THE City of eThekwini has launched an innovative Non-Sewered Sanitation (NSS) technology pilot project in an effort to improve sanitation 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.

Also read: R37 million earmarked to reduce number of pit toilets in eThekwini

“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 phase one 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.

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