EcoSanRes: Gates Foundation Challenge for New Sanitation Technologies

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canaday5

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Sep 26, 2010, 6:00:01 AM9/26/10
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Hi everyone,

As mentioned in the GTZ Ecosan Newsletter (and in a recent message from Larry), the Gates Foundation is now calling for proposals to develop new, decentralized sanitation technologies that do not depend on sewer lines
http://www.grandchallenges.org/Explorations/Topics/WaterSanitation/Pages/Round6.aspx  .
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/grand-challenges-explorations-round-six-100819.aspx 
Proposals are being accepted until November 2, 2010.

This calls out loudly for UDDTs and it is true that there are significant ways to improve the ones we currently build. In particular, it would be great to not need so much participation and orderliness on the part of the user, and establish mechanisms to eliminate the risk of producing flies and smells when not used properly.

I have some ideas for radically new designs of UDDTs and would like to contribute to this work, but I am sort of on my own out in the jungle, while what is needed is a solid team supported by a strong NGO, so that is why I am writing to you.

Is anyone preparing a proposal for this challenge, who would like my help?

I could assist with:
  • Concepts and designs.
  • Writing and proofreading texts.
  • Translation between English and Spanish.
  • Testing and fine-tuning of designs.
    • In the 15-hectare Omaere Ethnobotanical Park  that I help administrate, we have ample space for trials, plus we receive thousands of visitors annually, most of whom are Ecuadorians but also include travelers from all over the world.
    • I could conduct trials in local communities here in Ecuador , including very different cultures and climatic regimes (see http://www.inodoroseco.blogspot.com ). Trials could be done in urban, periurban, and rural situations, with both permanent units and portable ones for events.
There is still more than a month left before the deadline for submission, so I think we have time to put together an excellent proposal.

Best wishes,
Chris
--
Christopher Canaday
(MA Conservation and Development in Latin America, BA Biology, BS Wildlife Mgt.)
Conservation Biologist and EcoSan Promoter
Coordinator of Guiding at the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park
Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador
085250864, 03-288-3174, http://www.inodoroseco.blogspot.com
http://www.fundacionomaere.org.

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Richard Holden

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Sep 26, 2010, 7:16:06 AM9/26/10
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UDDTs only deal with faeces and urine.  What about the issue of greywater (which is why sewer lines were developed in the first place)
 
Richard

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Masudul Chowdhury

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Sep 26, 2010, 1:22:40 PM9/26/10
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Hi Every one
Thanks for the information. I need one clarification, is it open to all to apply for the grant like from Bangladesh can I apply for this? Is there any spcific format or form? Because I don't get this kind of information from the Gates Foundation Web page. If some one can help me to get these information it will be appreciated.
With regards
Dr. Masudul Hoq Chowdhury
Director
Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD)
Bangladesh

From: Richard Holden <richard...@gmail.com>
To: ecos...@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, September 26, 2010 4:16:06 AM
Subject: Re: EcoSanRes: Gates Foundation Challenge for New Sanitation Technologies

 

UDDTs only deal with faeces and urine.  What about the issue of greywater (which is why sewer lines were developed in the first place)
 
Richard

On Sun, Sep 26, 2010 at 12:00 PM, canaday5 <oma...@gmail.com> wrote:

 

Hi everyone,

As mentioned in the GTZ Ecosan Newsletter (and in a recent message from Larry), the Gates Foundation is now calling for proposals to develop new, decentralized sanitation technologies that do not depend on sewer lines
http://www.grandchallenges.org/Explorations/Topics/WaterSanitation/Pages/Round6.aspx  .
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/grand-challenges-explorations-round-six-100819.aspx 
Proposals are being accepted until November 2, 2010.

This calls out loudly for UDDTs and it is true that there are significant ways to improve the ones we currently build. In particular, it would be great to not need so much participation and orderliness on the part of the user, and establish mechanisms to eliminate the risk of producing flies and smells when not used properly.

I have some ideas for radically new designs of UDDTs and would like to contribute to this work, but I am sort of on my own out in the jungle, while what is needed is a solid team supported by a strong NGO, so that is why I am writing to you.

Is anyone preparing a proposal for this challenge, who would like my help?

I could assist with:

  • Concepts and designs.
  • Writing and proofreading texts.
  • Translation between English and Spanish.
  • Testing and fine-tuning of designs.

    • In the 15-hectare Omaere Ethnobotanical Park  that I help administrate, we have ample space for trials, plus we receive thousands of visitors annually, most of whom are Ecuadorians but also include travelers from all over the world.

    • I could conduct trials in local communities here in Ecuador , including very different cultures and climatic regimes (see http://www.inodoroseco.blogspot.com/ ). Trials could be done in urban, periurban, and rural situations, with both permanent units and portable ones for events.

There is still more than a month left before the deadline for submission, so I think we have time to put together an excellent proposal.

Best wishes,
Chris

--
Christopher Canaday
(MA Conservation and Development in Latin America, BA Biology, BS Wildlife Mgt.)
Conservation Biologist and EcoSan Promoter
Coordinator of Guiding at the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park
Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador
085250864, 03-288-3174, http://www.inodoroseco.blogspot.com

Recent Activity:
Archives are available at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ecosanres

.

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canaday5

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Sep 27, 2010, 12:02:51 AM9/27/10
to ecos...@yahoogroups.com
 

Dear Richard and Masudul,

Richard, the challenge clearly states that they want something to deal with EXCRETA. There are lots of options for dealing with greywater that is not contaminated with excreta.

Masudul, there are no limits on who can apply (see quote below), but I do think that a proposal that includes investigators and practitioners in various developing countries may be looked well upon. I copy below the entire format for the 2-page application.

Best wishes,
Chris

"Open to All Disciplines: Anyone Can Apply

The grant program is open to anyone from any discipline, from student to tenured professor, and from any organization â€" colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies.

Agile, Accelerated Grant-Making

The initiative uses an agile, accelerated grant-making process with short two-page applications and no preliminary data required. Applications are submitted online, and winning grants are chosen approximately 4 months from the submission deadline.

Initial grants of $100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of up to $1 million."

"Through Grand Challenges in Global Health, the Gates Foundation is committed to seeking out and rewarding not only established researchers in science and technology, but also young investigators, entrepreneurs and innovators to help expand the pipeline of ideas to fight diseases that claim millions of lives each year."

THIS IS THE ENTIRE FORMAT FOR THE 2-PAGE APPLICATION
(http://www.grandchallenges.org/Explorations/Pages/ApplicationInstructions.aspx):
Grand Challenges Explorations Application Form

Please enter proposal text in Sections I and II, according to the instructions within each section. If you choose to include charts, graphs, or references, add them within the appropriate section. Please do not include charts or graphics in color.
Your application must be no longer than 2 pages, using 11 point type. The entire file should be less than 2MB. Proposals that do not adhere to these restrictions may be blocked from submission and review.

Section I. What is your idea?
Use this section to briefly describe your idea. Make sure that your idea directly fits the topic; otherwise your proposal may be disqualified.
• Indicate in one or two sentences in bold the essence of your idea.
• Why is your idea an unconventional or creative approach to the problem outlined in the topic?
• Describe the scientific basis for your idea and why you expect it to succeed.

Section II. How will you test it?
Use this section to briefly describe the project design and implementation plan.
• Describe your experimental plan, including any new technologies or tools to be developed.
• How will the work you describe be performed within the budget (USD$100,000) and time period (one year) allocated for the initial Phase I award?
• What essential data will you generate during your Phase I award?
• If your experiments in Phase I are successful, what are the next steps?



--- In ecos...@yahoogroups.com, Masudul Chowdhury <chowdhury62@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Every one
> Thanks for the information. I need one clarification, is it open to all to apply
> for the grant like from Bangladesh can I apply for this? Is there any spcific
> format or form? Because I don't get this kind of information from the Gates
> Foundation Web page. If some one can help me to get these information it will be
> appreciated.
> With regards
> Dr. Masudul Hoq Chowdhury
> Director
> Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD)
> Bangladesh
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________

> From: Richard Holden <richarddholden@...>


> To: ecos...@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sun, September 26, 2010 4:16:06 AM
> Subject: Re: EcoSanRes: Gates Foundation Challenge for New Sanitation
> Technologies
>

>  
> UDDTs only deal with faeces and urine.  What about the issue of greywater (which

> is why sewer lines were developed in the first place)
>
> Richard
>
>

> On Sun, Sep 26, 2010 at 12:00 PM, canaday5 <omaere@...> wrote:
>
>  

> >Hi everyone,
> >
> >
> >As mentioned in the GTZ Ecosan Newsletter (and in a recent message from Larry),
> >the Gates Foundation is now calling for proposals to develop new, decentralized
> >sanitation technologies that do not depend on sewer lines


> >
> >Proposals are being accepted until November 2, 2010.
> >
> >This calls out loudly for UDDTs and it is true that there are significant ways
> >to improve the ones we currently build. In particular, it would be great to not
> >need so much participation and orderliness on the part of the user, and
> >establish mechanisms to eliminate the risk of producing flies and smells when
> >not used properly.
> >
> >
> >I have some ideas for radically new designs of UDDTs and would like to
> >contribute to this work, but I am sort of on my own out in the jungle, while
> >what is needed is a solid team supported by a strong NGO, so that is why I am
> >writing to you.
> >
> >
> >Is anyone preparing a proposal for this challenge, who would like my help?
> >
> >I could assist with:
> >

> > * Concepts and designs.
> > * Writing and proofreading texts.
> > * Translation between English and Spanish.
> > * Testing and fine-tuning of designs.
> > * In the 15-hectare Omaere Ethnobotanical Park  that I help administrate, we

> >have ample space for trials, plus we receive thousands of visitors annually,
> >most of whom are Ecuadorians but also include travelers from all over the world.

> > * I could conduct trials in local communities here in Ecuador , including very

> >different cultures and climatic regimes (see

> >http://www.inodoroseco.blogspot.com/ ). Trials could be done in urban,

> >periurban, and rural situations, with both permanent units and portable ones for
> >events.
> >There is still more than a month left before the deadline for submission, so I
> >think we have time to put together an excellent proposal.
> >
> >Best wishes,
> >Chris
> >--
> >Christopher Canaday
> >(MA Conservation and Development in Latin America, BA Biology, BS Wildlife
> Mgt.)
> >Conservation Biologist and EcoSan Promoter
> >Coordinator of Guiding at the Omaere Ethnobotanical Park
> >Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador
> >085250864, 03-288-3174, http://www.inodoroseco.blogspot.com
> >http://www.fundacionomaere.org/.
>

__._,_.___
.

__,_._,___

Richard Holden

unread,
Sep 27, 2010, 3:59:01 AM9/27/10
to ecos...@yahoogroups.com
 

Dear Chris
 
This is what was said in a previous e-mail

 
As mentioned in the GTZ Ecosan Newsletter (and in a recent message from Larry),
> >the Gates Foundation is now calling for proposals to develop new, decentralized
> >sanitation technologies that do not depend on sewer lines

Nothing about dealing solely with excreta.  In fact reading the proposal it completely muddles up the provision of sanitation and dealing with excreta (one part of sanitation services).
 
So what happens with greywater, does it just magically disappear?
 
As far as I know there are 2 ways to transport material:
1)  By pipe; or
2)  By some form of vehicle (train, truck etc)
 
The 2nd version was tried in many cities until they become too big then they went back to pipes (Rome and many other ancient cities).
 
Also what is meant by decentralised?  Either it is at household level or it is centralised, however, the degree of centralisation can vary enormously.
 
At household level the technology must be maintained by the household themselves, which it means it must be very simple and even then this defeats most people (think of replacing the seal in a toilet) or they must pay for someone to come out and fix it (in SA the call out fee for a plumber is $142 compared to a monthly service fee from the municipality of $24).
 
The moment the household takes no responsibility for operation and maintenance and simply pays someone else to do it it is centralised.  South African experience has shown it is far cheaper to have a large well run works then to have many small works (see link to Green Drop Report)
 
 
Why is it impossible for any of the funding agencies or research institutes to run a study looking at the energy and water footprint associated with waterborne sewage and the alternative of vehicular transport.
 
Also the mechnaics of transporting and storing urine compared to the Haber Bosch process for manufacturing urea. 
 
The at least we could have a baseline from which tio work.
 
Richard

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