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Transforming sanitation in Eastern Cape schools

Home Infrastructure Water & Waste Transforming sanitation in Eastern Cape schools

WEC Water recently supplied and installed 15 proprietary NEWgenerator off-grid sanitation systems to address the major problem of undignified and unsafe sanitation faced by some schools in the Eastern Cape.

Ntwanano Mandlazi, project engineer at WEC Water says, “Historically, many of the schools involved in the project have relied on pit latrines which have proven to be unhygienic and unsafe. In addition, the schools are located in areas where water is scarce, and the electricity supply is erratic. The NEWgenerator addresses these challenges in a few unique ways.”

It treats the blackwater from the toilets and basin water through biological, physical and chemical processes to a quality suitable for reuse as flushing water in a virtually closed-loop system. Each NEWgenerator is built into a 6 m refurbished shipping container and consists of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), membrane filtration, a nutrient capture system (NCS) and disinfection. The systems also allow for remote monitoring by the WEC Water team. Each unit is powered by 10 solar panels, making it a truly off-grid solution.

Each NEWgenerator is capable of treating 1,250 L of wastewater per day. Nutrients can be recovered from the NCS and converted into nutrient-rich fertiliser.  In addition, the biogas produced from the treatment process can be captured safely and utilised for cooking. The compact and modular design of the NEWgenerator makes it easy to transport, install and commission on site.

The systems have been deployed to 15 schools in Stutterheim, Qonce, Zwelitsha, Mthatha, Peddie, Ngqeleni, Port St Johns and Sterkspruit.

Mandlazi says, “Once the WEC team has built, installed and commissioned the units, we also have a 5-year Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract. This highlights our dedication to supporting these schools with the ongoing operation and upkeep of these units. We are particularly proud of our association with the NEWgenerator technology as it enables Africa to overcome the major challenges of access to safe flushing water and sanitation, ultimately restoring a greater sense of dignity to its people. The technology not only benefits schools but also informal settlements, and small businesses.”

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