WASH-Flows

WASH-Flows is a Microsoft Excel-based tool developed under the Bolivia WATCH Program to bridge the gap between household-level WASH data and community-scale watershed planning. It transforms qualitative information into quantitative data to assess service vulnerability, estimate pollution loads, and calculate water demand and wastewater flows. While currently in beta and applied in three Bolivian watersheds, the tool aims to support local governments and planners in rural and peri-urban environments to prioritize interventions and align with SDG 6 targets.

• WASH-Flows is an analytical tool that enables the estimation and evaluation of the vulnerability of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services at both domestic and community levels, specifically targeting rural and peri-urban environments.
• The tool was developed within the Bolivia WATCH (WASH Thinking Connected to Hydrology) Program, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and utilizes the 'service ladder' methodology from the UNICEF/WHO Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP).
• WASH-Flows uses a Microsoft Excel interface to convert qualitative data on infrastructure, quality, accessibility, and management into quantitative results, including graphs, tables, and matrices. It can function independently or be integrated with the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) hydrological modeling tool.
• The tool's capabilities include estimating environmental pollution loads from poor sanitation practices, comparing different infrastructure alternatives, and providing data on water demand and wastewater flows for integrated water resource management.
• The beta version of the tool has been applied in three Bolivian watersheds: Tupiza, Pampa Huari, and Choqueyapu-La Paz. While not yet public, it has generated interest in Colombia, Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, and Peru, with training already conducted for government agencies in Guatemala and stakeholders in Bolivia.

APA

Esquivel, N., Trujillo, A. S., & Liera, C. (2023). WASH-Flows. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sei2023.053-herramienta-wash-flows.pdf

Chicago

Esquivel, Nhilce, Adriana Soto Trujillo, and Carla Liera. WASH-Flows. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2023. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sei2023.053-herramienta-wash-flows.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Esquivel |first1=Nhilce |last2=Trujillo |first2=Adriana Soto |last3=Liera |first3=Carla |title=WASH-Flows |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=November 2023 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sei2023.053-herramienta-wash-flows.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{esquivel2023washflows, author = {Esquivel, Nhilce and Trujillo, Adriana Soto and Liera, Carla}, title = {{WASH-Flows}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/sei2023.053-herramienta-wash-flows.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }