In collaboration with the Water Research Commission (WRC), the City of Cape Town has embarked on an initiative to deploy sanitation units equipped with climate-resistant technologies.
These modular units are designed to recycle water efficiently and operate with minimal energy consumption. Their versatility reportedly makes them suitable for a range of applications, from disaster relief efforts to serving marginalised communities residing in regions where conventional infrastructure remains out of reach.
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Presently, the City of Cape Town allocates a budget exceeding R300 million annually to maintain various types of sanitation facilities in informal settlements. This includes managing 15 000 chemical toilets, 10 800 container-based toilets, 26 000 portable flush toilets and 175 conservancy tanks.
To address these challenges and explore sustainable solutions, the City has secured grant funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to pilot the deployment of ‘Community Reinvented Toilets’ in up to five densely populated settlements within Cape Town.
‘This pilot project came at just the right time, where sustainable and dignified sanitation is not just a goal but an imperative. Partnerships like these are invaluable. By joining forces with organisations such as the Water Research Commission and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are not merely providing a service; we are enhancing human dignity,’ said Councillor Zahid Badroodien, the City’s mayoral committee member for water and sanitation.
He added, ‘This project illustrates how collective action can propel us towards a more equitable and sustainable future for all.’
To ensure the success of the project, a critical factor is the level of support from the communities set to benefit, especially in areas where demonstration units will be placed.
Part of the grant will be allocated to appoint service providers responsible for facilitating meaningful engagement with affected residents. A comprehensive community engagement plan will be developed and adjusted as needed, taking into account feedback from all relevant stakeholders.
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The overarching goal is to initiate a pilot phase and subsequently scale up the implementation of these innovative sanitation technologies as part of the long-term plan for informal settlement development.
Over the course of a three-year agreement, the project will showcase technologies validated through the WRC’s approved innovation platform (SASTEP) or endorsed by the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate. SASTEP’s vision centres on boosting local manufacturing and employment opportunities while upholding quality standards by nurturing technologies that aid local government in building a sustainable and more resilient society.
‘Signing of the Grant Agreement between the City of Cape Town and the BMGF, as well as the Memorandum of Agreement with the WRC as the research and technology demonstration partner, is a significant milestone in the objective set out in the City’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP), to provide access to dignified basic services for all. The generous investment and dedication by our partners may be the turning point, for a better quality of life for approximately 18.6% of households currently living in informality in the city.’
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