International Projects

Mr. Tobon’s expertise in water and wastewater management has not only shaped local infrastructure but has also had a significant global impact.

His international projects span across various continents, where he has played pivotal roles from technical advisory to lead consultant. With a career that extends over three decades, Mr. Tobon has been instrumental in the development, assessment, and enhancement of water systems in regions as diverse as Asia, the Americas, and Africa. His work includes pioneering climate-resilient water security plans, leading feasibility studies for major water supply and sanitation initiatives, and mentoring the next generation of engineers. Through his comprehensive approach, Mr. Tobon has helped governments, utilities, and communities develop sustainable solutions to complex water challenges, reflecting a commitment to both technological innovation and practical application in diverse environments. He is actively involved with Engineers Without Borders as a mentor and technical advisor.

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International Projects

Mr. Tobon’s expertise in water and wastewater management has not only shaped local infrastructure but has also had a significant global impact.

His international projects span across various continents, where he has played pivotal roles from technical advisory to lead consultant. With a career that extends over three decades, Mr. Tobon has been instrumental in the development, assessment, and enhancement of water systems in regions as diverse as Asia, the Americas, and Africa. His work includes pioneering climate-resilient water security plans, leading feasibility studies for major water supply and sanitation initiatives, and mentoring the next generation of engineers. Through his comprehensive approach, Mr. Tobon has helped governments, utilities, and communities develop sustainable solutions to complex water challenges, reflecting a commitment to both technological innovation and practical application in diverse environments.

International Water And Wastewater Projects

  • Team Lead, Leone-Vaitogi Wastewater System Feasibility Analysis, American Samoa Power Authority, Pago Pago, American Samoa. Team lead for the feasibility of extending wastewater services to the Leone and Vaitogi areas in Pago Pago. The feasibility study includes options for the installation of new sewer mains, pump stations, and a wastewater treatment plant. An evaluation of the existing wastewater treatment plant is included in order to determine treatment capacity and effluent water quality requirements.
  • Consultant (GWSI - Philippines ), PPS Tacloban City Faecal Sludge Management , Technical advisor and reviewer for wastewater and sanitation treatment options. The project assisted the City Government of Tacloban to enhance the environment of the City by improving the water quality , public health and livability of the community through improved sanitation facilities
  • Consultant for the development of “Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Climate Resilient Water Infrastructure in the Caribbean” (EU GCCA+/CARIFORUM project), 2021. Topics for the SOPs include water supply, desalination, wastewater, community-based water and sanitation, and nature-based solutions. Duties included online workshop facilitator and virtual trainer for SOPs.
  • USAID SURGE, Climate Resilient Water Security Plan for the City of Zamboanga, Philippines, 2021. Team lead for the development of the first climate-based water security master plan in the Philippines. The master plan evaluated new water sources based on future climate-driven water demands. A WEAP model was used to determine climate impacts on new water sources and resulted in water demand management and development of a capital improvement program.
  • Yap State Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Engineering Assessment, Micronesia, 2021. Lead consultant in preparing the Engineering Assessment Report (EAR) for the Water Treatment and Wastewater Treatment Plants.
  • Partnerships for Water Solutions, Inc., Bulk Water Feasibility Study, Bataan, Philippines, 2019. Lead for water supply and treatment options for nine water districts in the Province of Bataan. Developed water supply options for various surface water sources, including preliminary layout of the treatment process based on water quality and demands.
  • Engineers Without Borders (EWB) and Clinton Health Access Initiative, Fluoride Treatment Evaluation for Drinking Water, Madhya Pradesh, India, 2018. Team and technical lead for the evaluation of treatment technologies for the removal of fluoride in groundwater to prevent fluorosis.
  • Building Climate-Resilient Water Utilities in Urban Asia WaterLinks Forum, Manila, Philippines, October 2016. Workshop instructor on developing an Emergency Response Plan.
  • USAID, BeSecure Project, Emergency Response Planning for Water Districts, Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment for PAWD, Philippines, 2016. Worked with six water districts on the development of Emergency Response Plans.
  • Vulnerability Assessment, Cagayan de Oro Water District Water Booster Stations and Wells. Evaluation of emergency response plan.
  • Vulnerability Assessment, Leyte Metropolitan Water District Water Treatment Plants 1, 2, and Dagami. Evaluation of emergency response plan.
  • USAID, BeSecure, Mentor and Lead Facilitator, Florida Water Climate Alliance and Five Water Districts in the Philippines for Waterlinks Organization, Enhancing Climate Resilience of Water Utilities in the Philippines.
  • Asian Development Bank WaterLinks Forum, Manila, Philippines, 2014. Plenary speaker on reusing water.
  • USAID BeSecure, Round Table Discussion Establishing a COP on Climate Change, Speaker, Florida Water Climate Alliance, Manila, Philippines, 2014.
  • Institute for Sustainable Communities, Climate Leadership Academy - Climate Adaptation & Resilience in Water Resource Management and Infrastructure, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2013.
  • USAID, Eco-Asia WaterLinks Forum, Manila, Philippines, 2012. Speaker on climate change adaptation.
  • USAID, Eco-Asia WaterLinks, Mentoring of Manila and Maynilad Water Concessionaires on Climate Change Adaptation Utilizing the WEAP Program in Manila, Philippines, 2010-2012.
  • World Bank, New Providence Island Water Supply Project, Bahamas, 1995. Provided technical support on hydraulic modeling of the water distribution system.

Capacity Building and Workshops

  • Philippines National Water Resources Board International Virtual Water Conference, Plenary Speaker (virtual), End User Water Demand Management in the United States, 2021.
  • Philippines Society of Sanitary Engineers Annual Conference, Plenary Speaker (virtual), Pandemic Response as Part of the Emergency Response Framework for Water Districts, 2020.
  • Philippines Water Works Association (PWWA) Philwater Conference, Plenary Speaker (Pasay City), Resilient Structures Amidst Changing Climate: Florida and Philippines Water Providers Shared Experiences, 2019.
  • Mindanao Associations of Water Districts Conference, Plenary Speaker (Zamboanga City, Philippines), Drought Management, 2019.
  • PWWA Philwater Conference, Plenary Speaker (Boracay, Philippines), Reusing Wastewater as a Vital Resource, 2019.
  • PWWA Philwater Conference, Plenary Speaker (Bohol, Philippines), Vulnerability Assessments as a Tool in Determining Climate Change Impacts on Surface Water Supplies, 2017.
  • USAID, BeSecure Project, Workshop Instructor, Emergency Response Planning for Water Districts, Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment for PAWD, Manila, Philippines, October 2016.
  • USAID, BeSecure Project, Workshop Instructor, Emergency Response Planning for Water Districts, Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment for PAWD, Manila, Philippines, April 2016.
  • USAID, BeSecure Project, Workshop Instructor, Climate Resilient Business Plans, Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment for PAWD, Manila, Philippines, April 2016.
  • USAID, BeSecure Project, Workshop Instructor, Climate Resilient Water Financial Plans, Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment for PAWD, Iloilo City, Philippines, January 2016.
  • USAID, BeSecure Project, Workshop Instructor, Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment for PAWD, Cagayan de Oro and Tacloban, Philippines, June 2015.

UNOPS Senior Infrastructure Advisor (Retainer)

  • Development of Asset Management Infrastructure Database for Water and Sanitation Assisted with the development of an asset management classification framework for water and sanitation infrastructure, home-based.
  • Development of Terms of Reference for Urban Water Supply Institutional Assessment and Financial Sustainability and Water Tariff Study El Faacher and Zalingei, Sudan.
  • Technical Review of Kabul Tanker Water and Makroyan Area Wastewater Analysis and Regulatory Analysis Reports Kabul, Afghanistan.
  • Technical Review of Changuinola Penitentiary Wastewater System Design and Report Panama.

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS Mentor and Technical Advisory Committee

  • Engineers without Borders (EWB) Professional Mentor University of Florida Student Chapter, Shree Janahit Higher Secondary School water supply project Khanalthok, Nepal.
  • Engineers without Borders (EWB) Professional Mentor Rutgers University ,village water supply project Karatu, Tanzania
  • Engineers without Borders (EWB) Professional Mentor Northwestern University, Para Colorada, Ecuador water supply.
  • ASCE/EWB International Development Conference, Panama City, Panama Special Topics Course-Water Treatment Instructor. Water system assessment towns of San Francisco and La Paz, Panama (2014)

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