Determination of enabling factors and barriers for incorporating greywater management in Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) planning in Sri Lanka | |
| Author | Kumara, Attanayake Mudiyanselage Indrajith Udaya |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-24-02 |
| Subject(s) | Graywater (Domestic wastewater)--Sri Lanka--Management Sanitary engineering--Sri Lanka |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | With growing challenges of water scarcity and rapid urbanization, the management of greywater has become now a critical component of modern sanitation planning. Factors such as water sources, lifestyles, domestic activities, and climate conditions significantly influence the composition and volume of greywater generated. Unfortunately, greywater management is often neglected in low- and middle-income (LMI) regions, posing risks to sanitation efforts, particularly in non-sewered areas. Prior studies have highlighted the requirement of identifying various factors that affect the effectiveness of greywater management initiatives. To address this gap, two cities in Sri Lanka, Gampaha and Hambantota, were selected for the study considering to their diverse sanitation practices, representing much of South Asia's LMI regions. When sanitation planning adopts Comprehensive Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS) principles with a holistic perspective, the significance of greywater management becomes evident. The primary objective of this study is to assess the status of greywater management in Sri Lankan cities and identify barriers and driving factors for integrating it into sanitation planning. Employing a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach, the study drew insights from literature reviews, key informant interviews, field observations, and household surveys conducted among 100 households in each city using simple random sampling. Findings revealed that residents' awareness plays a prime role in greywater initiatives, yet there is limited willingness to financially support greywater projects. Education and income levels demonstrated a positive correlation with the adoption of greywater treatment technologies in Hambantota municipality. However, while there is a general willingness to adopt new technologies or enhance existing systems, the willingness to financially invest in greywater systems remains low in both municipalities. Overall, residents expressed satisfaction with their existing greywater management systems, generating negative correlation between satisfaction levels and willingness to embrace new technologies. However, Recommendations from the study further emphasize the importance of raising awareness about greywater, strengthening existing regulations, increasing institutional responsibility, and implementing localized solutions for effective greywater management. |
| Year | 2024 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Thammarat Koottatep |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ekbordin Winijkul;Cruz, Simon Guerrero |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Alumni;AIT Scholarships |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2024 |