News Archive

On the 1st of May 2013 the SSWM team conducted an introductory course in the frame of the Rural Sanitation Group Work Mission of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) in Cuzco. A total of 22 participants took part in the event, including water and sanitation experts of the IDB and representatives of the National Government of Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. The aim of the workshop was to introduce the SSWM approach with its different components: hardware, software and planning tools, as well as to present the SSWM Toolbox to practitioners in this region. Please find the course agenda and objectives(in Spanish only) below. For information on (passed) SSWM Courses please visit the SSWM Courses site.

cewas is the international Training Centre for start-ups in the water, sanitation and resource management based in Willisau (Switzerland). The Start-Up programme addresses entrepreneurs-to-be with an interest in SSWM and that want to start their business in the emerging water sector. The 1-year training programme includes: business coaching for the water sector and consulting by international experts and an extensive international network. Start-Ups are supported by a core group of international experts (the cewas Think-Tank).,. The next batch is from September 2013 to August 2014. Applications are now open (deadline: 21st of June 2013). Learn more:

To give our committed as well as new partners more visibility, we have recently updated the SSWM Toolbox partner page:

Interested in socio-cultural aspects of water management and sanitation? Then check out our Background section: it has recently been enriched with 7 new powerpoint presentations on socio-cultural issues and on peak phosphorus and climate change. You can deem them useful for a quick browse through a topic or as template for your own presentation!

The Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) is an informal network of organisations and individual members who share a common vision on sustainable sanitation. After six years of existence, SuSanA has reached a point where reflection is required on the current status of its activities and effective outreach. Now is your chance to actively shape this network towards catering to your needs! Please take 5-10 minutes and go through the survey.

The STEP Business Development in SSWM offers many business strategy tools supporting you during the entrepreneurial process of a new venture in the water and sanitation sector. There are three main modules: from self-discovery until running a successful business. Completion on-going. Have a look and give us feedback:

A new offline version of the SSWM Toolbox is available, containing the most recent additions and updates. It allows you to use the 'pocket knife for water and sanitation experts' wherever you are without needing Internet access. The recent version includes the newly developed STEPS (Specific Topic Entry Pages), which compile the most valuable resources in the SSWM Toolbox for a specific user group or region.

In this STEP you can find all the cases, lectures, exercises, support material, etc. from the training course “Introduction to sustainable water and sanitation” conducted by three universities in Norway, Nepal and Pakistan. It is useful for everyone learning or teaching in higher-education institutions all over the world involved or interested in sustainable sanitation and water management (SSWM). Completion on-going. Find out more and send us your feedback:

The current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are running out by 2015. Therefore, the process of formulating post-2015 development goals is proceeding, with focus of the water community lying on recognising water as a core target. The next big event in formulating suggestions is the third WHO/UNICEF consultation on water in March 2013 in The Hague, discussing the topics drinking-water, sanitation an hygiene (WASH), wastewater management, and water resources development and management. Inform yourself, get involved, and share your knowledge on these websites:

The SSWM Toolbox recently published a case study featuring Xavier Ecoville (XE). XE is a relocation site for flood victims in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines. The case study puts a special focus WASH services in the Ecoville, which have been planned and implemented by the SuSan Center with the support of the SSWM Toolbox and the SSWM Toolbox team.

The SSWM Toolbox homepage recently got a new look, now featuring a link on the main toolbar to our brand new section, Specific Topics. Inside you will find our new mini-Toolboxes, Specific Topic Entry Pages (STEPs), which compile the most relevant information of the Toolbox specific to a group of users or a region. Take a look at some of our currently developed STEPs:

The SSWM Toolbox was recently featured in the International Ecological Engineering Society's (IEES) newsletter called Transforming Thinking, which features innovative approaches to promote the implementation of sustainable ecological engineering projects. Check out the article and get more information about IEES below:

In cooperation with our partner SARAR-Transformacion, the SSWM team will be conducting an introductory workshop about the SSWM approach and Toolbox. The sessions will take place during the VII Regional Course “Sustainable Ecological Sanitation” in Tepoztlan Mexico, that aims to provide the participants with innovative tools to tackle the challenges of delivering water and sanitation services to the growing population.

As a store of nutrients and water for plants, soil plays an important role in the ability of plants to grow and produce food. We have recently added a new section about all the different ways to optimize soil conditions so even a little water can go a long way. Find out more about conservation of soil moisture here:

Experts in sustainable sanitation recently convened at the SuSanA meeting during the Stockholm World Water Week to exchange ideas and experiences about their global programmes and to open the doors for future collaborations. Have a look at videos, powerpoint presentations, and photos from the meeting on the SuSanA website, or become an active participant of the ongoing discussions by accessing the SuSanA forums below.

Recently, we have been working on the development of STEPs – Specific Topic Entry Pages. These are pages, tailor-made for a specific target group in order to expand the Toolbox regarding the topic of interest of the target and to facilitate the access to theSSWM Toolbox for this specific group of users (e.g. region, field of activity, partners, beneficiaries). You can find a description on some currently developed STEPs and links to Beta Versions by clicking on the link in the bottom bar of the homepage or directly here:

What economic tools exist for regulating the abstraction or pollution of water? Find out more about economic measures and learn what needs to be considered when choosing a suitable tool to influence the demand for water. A new factsheet on water charges and updated information on tradable water rights are now available under:

Some partners and resources play a very important role in compiling SSWM content and to keep our library updated. They also help to complete the SSWM Toolbox with additional information on specific topics. You can find a list and description of theses resources and the weblinks to access them here:

The offline-version of the Toolbox allows you to use the 'pocket knife for water and sanitation experts' wherever you are without needing Internet access. As the SSWM Toolbox is continuously expanded and maintained, a new downloadable offline-version will be provided every month from now on. Please check back regularly on our homepage to make sure you get the latest update. You find the link in the left column of the front page.

From the 10th to the 20th of April a two-weeks SSWM Course was held at the international centre for water management (cewas) in Willisau, Switzerland. cewas supports young entrepreneurs to develop their businesses in the field of sustainable use of water resources and to solve sanitation issues at the international level. The SSWM Course is the first module of a one-year Start-Up programme. The SSWM Toolbox helps them to find relevant information during the whole process of business development. For further information on the cewas Start-Up Programme and modules, please visit:

As of today, the SSWM Toolbox is again available offline on a USB flash drive. The 2nd edition has been updated completely and now comprises the latest contents. Have the Toolbox with you wherever you go and access all the information without being in need of Internet access! The official launch will take place at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille.

How can entrepreneurs be encouraged to provide services in the sustainable sanitation and water management sector? What are the opportunities and risks of developing businesses in SSWM? An international panel of experts from NGOs, businesses, public authorities and investors discussed these questions during the 1st cewas Forum on the 8th of February in Willisau (Switzerland). The presentations and discussions about relatively new trends such as sanitation as a business and public-private partnerships were intense and very informative. We would like to thanks for all valuable inputs that will also support the further development of the SSWM Toolbox in this field.

We wish to thank you all for your contributions from the past and hope you will continue supporting us. Special thanks go to mister SSWM, Beat, who ensures every day that all the material we collect is correctly uploaded and made available to you all. Beat is also writing factsheets on technical issues like sewers, toilets etc. Read one:

In order to protect human health and ecosystems, human faeces and greywater should be collected and transported to a treatment facility before discharge into the environment. Read our factsheets about sewer systems and cartage:

On the 1st of November, the Toolbox has celebrated its first birthday. This is a very important moment for us all: not only have we reached our 100'000th visit last month, but also can we announce, that the Toolbox has won the IWA Project Innovation Award! For this special day, the Toolbox treats herself and you all with a user survey. Have a look and give us your feedback now:

To improve access to drinking-water sources and sanitation facilities is part of the Millennium Development Goals. But today more people in the world own cell phones than have access to a toilet. Access to water is not rooted in physical availability but mainly in poverty, power and inequality. When institutions and policies fail to channel diverse interests of domestic, municipal, agricultural and industrial uses, water conflicts tend to escalate. Read our new factsheets about these topics:

The second cewas Training Module will be held in Willisau from the the 27th of June to the 8th of July 2011. It is organised and carry out by seecon gmbh, the Swiss Institute for Entrepreneurship (SIFE) and the Lucerne University of Applied Science and Arts, Department of Economy.

On May 18th, cewas opened its doors in Willisau, Switzerland. The opening ceremony welcomed regional and international guests from the water and sanitation sector. 15 participants have now started in the cewas Start-Up Programme, aiming on developing and providing technologies and services in the wider water sector.

An entire article in the latest issue of Sustainable Sanitation Practice (07/2011), published by EcoSan Club Austria, is dedicated to the planning and process tools of the SSWM Toolbox. You can download the journal here, free of charge:

Check out our large open source library with more than thousand documents. Use the advanced search function to find the information you have been looking for.

A collection of complementary open source knowledge platforms can now be found in the key resource section:

Check out the new ready to use PPT-presentations about project designing, financing and executing SSWM projects.

28 participants from Nepal, Bhutan and Indonesia analysed the applicability of different technologies and approaches to make thier local water and sanitation systems more sustainable. The next SSWM courses will be held in spring 2011 in Pune, India. Check here for updates: