INTERNATIONAL WATERS
EXPERIENCE NOTES

http://www.iwlearn.net/experience








2006-009

Building Community Acceptance for
Constructed Treatment Wetlands



Abstract: The project's development objective is to improve the provision of water supply and sanitation
services in the selected Albanian cities. Albania had no wastewater treatment facilities and raw sewage is
discharged untreated into seas and rivers. Municipal waste water treatment is being put in place by the
introduction of engineering wetlands. This however, poses questions of social acceptance within the
community. The extent of social development participation in this project early on makes for a substantial
and meaningful upstream consultation exercise, which in turn influences project design. Poverty and
social aspects are covered in exemplary fashion, including careful and patient engagement of local
stakeholders in a process that also has design impact. Favorable local media coverage of the
consultation, assessment and communications process contributes to local stakeholder engagement in
the project. Synergy between different units working in the team works well and management draws on
the positive aspects of this project as an input to a larger country dialogue. The experience is significant
for demonstrating that careful project preparation results in having an improved, efficient and sustainable
waste water treatment facility even at the face of social acceptability challenges.


Tracy Hart, thart@worldbank.org
Albania: Integrated Water and Ecosystems Management Project
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Building Community Acceptance for Constructed Treatment Wetlands

Experience of the GEF sponsored

Albania: Integrated Water and Land Ecosystems Management Project
GEF Project ID: 1080, World Bank PMIS: PO75156

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
the provision of water supply and sanitation

services in selected Albanian cities.
The development objective of the project is to
improve the provision of water supply and
ISSUE AND EXPERIENCE
sanitation services in the selected Albanian

cities (Durres, Lezha, and Saranda) by
Albania has no wastewater treatment
introducing a new approach to utility
facilities and raw sewage is discharged
management that builds upon private sector
untreated into seas and rivers. Degradation
participation in the form of a performance and
of the quality of transboundary water
incentive based management contract.
resources caused by land-based activities is

therefore a very serious problem.
The global environmental objective is to improve

the health and habitat conditions of globally
This project benefited from the World Bank's
significant marine and coastal ecosystems along
solid understanding of the country and its reform
the coastline of Albania in an integrated manner.
processes, the Albania National Environmental
The objectives will be achieved through:
Plan, as well the Bank's sector and project work

in water and energy sectors. Project preparation
(i) reduction of sewage pollution loads
also took full advantage of parallel development
through the development and establishment
within the Water and Wastewater Project of
of low cost water treatment technologies
establishing the policy context (e.g.,
Constructed Treatment Wetlands (CTWs)
establishment of wastewater tariffs) and the
producing environmental incremental
implementing entity (project implementation unit
benefits;
(PIU) and new private sector operator already in
(ii) promoting the establishment and improve the
place for one year) which handles the main
management of the Kune Vain protected
component of this project.
marshland; and

(iii) improvement of the dialogue between public
Several clear best practice elements which
institutions and citizens through a public
positively influenced the operation's design and
communication program as well as a program of
performance, of which four are worth noting:
dissemination and replication of project

achievements.
1. The extent of social development

participation in this project early on made for a
The project is funded by a grant from the Global
substantial and meaningful upstream
Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund of
consultation exercise, which in turn influenced
US$4.87 million, with expected contributions
project design. This participation process
from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and
included issues ranging from the feasibility of
project beneficiaries of about US$15.13 million
different wastewater treatment options,
equivalent.
affordability and willingness to pay, to location
and conditions of the proposed constructed
This project will extend and deepen the ongoing
wetlands. The investigations took care to
Government reforms in the environmental sector
disaggregate different social groups. To
as well as contribute to economic growth in
demonstrate responsiveness, one city was
those tourist areas whose continued prosperity
included at the request of stakeholders. The
depends heavily on a healthy coastal
location of the outfalls was also moved and the
environment. The project will build on, and
selection of the CTW sites were validated or
complement, the IDA-financed Municipal Water
amended even though these did not represent
and Wastewater Project which aims to improve
optimality from a technical viewpoint. However,
such adjustment made the project more
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community friendly and convinced key local
project confirmed that one social development
stakeholders that the Albanian government and
specialist took the lead, and others were brought
the World Bank were taking their views into
in as needed to add specific skills and
account.
experience when needed. This GEF project

also benefited from the work on institutional
2. Poverty and social aspects were covered in
reforms launched under a larger water supply
exemplary fashion, and included careful and
World Bank lending project.
patient engagement of local stakeholders in a

process that actually had an impact on project
RESULTS AND LEARNING
design, and is expected to improve the chances

for successful project implementation. The well-
The project allowed for adequate Waste Water
executed project Social Assessment provided a
Infrastructure in an area that lack from it by
clear picture of the knowledge, attitudes and
helping to improve wastewater services in the
practices of the predominantly poor population
cities of Durres, Lezha and Saranda. Municipal
to water and sanitation issues. It demonstrated
waste water treatment was put in place by the
the range of concerns and potential benefits,
introduction of an engineering wetland. This
especially to the poor in polluted environment
however, posed questions of social acceptance
and provided clear and practical
within the community. This matter was
recommendations for project design and
addressed by through the following mitigation
consultation process. Later, the Poverty and
measures:
Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) which helped to

benchmark good practice for this instrument and
a) for perceived increased population of
established baseline poverty data, has helped
mosquitoes: i) Elaboration of a mosquito
the policy dialogue. Both instruments will assist
management plans for the three areas using a
in participatory monitoring of poverty outcomes,
combination of biological and chemical control
and help promote sustainability and equity
measures. (ii)-creation all around the CTW sites
through acceptance of tariff increases and
a buffer zone wide not less than 40 m, with
flexibility in their introduction. The PSIA will be
30/20 m of bare strips and close to the CTW
institutionalized as a periodic M&E process and
fence a tree belts 5/10 m wide with
its design will allow it to have inputs in the policy
autochthonous tree species plantation;
arena. Content developed within the PSIA has

helped to set standards for constructed wetlands
b) for social risks associated to odors emanating
as a new technical intervention for wastewater
from wetlands when water begin to stagnate: (i)
treatment.
Elaboration of an odors plans for the three areas

using a proper water control measures to avoid
3. Favorable local media coverage of the
the putrification process. (ii)-creation all around
consultation, assessment and communications
the CTW sites a buffer zone wide not less than
process has contributed to local stakeholder
40 m;
engagement in the project. The project has

been able to communicate the institutional
c) for construction-related impacts on
poverty focus of this project: that relatively poor
biodiversity, habitats and rare species: a
medium sized municipalities in geographically
comprehensive monitoring program for potential
appropriate situations can adopt a medium-term
dangers to the wetland ecosystem, such as
solution to water treatment that is workable,
bioaccumulation, avian botulism and other avian
affordable and environmentally, socially and
diseases, vector problems, invasion of non-
financially sustainable.
native plants and animals, debris accumulation.


4. Synergy between different units working in
Furthermore, the creation of an engineering
the team has worked well and management has
wetland allowed handling the management of a
drawn on the positive aspects of this project as
waste water utility. These efforts were achieved
an input to a larger country dialogue. With
with the help of both the Ministry and the World
regards to building community acceptance for
Bank as GEF Implementing Agency.
CTWs, the need became apparent to engage

social and communications experts early on. In
To conclude, initial issues with social
response to questions about the number of
acceptability, given that people were not used to
social development specialists involved, the
engineered wetlands and their implications,
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were successfully worked out using stakeholder
S Waste Water Treatment
involvement methodologies.
S Constructed Treatment Wetlands (CTW)

S Engineered Wetlands
REPLICATION
S Poverty and Social Impact Analysis

(PSIA)
(i) Consult with local communities. The
S Social Acceptability
process in this project was excellent; it

provided inputs that improved project design;

(ii) Build project design on solid sector

knowledge and reforms already underway,
The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
both in wastewater as well as environment;
International Waters Experience Notes series
(iii) Focus the project on outcomes and try to
helps the transboundary water management
find indicators that are meaningful as well as
(TWM) community share its practical
amenable to quantifiable monitoring;
experiences to promote better TWM.
(iv) Introduce innovative technical solutions
Experiences include successful practices,
in the project design to keep costs affordable.
approaches, strategies, lessons, methodologies,

etc., that emerge in the context of TWM.
SIGNIFICANCE


To obtain current IW Experience Notes or to
To a large extent, the project became very
contribute your own, please visit
timely and unique in the region. Careful project
http://www.iwlearn.net/experience or email
preparation has resulted in having an improved,
info@iwlearn.net.
efficient and sustainable waste water treatment
facility within the face of social acceptability
challenges. This project has promoted
environmental management at the local level by
setting up transparent and inclusive
mechanisms at the municipality and community
level for decision-making, implementation, and
management of natural resources.

REFERENCES

Andreas Rohde, Senior Sanitary Engineer, The
World Bank
Work: +1.202.473.6672
Work: +1.202.458.7465
Fax: +1.202.473.8249
Email: arohde@worldbank.org

World Bank external website for project:
http://web.worldbank.org/external/projects/main?
pagePK=64283627&piPK=73230&theSitePK=40
941&menuPK=228424&Projectid=P075156

World Bank Project Appraisal Document:
http://www-
wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pageP
K=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=5236
79&men
uPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187511&sit
eName=WDS&entityID=000012009_200403191
51433

KEYWORDS

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