Guidelines and manuals
2022 • World Bank Wastewater Treatment and Reuse: A Guide to Help Small Towns Select Appropriate Options
This guide provides small towns in low- and middle-income countries with a structured process for selecting appropriate wastewater treatment and reuse technologies. It is designed for engineers, managers, and stakeholders involved in urban sanitation. The guide supports decision-making during the planning phase and outlines five steps for identifying viable solutions. It emphasizes sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits. Examples are included to showcase successful applications of the methods outlined in the guide.
Recovered Materials & Products
Biogas
Water
Waste Streams
Wastewater
Confirmed countries
Germany
What is this tool intended for?
This guide helps small towns choose appropriate wastewater treatment technologies based on local conditions, resources, and requirements. It aims to support sustainable, cost-effective, and scalable solutions to wastewater management.
How does this tool work?
The guide works through a five-step approach:
- Problem identification
- Setting objectives
- Developing alternatives
- Selecting the most appropriate option
- Implementation and monitoring
Who might use this tool and with which types of stakeholders?
Engineers, sanitation professionals, municipal managers, urban planners, policymakers in small towns or cities. It also targets other stakeholders involved in wastewater management, urban development, and environmental sustainability.
What stages of a process can this tool support?
The tool can be useful at a planning stage, particularly in the early stages of wastewater treatment system design and selection. It supports decision-making processes around technology choices, resource allocation, and long-term sustainability.
What skills, capabilities, and resources are required to use this tool?
Basic knowledge of sanitation and wastewater treatment principles and ability to assess local infrastructure and environmental conditions are needed. No specialized software or complex resources required, but knowledge of local environmental and economic conditions is essential.
Where can this tool be used?
Small towns and urbanizing areas in low- and middle-income countries globally, where wastewater management is a challenge.
Technologies
Anaerobic digestion
Ultrafiltration
Microfiltration
Constructed wetlands
Anaerobic reactors
Anaerobic baffled reactors
Themes
Design
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Policy and regulation