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WATER COOPERATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND POVERTY ERADICATIONSummary of liquid waste management guidelines for theOkavango Delta Ramsar SiteAssessing risk• Assess the level of pollution based on the quantity of liquid wastegenerated and site classification.• Confirm the level of risk by obtaining coordinates of the site andsuperimposing them on the groundwater vulnerability map.Selecting technology• Consult the flow chart for technology selection for medium- to highpollutionrisk to identify suitable technologies for the site underconsideration on the basis of the possible pollution risk.• Where the risk is considered low, all technologies are considered suitable.• In the case where a conservancy tank is used, there must be provision forvacuum tanker services.• The final decision on technology will depend on affordability to the developer.Licensing• All liquid waste management facilities posing a medium- to high-risk to theenvironment need to be licensed by a competent authority.• Two types of licences should be applicable: Licence A for medium risk andLicence B for high risk.• In applying for a licence, the applicant should indicate whether they areapplying for Licence A or B.• Each licence application should be accompanied by an environmentalmanagement plan.• Each application for a licence should be accompanied by a licenceapplication report.Managing sewage water in on-land camping grounds and on houseboats• Ensure that long-drop holes are dug on organic soil.• The dimensions of the long-drop must not exceed 30 cm 2 by 1.5 m deep.• The hole should be filled in with soil when it is 30 cm from full.• There must be one toilet per eight persons.• Locate long-drop holes at least 100 m from water sources to avoidcontamination.• Avoid high concentrations of long-drop holes around campsites.• All houseboats shall be equipped with at least two liquid waste tanks ofadequate capacity to handle liquid waste for the duration of the trip.• All liquid waste tanks should be leak and overflow proof.• Offshore tanks used for transferring liquid waste from houseboats shouldapply for Licence A.• The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana and Botswana GuidesAssociation should ensure that their members comply with these protocols.Managing greywater in on-land camping grounds and on houseboats• No greywater should be discharged into the receiving water bodies,including the Delta, without prior treatment.• Greywater should be retained on board houseboats for disposal into landbasedsystems.• The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana and Botswana GuidesAssociation should ensure that their members comply with these protocols.Summary of guidelines for managing hazardouswaste in the Okavango Delta Ramsar SiteTransporting hazardous waste• Vehicles transporting hazardous waste should be certifiedroadworthy by the Department of Road Transport andSafety every six months.• Drums and truck-box fuel tanks are acceptable methods oftransporting oil and fuel.• All vehicles carrying fuel should have at least one 20 B:Crated portable fire extinguisher.• Drums and fuel tanks should be filled to a recommendedlevel of 90 per cent.• The load should be secured in a manner, which ensuresthat it does not escape from the vehicle or shift or sway in amanner that may affect the operation of the vehicle.Storing hazardous liquid waste• Fuel storage tanks, whether above ground or underground,should be located down slope from water sources.• Above-ground tanks should be located over an impermeableliner made of concrete or other synthetic material.• All underground tanks should be coated with fibreglass toprevent corrosion, or use fibreglass tanks instead.• Above-ground tanks should be made of high quality steel.• Fuel tanks should have spill and overfill protection.• Spill protection typically consists of a catch basin forcollecting spills when the tank is filled.• Overfill protection is a warning, such as a buzzer or an automaticshutoff, to prevent an overflow when the tank is filled.• Store similar products together to reduce any danger fromreactions in case of leakage or spill.• Store substances in a well-ventilated area.Handling and disposing of hazardous liquid waste• All containers storing hazardous substances should be in agood condition and clearly labelled.• Containers and tanks should be closed and sealed exceptwhere a hazardous substance is being added or removedfrom the container.• Storage tanks at marine fuel dispensing stations must be located4.5 m horizontally from the normal annual high-water mark.• Solid piping must be used between on-shore storage tanks.• Use a funnel when transferring substances between containers.• Provide a stable platform for fuelling.• Follow the directions for storage on the label.• Used oil should not be mixed with other hazardous substances.• Never burn, dump or bury hazardous liquid waste.• Do not flush waste down sinks or toilets.• Do not pour hazardous liquid waste into ditches, stormdrains or gutters.• Completely drain all oil filters to ensure that they do notcontain hazardous substances.hazardous substances in the Delta. Biodiversity-friendly guidelinescritical to managing the risk of pollution from storage, spillage andleakage were also drafted.Ecosurv delivered very comprehensive draft guidelines inSeptember 2011. In 2012 the draft guidelines were circulated amongstakeholders for them to review and make suggestions as to howthey could be improved. The initial reaction was that the guidelineswere too long and complicated and, because of this, they would bedifficult to implement. Feedback from various quarters suggestedsimplifying the technical sections and clarifying the mandates, rolesand responsibilities of the different bodies involved in implementingthe guidelines. Licensing and processes for renewing licenses,for example, needed to be streamlined. The guidelines also neededto align with existing environmental management plans. Feedbackgave useful pointers as to overcoming barriers to puttingthe guidelines into practice.The guidelines were redrafted by Aqualogic tobe simpler and more user friendly. Flow charts takereaders step by step through what needs to be done.Clear diagrams show the correct way to build, forexample, septic tanks or drainage ponds. The guidelineshave now been finalised and are being piloted.In piloting the guidelines in the Okavango DeltaRamsar Site, some important lessons have emerged.One is that managing liquid waste not only needs tobe tackled in the Okavango Delta Ramsar Site, it is alsoa problem that needs to be tackled across Botswanaand throughout the entire Okavango River Basin. In[ 201 ]