City launches reinvented toilets to improve sanitation in informal settlements
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Date: 2025-02-27 11:26:12

City launches reinvented toilets to improve sanitation in informal settlements

ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
27 FEBRUARY 2025
 
CITY LAUNCHES REINVENTED TOILETS TO IMPROVE SANITATION IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS
 
The City launched an innovative Non-Sewered Sanitation (NSS) technology pilot project today, 26 February, at Pholani Informal Settlement in La Mercy.
 
The NSS project comprises reinvented toilets which are part of a range of innovative sanitation technologies that the City is piloting to improve sanitation services in areas outside of the sewer reticulation network.
 
The project seeks to address multipronged water and sanitation-related challenges in informal settlements.
 
The NSS is also a climate-smart technology in that it treats the wastewater generated on site. This treated, safe effluent is recycled for flushing the toilets, thus reducing the potable water demand for flushing toilets. In addition, these toilets can be rapidly deployed in cases of climate disasters such as floods to provide safe sanitation for communities.
 
Speaking during the launch, Chairperson of the Trading Services Committee Councillor Mdu Nkosi said the project will contribute to community preparedness for and resilience to the effects of climate change.
 
“The non-sewered project is responding to the recurrent disasters that we are experiencing, which often affect our infrastructure, as well as the challenge of the shortage of potable water. It’s good that this project uses recycled water for flushing instead of clean water, which we need to use efficiently for consumption,” he said.
 
The NSS project is being tested in three sites in the City, including Ekuthuleni Informal Settlement in Shallcross and in Malacca Road at Reservoir Hills.
 
This project is part of the South African Sanitation Technology Enterprise Programme, a collaborative technology accelerator programme funded by the Department of Science and Innovation and the Gates Foundation. It is implemented by the Water Research Commission to explore and develop innovative solutions for sanitation provision.
 
The phase 1 stage of the project is aimed at demonstrating three types of reinvented toilet technologies in areas of need in informal settlements within eThekwini. This phase also aims to evaluate if the toilets are fit to be sanitation solutions for areas outside of the eThekwini Municipality sewer network.
 
Community member Elijah Mthembu applauded the initiative, adding that some residents benefited from being employed in the project.
 
ENDS
 
Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit.