Towards water efficiency and sustainability through sanitation technology
19 August 2020Marielle Hurter
Authored by Mari Macnamara; Reproduced with permission.
The current sanitation paradigm whereby a large volume of potable water is used to flush and transport faecal waste from homes to centralised wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) needs to evolve to promote water conservancy and sustainability.
Climate change has compounded the water stress levels in the country and pivots towards a less water intensive sanitation paradigm that would assist in better managing valuable water resources. The Water Research Commission (WRC) through its sanitation programme, the South African Sanitation Technology Enterprise Programme (SASTEP) has launched an initiative to promote large scale adoption and designation of low flush and other water-efficient toilets in South Africa.
The initiative could not have happened at a more opportune time. As the country grapples water shortages, the Covid-19 pandemic, and mass unemployment, the outcome of this initiative includes the designation of water-efficient toilet which fits in the industrialisation opportunity for the water and sanitation sector. Designation will enhance and assist in the development of an industrialised sanitation sector that creates jobs and other entrepreneurial opportunities. The proliferation of water-efficient toilets would assist in minimising the amount of water used in flushing and help in the better management of this valuable resource.
Water-efficient toilets minimise the amount of water used to carry the waste collected in the bowl to the back-end conveyance and treatment system. Toilet technologies can range from low flush to micro flush, super micro to zero flush or toilets that use vacuum to effect waste conveyance. Many of these types of toilets are already in use, but the use is not widespread to ensure optimal water savings. The initiative therefore contextualises the various technology options and definitions, and seeks to align existing policies, regulations, standards, bylaws, product specification, and the use of technology designation to promote the adoption and use of water-efficient toilets.
Two study projects have been initiated to drive this initiative: The Water Efficient Toilet Pedestal Test Protocol and the Desktop Review of Policies, Regulations, Standards and Bylaws related to Water-efficient Toilets. The former will scan for commercially available and developmental stage water-efficient toilets in South Africa, develop a performance testing protocol for standardisation of low flush toilet technologies in South Africa and test identified pedestals using the protocol as well evaluate engineering considerations for existing networks. The latter will conduct a systematic review South African policies, regulations and standards governing low flush or water-efficient toilets in relation to readily available comparative international information, identify gaps in policies and other areas, and recommend steps that will encourage the adoption and uptake of water-efficient toilets.
The SASTEP programme manager, Akin Akinsete said the initiative will require strong alignment with various government departments and bodies such as the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Department of Trade and Industry (dti), the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS), Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), as well as municipalities and waterboards. The buy-in from these bodies will be instrumental in accelerating the adoption of this category of sanitation hardware.
Dr Valerie Naidoo executive manager, Business Development and Innovations at the Water Research Commission highlighted that “there is a lot to take into consideration when it comes to water-efficient flush toilets such as pedestal design and building regulations and understanding the impact of very low flush volumes on piped sewer networks, sewerage pump station and the downstream wastewater treatment plant as well as the opportunities lower flush toilets offer to off-grid systems.” She further noted that product quality and value chain management are factors to consider in the adoption of water-efficient toilets.
About SASTEP
The South African Sanitation Technology Enterprise Programme (SASTEP) is a national system of innovation platform that seeks to fast-track the adoption of innovative and emerging sanitation technologies in South Africa through fostering local manufacturing and commercialisation. The core strategy of the programme is to support and empower sanitation innovators (technology partners) and sanitation entrepreneurs (commercial partners). The SASTEP approach is hinged on the formation of collaborative partnership with sanitation innovators and entrepreneurs to ensure the translation of suitable and appropriate sanitation technologies to the marketplace.
The programme was created by the WRC in partnership with the DSI, and the Bill and Melinda Foundation (BMGF) and with the support of the DWS.