation initiatives across the country.
“As part of our firm commitment to water, education, and sustainability, we are delivering this valuable educational resource. This pedagogical tool arises from a collective process aimed at strengthening sanitation, promoting environmental education, and advancing towards more conscious, inclusive, and sustainable water management in our country.”
The guide was developed within the framework of the environmental education project “Training of communities in sustainable management of domestic wastewater treatment systems based on constructed wetlands”, executed by INTEC as the winner of the Seventh Call for Environmental Education Projects financed by the Yaque del Norte Water Fund, with co-financing from the Propagas Foundation and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.
The educational material is one of the products of the project, which also had the support of Plan Yaque, Fundación Popular, Corporación del Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Santiago (Corasaan), Corporación Zona Franca Santiago and Grupo Universal, among other FAYN contributors.
The event concluded with a question and answer session moderated by Ulises Jáureguiwhich allowed us to delve deeper into the lessons learned and the next steps to expand the scope of the project.