South Africa must develop solutions to address specific sanitation issues

Various technologies, from ventilated improved pit toilets to decentralised wastewater systems, offer potential solutions to some of the country’s sanitation challenges, but these technologies must be tailored to each community’s unique needs, particularly in informal settlements, the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (Saice) says. For example, gravity-driven sewerage systems require sufficient installation density to prevent blockages. Dispersed rural homesteads often lack this density, making extensive pumping systems unfeasible. Therefore, there is also a need for standalone systems that do not rely heavily on water.