The City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate is excited to be partnering with the Water Research Commission (WRC) to implement the Innovative Sanitation Technology pilot project in five informal settlements.
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After months of planning and extensive community participation, the first two pilot sites were handed over to the appointed technology service provider for the construction of eco-friendly, non-sewered toilets. This milestone is a significant stride in the City’s efforts to improve sanitation in informal settlements.
The City currently has 526 informal settlements that receive various levels of basic services in line with national regulations. However, there are many of these communities that are not located near any form of bulk water or sewer infrastructure. This makes connecting these communities to existing networks near impossible. It is for this reason that investigating and investing in the adoption of innovative and dignified sanitation technologies and services in underserviced communities is a priority for our City of Hope.
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The City currently spends more than R414 million in annual servicing costs of toilets in informal settlements. This includes 15 188 chemical toilets, 11 186 container based toilets, 27 369 portable flush toilets and 56 conservancy tanks.
Through the R78,144,140 ($4,497,665), paid over multiple financial years, grant funding provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the rollout of the Community Reinvented Toilets will be trialled in up to five different high-density settlements across Cape Town. This pilot project will test various sanitation technologies at five informal settlement sites, each tailored to the specific needs of the community. The goal is to evaluate these technologies for broader use in Cape Town and beyond.
The pilot forms part of the WRC’s South African Sanitation Technology Enterprise Programme (SASTEP). It aims to organise systems, stakeholders and resources to foster an emerging sanitation industry in South Africa. As part of the SASTEP platform, the WRC supports local innovators, sanitation entrepreneurs and businesses by matching partners across the sanitation value-chain to ensure that the most conducive partnerships are established.
Initial pilot sites
The handover of sites at Nyagatisa in Macassar and Masincedane in Strandfontein, on Friday, 20 September 2024, marked the first non-sewered sanitation technology in informal settlements, offering sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. The technology will be installed during the next three months of construction.
The Clear Enviro Loo Recirculation toilet system will be piloted at these two sites. The technology will treat wastewater through a membrane biological reactor and ozone disinfection. Treated water will then be recycled for flushing. It therefore requires no bulk sewer connection, making it ideal for areas with limited infrastructure.
Future technologies in the pilot
In the next few months, USF NEWgenerator technology will be tested at Rasta Camp in Ocean View and at OR Tambo in Khayelitsha, while the Aquonic Tank will be deployed in 7de Laan in Strandfontein.
These technologies were selected based on a comprehensive needs analysis and site assessments conducted by the WRC. Each system addresses the unique challenges of informal settlements, including limited space, infrastructure constraints, and environmental impact.
‘Sanitation is a priority for us so currently the City provides different types of toilets in informal settlements where it is physically and legally possible to do so. We are excited about this project because it aligns with our commitment to finding innovative sanitation solutions in informal settlements. By engaging with local communities and gathering feedback, the City and its partners aim to refine these technologies to meet residents’ specific needs. The outcomes of this pilot will guide future investments in sustainable sanitation infrastructure.
‘We are grateful to the participating communities for their cooperation and look forward to sharing the results with stakeholders,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Zahid Badroodien.
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