CV_ROBBINS_DAVID_26DEC2015
- 1. DAVID M. ROBBINS Summary of Professional Experience David Robbins is an urban sanitation and fecal sludge management (FSM) specialist with 27 year of experience. In 2015 alone, he provided FSM services for Oxfam, SNV, the Asian Development Bank, and USAID in the Philippines, Indonesia, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, and most recently Nepal. He has worked in 17 countries and written extensively on urban sanitation policies, procedures, and practices. Indicative examples include: i) USAID’s Implementer’s Guide to Lime Stabilization for Septage Management in the Philippines, ii) Oxfam’s Septage Management Guidebook (in Press), iii) is own book, how to Design Wastewater Systems for Local Conditions in Developing Countries which was published by the International Water Association (IWA), and iv) two chapters in Linda Strande’s Fecal Sludge Management textbook are all outputs from him in the last two years. Each of these products have been designed by Mr. Robbins to reach out and directly support and capacitate both the private sector and local governments in developing countries for their urban sanitation programs. His Septage Management Toolkit supported by USAID since 2008, and his recent development of a Rapid Technical Assessment methodology, now successfully tested by SNV in Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal are further examples. His Public Private Partnership project in San Fernando City and his other successful septage management programs in the Philippines are a testament to this approach. He is currently in the process of developing and testing a community-wide on-site wastewater system upgrading model; this in conjunction with SNV for their project in Khulna. In China, his manual and toolkit for the development of promotions campaigns targeting rural wastewater and solid waste management has the potential to positively impact 600 million people. In 2011, as sanitation specialist for RTI International, he won a $100,000 Grand Challenge Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). The project developed and pilot tested a wastewater treatment technology using ground coconut shells; a technology that continues to be used today in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. In 2013 before leaving RTI for private sector consulting, he served on the start-up team for RTI’s Reinvent the Toilet Challenge, an effort by the BMGF to explore new paradigms in onsite wastewater management. He has earned certifications in water and wastewater treatment, as a licensed contractor for residential and commercial wastewater treatment system installations, and maintains his certification as a Registered Sanitarian through the state of Arizona. Current FSM Projects Oxfam, GB: Team leader to develop fully cost recoverable septage management programs in 14 municipalities hit by Super Typhoon Hayian, while implementing a revolving fund finance mechanism; USAID: Consultant for the IUWASH program in Indonesia to upgrade existing non-functional IPLTs (fecal sludge treatment plants) using mechanized technologies to vastly increase capacity; SNV: Manage the implementation of FSM programs in Indonesia, Bangladesh and Nepal for their Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All (SSH4A) urban sanitation program; MWH Global (Montgomery Watson Harza): Consultant on USAID funded FSM toolkit development;
- 2. ROBBINS, 2 present UNESCO-IHE: FSM on-line training course development responsible for sections dealing with FS collection, transport and facility operation and maintenance. Education BS, Environmental Science, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, 1981. Licenses Licensed Contractor (General Engineering Class “A” – Water/Wastewater), Arizona Registrar of Contractors, January 15, 2001. Registered Environmental Health Specialist (License #83115), National Environmental Health Association, June 30, 1989. Registered Sanitarian, State of Arizona, Arizona Department of Health Services, February 22, 1988. Professional Experience January 2014 to Global Development Services, LLC. President and CEO of independent Urban Sanitation consulting company based in Colorado USA and providing services throughout Asia for ADB, USAID, SNV, OXFAM and other clients. July 2010 to RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC December 2013 Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist. Manages short-term and long-term field projects for improving water and sanitation services in poor communities through the provision of management oversight and technical advisory services. Develops systems and programs for building local capacity to address a wide range of water supply, sanitation, and environmental health issues facing urban poor people in developing countries. May, 2013 Asian Development Bank. Staff Consultant. Jiangxi Pingxiang Integrated Rural-Urban Infrastructure Development. Short term staff consultancy to perform a pre-reconnaissance mission in support of large loan package in Pingxiang Municipality, China for water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment and municipal solid waste management. 2007 to July 2010 AECOM International Development, Manila, Philippines. Team Leader (2009 to July 2010). Supported the Water and Sanitation Program/Asian Development Bank–funded project: National Sewerage and Septage Management Program. Managed a team of policy and finance experts to assist the Department of Public Works and Highways with the development of this national policy to promote wastewater treatment and septage management. Senior Water and Sanitation Advisor (2007 to July 2010). Supported USAID projects in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. These projects included the following:
- 3. ROBBINS, 3 • San Fernando City, La Union Province, Philippines—Developed wastewater treatment infrastructure for a public market and slaughterhouse, as well as a city-wide septage management program. Served as Project Manager for a USAID/Rotary International Water Alliance project for sewerage and septage management. • Marikina City, Philippines—Assisted the city with implementing a comprehensive septage and on-site wastewater management ordinance to provide septic tank cleaning services to 460,000 people. • Halong City, Vietnam—Developed a comprehensive and targeted wastewater treatment plant operator training program to provide sustainability for the new Bai Chey interceptor sewer system, septage receiving station, and wastewater treatment plant for a flow of 2,500 cubic meters per day. • Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka—Assisted the city with developing a comprehensive septage management ordinance and Manual of Practice to govern all septic tank pumping, transportation, and disposal activities within the city. • Phnom Penh, Cambodia—Worked with the Phnom Penh Municipality to introduce environmental health planning at the district and subdistrict levels by implementing a series of sanitation initiatives. • Krabe, Thailand—Worked with the Wastewater Management Authority of the Thailand National Government and King County, Washington, in a twinning arrangement to introduce U.S. wastewater treatment technology to Thailand. • Rotary International—Wrote and won a 3H grants through the USAID/Rotary International Water Alliance for developing a comprehensive septage management project in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines.
- 4. ROBBINS, 4 2008 to 2009 Development Alternatives, International, Manila, Philippines Senior Sanitation Advisor. A short-term consulting assignment. Served as a USAID contractor for the development and delivery of a training program for local governments in the Philippines on the design and implementation of wastewater systems. Worked with university engineering departments to help them implement curricula on sustainable sanitation. 1995 to 2006 Environmental Compliance International, Ltd., Flagstaff, Arizona President, Chief Executive Officer. Managed all aspects of international consulting and construction firm specializing in water supply and on-site wastewater management for small flows. Responsibilities included the design, permitting, installation, and operation of decentralized wastewater treatment systems for residential and commercial clients. 1987 to 1995 Yavapai County Environmental Health Services Department, Arizona USA. As a County Environmental Health Specialist, was responsible for alternative wastewater systems’ compliance, groundwater and wellhead protection programs, and food service safety. Reviewed, permitted, and inspected more than 4,000 septic tank and alternative wastewater systems. Was responsible for the compliance of 150 public and private water supply systems. Was also responsible for solid and hazardous waste enforcement and complaint investigation. Professional Associations National Environmental Health Association National On-site Wastewater Recycling Association Rotary International Country Experience Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, El Salvador, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam Languages English (native), Tagalog (basic), Spanish (basic), Bahasa Indonesia (basic) Books and Papers (indicative list) Robbins, David (In Press)., Septage Management Guidebook – Philippines Edition, Oxfam, GB (2016) Robbins, David. Implementer’s Guide to Lime Stabilization for Septage Management in the Philippines, United States Agency for International Development (2015). Robbins, D., Ligon, Grant (2014). How to Design Wastewater Systems for Local Conditions in Developing Countries, International Water Association, London, United Kingdom.
- 5. ROBBINS, 5 Robbins, D., Strande, L (2012) Sludge Management in the Philippines, Water21Magazeen, International Water Association, London, United Kingdom. Philippine Sanitation Alliance (2009). Operations manual on the rules and regulations governing domestic sludge and septage. Department of Health, Philippines. Robbins, D. (2008). Lime stabilization plan for septage management in San Fernando, La Union, Philippines. USAID Philippine Sanitation Alliance. Robbins, D. (2008). USAID/Rotary international San Fernando City sewerage and septage management program. USAID/ Rotary International Water Alliance Project. Robbins, D. (2007). Septage management guide for local governments. USAID Eco-Asia Program. Robbins, D. (1998, March). Water infrastructure improvement on the U.S.-Mexico border. Journal of Environmental Health, National Environmental Health Association. Technical Reports Robbins, D. M. (2011, September). EcoTank evaluation report—Negombo Sri Lanka. Prepared for CITYNET. Presentations and Proceedings Robbins, D. M., Chiem, N. H., & Thomson, A. A. Codigestion for methane capture and use optimization for backyard and small commercial farmers in the Lower Mekong Basin. In Codigestion for Methane Capture and Use Optimization for Backyard and Small Commercial Farmers in the Lower Mekong Basin. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Robbins, D. M., & Richkus, J. S. Utilizing cocopeat as a medium for wastewater treatment biofiltration for residential and institutional applications. In Conference on Decentralized Wastewater Management in Asia 2012. Nagpur, India. Stoner, B. R., Stokes, C. D., Elledge, M. F., Robbins, D. M., Mazubuko, M., Parker, C. B., & Glass, J. T. (2012, October). A waterless toilet with electrochemical disinfection and biomass combustion. Presented at the Fecal Sludge Management Seminar, Durban, South Africa. Robbins, D. M. (2011, November). Managing fats, oil and grease (FOG) for local governments in India. Presented at Vth World Aqua Congress, New Delhi, India.