VEHA
Guidance
Guidance
Virtual Environmental and Humanitarian Adviser Tool – (VEHA Tool) is a tool
to easily integrate environmental considerations in humanitarian response. Sector Planning guidances allow you to environmentally align your project strategy design.
Ensure access to water and sanitation for communities while sustainably managing land, water, and ecosystems.
% of water systems/facilities that have functional and accountable management systems in place without degrading the environment
Do your water supply activities incorporate low energy/sustainable pumping, extraction, or water capture technology and measures to minimize the risk of groundwater depletion or acute decrease in surface water bodies in line with the key actions of Sphere WASH standard 2.1?
Do the water quality tests included in your submission address not only biological/bacteriological contamination but also a systematic process for mapping the local area for potential chemical risks and a programme of testing for chemical contamination and heavy metals? Has the presence of such contaminants in the local environment been assessed systematically, taking into account potential exposure routes and pathways?
Monitor water tables and water quality.
Conduct appropriate hydrological surveys.
Assess WASH contractor's ability.
Identify/assess and monitor water conservation measures.
Develop WASH contractors’ environmental charter and/or monitoring plan (including capacity development plan).
· Increase monitoring of water tables. Ensure the sustainability of ground and surface water supplies by conducting assessments, implementing water conservation measures, and planning for the appropriate disposal of liquid waste. Use Integrated Water Resource Management framework for developing a resilient WASH System.
· It is essential to ensure that water outtake does not exceed the replenishment of water sources, as this can have long-term effects on the local population. Groundwater monitoring is essential, and in case the demand for water exceeds available resources there may be a need to cap wells and develop alternative sources. Conduct appropriate hydrological surveys, even if urban water systems are already in place.
· Where possible, aim to avoid trucking and make use of renewable energy for water pumping (e.g. solar or wind-powered pumps, according to available options in the local market).
· Increase monitoring of WASH contractors. Contractors or humanitarian partners operating in the construction of boreholes, water trucking, or desludging activities are closely monitored in order to make sure that their practices are environmentally sound. This should be included as an activity in the log frame and organizations should have the internal competencies to be able to monitor their contractors/partners’ activities.
· Mapping of industrial activity, agriculture, illicit environmental economies, and similar can help to identify water quality issues to assess beyond the standard WASH issues related to biological contamination, turbidity/sediments, and coliforms.
· Alternatively, when possible, humanitarian interventions could include activities such as the management of fecal sludge or the management of waste and wastewater, although this might be a challenge as it is not currently compatible with humanitarian funding cycles.
· Consider new technologies (i.e. Increase use of solar) and eco-friendly sanitation solutions. Where possible, aim to avoid trucking and make use of renewable energy for water pumping (e.g. solar or wind-powered pumps, according to available options in the local market). Where possible, aim to avoid trucking and make use of renewable energy for water pumping (e.g. solar or wind-powered pumps, according to available options in the local market).