Slow sand filtration water treatment plants
Practical Action
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TRAINING: A TRAINERS’ GUIDE
Training is geared towards changing behaviour. It is therefore an agent of change and
ensures the sustainability of water treatment systems.
Knowledge of water treatment procedures and manual operation and maintenance skills will
not give rise to a change in behaviour unless they are accompanied by a motivation process
and the creation of an appropriate environment among the community and the people in
charge of the operation.
The cyclical training process
• Analysis of the situation
It is necessary to analyse the situation in the community and its levels of organisation.
• Evaluation of training requirements
Based on an analysis of the tasks to be performed by the operators, a decision must be made
regarding how many of them will be trained and the type and level of training they will
receive.
The tasks required must be compared with the knowledge and skills of available operators.
The training courses must bridge these gaps.
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