Youth Month may have ended, but our commitment to safe, dignified school sanitation for every learner must continue throughout the year. In this article, Kirsten Kelly investigates how BORDA is helping schools provide safer, healthier learning environments while showcasing sanitation solutions that can be scaled across South Africa.

Operating in 14 countries in the African and Asian continents, the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) is a renowned specialist organisation dedicated to addressing key global challenges such as wastewater treatment, poverty reduction and sustainable resource conservation.

BORDA has supported the construction of approximately 3 000 Decentralised Wastewater Treatment Systems (DEWATS) globally, improving the living conditions of more than one million people. Many of these systems have been implemented in African countries where conventional sewer infrastructure is either unavailable or unaffordable. Of all the globally implemented DEWATs, 10% have been built in schools, representing the second biggest application group after residential use.

The DEWATS system is a small-scale approach to on-site sanitation treatment, designed to safely manage wastewater close to where it is generated. Unlike conventional sewerage systems that rely on extensive pipe networks and large centralised treatment works, DEWATS uses a series of nature-based and engineered treatment processes to remove contaminants from wastewater. DEWATS systems are particularly well suited to schools and rural communities because they are robust, energy-efficient, require relatively low maintenance and can operate independently of large municipal infrastructure networks. They are gravitational, require no electricity or chemicals.

In South Africa, a portion of BORDA’s funded projects directly addresses one of South Africa’s most persistent school infrastructure challenges: Providing safe, dignified and sustainable sanitation where conventional sewer networks are unavailable or unaffordable. School sanitation remains a critical issue in South Africa, where inadequate sanitation facilities can affect learner health, safety, dignity and educational outcomes.

Sarasvati Primary School

Sarasvati Primary School in Tongaat, KwaZulu-Natal, was one of BORDA South Africa’s earliest school sanitation projects. In partnership with eThekwini Water and Sanitation, the Department of Education and the University of KwaZulu-Natal, BORDA installed an 11-seat toilet block linked to a DEWATS, incorporating rainwater harvesting, biogas production and treated wastewater reuse for food gardens. Designed to treat 5 m³ of wastewater per day, the project demonstrated a circular economy approach to school sanitation.

Although biogas production was lower than anticipated, the sanitation system proved highly successful. When the school later experienced vandalism, storm damage, water shortages and electricity outages, the largely underground DEWATS continued operating because its concrete construction made it resistant to theft and damage. More than a decade after commissioning, the system remained operational, highlighting the resilience of decentralised sanitation in challenging environments.

Speaking at a BORDA school sanitation breakfast, the school’s principal explained that no-fee schools receive limited funding for infrastructure maintenance after essential educational costs are covered. Combined with a moratorium on appointing cleaners, many schools struggle to maintain sanitation facilities, leaving teachers and school management to manage cleaning, repairs and maintenance with limited resources.

Julukandoda Primary School

Located in KwaDulela, KwaZulu-Natal, Julukandoda Primary School serves approximately 900 learners. The area is far from the city centre and is characterised by poverty, with many of the learners living off social grants and feeding schemes.

Pit toilets combined with frequent water shortages posed daily risks to learners. In many cases, these facilities are self-built or constructed without adhering to appropriate engineering and safety standards. As a result, the structures can be unstable, with weakened slabs, inadequate foundations or poorly covered pits. Beyond the immediate safety risks, poorly constructed pit toilets can also expose users to disease-causing pathogens, unpleasant odours and unhygienic conditions, undermining the dignity, health and wellbeing of learners.

To address this challenge, BORDA was approached by University of KwaZulu-Natal (through the RUNRESs project) to design a biological treatment system that would sui the schools needs. Other partners involved uMngeni-uThukela Water CSI who funded parts of the project, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, ETH Zurich, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education and uMngeni Local Municipality. Aligned with the Department of Basic Education’s Norms and Standards for School Infrastructure, the project combines low-flush urine-diversion toilets with a BORDA-designed Decentralised Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS) that treats wastewater and recovers valuable water and nutrients for reuse.

At Julukandoda Primary School, wastewater from the sanitation facilities is treated and converted into effluent that can be safely used for irrigation. The recovered water and nutrients support the cultivation of crops and fruit trees, creating a sustainable food production system while reducing the environmental impact of wastewater disposal. The project also produces tree seedlings that are distributed to learners and the surrounding community, extending its benefits beyond the school grounds.

BORDA is continuing to monitor and evaluate the DEWATS to ensure its long-term performance.

Siyalungelwa Senior Secondary

Siyalungelwa Senior Secondary School, located in the Newcastle Local Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal, demonstrates BORDA South Africa’s integrated approach to school sanitation. Rather than simply replacing toilets, the project combines safe water, sanitation infrastructure, hygiene education and long-term wastewater management to create a sustainable WASH solution for the school community.

The initiative began in last year after BORDA was invited by the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) KwaZulu-Natal to support Mandela Day activities at the school. Initial work focused on understanding the site’s existing infrastructure through an environmental screening study, septic tank assessment and geotechnical investigations to inform the next phase of development. At the same time, the school’s borehole was rehabilitated to restore a reliable supply of safe drinking water.

Phase 1 centred on providing learners with modern, water-efficient sanitation facilities. Prefabricated toilet and handwashing modules, designed and installed by Isidima Design and Development, were fitted with Arumloo low-flush toilets, marking the first collaboration between BORDA and Arumloo on a school sanitation project. The innovative ‘Arumloo Ablution’ system uses less than one-third of the water required by conventional school pit latrines while costing less than one-third to construct, offering a climate-resilient solution that can be installed in just a few days.

The first phase was officially handed over to the school on 14 May 2026. As part of the handover, OneVoice South Africa facilitated WASH awareness sessions for learners and the School Governing Body to promote good hygiene practices and ensure the long-term care of the new facilities. Learners also received reusable sanitary pads donated by Leafline Washable Sanitary Wear to support menstrual health and dignity.

Sustainability has remained central to the project. In June, Isidima Design and Development conducted operations and maintenance training for the rehabilitated borehole, equipping school staff and the School Governing Body with the knowledge needed to manage the water supply. Representatives from BORDA and the Department of Education attended the training, reinforcing the importance of local ownership and long-term maintenance.

Phase 2 will complete the sanitation service chain through the construction of a BORDA-designed decentralised wastewater treatment system (DEWATS). The treatment plant will manage all wastewater generated on site, creating a fully integrated sanitation system that reduces environmental impacts while providing a resilient solution for schools located beyond conventional sewer networks. Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026.

Sobonakhona High School

Sobonakhona High School, located in the peri-urban Adams Mission area within eThekwini Municipality, is another example of BORDA South Africa’s commitment to delivering integrated water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) solutions in schools where conventional municipal services are limited. The school has long struggled with an unreliable municipal water supply and has no connection to the municipal sewer network, making alternative sanitation solutions essential.

BORDA’s first priority was to improve the school’s water security by installing a solar-powered borehole system to supplement the unreliable municipal supply. This provides learners and staff with a dependable source of water while reducing the school’s reliance on an inconsistent reticulation network. Existing male and female learner ablution blocks were also refurbished, with outdated toilet pedestals replaced by Eazi-flush Envirosan toilets to significantly reduce water consumption. New handwashing facilities were installed both inside and outside the ablution blocks to improve hygiene and encourage regular handwashing.

Recognising that sanitation extends beyond toilets, BORDA is implementing a complete wastewater management solution. The existing septic tank will be refurbished to provide a reliable backup treatment option, while a new BORDA-designed decentralised wastewater treatment system (DEWATS) will be constructed to treat all wastewater generated on site. The DEWATS is necessary because the existing septic tank cannot accommodate the increased wastewater volumes resulting from the improved water supply, upgraded ablution facilities and additional handwashing stations. Once completed, the system will provide the school with a sustainable, on-site wastewater treatment solution independent of municipal sewer infrastructure.

Alongside the infrastructure improvements, BORDA recognises that long-term success depends on behavioural change. OneVoice South Africa facilitated WASH awareness sessions with Grade 8 to 11 learners, focusing on water conservation, responsible use of the new facilities, proper hygiene practices and the importance of maintaining clean sanitation infrastructure. By combining improved infrastructure with education and community ownership, the project aims to create a resilient sanitation system that can serve the school for many years while providing learners with a safer, healthier and more dignified learning environment.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate that addressing school sanitation requires more than infrastructure alone. It demands collaboration, education, community ownership and long-term planning. As South Africa continues to tackle the challenge of providing safe and dignified sanitation at schools, BORDA’s integrated approach offers a practical and scalable model. By combining decentralised wastewater treatment, hygiene education, resource recovery and local capacity building, the organisation is helping schools create safer, healthier and more resilient learning environments for current and future generations.