World Water Day - Exhibition showcases ways to save and re-use wastewater |24 March 2017

Ways to preserve water and reuse wastewater were highlighted in an exhibition held yesterday to mark World Water Day (WWD), an annual event celebrated on March 22 each year.

The exhibition, held at the Roche Caiman community centre, was organised by the Public Utilities Corporation (PUC) under the theme ‘Water and Wastewater’.

The exhibition, featuring images showing the relationship between water and waste water, and also ways to preserve water in Seychelles, was officially opened by the principal secretary for Energy and Climate Change Wills Agricole.

WWD focuses attention on the importance of universal access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in developing countries. The day also focuses on advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

To officially open the exhibition PS Agricole stated that the theme ‘Water and Wastewater’ provides an important opportunity to consolidate and build upon the previous WWD to highlight the symbiosis between water and wastewater in our quest for sustainable development.

“Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 6.3 requires us by 2030 to ‘improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and mini-mising release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe re-use globally,” he said.

He added that in such exhibition, visitors will learn more about how to turn wastewater into a valuable resource.

“Wastewater is a valuable resource in the circular economy and its safe management as an efficient investment in the health of humans and ecosystems,” he said.

Guests and visitors also got the chance to learn more about the soft loan scheme of R15,000 that PUC will be launching soon.

Different key partners also took part in the exhibition such as Sustainability for Seychelles (S4S), Roche Caiman Environment Action Team, Plaisance secondary wildlife club and the Ministry of Environment, Energy & Climate Change.

The water resources manager at PUC, Ginnie Laurencine, stated that WWD is to enhance the knowledge of the society on the chosen theme.

“PUC wanted to organise the exhibition with other partners to sensitise people about the importance of wastewater, that it can be re-used for other purposes,” she said.

The accompanying photographs show guests and visitors viewing the exhibition.