Public Education
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We are developing the next generation of sanitation leaders
Habits and routines we learn as children stay with us throughout our entire lives.
Residents & Community Leaders
As GWS works to design and construct centralized systems, it is unquestionable that residents and community leaders must be informed and consulted. They are the people that will be affected with changes in their bills, new construction in their hometowns, and the challenging task of operating and maintaining new infrastructure.
While in Costa Rica, GWS organizes community meetings in which residents can learn about the design project for their town, ask questions and express concerns. Often, presentations include education about public health and the benefits of wastewater treatment, as many communities are not adequately educated on the subject.
The GWS team cares deeply about letting locals know that we are not there to complete a quick project and head home. We are committed to a presence in their community through the years that it will take to construct, implement, and maintain improvements.
While GWS is working hard to work with one new community per year, construction of of wastewater treatment plants and national, long-lasting, sustainable change cannot occur without the support of local and government authorities. These include education groups such as local water utilities, or ASADAs, and AyA, the national water and and wastewater government authority.
In order for GWS plant designs to move forward into construction, the projects need assistance from these authorities for land acquisition and funding. In addition, these authorities must have solid foundations on which to make decisions regarding the future of sanitation management in their country. Therefore, GWS members also act as industry advisers, sharing best practices and their accumulated knowledge about wastewater treatment from the States.
In 2018, GWS hosted its first Education Wastewater Workshop at the Tres Rios Water Purification Plant, tailored for AyA professionals. With the government ramping up their efforts to extend sanitation throughout the country, AyA had invited GWS to present in-depth wastewater topics. The two-day workshop focused on sanitary collection, maintenance basics, wastewater treatment fundamentals, and activated sludge. Over thirty AyA water and wastewater professionals attended, representing different administrative regions in the country (Brunca, Central Pacific, Central West, Caribbean) and several department units (Project Management, R&D, ASADAs, Environmental). This type of workshop provides a fantastic opportunity to exchange knowledge as well as facilitate positive relationships that will ensure continued progress towards Costa Rica’s.
Habits and routines we learn as children stay with us throughout our entire lives.
Presentations include basic fundamentals for younger children, such as how germs commonly spread, as well as advanced subjects for high school students, such as explaining the stages of wastewater treatment. GWS strives to excite kids with hands-on activities as well as provide simple guides that they can bring home and share with their parents, encouraging continued practice and learning. Too, GWS hopes to inspire older students by informing them about projects directly affecting their community and by showing them how they can continue to protect the unique, diverse ecosystem that is their home.
Residents & Community Leaders
As GWS works to design and construct centralized systems, it is unquestionable that residents and community leaders must be informed and consulted. They are the people that will be affected with changes in their bills, new construction in their hometowns, and the challenging task of operating and maintaining new infrastructure.
While in Costa Rica, GWS organizes community meetings in which residents can learn about the design project for their town, ask questions and express concerns. Often, presentations include education about public health and the benefits of wastewater treatment, as many communities are not adequately educated on the subject.
The GWS team cares deeply about letting locals know that we are not there to complete a quick project and head home. We are committed to a presence in their community through the years that it will take to construct, implement, and maintain improvements.
Local & National Authorities
