Cape Town: The Water and Sanitation Directorate through its partnership with the Water Research Commission (WRC) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has successfully handed over the self-sustaining toilet systems to two of the five informal settlements which were identified for the innovative sanitation pilot project by the City of Cape Town, just ahead of the festive season in 2024. The new high-tech sanitation solutions in informal settlements will usher in year 2025.
Reportedly, just three months since the construction began, the residents of Nyakathisa Informal Settlement in Macassar and Masincedane Informal Settlement in Strandfontein have received the first pilot of the high-tech Clear Enviro Loo Recirculation toilet system. The high-tech system is an addition to the 17 full flush toilets that each site receives benefits from.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Water and Sanitation of City of Cape Town – Councillor Zahid Badroodien attended a handover ceremony of the facility to the community where he joined the local ward councillors, city officials and the WRC. He was also conjoined by the representatives from the technology service provider, Enviro Loo and other consultants.
At the handover ceremony Concillor Zahid Badroodien said that this is a momentous occasion for the City of Cape Town and the residents of Nyakathisa and Masincedane as new sanitation innovations has raised the bar for dignified saniation provided for and by the city in informal settlements.
He explained further that they are now looking to the community to use the facility responsibly and ensure that they maintain the clean and orderly condition in which the toilets have been handed over to them.
The sanitation systems consider several advanced and valued features, such as:
- The systems are kitted with a full flush toilet, hand washing basin and sanitary bins for disposal of sanitary towels.
- The larger sized toilets are installed at each site with disabled-friendly fittings, as well as a wheelchair ramp.
- The systems are environmentally friendly, operating entirely off grid, powered by a combination of wind and solar energy.
- Here, the wastewater is processed through a closed-loop, on-site treatment plant that uses a membrane biological reactor and ozone disinfection. Later the treated water is recycled for flushing the toilets.
As per the sources, this innovative technology eliminates the need for a bulk sewer connection and is making it ideal for areas with limited infrastructure. The toilets will be maintained through an on-site, general plant assistant who are appointed specially for this purpose from the local community. They will work alongside up to three janitors at each site responsible for cleanliness and upkeep.
Additionally, the WRC’s technology service provider will oversee all the operations and maintenance of the plant during the first twelve months.
Considering this, Zahid Badroodien said that the community must remember that the system can run sustainably and efficiently only when used for flushing the three ‘Ps’ i.e. pee, poo and paper. Keep in mind that anu kind of misuse could compromise the functionality of the system leading to costly blockages and disrepair.
According to Badroodien, the learnings and experience from the installation will be beneficial for the remaining three informal settlement sites. It will also include the pilots that are 7de Laan in Strandfontein, OR Tambo in Khayelitsha and Rasta Camp in Ocean View, where the installations will be taking place in the upcoming months.
“The outcomes of the project will also have a great influence and will impact all whether the City of Cape Town can roll this solution out to more of the 526 informal settlements currently situated across the city,” concluded Councillor Badroodien.