Alternative sanitation solutions in informal settlements on municipality's to-do-list

GEORGE NEWS - The success of alternative sanitation solutions in various informal settlements which ran as a pilot project last year, prompted George Municipality to expand their program.

The municipality applied for funding from the Western Cape Provincial Department of Infrastructure to install about 900 units of these sanitation solutions in local communities.

In April 2023 George Municipality introduced two pilot projects in Syferfontein, an informal settlement south of Pacaltsdorp, to replace chemical toilets with alternative on-site sanitation technology. These new toilets use enzymes to dissolve solids and include a water flush mechanism that drains into underground tanks, reducing servicing frequency from two to three times a week to once a month.

Testing sustainable alternative sanitation solutions is crucial for informal settlements without sewer networks, to replace chemical toilets and alleviate the financial burden on the municipality and the Department of Infrastructure.

After a year of use, residents have praised the new sanitation units. If the funding application is approved, the targeted areas for the implementation of this solution are all informal settlements that are serviced by chemical toilets.

George Municipality introduced two pilot projects in Syferfontein, an informal settlement south of Pacaltsdorp, to replace chemical toilets with alternative on-site sanitation technology.