The eradication of bucket toilets has been a thorn in the side of the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) for an extended period.

The Bucket Eradication Programme (BEP) in the Free State started late in September 2013. The scope of the project was and remains to eradicate buckets in identified formal settlements.

To date 26 245 toilets have been built however 10 202 are not flushing due to the outstanding construction of bulk sewer line.

In implementing the project there were a number of challenges that delayed parts of the projects, and Department has been working to resolve these, in order for the completion of the project.

The Department said in a statement that they are currently working together with service providers in the construction of the bulk sewer lines.

“The plan is to make sure that the outstanding toilets are flushing and functional within the 2020/2021 Financial year and phase out the BEP by DWS in the Free State,” the department said in a atstement.

DWS is urging communities who take to the street to protest, to understand that constructing new toilets and water infrastructure ‘is not an overnight affair’.

“There are steps and processes that the municipality should undertake in formalising an informal settlement and it is usually a long and complex one. All the three spheres of government are working together in making sure that the basic right to dignified sanitation is realised.”

Through the Water Research Commission (WRC) DWS is researching and finding ways to reduce the usage of water in toilet cisterns or waterless systems.

The waterless systems however, do not receive the public vote in most communities as the notion is still attached to the bucket system.

In an effort to reduce water use the Department has also initiated the use of 6 litres cisterns instead of the 12 litres ones used previously.

According to Minister Sisulu’s pronouncements on 23 July, part of the process going forward will include to return the function of sanitation delivery to the Department of Human Settlements, where it was based before being transferred and where it belongs.

This will mean that the function will form part of the bulk infrastructure that has to be installed when we develop housing projects, ensuring that the development of human settlements will be a fully rounded and complete process.