The Oromia Coffee Project brings together partners from across the coffee value chain, highlighting the impact of collaboration. Stakeholders include OCFCU, participating cooperatives, Millennium Water Alliance (MWA), Project Waterfall, Trabocca, Taylors of Harrogate, and Marks & Spencer. Funding is provided through Marks & Spencer’s A Cup of Ambition programme, with additional investment from Trabocca and Taylors of Harrogate.
The shared goal is clear. The project aims to improve water use and wastewater management at coffee washing stations. At the same time, it seeks to increase access to safe and clean water for surrounding communities.
Good quality water is as crucial for coffee processing as it is for life itself. Rivers form the natural veins of rural landscapes and the living infrastructure that communities, animals, and nature gather around.
In coffee-growing areas, rivers sustain both daily life and coffee production. While some washing stations have their own groundwater sources, most depend directly on nearby rivers for pulping, fermenting, and washing coffee. Rivers serve many functions beyond coffee. Communities use them for washing, agricultural purposes, watering livestock, and daily needs. Responsible use is essential. Protecting rivers ensures they remain a reliable resource for everyone.
Washed coffee processing uses significant amounts of water. Depending on the setup, producing one kilogram of green coffee can require up to 20 liters (Applied Water Science, 2019). Untreated wastewater contains organic material from pulp and fermentation, as well as nutrients such as nitrates and phosphorus. Suspended solids increase turbidity. Wastewater is often acidic with low pH and difficult to break down naturally.
When released into rivers without treatment, this wastewater degrades water quality and disrupts aquatic ecosystems, for example through eutrophication. This affects surrounding soils, local ecosystems, and the health and livelihoods of communities.
While some sustainability certifications address water management, clear standards for coffee wastewater treatment remain limited. In Ethiopia, no specific national standard exists, making practical and locally adapted filtration solutions essential.
Beyond environmental impact, responsible water management also reduces supply chain risk. Through the Oromia Coffee Project, both Taylors of Harrogate and Marks & Spencer invest directly in the resilience of their supply chains. This approach helps protect coffee quality, support the continued availability of washed coffees, and create reference models for the wider Ethiopian coffee sector.
In its first phase, the work centers on assessment of two representative cooperatives. Afata Wanja and Ilke Tunjo are both part of the Oromia Union and located in the Limu region. Each cooperative runs two individual washing stations, serving hundreds of surrounding farmers.
Water samples are collected at two moments. One set is taken before coffee processing begins. A second set is collected during active processing. This approach allows partners to compare results and understand the real impacts of coffee processing.
Beyond sampling, the project assesses on-site infrastructure and community water sources. Community surveys help build a complete picture, forming the basis for practical and locally relevant solutions.
For our farmers, coffee is our backbone. This initiative protects water sources, community health, and the sustainability of our industry.
Washing stations usually pump water into reservoirs after dark. At night, continuous river flow allows water quality to recover. This avoids contamination linked to daytime community use and supports controlled fermentation during processing.
At the same time, coffee cultivation and processing mostly take place in remote areas. Road conditions are challenging, especially during the rainy season. Most communities are not connected to the electricity grid, and access to construction resources is limited.
During a meeting with Tamene (MWA), these challenges became clear. “During our first visits we could only reach the sites on foot,” he explained. “For both visits we had to stay at the washing stations for multiple nights to collect representative water samples.”
To link coffee production to wider community needs, the assessment also includes intensive community surveys. Internet access is limited, and most households are offline. As a result, data collection is carried out manually, including surveys and assessments of sanitation conditions at nearby schools and public infrastructure.
As part of the assessment phase, Trabocca visited the Afata Wanja cooperative in western Ethiopia during field trips in December 2025. From the moment of arrival, the sense of community was clear. Prayers, fresh bread, local honey, and buna were shared together. The hospitality was warm and sincere. It reflected the pride, openness, and commitment of the people behind the cooperative. Spending time together made the project tangible. However, the visit left a bittersweet impression. The warmth and commitment of the community reflected a reality standing in contrast to the technical challenges and the availability of clean drinking water.
A detailed assessment revealed issues that are common across many cooperative washing stations. At Afata Wanja, much of the equipment dates back several decades to the cooperative’s establishment. While core infrastructure is in place, water flow and system performance are not always reliable. Maintenance, adjustments, and targeted improvements are needed for efficient and responsible water use.
At the same time, the coffee itself tells a different story. Despite these technical limitations, Afata Wanja consistently produces an excellent washed Limu Grade 2 coffee, frequently scoring around 86 points.
This contrast highlights the project’s opportunity. Improved water treatment supports healthy communities and safeguards shared water sources, while enabling the continued production of high-quality specialty coffee.
The Oromia Coffee Project is designed as a multi-year initiative spanning approximately three years. The first phase focused on assessing washing station infrastructure, community water access, pollution levels, and potential treatment options.
Based on this work, several scenarios for improved post-harvest wastewater treatment have been identified. Proposed solutions include wastewater lagoons and constructed wetlands, using natural filtration methods such as vetiver grass and gravel filters, with additional chemical treatment where appropriate. These systems aim to reduce environmental impact, enable water reuse during processing, and relieve pressure on natural water sources.
The next phase will focus on implementation.
Community surveys revealed needs that extend beyond coffee processing. Coffee washing takes place only a few months per year, while access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation is required year-round. Outside the processing cycle, many households and schools lack reliable water and hygiene infrastructure.
The assessment also evaluates community acceptance of proposed solutions. Ensuring systems are understood, supported, and locally manageable is critical for long-term success. By separating coffee processing from shared rivers and strengthening local water and sanitation infrastructure, the project can support healthier, more resilient communities.
Our goal is to tackle safe drinking water scarcity in a way that directly benefits coffee communities.
The lack of clean water and hygienic conditions is a reality for many rural communities in Ethiopia. While first phases focus on Afata Wanja and Ilke Tunjo cooperatives and their washing stations, these sites were chosen as representative examples.
By combining local knowledge with international expertise, the project aims to identify adaptable and cost-effective solutions. These approaches are intended to serve as a framework that other cooperatives and communities can apply and adapt to their own contexts.
The long-term ambition is scalability. By building practical models that work on the ground, the Oromia Coffee Project seeks to contribute to sustainable water stewardship for coffee communities across Ethiopia.