Small-scale Sanitation: Dutch experiences at home and

abroad

Carel de Villeneuve

Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management

The Netherlands

Contents

• History of pollution control

• Small scale sanitation at home

• Small-scale sanitation abroad: the AKVO initiative

History

Surface Water Pollution Act

• Discharge into surface water without a licence is forbidden

– Precautionary principle: pollution should be minimized, irrespectively of the type of substances concerned

– No-deterioration principle: harmful substances should not increase in the environment

• Every polluter pays for:– Operation sewage treatment plants– Costs of restoration of the water system– Costs of administration

Principles:

Small scale sanitation

Statutory framework

• Municipalities must collect and remove waste water

• If not cost-effective, Provincial Executive may release them from this obligation

Connection to sewer or individual treatment of waste water

type of discharge distance to sewer

rule

households (≤ 10 p.e.)

≤ 40 m municipal sewer

households (p.e)11-25 26-5051-100100-200> 200

 ≤ 100 m≤ 600 m

≤ 1500 m≤ 3000 mno limit

 municipal sewer

households (≤ 10 p.e.)

> 40 m licence for discharge

firm or farm no limit licence for discharge

Individual waste water treatment facility

• Type of treatment system– Discharge on soil or surface water– Classification (depending on sensitiveness of surroundings and

type/scale of settlement)– Septic tank, compact systems (biorotor, submerged bed,

activated sludge system), sand infiltration systems or constructed wetlands

• Certification (construction, supervision of construction, design and functioning)

• Maintenance and supervision