University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Max Reisinger
(2022):
Safe Water and Saved CO2:
CO2 Reductions and SDG Impacts of Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) with WADI.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Siedlungswasserbau, Industriewasserwirtschaft und Gewässerschutz (SIG),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 127.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- The latest IPCC report shows that we only have 3 years left to change from annually increasing CO2 emissions to rapidly decreasing them to stay able to reach our global climate goals. Deep and systemic change is needed. Solutions like Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS), the SDGs and ambitious climate mitigation projects can be important stepping stones in that transformation. A combination of these solutions is found in an ongoing drinking water project in Uganda financed by carbon credits. Nevertheless, there is a research gap in the emission reduction potential and SDG impacts of SODIS on project level. This study aims for quantifying the impacts of SODIS with WADI within the project ‘Clean Air and Safe Drinking Water for Soroti’ – an empirical case study in rural Uganda. A mixed-methods approach combines quantitative and qualitative research. Relevant literature was analyzed and a Project Study delivered current data from 223 local households. This data have been compared to the ‘Baseline Study’ (before the project activities started) through a pre- and post-analysis. The results show that the people have taken on the new water disinfection method. They have changed from boiling the water with firewood to practicing SODIS with WADI. The average results between two calculated scenarios give a CO2 reduction of 2.12 t per WADI annually which is leading to a total project impact of 21,200 t CO2 reduction over the 2000 HH within the five years of project duration. Furthermore impacts on 9 affected SDGs have been quantified. Benefits of the project have not only included improvements to people´s health due to a reduction of water-borne diseases, but also time savings, increased autonomy, strengthened sense of community, more school attendance and a regeneration of surrounding trees and ecosystems. The findings show how interconnected safe water, improved livelihood and climate mitigation are. To solve global problems like climate change, many local solutions are needed.
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