A systems approach to water and sanitation for the urban poor in Bolivia

​Rapid urbanization and lack of access to basic services are growing problems in the developing world, including in Bolivia. The urban poor often have to rely on alternative water sources and pay a high price for water of dubious quality. Untreated wastewater causes environmental degradation, affecting water sources and related ecosystems.

The project uses a systems approach to identify key factors for the development of sustainable water and sanitation infrastructures in low income areas in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Centralized and decentralized options are studied using technical, social, economic and environmental indicators in collaboration with local partners and with the involvement of local communities. The indicators will then be used to develop a framework for the selection of viable options with the aim of catalyzing a sustainable urban water transitions in Bolivia. 

The projects is carried out at the Division of Water Environment Technology.

Keywords: Water, sanitation, technology transition, urban poverty, Bolivia

• Sebastien Rauch

  Professor, Architecture and Civil Engineering, Water Environment Technology

  Sebastien is a Professor in the Division of Water Environment Technology, leader of the research theme Urban environments and systems, at Chalmers. Sebastiens main research objective is to provide a...