On behalf of GIZ in Brazil AKUT is commissioned to develop a new framework for improved energy efficiency in urban water supply systems.
Water resources management in Brazils is one of the sectors with a energy demand in relation to other public services. The water supply system is characterized by low efficiency. Supply systems are mostly outdated and in ailing condition.
The project is structured into four fields of activities: (1) support of the Brazilian Ministry of Cities (MCid) in developing new funding instruments with the goal of energy efficiency; (2) organization of interinstitutional and intersectoral dialogues; (3) Elaboration and application of technical and economical energy efficiency instruments and measures and (4) Extension and qualitative improvement of consultancy services for the water management sector concerning energy efficiency.
The project timeline is scheduled from beginning of 2016 until the end of 2018. AKUT has organized a close collaboration with the swiss engineers “Skat Consulting AG” (specialized on energy efficiency measures) and the Portuguese Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC, Laboratório Nacional de Engenharia Civil) whose experience in the national initiative for loss control (iPerdas, Iniciativa Nacional para o Controle Eficiente de Perdas) will be essential for the success of this project.
AKUT has been awarded with a contract by GIZ (German Technical Cooperation) to continue its institutional strengthening project for ENACAL in Nicaragua.
A higher efficiency in water supply and sanitation is the principal objective of this technical cooperation. The measures are part of the institutional strengthening of the national water supply and sanitation (WSS) company “Empresa Nicaragüense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados – ENACAL“. In addition to the ongoing assistance at the offices Boacco and Chontales this stage of the project will also include the offices in the departments St. Tomás, Camoapa and Acoyapa.
The project comprises the following components:
The improvement of service quality (duration of supply and customer services), a reduction of receivable accounts and enhanced processes for result and effect oriented planning services, monitoring and evaluation. This shall be achieved through the introduction of the GIS based system SIGIL.
The reduction of physical water losses and energy costs as well as increased revenues through extension and maintenance of a customers register are measures to limit the operational costs of ENACAL.
A modern surface waters monitoring system will be established for the supervion of receiving water bodies.
The operational management of 14 wastewater treatment plants of ENACAL will be improved in order to comply with legal requirements regarding outflow water quality of wastewater plants.
Timeframe of the project is 3 years.
Within the framework of the project „Power Generation from Biogas for Improved Agro-processing Efficiency“ AKUT has been assigned by the GIZ with the planning and installation of demonstration biogas pilot systems in various parts of the country and for substrates (residual organic waste material) from various agricultural value chains.
AKUT fixed dome plants have shown good performances in Kenya and can therefore serve as a basis for standard replicable plants that shall be developed: With adapted design and stirred reactors for different substrates and usage.
At the same time construction companies, project developers and engineers will be trained by AKUT at those pilot systems.
Timeframe of the project will be approximately one year.
In the framework of development cooperation of Switzerland and Peru the Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have defined the endorsement and promotion of urban infrastructure and the institutional strengthening of public service providers as strategic objectives.
Therefore the water supply and sanitation company EPS Grau in Piura has been selected to introduce an integrated project for the improvement of water supply, wastewater treatment and water resources management.
AKUT has been assigned to work in the institutional strengthening of EPS Grau in a cooperation with its Swiss partner Seecon GmbH.
Timeframe of the project is 3 years.
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On the picture: after solemny signing the cooperation contract
From the left to the right: Thilo Burkard, representative of AKUT; Hans Ruedi Bortis, Swiss embassador; Martin Perter, head of Swiss State Secretariat of Economic Affairs in Peru
The program for modernization and strengthening of Water Management – PROAGUA II – supports the implementation of an ambitious reorganization process in the Peruvian water supply and sanitation (WSS) sector.
The “Modernization of Water Management Act” (Ley de Modernización de los Servicios de Saneamiento Nº 30045) and the establishment of a new sectoral organization OTASS (Organismo Técnico de Administración de los Servicios de Saneamiento) make up the basis of the process.
WSS companies which do not comply with certain performance requirements, will be put under a transitional administrative body (Régimen de Apoyo Transitorio, RAT) in order to improve the service situation.
AKUT and its partner COMO Consult GmbH have been contracted to work in three compontents of PROAGUA II:
- Implementation of the “Modernization of Water Management Act”
- Improvement of performances of WSS through the transitional administrative body (RAT)
- Improvement of wastewater treatment management in WSS companies
Timeframe of the project will be 4 years.
As part of the World Bank project “Faecal Sludge Management: Diagnostic Tools and Guidelines for Service Delivery in Poor Urban Areas” AKUT was commissioned in May 2014 with the implementation of surveys related to faecal sludge management in Lima, Peru. These surveys are part of a worldwide investigation that takes place in five cities on four continents.
This involves conducting a household survey (720 households) and focus group discussions, collecting and analysing faecal sludge samples and undertaking and documenting transect walks and field observations.
The project runs until September 2014.
Since October 2013 AKUT is active on behalf of GIZ in Brazil within the German Climate Technology Initiative (DKTI). The project takes place until September 2015 and promotes the energetic use of biogas in the wastewater sector.
The project supports the Brazilian energy planning authority EPE (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética) in the analysis of the biogas potential in Brazil, as well as in the identification of successful biogas business models for and barriers to the economic utilisation of anaerobe technologies, so that this information can be used for key stakeholders in the biogas sector. Throughout of the project four pilot and demonstration projects will be initiated.
Information on energy demand and gas potential of the systems is required in order to improve energy efficiency and the energetic use of biogas in sewage treatment plants. To determine the biogas potential and to develop proposals for future wastewater treatment projects a measurement campaign at ten selected wastewater treatment plants will be carried out.
AKUT has elaborated in the working group ZUSIE together with the engineering firm Prof. Dr. Sieker mbH, Hoppegarden and the Water Department of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock an expert report on regional development scenarios about urban water management considering the conditions of demographic change in the state of Brandenburg.
Safe drinking water supply and sanitation are very important aspects of the general public services. With this study the administration, the municipalities and the public should be made aware of the possible consequences of demographic change. The consequences for the expenses, the financing and the organization of water supply and sanitation are to be developed as part of a process model.
The summary of this study from November 2013 is published on the website www.Leitbildsiedlungswasserbb.de.