For all of you who love Bonaire's reefs, you should know that they are in great peril because of all the pollution, mostly wastewater and human feces, being spilled and leached into the sea.

The Friends of Bonaire's Reefs have initiated a SOS Campaign To Save Bonaire's Reefs, which will lobby Dutch and Antillean government officials to take immediate action to stop the sewage before it is too late.

To join the campaign, check out the advertisement in this week's Reporter at
www.reporter.com. For further information or to contact us, use SOSBonaireReef@gmail.com
Thanks for your support

Dear All,

Doing a campaign to do “something”, like transporting the problem with trucks out of sight to the middle of the island and sinking it there… finally with a delay to the corrals, is not clear enough and not helpful and only costly. But maybe good for the souls as “something” been done.

The following is to have quick desired results and have a long-term solution the same time, it is not an emergency type of intervention (not quick and dirty).

May you take the focus from the typical „end of the pipe“ to the starting point of pollution. This is the first step in the right direction. Do not get frighten by big-head talkers, who always know things much better as you ;-). Get your own information about better sanitation approaches:

- UNESCO-IHE’s free online course material
http://www.lms.ihe.nl/index.asp
Login (ID): ecosandemo Password (PWD): 1234
- ECOSANRES discussion group at Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ecosanres/
- http://www.ecosanres.org/pdf_files/SanitationNOW2008.pdf
- Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) http://www.susana.org/

Second step: Stop increasing through flushing with water of an originally small volume problem of urine and faeces. In other words, do not add water to urine and faeces. Separate/collect urine and faeces and greywater (greywater comes from showers and wash machines not from kitchen and toilet),

Third Step: Treat urine and faeces separate in a simple way via dehydration. Example: see* . Much easier on Bonaire, as you have a dry-hot climate. Take the small volume of pre-treated and dry parts to a composting side. (You will need much smaller amounts of trucks to do so, in comparison to sewage loads.) Compost it in a professional manner together with kitchen and garden leftovers. In tropical climate the composting process is very fast. Use final compost for soil improvement in inland only not at beach properties.

Forth Step: Treat greywater simple via small constructed wetlands and reuse treated water for garden irrigation.

5. Step: Of course this needs money to change your existing inappropriate flushing systems. Demand it from the earmarked EU-funds. Demand EU-funds for a professional sanitation-planning. Take the island sanitation planning in your own hands by doing a REAL community planning. Have good planners, SuSanA and ECOSANRES can help you to do so in professional manners.



If you need further assistance do not hesitate to contact me.

All the Best

Detlef SCHWAGER

* Example of Dehydration of faeces and urine in one go:
A South Africa made "Tumble-dryer-toilet" for normal use by family with 8-10 people:
You may see Video from supplier of waterless toilet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPummZRR2Cg
and http://www.ecosan.co.za/

and in Trinidad and Tobago: http://www.uress.com

Thank you, Detlef, for all your excellent suggestions. May I suggest that everyone who cares about this and has a second home on Bonaire replace their flush toilet(s) with composting ones as soon as possible? Perhaps contact each other to arrange a cooperative shipping strategy, maybe even get a discount from the manufacturer for a group purchase? That's something that individuals can do on their own that would have an immediate positive effect. Waiting for the resorts and businesses to comply - voluntarily - is going to take too long.

Oh, and the composting toilet idea need not be limited only to those with second homes - they should be in all primary residences on island too of course :>)

Captain Don said "No idle chitchat or further complaining. Now is the time for serious
solutions." Right?!

Please do not go straight for Composting Toilets, as they need a bit dedication (have to have always right moisture level and right temperatures range). For mass introduction this would be a bit tricky!

I am not a salesman of dehydration toilets, but as suggested start with more simple dehydration toilets as your climate is perfect for. Take the small amount dried faeces (after 1/2 year) together with garden and kitchen leftovers to your own compost or to a central composting place.

Do not forget to treat the greywater (have low content on nutrients!!! so good for your garden)

All this applies to all types of private and mass accommodations and public places.

Anyway get your own know-how to save running costs and do better in your own place first. See my previous postings where you can find know-how, free of charge.

Pointing fingers to others is not helpful.

Do not hesitate to contact me if you need further assistants.

Regards,
Detlef SCHWAGER



PS:
I changed my own private home, see simplified greywater treatment and reuse example (hardware costs €2,200); text+photos) at: http://tech.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/ecosanres/photos/browse/222d
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ecosanres/files/Simplified%20greywater%20treatment/

Detlef, Sorry if my posting seemed to be idle chitchat or complaining, or to point fingers - that was not my intention at all, I just wanted to support your excellent idea about composting toilets . It seems like a good way for people who own homes and therefore can control what systems are located within to take action on their own.

Don't worry be happy )

Again, I did not suggested any Composting Toilets!!!!!!!

Only more simple Dehydration Toilets, e.g. South African made "Tumble-dryer-Toilet". All this applies to all types of private and mass accommodations and public places.

You will be for sure surprises how tiny is a "sausage" of dried faeces.

After drying and collecting approx. 1/2 year take it to your own or central Composting.

Detlef

My mistake in not getting the difference between drying and composting toilets, sorry for the confusion. I have to learn about them, I'm not familiar with them, thanks for the clue!

Hey. we were talking about bad bay front dwellers. What became of that thread.? Stay with it guys. The leaching of waste water into the sea, Raw. remember.

Detlef is in another world at the moment. Today. Fecal effluent into the reefs Remember?

We got to stop it. Get the Hotels to remedy their bad habits.

This is all about sh-t remember??

don/

Hey. we were talking about bad bay front dwellers. What became of that thread.? Stay with it guys. The leaching of waste water into the sea, Raw. remember.

Detlef is in another world at the moment. Today. Fecal effluent into the reefs Remember?

We got to stop it. Get the Hotels to remedy their bad habits.

This is all about sh-t remember??

don/

Sorry dear Captain Don, it is not only about front dwellers environmental behaviour. I regret nothing changed since years on leaching of RAW waste water into the sea.

As an outsider, I am very concerned about Bonaire’s general pyromaniac way of life. I regret, your local community is not taking charge about the control over their own future. To their own destruction they probably leave it only to local politicians, I guess.

Maybe if nothing will be done by local community , we all have only a "good" negative example how pyromaniac real-live and ongoing EU politics in the Caribbean are, for the bitter consequences of our children…

Regards,
Detlef

Captain Don, It is not just the hotels and resorts oozing sewage into the sea; it is also other waterfront properties, like restaurants, condos, etc. We need to stop it all!

We should be advocating for the government to allocate money immediately to build the tertiary sewage processing plant this year and truck everything away from the shoreline as well as all the other septic tanks so it is not all being dumped at LVV in toxic trenches which slowly percolate down into the sea. We can't wait to dig up the island to install pipes, which will take years. We need the sewage treatment plant now.

Please lobby Queen Beatrix, the Dutch minister in charge of transition, Commissioner Nicolaas, and Lt. Governor Domacasse to ACT NOW!

Pauline,
Again, may you take the focus from the typical „end of the pipe“ to the starting point of pollution. This is the first step in the right direction.

I regret, as fare I know technocrats in the level of decision makers you mentioned (who most of them not live on Bonaire but excepting the Queen Beatrix will not go for a suggested temp treatment plant, as the "White Elephant" project starts next year.

The whole Bonaire water-sanitation system needs a open minded rethinking driven by the beneficiaries not by planners and technocrats living fare away.

Anyway may you provide FAX no., E-mail, and postal address of the Dutch minister in charge of transition, Commissioner Nicolaas, and Lt. Governor Domacasse to lobby for change.

Best Regards,
Detlef

Dear All,

I regret, in my professional opinion the temp solutions promoted by "Stop Our Sewage Campaign To Save Bonaire’s Reefs!" and Ramon de Leon, Manager of Bonaire National Marine Park are not addressing the sources (starting point) of Bonaire's environmental problems and supporting existing narrow minded "end of pipe" sanitation approach.

Unfortunately through that they even supporting indirect the ongoing pyromaniac live style and way of making money.

For your better understanding of original simpler/cheaper ways to do water supply and sanitation see UNESCO-IHE on-line material and example about environmental friendly desalination on Greek island (size similar to Bonaire)

For your understanding, it is NOT about my big head or I know all things better. I regret, as I worked within the "System", any temp solutions as suggested the Technocrats will not consider at all. Furthermore they are not interested in saving the Corrals!!! It is all about hidden agendas they run, believe it or not.

More important: As long the civil society on Bonaire is indifferent to the whole inappropriate water-sanitation and energy systems, they will earn by them self the consequences about their own way of living/earnings sooner or later.

The costly fairytale about the future centralised sewage plant will not change very much on this.

Nevertheless, I hope Pauline's and others efforts have some positive results, at least in the minds of many inhabitants.

ALL the Best
Detlef

Detlef, I find your approach to the problem very constructive.
Souls like you can hopefully help Bonaire to find the solutions it needs.
From a personal perspective I hope you will continue to interfere in the discussion.

Rest assured that I am listening very careful to what you say. Learning from your statements.
I just know the same goes for others..

Dear "Windsurfer" and dear "others",

Sorry what is the meaning of quietly listening by you and "others"? Maybe my comparison is not very appropriate but pointing in the right direction I guess:

If you and "others" see a child who is clearly going to harm it self, would you quietly listening as well to only?

I do not ask anybody to do it like me, to burn a well paid professional career for Bonaire...

Nevertheless, get out of the cosy trenches if you love to continue to go to or live on Bonaire in future to.

All the Best

Detlef
Advanced PADI, bud never dived around Bonaire :-(

See 9 pages report to State Secretary for the Antilles,MS Ank Bijleveld-Schouten
and Lt. Governor of Bonaire, Mr. Hubert Domacasse attached:


Detlef Schwager
Master of Science in Tropical Water Resources Management (M.Sc. WRM)

Karl Liebknecht Str. 13 Tel: 0049 34774 70672
D-06317 Roeblingen am See dschwager@web.de
F.R. of Germany www.detlefschwager.de


18 August 2008 by E-mail and mail
State Secretary for the Antilles,
MS Ank Bijleveld-Schouten
and
Lt. Governor of Bonaire,
Mr. Hubert Domacasse
The Netherlands and NEA


Subject: Bonaire's MEURO20 sanitation project financed by EDF might be a possible international flagship on integrated Sustainable Sanitation, if broad-minded improved


Dear MS Ank Bijleveld-Schouten and dear Mr. Hubert Domacasse;

For the benefit of Bonaire and their inhabitants and their mayor source of income, the marine live, may you both be so kind and have a look in this rather lengthy engineering report, I am herewith submitting to you both.

As a former temp EC-official I was direct responsible for and tried to work professional and honestly 2002-3 on the EDF funded Sewage Project for Bonaire.
I regret, by 2002-3 it was in my professional opinion an ill planned "White Elephant" project, not even meeting the EC-given narrow-minded old-fashioned ToR ("end-of-pipe" approach, minimum: financial sustainable). As you probable know the whole artificial water system on Bonaire is based on expensive desalination of seawater through FOSSIL energy, approx. 2,000 to 2,500 m3/d (800,000 to 900,000 m3/annum) of drinking water are produced. I regret it is mainly used to flush toilets (as DC-Feasibility study says the grand total wastewater volume is approx. 1,400 m3/d). Possible broad-minded competitive cost alternatives, together with their economical/environmental final consequences for the island or region, have not been investigated at all by the German planner Dorsch Consult (DC). I regret; a pyromaniac live style was still promoted.

Despite the financial and technical sustainability was highly questionable and despite confirmed professional reservation against (which I discussed since January 2003 via chain of command as well with HQ in Brussels and Government of NEA), my former Head of Delegation intimidated me during 6 months to agree to external made DC-studies. After chain of command was blocked, in September 2003 I was finally forced to make an official complain to the EU-Ombudsman and OLAF about possible mismanagement and corruption.
See: http://www.euro-ombudsman.eu.int/decision/en/031875.htm

Until recently I did not hear much about the impact to sanitation project, which was earmarked for practical implementation in 2004.
The director of leading environmental protection NGO STINAPA informed me that the impact of made reviews and finally report/complain to EU-Ombudsman and OLAF was initially major:

- 2004 to 2005: UNESCO-IHE, Delft (by Prof. Huub J Gijzen, PhD and Peter van der Steen, PhD) made an independent review on request of NGO STINAPA, funded by WWF.
- Only this forced finally the NEA-government to ask for an independent nutrient study, which been done 2006 by ALTERA (critical review by van Kekem, Roest, van der Salm), an organization connected to University of Wageningen in the NL. The ALTERA recommendation for nutrients became then the official norm accepted by the NEA-government and they dictated that the planned centralised sewage treatment system for Bonaire should include tertiary treatment, if effluent is to be taken back to the coastline for irrigation.
- Consequently EU put extra funding (approx. MEURO5) to include tertiary treatment, as well as the government of the Netherlands and the central government of the NEA.
- The practical implementation of project is suppose to start in 2009 and within 2 years, Bonaire should have a centralised sewage treatment plant for approx. MEURO20 +.

I regret, despite MEURO20 + will be spend, only 18% of approx. 10,000 people (18% =168 m3/d of total wastewater) of the Bonaire population and the respective sewage load of parts of main town Kralendijk and surroundings should be served through the planned project and 82% of Bonaire population will still not-served, 636 m3/d waste-water generated by approx. 6,900 people (including tourists), which is near 1/2 of the existing grand total waste-water volume of approx. 1,400 m3/d, will still find its way to the corrals. The planner mainly addressed only the needs of hotel business (which is the biggest single polluter) located in the 500-meter coastal band around Kralendijk. It does not cover the people of the island living outside of this thin coastal band, which are responsible for near to ½ (636 m3/d) of total wastewater volume. This may result to the continued damage to the coral reefs surrounding Bonaire through the remaining sewage leaking indirectly/directly to the sea.

Dealing now correctly with the nutrients load is a very good news, although only one of three conclusions of UNESCO-IHE been addressed so far. It is at-least a first step in right direction, and by the way I did not burn my well paid professional career within EC for nothing. As life is going on I am not bitter any more about, only curious concerned as water and sanitation is my profession, not only any source of income.

I regret, for my probably selfish professionally satisfaction, more or less all of my educated assumptions (Reviews made on request of Government of NEA, EC-Delegation and EC-HQ) made in 2002-3 been right and confirmed independently by UNESCO-IHE and ALTERA. Nevertheless EC/DC/NEA/Bonaire local Government is going to build the system more or less as narrow-minded planned.

UNESCO-IHE concluded:
- The made DC plan does not ensure that there is no nitrogen flux into the sea. The project is likely to increase this flux. (probably now solved)

What about UNESCO-IHE’s conclusions two and three?
- The sustainability of the facilities is questionable
- The alternative solutions are worth to be further developed as they have major advantages

If the two remaining conclusions been not addressed I regret, in my professional opinion it was and by today it remains to be a narrow-minded planned "White Elephant" project. Furthermore, the wasting of fossil energy and desalinated water remains untouched.

DC-planned system components:
• one Vacuum sewer system
• Centralized plant
• Activated sludge (SBR) treatment, (now with tertiary treatment);
• Filtration
• UV disinfection
• Hotel garden irrigation

To conclusion number three (alternative solutions): As fare I remember from the NGO's Alliance came 2002-3 the strong suggestion to have ‘neighbourhood’ systems (decentralised systems) instead of one suggested centralised vacuum system. (May I suggest to locate the needed small treatment plans (preferable simple Constructed Wetlands if space is allowing it) just outside of the protected 500-meter coastal band and having for the promoted neighbourhood systems only one centralised management and O&M with remote operation monitoring, and user-friendly visualisation.)

I regret, the planner made no fair and professional comparisons of different options as necessary in any professional planning and the NGO's Alliance has been on the right track from the early days. UNESCO-IHE confirmed independently NGO's Alliance suggestion to decentralise and simplify systems is basically the way to avoid an unsustainable and very sensitive big "White Elephant" - system and similar serious problems as Curacao have ongoing with their centralised activated sludge (SBR) treatment system.

One important issue more, against given basic EC-Regulations, only one single planner been used in the whole process (Master Plan + Feasibility Study + Detail Design and + Tendering for Contractors and Supply). I regret, this is only to the “benefit” of pre-selected Suppliers/Contractors and some corrupt people in NEA, Bonaire, Germany and Brussels.

Maybe you both assume I am overdoing it now, but what was going on in the long-term past and what is still now going on (the final impacts of bending given EC-regulations, not willing to meet own ToR with the overall goal, the protection of corrals) is in my personal and professional opinion called a narrow-minded long-term planned white-collar corruption (like SIEMENS cases) not only some human capacity problems or short-cuts in order to save time for Bonaire’s corrals.

In other more simple words and free of smearing words and pointing fingers, assuming we only deal with narrow-minded big-heads and ego attitudes: For MEURO20 + you can do more them only servicing 18% of approx. 10,000 people, or treat 760m3 waste water per day and burning additional large amounts of fossil energy...

You both may calculate self what could really be don for the WHOLE Bonaire Water-Sanitation and Energy systems (the MDG’s), if realistic budgeting numbers are used for holistic planning’s, taken out of international guidelines, e.g. of OECD, UNEP, WB, KfW etc, normally foresee a capital cost at maximum of 300-500 Euro/PE, and not approx. 3,400-4,000 Euro/PE (PE = people equivalent).

In this regard I am quoting the EU-Ombudsman, Mr. DIAMANDOUROS about the case: “Upon a preliminary analysis, the Ombudsman is not convinced that the Commission has sufficiently dealt with all the issues raised by the complainant. For example, in his review of the Feasibility Study which was prepared in March 2003, the complainant took the view that notwithstanding the high cost of the project, it was envisaged that 82 % of the population of Kralendijk and the surrounding area would not be served and that approximately 636 m³ of untreated waste-water per day would still find their way to the sea. As far as the Ombudsman can see, the Commission does not seem to have provided a satisfactory reply to this point yet, either in its opinion or through the comments made by the consultant on the review prepared by the complainant to which the Commission referred in its opinion.”

I regret, on Bonaire the sanitation problem been unfortunately seen by many stakeholders as an “end of pipe problem” and a financial burden only, not as a financial opportunity to generate long-term income via Sustainable Sanitation = Productive sanitation systems = Resource Orientated Sanitation = Decentralized Sanitation and Reuse (DeSaR) and last not least Energy Savings and Renewable Energy. Many names for the same thing…

You both may draw your valuable attention to the key words: Resource Orientated Sanitation = Ecological sanitation, nickname: EcoSan as it stays for all.
- see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosan

- If you both like to discuss with sustainable sanitation experts and like-minded persons direct, I recommend an on-line forum managed by the Stockholm Environment Institute: http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ecosanres/
Topical discussions dealing with various aspects of sustainable sanitation, the ecosan loop - hygiene, agriculture, sanitation, environment, policy, methodology, training, knowledge networks, regional activities, social acceptance, etc.

- If you both like to get more broad-minded hands-one know-how on ecosan to turn the “burdens” of Bonaire probably into money I recommend:
UNESCO-IHE copyright free on-line course materials.
For sure many "copyright free" suggestions can be find in there for holistic planning’s and saving running costs and having an asset rather them having a burden on human waste and finally protecting the corrals the base of Bonaire’s general income.

http://www.lms.ihe.nl/index.asp
Login (ID): ecosandemo
Password (PWD): 1234

I remember the informal discussions I had on the island in 2003 with many people, it came to my knowledge that "hidden agendas" of ego's and old boys networks made other stakeholders wrongly believe, if too much critical questions aired the allocated EDF’s will probably be taken away by EC or NEA-government. Therefore, despite the criticisms that still exist about DC’s sanitation plans, STINAPA however is afraid that at this stage the process can not easily be improved, and if existing unsustainable plan stopped, it will take another ten years before sanitation planning’s are put in order. Unfortunately other stakeholders made STINAPA belief in that possible further delay. The coral reef, according to STINAPA cannot wait that long.

This myth is not true, as it is only a myth! The satisfaction of the beneficiaries is top priority in the official regulation of EC. Stakeholders like NGO-Alliance have real power if they speak with one voice! They can do so as they have very good people with good capacities like e.g. MS Elsmarie BEUKENBOOM in their NGO-Alliance and have their own funds to ask for independently made studies. They should not be afraid and belief only high level European experts can understand and might decide better about water-sanitation and energy options and their future live style!

In this regard, I am puzzled about and I am wondering, how it can be possible that most of UNESCO-IHE’s independently made conclusions are ignored by local Government and EC and that more or less the unsustainable original overall sanitation approach is still followed during “International Year of Sanitation 2008” and implementation will start 2009?!

On the other side, Bonaire's project financed by EC might be a possible international flagship on integrated Productive Sanitation Systems and Energy Savings = Local Income Generation, if Bonaire beneficiaries are taking it in their own hands and questioning the poisoned MEURO20 EU-"gift". The Indians call it a White Elephant. By now it is only a drawback to the agenda of water and sanitation towards achievement of Millennium Development Goals.

Maybe you both have some informal contacts at high EC-level or your own means to get things in a better direction for Bonaire on sanitation and energy saving in a holistic way, probably without pointing fingers and smearing some people, maybe even to make people on Bonaire, in the NL and on EC-level by it self proud to do with MEURO20 + a good holistic planned sustainable sanitation project for the WHOLE island? Showing to the Caribbean and even to the world a good example. Bonaire island, which is more or less in the jurisdiction of Dutch and European law and living more or less on EU Tax money and on diving industry (corrals) would be perfect to do so.

Broad-minded improvements might be possible, if high level officials at EC-HQ would be pushing for it with the given MEURO20 +, because EC having already large international EcoSan promotion projects like ROSA and NETSCAF in Africa ongoing. But maybe others in developing countries should change their live style to preserve “our” pyromaniac live style?

I hope this report helps Bonaire and I am hoping receiving from you both a favourable reply, as the international Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) network would be for sure ready to support Bonaire in every broad-minded holistic efforts to do better for their future. Last not least the firm allocated EDF’s are more them enough to do so.


Sincerely,

Detlef SCHWAGER


Maybe if nothing will be done, we all have only a "good" negative example how pyromaniac real-live and ongoing EU politics in the Caribbean are, for the bitter consequences of our children…

ANNEX:

Videos about Waste Water and Waste Management on Bonaire 2007-2008:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9n4WswU24c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_eN4ozx8Aw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztsJi4WlEVs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AJNukeykjc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh0yRvA_NHo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLgwGzXxPZU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-GnHSlaXEI


Sustainable sanitation concepts in very short words:
Water supply and water disposal techniques such as the treatment of surface water, flushing toilets, canalisation and centralized sewage treatment plants which are practised and in many cases well established in industrialized countries are not applicable to all regions of the world for geographic, technical and financial reasons. Moreover, even in the industrialized countries there is need for further development at the present technical level to reduce the disadvantages of conventional systems. An existing major disadvantage is that huge amounts of resources have to be spent to eliminate nutrients and other substances contained in waste water. Also, the method of diluting and mixing applied at present has proven to be unsustainable. For these reasons, world-wide research efforts have been undertaken on new so-called ‚Alternative Sanitation Concepts’ (ecosan), as well as on‚ Decentralized Sanitation and Reuse’ (DeSaR), concepts which are supposed to eliminate the above mentioned problems and close water and nutrient cycles.

As an example a recycling system for grey and black waters is designed particularly for hotel facilities, small settlements, recreational and shopping centres as well as for skyscrapers. In these locations wastewater is being produced from showers, hand washing sinks, kitchens, washing machines and toilets. By collecting the waters separately and having them undergo a multi-step redundant treatment, the reusability of the water according to high quality standards should be possible. The recycling plant with leading automatisation technology, remote operation monitoring, and user-friendly visualisation in combination with an innovative sanitation technology is being designed especially for the above-mentioned purposes. Water scarce areas and remote, sparsely populated regions without existing water supply and disposal infrastructure are particularly going to benefit from such systems, but also regions with high water supply and disposal costs.

See ecological sanitation concept examples to reduce finally long-term running costs:

http://www.novaquatis.eawag.ch/arbeitspakete/index_EN
http://www.komplett-projekt.de/index.php?id=2244&L=en
http://www.sansed.uni-bonn.de/PAGE1/Concept.htm
Subject: One positive EU example of usefulness for society, environmental protection, peripheral development, local acceptance, economic sustainability, and publicity

Floating autonomous ecological and efficient desalination system offers the island of Iraklia <http://www.iraklia.gr/eninfo.html> in the Aegean Sea 70 cubic meters of potable water per day. This system converts sea water to drinkable water and produces the required energy for the desalination using a wind generator mounted on the top of a stabilized floating platform. The system is now under operational tests near the island Iraklia. The project has been selected by the EU for receiving the Regiostars Award on the basis of innovation, usefulness for society, environmental protection, peripheral development, local acceptance, economic sustainability, and publicity.

TV Channels such as BBC World and ZDF and ARD (Germany) as well as newspapers have reported on the project. Furthermore, the project received the award for innovation at sea in 2006 from Lloyd's List Journal (the most reputable journal in the maritime field).

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperation/interregional/ecochange/goodpractice/3sustainable/stars08/033.pdf

In June 2007 the first worldwide environmental friendly unit of desalination of sea water that functions with a navigable wind generator, that directly exploits the aeolian energy, was inaugurated in the Cycladic island of Iraklia. This unit, which combines the use of a wind generator and a photovoltaic system, is expected to contribute effectively to the resolution of the problem of water scarcity in the island of Iraklia with a very low cost. The advantage of using a navigable wind generator is that it is situated in a great distance from ashore, where the wind speed is greater and more stable. This project is a major innovation worldwide and simultaneously an important step towards the resolution of the water scarcity problem in the islands of the Aegean, with an effective and environmental friendly way. The construction of two other navigable wind generators of triple productivity is also planned in the islands of Simi and Amorgos which are two of the most anhydrous islands in the Aegean. The functioning of this desalination unit in the island of Iraklia could constitute a model that can be implemented in other insular regions that also face water scarcity.

Impact:
The project’s impact on the regional economy has been as follows:
- support for local tourist activities in summer when the population of the island almost doubles and shortages of drinkable water are a critical factor;
- support for other primary-sector activities (e.g. farming) within the local population;
- contributes to sustainable development on a remote island using renewable energies;
- improves the ecological image of the islands, boosting the development of eco-tourism.




Sustainability:
The expected lifetime of the whole system is over 20 years. The running costs of the desalination unit are very low, because it operates autonomously without personnel, while the energy and water required are provided for by nature.
A new company was founded as a spin-off from the project: the "Corporation for the Development of Renewable Energy Sources and the Production of Drinking Water". The company has been set up by the project partners, with patents and rights transferred to it. The newly-created company is in contact with venture capitalists, businesses and ship owners and hoped to start work on a bigger production facility before the end of 2007.

Thank you so much, Detlef, for taking time (again) to educate and enlighten all of us on BT who are concerned for Bonaire's welfare.

I know you have reached out to certain parties who are on island to generate a constructive discussion to a hopeful and fruitful resolution to the present issues at hand.

The government officials (local and Dutch) should be reading your postings over and over until they actually absorb the information and ideas you have so kindly provided to us on BT.

Thank you, again, Detlef, for your sincere concern and vitally important input. We hope you will continue to participate in the discussions on BT until someone within authority finally gets up off their duff's and does something rather than just tossing words around.

Twenty years. This is WAY too long to be "discussing" this issues at hand. It's time for action.

One of the first things Joe and I did on our very first trip to Bonaire in 2000 was to set up an appointment to meet with the officials who were in charge of the future "waste water treatment plant" which was to be built on Bonaire. Joe is an operator at a plant here in the US and we thought it would be great if he could work at a plant on Bonaire some day....well, that was 8 years ago...the people we met that day are no longer in those positions and nothing constructive/definitive has taken place, as yet.

As the song says...."The Beat Goes On"...cb

Hallo Carole,
Is BT not just like "tossing words around" ;-)

The issue is not just sewage, it is about "planned" failing of water-sanitation-energy and - marine coral reef-systems on island Bonaire.

As WWF funded 2004/5 the very important independent study made by UNESCO-IHE in Delft, NL for Bonaire, maybe WWF and as well Greenpeace is the right forum to make the "planned" failing of water-sanitation-energy and - marine coral reef-systems on island Bonaire (in future part of NL) more public and to form alliances to change to the better?

What is your opinion? Can you take it to the right POC's?

All the Best
Detlef

What makes anyone think that the economically importent reefs will make it past the 2008-2009 busy season?

The data about the water quality shows nutrient levels consistent with rapid reef degregdation in other areas. The data from LMSP shows a significent increase in organics between 11/2007 and 4/2008. This has been a tough year for the reef and it appears that the worst is yet to come.

My personal observations show extensive hard coral degregdation in the 25-45 foot range (8-15meter)

We have no choice but to pump. True this simply moves the problem but it moves it away from the economically importent reef.

Tom Reynolds
LMSP Program Manager (USA)

Good point. We can beat all these ideas to death later. For now, however, everyone needs to get on the same sheet of music and support Ramon in his efforts to pump and truck now. We can haggle about the other stuff once that's accomplished. Send Ramon an email of support marinepark@stinapa.org

Thank you Tom for reinforcing the urgency of "acting now." And Marcus, yes, it is great to support Ramon in his proposal for pumping and trucking, but it is also imperative that both Dutch and Bonairean officials be lobbied to build the tertiary sewage plant at LVV THIS YEAR to process all the sewage being brought there. We can't just simply pile up the sewage in the LVV trenches and let it sit there until 2011. By then it will have percolated down into the reef from another direction regardless if sewage is being trucked away from the shoreline.

Please support the SOS Campaign and include Detlef's suggestions above in your calls and e-mails. If everyone who loves Bonaire's reefs from Bonaire Talk writes or calls, perhaps this time there will be action after 20 years of words.

Friends of Bonaire's Reefs
SOSBonaireReef@gmail.com

Thats fine Pauline as long as you are not suggesting that nothing else be done while we're trying to convince the powers-that-be to build the sewage plant now. What if it doesn't happen now? Pumping and trucking needs to happen now in any circumstance. I have to trust the judgement of the Stinapa leader who is on island, in charge of the Marine Park and has, I assume, some authority in these matters.

Dear Pauline, dear Ramon and dear Marcus,

Non of my made suggestions would fit to a centralised treatment system! They would only fit to the suggested “Neighbourhood Treatment Systems” as suggested by Bonaire’s NGO Alliance.

Maybe my German-English was not clear enough and my texts been too long and too many engineers jargons used and therefore misleading ;-)

Let me roll out short as possible the possible scenarios and alternative, using only metric (sorry American folks) units and maybe some of you can add some missing numbers about local costs, using USD or EURO.

Based on DC’s Master Plan and Feasibility Study we have to deal with a DAILY Island-TOTAL Wastewater volume of approx. 1,400 m3/d, which is permanent percolating to the coral reefs.

It is planned to “use” MEURO20 to treat only 760m3/d from the 500 m shore zone by a centralised treatment plan. Approx. 640m3/d Island-TOTAL Wastewater will remain after 2011 untreated and will percolate DAILY to the reefs.

For the suggested immediately (urgent) temp action it needs the strategic-pragmatic decision, how much of approx. 760m3/d from the 500 m shore line should be trucked away to the “LVV trenches”, for the only purpose to prolong temp the percolation time to the coral reefs.

Actual island-TOTAL Wastewater volume: approx. 1,400 m3/d
Planned centralised treatment plan treats: approx. 760m3/d
Future total amount of untreated wastewater: approx. 640m3/d

Assumptions:
- 760m3/d should be trucked away to the “LVV trenches”
- one truckload (honey sucker) takes 10 m3, which means we will have
- 76 truckloads per day.

If the truck fleet works 11 h/d (7:00 –18:00) and one truck maybe needs 1 h for pumping, transporting, offloading and returning to the shore line we need approx. 7 trucks working 11 h/d, 7 days per week. A truck number 8 has to be on standby to cover likely breakdowns.

- How much would cost this exercise on Bonaire per day and in total from 2008 until 2011?
- Would e.g. WWF or “others” finance this temp action?

To give you some indication about possible scale of funds needed, here in my area in Germany pumping, transporting, offloading AND TREATMENT might cost:
EURO14 per 1 m3.
If 10 m3 = EURO140
If 760 m3/d = EURO10,640 per day

Let’s assume on Bonaire the transport of wastewater to LVV trenches WITHOUT TREATMENT might cost:
Euro 7 per 1 m3.
If 10 m3 = EURO70
If 760 m3/d = EURO5,320 per day

If URGENT wastewater transporting action starts on 1. October 2008 and ends on 1. January 2011, we have approx. 820 days and need EURO4,362,400 (MEURO4.3).

Alternative:
Would it not make more sense to use approx. 50% of that amount, lets say approx. EURO 2,000,000 (MEURO2) to reduce immediately (URGENTLY) the “production” of wastewater on the sources within the 500 shore zone in combination with a URGENT mandatory policy of local Government?

A mandatory URGENT policy could stipulate, the costs of immediately reducing wastewater “production” are supported by external funding up to 50% and allocated funds are controlled by a Project Management Unit of Bonaire’s NGO Alliance and technical supported by an independent and interdisciplinary non-commercial organisation, e.g. UNESCO-IHE in Delft, NL.

How about this scenarios and I guess maybe pragmatic alternative?

All the Best

Detlef

PS to my earlier posting:

A maybe-pragmatic alternative to get the heads free for the REAL ISSUE...

The real Bonaire “issue” is not simple just about untreated raw sewage, as “SOSBonaireReef”, Ramon of STINAPA and others might made people understand, it is about the whole inappropriate concept of living on the island and using its recourses and imported recourses (fossil energy) to make an unsustainable/pyromaniac living for thousand’s of inhabitants.

As long “we” think only in the simple categories of a fire brigade (Action now!) to repair maybe “burning” problems it is a running behind the long-term ignored and pressing problems. It is a battle “we” are loosing before the battle starts.

STINAPA should not only be there to preserve nature’s status quo and protecting nature from the unsustainable/pyromaniac living for thousand’s of inhabitants. They should take the lead within Bonaire’s NGO-Alliances to help ordinary people and entrepreneurs to move away step by step from unsustainable/pyromaniac live and way of business.

By being in future part of NL, the outgoing local Government/Politicians would not take any lead in this, as they are understandable very busy to find a new post in, and to be part of the new political power constellations.

As an water-engineer I start usually with numbers and calculations.
May I give you a starting point idea through a very simplified calculation?

To produce 1 m3 drinking water out of seawater using a reverse osmosis plant, 5 kW electrical energy are usually needed.

On Bonaire approx. 2,000 to 2,500 m3/d (800,000 to 900,000 m3/annum) of drinking water are produced via reverse osmosis. On Bonaire diesel generators using imported fossil energy to produce nearly 100% of all electrical energy. I do not know the efficiency of the diesel engines and the generators and the cost of imported diesel-oil and its kW-values. Maybe some one else can add the missing numbers?

As on Bonaire 1,400 m3/d wastewater is produced, approx. 50% of 10,000 to 12,500 kW/d (40,000,000 to 45,000,000 kW/annum) electrical energy is mainly used to flush toilets. That alone is highly PYROMANIAC, as cheaper and sustainable alternatives widely available.

In other words if we all try to copy pyromaniac live style of the people in the old and maybe first TV-soap-opera “Dallas”, we will kill all of us by our self, slowly but surly. The Coral Reefs are only kind of leading-ahead first indicators about our own wrongdoings.

Number correction & Follow-up on above e-mail SOS Campaign To Save Bonaire's Reefs, dated 26.08.08:

CORRECTION: !!!40,000,000 to 45,000,000 kWh/annum is wrong!!!
approx. 50% of 10,000 to 12,500 kWh/d (4,000,000 to 4,500,000 kWh/annum)

If WEB collecting Euro 0.20 per kWh for electrical energy use, than they will add this as well to the price for desalinated seawater. Am I right?

In other words on Bonaire every day approx. 1,000 to 1,250 EURO are paid to WEB for having the "luxury" to flush away kack and urine with drinking water to the coral reefs (to produce approx. 1,400 m3/d raw sewage).

Per annum approx. 400,000 to 450,000 EURO are paid to WEB for a PYROMANIAC live stile in an arid climate. Good business for WEB and their owners/shareholders, but bad business for future source of living on Bonaire, the Coral Reefs!

I hope some one will alter my calculation using the right electrical energy price of WEB. But using European electrical energy price for this exercise give's already a good indication, or not?

Entrepreneurs do not make financial planning’s on annual horizons only, they use usually a minimum of 10 year (decade) horizon, in other words approx. 4,000,000 to 4,500,000 EURO (MEURO4 – 4.5) are paid in one decade, if nothing will be changed.

Would it make more sense from the point of making a better business to use in a first step at least 50% of that costs (2,000,000 Euro) via investing this amount of money in waterless toilets and urinals to achieve a future running cost reduction of at least up to 90%?

The following steps should be technical supported by an independent and interdisciplinary non-commercial organisation, e.g. UNESCO-IHE in Delft, NL.

FIRST STEP: Investing over the next 2 years approx. 2,000,000 Euro and asking maybe EU and NL-government for additional 2,000,000 Euro more (out of allocated MEURO20) will make a significant change for the long-term for the businesses and last not least, the whole environment (coral reefs kept intact, savings on water supply & sanitation and fossil energy savings).

Treatment of Greywater and reuse by and close to the “producer” via simple natural treatment plants (low-tech) like Constructed Wetland if space is allowing it, and where is very limited space available use of pre-fabricated package plants (medium-tech) like at Captain Don’s Habitat or similar. Avoiding (high-price & high-tech) centralised plant option.
By WEB centralised management and O&M with remote operation monitoring, and user-friendly visualisation.

To give you some budget indications, e.g. for 2,000,000 Euro you can purchase more them 4,000 prefabricated waterless toilet units (“tumble-dryers”), they dehydrate faeces and urine in one go. If purchased in a bulk you will probably cover alteration and installation with 2,000,000 Euro to.

SECOND STEP: Starting in 2009 to make real use out of remaining allocated EU-funds (MEURO18 EU), to cover the whole island with environmental and financial appropriate Water & Sanitation, by giving subsidies up to 100% to local inhabitants, depends on their income to purchase and install e.g. prefabricated waterless toilet units.

The issue is not environmental, it is economic. We need to save the reefs that Bonaire depends on for economic prosperity.

We need to truck most of the waste to the other side of the island where it will primarly percolate to the non-economic side of the island.

The problem with all these long-term proposals is this: The organizations who want to do NOTHING will use your arguements to do nothing NOW! That is what has happened everywhere else.

Three years later when we are still discussing a long-term solution the reef coral coverage will be half what it is now Bonaire will be a boat dive only location like the Red Sea and other Carribean locations.

Tom Reynolds
LMSP Program Manager (USA)

Dear Tom,

In general I have basically the same view as you.

Only in other words (with maybe too much German-English text ;-) I was trying to lay out a possible scenario to ACT NOW-NOW parallel in two ways:

- Temp long-term "Fire-Brigade-job" Trucking sewage with honey-suckers NOW-NOW, as "SOS Campaign To Save Bonaire's Reefs" suggested it.

- Reducing drastically NOW-NOW the production of sewage and wasting of resources (water & energy) together with having long term economical advantages, NOT having more economical burdens to the businesses.

All this should be done together with the entrepreneurs, not against them by e.g. boycotts!

If some narrow-minded entrepreneurs are not willing, the boycott-stick and other public sanctions should be used, but only to this kind of narrow-minded...

On the other side, open-minded entrepreneurs and local inhabitants should be well supported with partial AND 100% subsidies and brought minded technical advises using already allocated EU and NL funds (MEURO20).

Maybe some of this millions of EURO could be used in a special Bonaire revolving fund to give interest free credits to improve, and to finance brought-minded economical-technical advises.

Carrots and Sticks ;-) !!!

In other words brought-minded economical sound business leads to environmental friendly business, not simply the other way around.

In my opinion the sanitation-reef crisis could be seen as an excellent opportunity to gain in long-terms more economically and should not narrow-minded be seen as a long-term financial burden.

If the possible economical advantages are understand by more, they would open many minds to ACT NOW-NOW.

In this regard I tried to give a helping hand to put light on practical possible steps to gain economical in long-terms.

I hope at least some entrepreneurs did understand my straight German-English ;-) ?

How I could help to make more understand?

All the Best

Detlef

Hi, Detlef, Your words came through loud and clear. It all makes sense, without a doubt. All we need to do now is get the officials to read, listen, absorb, understand/comprehend and implement NOW in order to save the reefs and much more for tomorrow. Thanks so much for your care, concern and vital input. Ayo. Carole

Dear Carole,

I regret "the officials" you are talking about are responsible for all the delays and ill-developments.

I guess, even I personally have "created" as well some delays by complains made to EU-Ombudsman about unsustainable ongoing planning.

How "the officials" would be willing to support and organise NOW without favouring "partners" and friends, like in the past?

In my personal opinion only members of the Dutch Royal family might be able ensure "the officials" will act NOW-NOW, as happen on Klein-Bonaire "developments".

By the way "the officials" are busy to secure their own future in NL, they have not their heads free for little local business.

Sorry for that grim comment.

All the Best

Detlef

What is "at-risk" for Bonaire

In reality, we should be saying "Save your economy," not "Save your reef."

We are saying we must act NOW or we risk losing the economic reef.

It is, of course, in everyone's best interest to preserve the reef simply because the healthy reef represents an economic advantage to Bonaire's SCUBA industry relative to the Red Sea or other Carribean Islands.

This is why I speak of the economic reef, the reef that provides this economic advantage.

Let me make this very clear. More than the reef is at stake. The entire Bonairian way of life is at risk!

In reality, we should be saying "Save your economy," not "Save your reef."

You say: "Businesses will have to feel that they will lose customers if they continue to pollute the reef."

I say: "You will go out of business if you continue to pollute the reef"

I believe it is far better that we make business understand that a serious economic upheavel will result if the Bonaire reefs degrade. Just assuming a 50% decrease in coral coverage in 3 years, from 47% (February 2008) to 23% will make Bonaire just like the Red Sea and other Carribean Islands. We will have mostly dead reef with SOME patches of still healthy reef. Most of these still healthy locations will be only accessable by boat.

We don't have to guess the transformation. We can simply look at other locations.

SCUBA diving will be mostly boat based like the Red Sea. Boat based resorts will compete for moorings on limited locations. Shore diving at a few remaining healthy sites will be restricted or the huge crush of divers will wipe them out. In short, Bonaire will be able to support less scuba visitors than they do now.

Scuba visitors will lose their mobility. Whan all diving is boat-based why pay to rent a truck? How then will independent restaurants and shops survive? Answer, in most places they haven't.

So do the resorts make more money? I doubt it. Boats are expensive to purchase and operate. Bonaire resorts will need to raise their prices to provide decent boat diving. Unfortunately, they are now in competition with every other scuba destination. Bonaire will have lost its competitive advantage.

And, does any homeowner believe that his ocean access property will be worth more?.

If Bonaire becomes nothing more that a boat-based, or liveaboard-based diving location like the Red Sea or other Carribean Islands, the uniqueness and value of Bonaire will be lost.

The economic upheavel that Bonaire will experience will cost far more than the (admittedly temporary) cost of trucking sewage.

I am absolutely NOT against creative long-term solutions nor am I against involving the Dutch Royal family or anyone else who could help. What

I am saying is that the economic message above is real and Bonairian business better realize it.

Regards,
Tom Reynolds
LMSP Program Manager (USA)

Dear Tom,

Again, I fully agree with you and I was arguing in 2002-3 with my colleagues within EC more or less using the same terms.

UNESCO-IHE and later ALTERA confirmed the concerns, the inappropriate way how it is planned to deal with the mounting problems.

Now LMSP giving additional confirmation. What is the reason the Bonaire Government is not acting all this years and STINAPA or Bonaire Nature NGO's Alliance is not taking any more the lead to act at least NOW-NOW in a appropriate way.

But why I am still puzzled about and I am wondering, how it can be possible that most of UNESCO-IHE’s independently made conclusions are ignored by local Government, NGO's and EC and that more or less the unsustainable original totally overpriced overall unsustainable sanitation approach is still followed during “International Year of Sanitation 2008” and International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2008 and implementation will start 2009?!

Would you agree, if planned centralised sewage EU/EC project approach is followed, to allow after 2011 approx. 640 m3/d of total 1,400 m3/d raw sewage finding its way still to the economical very important coral reefs after spending MEURO20?

If yes, may you use scientific arguments if possible.

Furthermore, was the professional contributions by an EC-official (my self) 2003, by UNESCO-IHE in 2004-5 and by ALTERA in 2006 not scientific enough and through ignoring most of UNECO-IHE conclusions even partly disregarded by local government, NGO's and EC?


Looking forward to your answer.

All the Best

Detlef

Detlef-

Conclusions are not scientific evidence. This is importent to understand. Skip the step of scientific evidence and either nothing gets done or the wrong thing gets done.

Regards,

Dear Tom,

Now I can say, as usual we have a similar view ;-)
Even back in 2002-3! By then and still now the given EC/EU-ToR was in general terms enough to allow for similar scientific studies as done by LMSP
However, it was not done by then.

As LMSP have established scientific know-how about Bonaire’s coral reefs, LMSP is maybe able to do in this regard further conclusions/predictions.

My and for sure the question of many Bonairees is: Is it acceptable of after 2011 still approx. 640 m3/d of approx. 1,400 m3/d sewage find it’s way to the coral reefs?

Nevertheless, an immediate interdisciplinary co-operation on the overall issue is needed now, not later. The holistic approach and co-operation between civil society, ocean-biologists, ecosan-planners-implementers, renewable energy-specialists, agriculturists, willing entrepreneurs and governmental officers is needed now. (with each other not against each other)

Possible way forward:

1. Petition to local Government, NGO’s and Beach-Hotels
- to cover temp the trucking costs 50% / 50%
- to stop existing “White Elephant” sanitation project planning immediately and
- to re-canal allocated EC/EU funding (MEURO20) towards holistic participatory community planning on the real issue: Saving Energy and Water, Reducing 100% sewage and reducing running costs for local inhabitants and businesses
- to start mentioned participatory community planning via help of international SuSanA independent and experienced moderators and technical backup of independent members of SuSanA.
- to demand from NGO Alliance Bonaire/STINAPA to take technical the lead as Project Management Unit (PMU).


... to be continued


Best Regards,

Detlef