EThekwini Municipality scooped the Municipality of the Year award at the African Utility Week Industry Awards in Cape Town last week for its exceptional Water and Sanitation service delivery project.

Other finalists competing for the top prize were the City of Cape Town, Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality and Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

In order to address the inadequate supply of water and sanitation services in informal settlements the eThekwini Municipality designed an effective temporary solution in the form of Communal Ablution Blocks.

The ablution blocks are modified shipping containers, each fitted with two showers and a door for privacy, two flush toilets with doors, two hand basins and a small locked storeroom for cleaning supplies. Four basins used to wash clothes are attached to the outside of each ablution block.

Lighting is provided at night for the safety of the users, particularly women and children. These Communal Ablution Blocks are connected to the Municipal sewerage and water systems. They are located in 350 informal settlements in pairs- one for women and one for men.

EThekwini’s Communal Ablution Blocks project was hailed by judges as an “excellent project” because it solved the problem of inadequate provision of water and sanitation services, created jobs and improved the lives of 500 000 people.

EThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo said as part of our commitment of being Africa’s most liveable city by 2030, the Municipality has provided interim electricity, water and sanitation services to thousands of residents currently living in informal settlements.

“EThekwini has long enjoyed the reputation for being at the forefront of change, change for the betterment of our environment and improved quality of life for our citizens. The Municipality of the Year award bears testimony to our commitment to delivery services effectively and restore the dignity of residents living in informal settlements,” said Nxumalo.