For 2 full days, the Wash de l’Humanitaire workshops bring together experts from the sector to discuss advances and technical challenges in water, hygiene and sanitation (WASH) in humanitarian contexts.
Organised by the Veolia Foundation and the Partenariat français pour l’eau, these workshops are part of a field that is constantly evolving in the face of global crises that are increasing in number and duration, and claiming more and more civilian victims.
Bringing together experts to advance the humanitarian sector
The 3rd Ateliers Wash de l’Humanitaire brought together some sixty participants from a wide range of backgrounds:
- NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Solidarités International, the French Red Cross, etc.
- Private sector players
- UN agencies such as the UNHCR
- Water agencies, etc.
The diversity of the participants made for rich discussions and feedback between professionals involved in implementing sustainable solutions for access to water and sanitation in emergency situations.
The conferences addressed issues at the heart of the current challenges facing the humanitarian sector. Topics covered include wastewater treatment and reuse, waste management, optimising water networks and new technologies such as artificial intelligence applied to humanitarian contexts. Innovative devices such as the Saniforce 500 and the Reutbox are also on show, illustrating the sector’s exceptional advances in technology. Finally, the various players in the humanitarian sector offer feedback on their experiences in fields such as Gaza and Mayotte, sharing their solutions as well as the problems encountered on the ground.
Technical innovations for humanitarian emergencies
- The Saniforce 500: a revolution in sludge treatment and disinfection
The Saniforce 500 was designed by the Veolia Foundation for Humanitarian Emergencies to treat faecal sludge with low energy consumption. The Saniforce 500 is based on a digestion-pasteurisation process that deactivates pathogens by damaging their cells through the effects of temperature.
The process consists of pre-treatment with anaerobic digestion and post-treatment, during which the sludge is heated to 70 degrees for an hour using water heated by solar panels and the biogas recovered from the decomposition of the sludge. The digestate can then be reused as agricultural fertiliser, for example.
The Saniforce 500 is capable of treating 500 litres of sludge a day, with a 99.9% reduction in pathogens. It can be easily deployed and used by local teams.
Tested in Uganda in a refugee camp, the device aroused great interest among the audience. The discussions highlighted the need for training to ensure optimum use and safety, particularly in crisis situations.
2. The Reutbox: towards the reuse of wastewater
The Reutbox is an innovative solution developed to enable wastewater leaving treatment plants to be reused, particularly in humanitarian contexts. Developed by EPUR (a Veolia subsidiary), it is installed in a 10m³ container so that it can be deployed rapidly in the field. The Reutbox enables wastewater to be recycled at different quality levels depending on its intended use: agricultural irrigation, groundwater recharge, stadium irrigation, etc.
The wastewater undergoes a series of filtering and disinfection processes to obtain water that meets quality criteria ranging from A to D, according to current regulations. However, implementing this technology in a humanitarian context raises a number of challenges. The initial quality of wastewater is often highly variable, especially in emergency areas where water treatment infrastructures are often rudimentary or non-existent, and may require specific pre-treatment before being introduced into the Reutbox. The speakers therefore stressed the importance of carrying out preliminary studies on the quality of the water available, the availability of electricity and the need for regular maintenance of the equipment, before deploying a Reutbox in the field.
Despite these challenges, the Reutbox represents a considerable advance in the field of water treatment and recovery in humanitarian situations. Its potential for innovation is immense, particularly in reducing the pressure on water resources in areas where water is already a scarce resource.
High-level technical debates revealing the evolution of the sector
Humanitarian aid is no longer limited to a simple emergency response aimed at bringing drinking water to populations in distress. While this mission remains essential, it is now accompanied by a much broader reflection on the sustainable management of resources, the efficiency of infrastructures and the environmental impact of operations.
Discussions between the various players at the workshops highlighted a vision based more on the long term, integrating sustainable solutions into operations, while taking account of local realities and technological developments. This desire to create robust and sustainable systems, capable of operating even after the NGOs have left, involves a number of approaches:
- Optimising infrastructure: humanitarian organisations are developing water networks that are sustainably integrated into local communities.
- Reducing losses and improving hydraulic efficiency: in refugee camps or disaster areas, the infrastructures put in place must be optimised to minimise wastage and ensure equitable access to water resources.
- Innovation in water and sludge treatment: the development of technologies means that we can do more than simply supply drinking water. The solutions presented above, such as the Saniforce 500 and the Reutbox, demonstrate real investment by the sector in better management of water and sludge to improve local living conditions.
One of the major debates at the Wash Workshops focused on reverse osmosis, a technology that is effective in purifying brackish water but poses logistical and environmental challenges. Widely used in contexts such as Gaza, where water resources are extremely limited, it consumes a lot of energy and produces concentrated brine, the disposal of which can pose environmental problems. It is also complex to maintain, requiring spare parts that are often difficult to find locally.
Another point of discussion concerned the remineralisation of treated water. Reverse osmosis removes almost all minerals, which can cause nutritional problems if the water is consumed over the long term. Some NGOs are testing alternative solutions, such as solar evaporation, but these are still limited in capacity. The experts at the Wash Workshops therefore stressed the need to train humanitarian teams and develop hybrid solutions that are better adapted to the realities on the ground.
New challenges for humanitarian aid: waste management and the integration of artificial intelligence
The humanitarian sector is facing growing challenges such as hazardous waste management and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into field operations.
The question of waste, long put aside, is becoming a critical issue with the increase in technological equipment used in humanitarian operations. Electronic waste, used batteries, oils and plastics are accumulating without any suitable recycling channels, posing a major environmental problem. During the workshops, MSF and the Veolia Foundation presented their efforts to structure local solutions, favoring local dismantling and recovery, to avoid systematic, costly and complex export.
Indeed, local solutions such as dismantlers, recyclers and cement plants capable of destroying used oils are widely available. However, a number of questions remain unanswered, notably concerning the criteria set at the outset, which cannot always be met in the field. Here we see the limits of the criteria when faced with the reality of the field. Likewise, there is still no recycling solution for certain types of waste, such as lithium batteries and LEDs.
At the same time, artificial intelligence is gradually transforming humanitarian infrastructure management methods. Some innovations enable real-time analysis of water networks, anticipating breakdowns and optimizing distribution to limit losses. AI is also used to perform predictive maintenance, detecting malfunctions early enough and mapping water resources to best plan interventions.
But these technologies also raise the question of accessibility and training for potential users. Teams need to be supported to use these tools effectively. The digitization of humanitarian infrastructures offers immense potential, but its success will depend on the sector’s ability to integrate these innovations in an inclusive way that is adapted to realities on the ground.
Strategic and political issues affecting the future of Wash solutions
While technological advances and new humanitarian approaches are helping to improve access to water and sanitation, their implementation is often hampered by complex strategic and political issues. One of the main challenges is financing. While funds are generally available for emergency interventions, it is much more difficult to obtain financing for sustainable, integrated solutions. Many infrastructures set up in humanitarian contexts are under-funded in the long term, which compromises their long-term maintenance and effectiveness once the emergency is over.
Another major issue is that of conflicts over water use. In certain regions where water resources are very limited, NGO interventions come into conflict with other local players such as agriculture. It is therefore very important to assess the geography and available resources upstream to avoid these conflicts of use. During the Wash Workshops, the importance of an inclusive and concerted approach was underlined: humanitarian actors must work with local authorities, companies and communities to avoid these conflicts and guarantee equitable water management.
Finally, the impact of climate change is making these issues even more critical. Increasingly frequent droughts, dwindling water tables and natural disasters are intensifying the pressure on water resources. It is becoming imperative to anticipate these upheavals and integrate adaptation strategies into humanitarian policies. This requires better mapping of water resources, more resilient infrastructures and greater awareness of the need for sustainable water management.
The future of WASH solutions in humanitarian aid therefore depends on the ability of players to mobilize sustainable funding, work in concert with local authorities and adapt their strategies to current environmental and geopolitical challenges.
The Ateliers Wash de l’humanitaire are a key event for the sector. By bringing together experts and practitioners, they help to advance technical solutions and improve humanitarian interventions. The evolution of the debates and innovations presented show just how professionalized the field has become, despite the many challenges that still require debate and innovation.
India Hauteville
India Hauteville holds a first Masters degree in International Politics from Sciences Po Bordeaux and is currently studying for a Masters degree in Integration and Change in the Mediterranean and Middle East at Sciences Po Grenoble. She is currently assistant to the founder of Solidarités International, Mr. Alain Boinet.
Particularly interested in the Syrian conflict, she is currently writing a thesis on the articulation between humanitarian principles and the realities on the ground in Syria, using the NGO Solidarités International as a case study.
I invite you to read these interviews and articles published in the edition :