Driving policy change for decentralised wastewater management (DWWM)

Centralised approaches often run counter to people-centered management of wastewater. Large areas are not served by formal facilities and existing systems are often overloaded and poorly maintained, with major effects especially for poor people. A possibly more people-centered alternative may be to adopt a decentralised approach that locates planning and aspects implementation at community level and enhances local ownership of wastewater management. (DWWM). Although DWWM should not be considered to be a panacea, this paper presents a number of decentralised options and considers their implications. To implement decentralised options requires more than local initiative – a supportive crosscutting policy environment is crucial to move initiatives beyond a pilot scale. The paper considers the requirements of an effective enabling policy and what it means in practice It argues for holistic, inclusive and replicable policies that link to the wider context of poverty reduction within a cross-cutting framework of good governance in decentralised political administration.