David Robbins has over 27 years of experience in urban sanitation and fecal sludge management. He has worked in 17 countries for organizations such as USAID, SNV, and the Asian Development Bank. Some of his publications include guidance documents on septage management and wastewater system design. Currently he works as an independent consultant managing fecal sludge management programs in several countries in Asia.

1. DAVID M. ROBBINS
Summary of Professional Experience
David Robbins is an urban sanitation and fecal sludge management (FSM) specialist with 27 year of
experience. In 2015 alone, he provided FSM services for Oxfam, SNV, the Asian Development Bank,
and USAID in the Philippines, Indonesia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and most recently Nepal. He has
worked in 17 countries and written extensively on urban sanitation policies, procedures, and practices.
Indicative examples include: i) USAID’s Implementer’s Guide to Lime Stabilization for Septage
Management in the Philippines, ii) Oxfam’s Septage Management Guidebook (in Press), iii) is own book,
how to Design Wastewater Systems for Local Conditions in Developing Countries which was published
by the International Water Association (IWA), and iv) two chapters in Linda Strande’s Fecal Sludge
Management textbook are all outputs from him in the last two years. Each of these products have been
designed by Mr. Robbins to reach out and directly support and capacitate both the private sector and local
governments in developing countries for their urban sanitation programs. His Septage Management
Toolkit supported by USAID since 2008, and his recent development of a Rapid Technical Assessment
methodology, now successfully tested by SNV in Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal are further examples.
His Public Private Partnership project in San Fernando City and his other successful septage management
programs in the Philippines are a testament to this approach. He is currently in the process of developing
and testing a community-wide on-site wastewater system upgrading model; this in conjunction with SNV
for their project in Khulna. In China, his manual and toolkit for the development of promotions
campaigns targeting rural wastewater and solid waste management has the potential to positively impact
600 million people.
In 2011, as sanitation specialist for RTI International, he won a $100,000 Grand Challenge Explorations
grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The project developed and pilot tested a
wastewater treatment technology using ground coconut shells; a technology that continues to be used
today in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In 2013 before leaving RTI for private sector
consulting, he served on the start-up team for RTI’s Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, an effort by the
BMGF to explore new paradigms in onsite wastewater management. He has earned certifications in water
and wastewater treatment, as a licensed contractor for residential and commercial wastewater treatment
system installations, and maintains his certification as a Registered Sanitarian through the state of
Arizona.
Current FSM Projects
Oxfam, GB: Team leader to develop fully cost recoverable septage management programs in 14
municipalities hit by Super Typhoon Hayian, while implementing a revolving fund finance mechanism;
USAID: Consultant for the IUWASH program in Indonesia to upgrade existing non-functional IPLTs
(fecal sludge treatment plants) using mechanized technologies to vastly increase capacity;
SNV: Manage the implementation of FSM programs in Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal for their
Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All (SSH4A) urban sanitation program;
MWH Global (Montgomery Watson Harza): Consultant on USAID funded FSM toolkit development;

2. ROBBINS, 2
present
UNESCO-IHE: FSM on-line training course development responsible for sections dealing with FS
collection, transport and facility operation and maintenance.
Education
BS, Environmental Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1981.
Licenses
Licensed Contractor (General Engineering Class “A” – Water/Wastewater), Arizona Registrar of
Contractors, January 15, 2001.
Registered Environmental Health Specialist (License #83115), National Environmental Health
Association, June 30, 1989.
Registered Sanitarian, State of Arizona, Arizona Department of Health Services, February 22, 1988.
Professional Experience
January 2014 to Global Development Services, LLC. President and CEO of independent Urban
Sanitation consulting company based in Colorado USA and providing services
throughout Asia for ADB, USAID, SNV, OXFAM and other clients.
July 2010 to RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
December 2013 Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist. Manages short-term and long-term field
projects for improving water and sanitation services in poor communities through
the provision of management oversight and technical advisory services. Develops
systems and programs for building local capacity to address a wide range of
water supply, sanitation, and environmental health issues facing urban poor
people in developing countries.
May, 2013 Asian Development Bank. Staff Consultant.
Jiangxi Pingxiang Integrated Rural-Urban Infrastructure Development. Short
term staff consultancy to perform a pre-reconnaissance mission in support of
large loan package in Pingxiang Municipality, China for water treatment and
distribution, wastewater collection and treatment and municipal solid waste
management.
2007 to July 2010 AECOM International Development, Manila, Philippines. Team Leader (2009
to July 2010). Supported the Water and Sanitation Program/Asian Development
Bank–funded project: National Sewerage and Septage Management Program.
Managed a team of policy and finance experts to assist the Department of Public
Works and Highways with the development of this national policy to promote
wastewater treatment and septage management.
Senior Water and Sanitation Advisor (2007 to July 2010). Supported USAID
projects in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. These
projects included the following:

3. ROBBINS, 3
• San Fernando City, La Union Province, Philippines—Developed
wastewater treatment infrastructure for a public market and slaughterhouse,
as well as a city-wide septage management program. Served as Project
Manager for a USAID/Rotary International Water Alliance project for
sewerage and septage management.
• Marikina City, Philippines—Assisted the city with implementing a
comprehensive septage and on-site wastewater management ordinance to
provide septic tank cleaning services to 460,000 people.
• Halong City, Vietnam—Developed a comprehensive and targeted
wastewater treatment plant operator training program to provide
sustainability for the new Bai Chey interceptor sewer system, septage
receiving station, and wastewater treatment plant for a flow of 2,500 cubic
meters per day.
• Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka—Assisted the city with developing a
comprehensive septage management ordinance and Manual of Practice to
govern all septic tank pumping, transportation, and disposal activities within
the city.
• Phnom Penh, Cambodia—Worked with the Phnom Penh Municipality to
introduce environmental health planning at the district and subdistrict levels
by implementing a series of sanitation initiatives.
• Krabe, Thailand—Worked with the Wastewater Management Authority of
the Thailand National Government and King County, Washington, in a
twinning arrangement to introduce U.S. wastewater treatment technology to
Thailand.
• Rotary International—Wrote and won a 3H grants through the
USAID/Rotary International Water Alliance for developing a comprehensive
septage management project in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines.

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2008 to 2009 Development Alternatives, International, Manila, Philippines Senior
Sanitation Advisor. A short-term consulting assignment. Served as a USAID
contractor for the development and delivery of a training program for local
governments in the Philippines on the design and implementation of wastewater
systems. Worked with university engineering departments to help them
implement curricula on sustainable sanitation.
1995 to 2006 Environmental Compliance International, Ltd., Flagstaff, Arizona
President, Chief Executive Officer. Managed all aspects of international
consulting and construction firm specializing in water supply and on-site
wastewater management for small flows. Responsibilities included the design,
permitting, installation, and operation of decentralized wastewater treatment
systems for residential and commercial clients.
1987 to 1995 Yavapai County Environmental Health Services Department, Arizona USA.
As a County Environmental Health Specialist, was responsible for alternative
wastewater systems’ compliance, groundwater and wellhead protection
programs, and food service safety. Reviewed, permitted, and inspected more than
4,000 septic tank and alternative wastewater systems. Was responsible for the
compliance of 150 public and private water supply systems. Was also responsible
for solid and hazardous waste enforcement and complaint investigation.
Professional Associations
National Environmental Health Association
National On-site Wastewater Recycling Association
Rotary International
Country Experience
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, El Salvador, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Mexico,
Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam
Languages
English (native), Tagalog (basic), Spanish (basic), Bahasa Indonesia (basic)
Books and Papers (indicative list)
Robbins, David (In Press)., Septage Management Guidebook – Philippines Edition, Oxfam, GB (2016)
Robbins, David. Implementer’s Guide to Lime Stabilization for Septage Management in the Philippines,
United States Agency for International Development (2015).
Robbins, D., Ligon, Grant (2014). How to Design Wastewater Systems for Local Conditions in
Developing Countries, International Water Association, London, United Kingdom.

5. ROBBINS, 5
Robbins, D., Strande, L (2012) Sludge Management in the Philippines, Water21Magazeen, International
Water Association, London, United Kingdom.
Philippine Sanitation Alliance (2009). Operations manual on the rules and regulations governing
domestic sludge and septage. Department of Health, Philippines.
Robbins, D. (2008). Lime stabilization plan for septage management in San Fernando, La Union,
Philippines. USAID Philippine Sanitation Alliance.
Robbins, D. (2008). USAID/Rotary international San Fernando City sewerage and septage management
program. USAID/ Rotary International Water Alliance Project.
Robbins, D. (2007). Septage management guide for local governments. USAID Eco-Asia Program.
Robbins, D. (1998, March). Water infrastructure improvement on the U.S.-Mexico border. Journal of
Environmental Health, National Environmental Health Association.
Technical Reports
Robbins, D. M. (2011, September). EcoTank evaluation report—Negombo Sri Lanka. Prepared for
CITYNET.
Presentations and Proceedings
Robbins, D. M., Chiem, N. H., & Thomson, A. A. Codigestion for methane capture and use optimization
for backyard and small commercial farmers in the Lower Mekong Basin. In Codigestion for Methane
Capture and Use Optimization for Backyard and Small Commercial Farmers in the Lower Mekong
Basin. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Robbins, D. M., & Richkus, J. S. Utilizing cocopeat as a medium for wastewater treatment biofiltration
for residential and institutional applications. In Conference on Decentralized Wastewater
Management in Asia 2012. Nagpur, India.
Stoner, B. R., Stokes, C. D., Elledge, M. F., Robbins, D. M., Mazubuko, M., Parker, C. B., & Glass, J. T.
(2012, October). A waterless toilet with electrochemical disinfection and biomass combustion.
Presented at the Fecal Sludge Management Seminar, Durban, South Africa.
Robbins, D. M. (2011, November). Managing fats, oil and grease (FOG) for local governments in India.
Presented at Vth World Aqua Congress, New Delhi, India.