By Matthias Hitzel
With over 4,000 mm, the Ajara region in the southwest of Georgia has the highest precipitation in the Southeastern Europe and, according to scientific forecasts, the precipitation will further increase. Due to anthropogenic climate change, an increase of intensity and frequency of storm events is already experienced. Furthermore, climate change leads to longer droughts during summer, making small scale farmers increasingly dependent on irrigation schemes. Already during recent years, environmental disasters, mainly landslides, have made entire villages uninhabitable and forced people to leave the area and become “eco-refugees” that depend on state handouts and social security programs. The current water infrastructure has turned out to be unsustainable and increases the risks of further landslides and soil erosion.
On behalf of the Georgian government, as well as local governments and funding from Germany (KfW) and the EU, MACS together with GITEC is designing new climate resilient rural water supply and sanitation systems. The new systems are designed to increase resilience and water security in the face of climate change while minimizing also negative environmental impacts. This is achieved for instance by using more reliable water sources, avoidance of water over-abstraction and safeguarding minimal environmental river flows while also considering the changing water availability and demands. Moreover, erosion control, soil conservation and protection of endangered species through for example forestation activities are an integral part of the project. The introduction of septic tanks is a paradigm shift, as up to now all wastewaters have been either infiltrated into the soil or disposed in rivers where they cause contamination and related hygiene and health risks.
Given the vulnerable local environment, construction companies need to apply adequate technologies and work methods that minimize the environmental impact and risks. This includes that no roads will be constructed, and trenching processes must avoid heavy machinery as this might lead to an increase of the landslide risks. Manual trenching, transport of materials by ropeway shall be considered. It goes without saying that any environmental damage (e.g. tree cutting, etc.) that cannot be avoided has to be compensated.
An operation and maintenance system based on self-sufficiency and cost recovery will be implemented ensuring high service quality, reduction of water losses and collection and adequate treatment of septic tank content while reducing pressure and protecting water sources. A water quality monitoring system measures the capacity of all rivers and springs in rural Ajara to assess the impact of climate change thus enhancing the resilience of rural water supply in the region.
MACS is assisting the Ajara Water Alliance in the implementation of the Ajara Rural Water Supply and Wastewater Program. All steps of the program implementation are based on active participation of the inhabitants of the program regions. This regards, planning, implementation and future sustainable operation and maintenance of the climate resilient water supply and wastewater systems.
From 2001 until 2016, MACS was involved in the creation of a regional water supply utility based on an association of local user groups and representatives of municipalities in the interior of Piauí (Picos Region). The model is based on a concept of self-administration and self-sustainability through the foundation of the Sistema Integrado de Saneamento Rural do Piauí (SISAR/PI). The activities of SISAR comprise the operation, maintenance and administration of the sub-systems that compose the regional water supply system.
In the framework of this contract, a number of activities were carried out, such as the creation and training of user groups as well as the definition of legal structure, financial model and organizational structure. Moreover, the recruiting and training of technical /administrative staff, operators and members of councils was supported, as was the definition of maintenance requirements, work flow and procedures. MACS also assisted the implementation of proper MIS features and the tailored customer administration software. In parallel to the above described measures, public awareness campaigns were started to improve customer orientation and quick appraisals were undertaken to evaluate changes in management of customer behavior.
Based on his career as financial consultant and development banker, Thomas thought consulting and management services in the utility sectors should integrate economists and engineers as well as social scientists in a core team of permanent international staff for sustainable solutions. Thus MACS was born.
His experience in micro- and macro-economic policy analysis as well as detailed sector assessments in the fields of Finance, Water and Energy makes Thomas an expert in developing comprehensive finance strategies for network utilities including building the institutional and policy framework around it.
As one of the Partners and Managing Directors of MACS he is responsible for strategic development and controlling.
