Update:September 9, 2016

FY2015 Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA) Project Report

ICETT conducted a Ministry of the Environment-commissioned Water Environment Partnership in Asia (WEPA) project as the Secretariat for WEPA.

In fiscal year 2015, the following activities were implemented under the WEPA project: "Action Programs" regarding the solution of water quality problems in the environment, activities to support the Programs, and annual meeting and workshop on industrial wastewater management.　

• Support for Implementation and Formulation of Action Programs

Based on the Action Program on wastewater management in the large-scale and intensive pig farming industry, which had been proposed by Vietnam, inventory surveys on pig farming wastewater were conducted in four Vietnamese provinces, including Nghệ An. The results of the surveys were reported at a stakeholder meeting in Hanoi and the current situation and challenges of animal husbandry wastewater management and treatment in Vietnam were shared among related parties.                                                                                                           

     Stakeholder meeting on Jan. 18, 2016

Other activities were based on the fundamental ideas in the Action Program concerning groundwater problems, which had been submitted by Sri Lanka. They included the implementation of early-stage surveys on the current situation of groundwater in the neighborhood of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Support activities for Sri Lanka continued during the process, from developing the fundamental ideas to formulating the draft of the Action Program.

 

• Annual meeting and workshop

On January 26, 2016, the 11th WEPA Annual Meeting was held in Vientiane, Laos. The 46 participants represented twelve of the WEPA partner countries except for Indonesia. Reports on WEPA activities and explanations on plans for the following fiscal year were provided, while information was exchanged on livestock wastewater management in WEPA partner countries in accordance with the Action Program already underway in Vietnam.

A workshop on industrial wastewater took place on January 25, the day before the annual meeting. It was attended by 44 participants, also from the twelve countries. To effectively promote company compliance with relevant laws, the participants, divided into groups, discussed ideas to strengthen local administrative operating authority and support for local governments and to enhance incentives for companies. How central governments can improve industrial wastewater management was also discussed.

   

　　　　　　Annual Meeting on Jan. 26, 2016　　　　　　　　　Workshop on Jan.25, 2016

 

•  Other activities

Information was collected on policies and other related matters in WEPA partner countries. The “WEPA database” on the WEPA website [http://wepa-db.net/jp/index.htm] was maintained and updated.
Inquiry surveys were conducted to improve networking with other related organizations. WEPA News was distributed.

 

 

                                                                                                             Ministry of the Environment booth in the Japan Pavilion
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　at the 7th World Water Forum (Apr. 12 to 17, 2015)

In April 2015, the 7th World Water Forum was held in Daegu and Gueongbuk, South Korea. WEPA took part in a session on “Strengthening Frameworks for Governing and Managing Water Quality” and also exhibited its posters and distributed WEPA pamphlets, reports, and other publications, to promote WEPA activities in the booth of the Ministry of the Environment in the Japan Pavilion.
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

WEPA continues to conduct activities to improve the water quality in the environment by sharing experience and knowledge concerning this subject with WEPA partner countries and enhancing relevant capacities.