Introduction of JICA/WMA IST Project
Outline of the Project
Project title Project for Improvement of Sewage Treatment Plant Management in Thailand (IST)
Period of Cooperation: May 26, 2004 – November 25, 2007
Cooperating Organization : Japan International Cooperation (JICA)
Partner Implementing Organization: Wastewater Management Authority (WMA)
Supporting Organization in Japan : Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport ( MLIT),
Japan Sewage Work Agency (JS)
Related Cooperation The Training Center for Sewage Works (TCSW) Project
( August 1995 – July 2000)
1. Background of the Project
There are many sewerage facilities in operation in Thailand , which were not utilized in an effective manner. According to the “Rehabilitation and Improvement Plan for Municipal Wastewater Collection and Wastewater Treatment System for Overall Thailand” by PCD, MONDRE, main reasons for ineffective performance and inadequate operation and maintenance of the municipal wastewater treatment systems can be summarized below;
1. Lack of staffs that have skills or experiences in operation and maintenance.
2. Lack of clear understanding in enforcement in wastewater collection fee for local authority according to the polluter pay principle.
3. Lack of public relation to give knowledge and facts to community and people.
Participation among government sector, private sector and people should be promoted.
4. Lack of budgetary to be used as expenses in wastewater treatment system operation.
The former Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and Public Works Department actively promoted the development of sewage treatment facilities in all over Thailand in the1990s in order to respond to the problems of water pollution. Since Thailand faced shortages in technical personnel who could operate and maintain those newly built facilities appropriately, the Training Center for Sewage Works (TCSW) Project was implemented from August 1995 to July 2000 in order to meet the urgent demands to foster technical personnel. Through the TCSW project, about 1,000 technical officers underwent training sessions. However, it became clear that inappropriate designing and insufficient operation and maintenance of sewage treatment plants (STPs) were root causes of malfunction of many STPs.
Under these circumstances, the Project for Improvement of Sewage Treatment Plant Management in Thailand was formulated to solve the above-mentioned problems and to restore STPs' primary function and started in May 2004. The project clearly states, although it will be ideal to solve all these problems concurrently, problems related to the collection system and financial matters and administrative are impossible to solve in rather short period of five to ten years. Thus the Project focused on solving the technical side of the problems.
The Project has been implemented in accordance with the Record of Discussion (R/D) signed on May 25, 2004 , between JICA and the Wastewater Management Authority (WMA). Due to the necessity for modification of the project design matrix (PDM), the project strategy was reviewed after the signing of the R/D. The amendment to the R/D was finally signed on March 8, 2005 . The Project was then fully able to undertake its activities. One year later, in the Mid-term Evaluation, revision of the original PDM was approved in the Joint Coordinating Committee Meeting on
March 8, 2006 .
2. Project Overview
The Project aims to rehabilitate a few malfunctioning STPs, improve the method of operation and maintenance of those STPs, and then disseminate knowledge and experience obtained through those activities in order to improve efficiency of many existing STPs.
As the result, Capacity and Institutional Development of WMA will be expected to be realized.
(1) Super Goal
The water quality of public water bodies is improved.
(2) Overall Goal
Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) are operated efficiently and effectively in Thailand .
(3) Project Purpose
Efficient and effective operation method of STPs is established.
(4) Outputs
Output 1: Function of focused STPs is recovered.
Output 2: Reference materials for improvement of sewage treatment plant management are developed
Output 3: Skilled personnel are assigned to operate and maintain the focused STPs appropriately.
Output 4: Information system is established to disseminate reference materials and to collect O&M data.
(5) Inputs (as of September 2006)
Japanese side
• Long term experts 6 persons
• Short term experts 5 persons
• Trainees received in Japan 5 persons
• Equipment supply
• Local cost expense
Thai side
• Counterparts 21 persons
• Facilities supply
• Local cost expense