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Project: Shashemene Constructed Wetland, Ethiopia 

Urbanization and rapid population growth have caused growing sanitation challenges in Ethiopia, where only 7% of the population had access to safe sanitation in 2020.  

The government has introduced condominium housing as a response to urban growth. However, these units are not connected to a central sewer system. Instead, wastewater is collected in on-site septic tanks. Due to high maintenance costs, many households are unable to regularly empty these tanks, resulting in frequent overflows. This leads to wastewater running between residential units, posing serious health and environmental risks, particularly for children who often play in these areas. 

The Shashemene Constructed Wetland Project is developed as a cost-effective, nature-based solution to treat wastewater from condominium households. This decentralized system mimics natural filtration processes, improving water quality while creating environmental and social benefits. This has been developed in collaboration with World Waternet and Blue Deal Programme

Quantifying the Impact 

Using the CAP (Credit Aqua Positive) methodology, the Shashemene wetlands generated a total of 10,714.2 CAPs over five years, reflecting 10.7 million m³ of improved water footprint. The cost-effectiveness of this initiative stands out, with the cost per CAP estimated at €13.05 for Wetland 1 and €3.26 for Wetland 2. 

Social and Environmental Co-Benefits 

• Reduced risk of diseases linked to open sewage. 

• Lower costs for septic tank maintenance. 

• Increasing biodiversity 

Looking Ahead 

The success of the Shashemene wetlands highlights the potential of decentralized wastewater treatment for urban sanitation. By investing in such initiatives, communities can achieve water security, improved hygiene, and a cleaner environment.