This document discusses options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia, a water-scarce country. It examines examples of greywater reuse that currently exist in Ethiopia, such as surface irrigation in Lege Dini using water from washing points, keyhole gardens promoted by Catholic Relief Services, and greywater reuse towers used in peri-urban areas. Barriers to wider reuse are identified as cultural perceptions of greywater being "dirty" as well as lack of simple, adoptable technologies and follow-up support. Key requirements for successful upscaling include easy to use systems, successful pilots with demonstration, and committed staff for regular follow-up.

1. MUS greywater reuse:
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia

2. 3
Research Questions
• What examples of productive reuse of greywater exist in Ethiopia?
• Why is greywater not more widely re-used in this water-scarce
country?
• What is required for successful upscaling?
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia
Research Aim
• Address critical water problems in water scarce areas by
documenting in-country examples of productive reuses of greywater

3. 4 Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia
Definition of Greywater
• Without faecal matter
• Water from bathroom and kitchen
sinks, showers, clothes washing, etc.
• Safe and beneficial source for
irrigation water for backyard
Shewa,W.A.,&Geleta,B.G.(2009).Casestudyof
sustainablesanitationprojects:Greywatertowerfor
peri-urbanareas.ArbaMinch,Ethiopia:Sustainable
SanitationAlliance.

4. 5
1. The Case of Lege Dini
• Pauline Scheelbeek (2005) “2 containers a day; in quest of
environmental sustainability & public health for the rural poor – water
quality, multiple use and water division in the Lege Dini Watershed
area in Ethiopia: towards a MUS approach.” MSc.
Thesis, Wageningen University & Research
• Focused on water sources, water uses and greywater reuse
• Irrigation exists only where there is good access to a reliable water
source
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia

5. 6
1. The Case of Lege Dini
Scheelbeek (2005) recorded 2
common way of watering plants:
(1) Surface irrigation – narrow
canals dug from washing or
drinking water point to field
(some GW use)
(2) Drip irrigation – tin cans tied to
branch, filled with water that
drips through holes in bottom
of can (some GW use)
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia
Image: Papaya trees irrigated with water in Lege Dini.
Papaya is promoted for high beta-carotene content to
lower risk of blindness caused by vitamin A deficiency
(Scheelbeek 2005)

6. 7
2. Keyhole garden
• Initiative by Catholic Relief Services
(CRS) – most successful in Lesotho
• Designed for chronically ill
• Soil enrichment
• Retention of moisture in arid climate
• Labor saving
• Year-round vegetable production
• Locally resourced materials (in rural
areas)
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia
CRSHomesteadGardeningHandbook(2008)

7. 8
@FarmersTrainingCenter
Byearlyadopter

8. 2. Keyhole Garden
9
@ training center, reasons for failure:
• Lack of greywater;
• Lack of responsible person
• Demonstration may have lacked
follow-up;
• System is suffering from drought
Uptake in Eastern Haraghe more
successful: experience in crop
production + reuse wastewater,
mentality/open-mindedness
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia

9. 10
3. Greywater Reuse Tower
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia
• Resource-Oriented Sanitation concepts for peri-urban areas in Africa
(ROSA – project)
• Abra Minch (Ethiopia), Nakuru (Kenya), Arusha (Tanzania), Kitgum
(Uganda)
• Essentially sub-surface irrigation
Shewa, W. A., & Geleta, B. G.
(2009). Case study of sustainable
sanitation projects: Greywater
tower for peri-urban areas. Arba
Minch, Ethiopia: Sustainable
Sanitation Alliance.

10. 11
Discussion
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia
Lege Dini – surface
& drip irrigation
Keyhole garden
Greywater Reuse
Tower
Scale Rural plot Rural family Urban/peri-urban
Costs
If all locally sourced
materials; only costs
for labour
If all locally sourced
materials; only costs for
labour
EUR10.20
Benefits
Reuse of runoff from
waterpoint by nearby
households;
upscaling canal
possible
High retention; suitable for
water scarce areas; waist
height; labor saving after
construction
Vertical garden; space
efficient; gravel column;
reuse of materials
RQ1. What examples of productive reuse of greywater exist in Ethiopia?

11. 12
Discussion
Options for upscaling greywater reuse in Ethiopia
RQ2. Why is greywater not more widely re-used in this water-scarce
country?
– Perception/cultural resistance to using 'dirty water„
– High faecal content in greywater of pilots in Arba Minch
– A regional component?
RQ 3. What is required for successful upscaling?
– simple to use technology/ easy adoption
– successful demonstration/pilot
– committed staff with regular follow-up