DEG supports sustainable water management in the Galapagos Islands

Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands are famous worldwide for their unique natural heritage. Almost the entire surface of the islands – 97% – is a National Park. In order to help preserve it, DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH has co-funded a sustainable water management pilot project, using funds from the develoPPP.de programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project, during which wastewater treatment was tested with the help of two demonstration plants, was successfully completed. The private partner in this project was ATB Umwelttechnologien GmbH from Porta Westfalica, with support from WWF Ecuador.

Contribution to alleviating water scarcity

The impact of climate change on islands, in particular, is a key issue at the UN Climate Change Conference COP23, currently being held in Bonn. The Galapagos Islands are exposed to weather phenomena such as El Niño, which lead to prolonged periods of drought and are exacerbated by climate change. This puts additional strain on the islands’ limited reserves of fresh water.

Up to now, most of the Galapagos Islands’ sewage has not been reprocessed. It either seeps almost untreated into the ground, or is piped directly into the South Pacific.

Environmental knowledge transfer

Over the course of the project, ATB has developed and set up two wastewater treatment demonstration plants on the island of Santa Cruz. These treatment plants use small-scale naturally-based technologies. One of them, located at a hotel, uses biological treatment in combination with a subsequent UV disinfection process. The second one treats wastewater from a fish processing plant and combines a mechanical pre-treatment process with a constructed wetland. The water recovered from both plants can then be reused, for instance in irrigation. Local technicians have been trained to manage the two installations.

Sustainable designs in demand because of climate change

The unique natural environment means that tourism is the islands’ biggest industry, so sustainable designs that conserve resources are especially important here. Two further wastewater plants have already been built at other hotels during the course of the project. Reliable, low-cost sewage treatment is also essential for local businesses, such as fish processing.

Climate and environmental protection has been a key objective of DEG for many years. In 2016 alone 562 million euros, i.e. around a third of its new commitments, were allocated to investments promoting climate and environmental protection as well as adaptation to climate change.