In 2008 USAID initiated a twinning partnership between Thailand's Wastewater Management Authority (WMA) and the King County Wastewater Treatment Division in the US State of Washington to strengthen the capacities of WMA and select local government authorities (LGAs) to better manage and sustain wastewater treatment facilities. Over the last 20 years the Royal Thai government has supported the construction of wastewater management systems in 87 locations throughout the country, but a survey in 2003 by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment revealed that over 75% of these systems are in poor condition or are inoperable. During 2009 King County is currently sharing its best practices and helping develop manuals/operating procedures for operating and maintaining these facilities. WMA will in turn institutionalize the new approaches and apply them when working with future LGAs to ensure sustainable services delivery.

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