Pioneering Sanitation Solutions in Cape Town’s Informal Settlements

The City of Cape Town and the Water Research Commission (WRC) have partnered to provide innovative sanitation solutions for informal settlements. This groundbreaking initiative, funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aims to install climate-resistant Community Reinvented Toilets across high-density settlements in the city.

The Current Sanitation Infrastructure

The City of Cape Town currently allocates over R300 million annually for servicing toilets across informal settlements. This includes 15,000 chemical toilets, 10,800 container-based toilets, 26,000 portable flush toilets, and 175 conservancy tanks. However, this joint venture aims to revolutionize the existing sanitation infrastructure in these marginalized communities.

Sustainable and Low Energy Consumption

The modular sanitation units are designed to recycle water, making them suitable for disaster relief efforts and low-income communities where traditional infrastructure is unattainable. These cutting-edge toilets will be tested in up to five high-density settlements across Cape Town.

Importance of Partnerships

Councillor Zahid Badroodien, Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, emphasized the significance of partnerships in realizing this project. He stated that collaboration with the Water Research Commission and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation not only provides a service but also enhances human dignity. Collective action can pave the way towards a more equitable and sustainable future for all citizens.

Community Engagement

The project team will develop site selection criteria and conduct technical feasibility assessments to ascertain the most suitable pilot sites. The support from beneficiary communities, particularly those hosting the demonstration units, is crucial to the project’s success. A portion of the grant will be allocated to appoint service providers responsible for facilitating meaningful engagement with the affected residents. Consequently, a detailed community engagement plan will be developed, incorporating feedback from all relevant stakeholders.

Scaling Up the Implementation

The long-term vision for this ambitious project involves scaling up the implementation of these innovative sanitation technologies in the development pipeline for informal settlements. Through a three-year agreement, the City of Cape Town and the WRC will demonstrate technologies verified either through the WRC’s approved innovation platform (SASTEP) or the City’s Water and Sanitation Directorate.

The SASTEP program aims to promote local manufacturing and job creation while maintaining quality standards. By incubating technologies that support local government in building a sustainable and capable society, this initiative has the potential to transform the lives of approximately 18.6% of households living in informal settlements within the city.

Significant Milestone

The signing of the Grant Agreement between the City of Cape Town and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as the Memorandum of Agreement with the WRC, marks a significant milestone in the City’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) objective of providing access to dignified basic services for all. This substantial investment and dedication by the partnering organizations could be the turning point for a better quality of life for many of the city’s residents.