The North West Department of Local Government and Human Settlements has embarked on search for alternative sanitation technology that will replace the current ventilated improved pit toilets currently being used.

Most of the province is on located on dolomatic rock, meaning that the current toilets that are used pose a serious threat of contaminating the ground and are expensive to maintain.

The department has partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in its efforts to find new sanitation technology that is cheaper and easier to maintain. The CSIR will investigate technologies such as water-borne systems, urine diversion and separation, and ecological sanitation technologies – which are conventional and easy to maintain – that could be used by the department.

MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Fenny Gaolaolwe said, “the main aim is to assist community members especially those living in rural areas have better sanitation facilities, but also to assist ease the burden on municipalities who have to spend money to hire honey suckers that are used to clean up after the current VIP toilets that are used.”