The Community Plumbing Challenge 2016 which took place in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, came to an end on Friday as the world celebrated World Youth Skills Day.

Over the course of the last week, four international student teams representing South Africa, Australia, India and the United States of America have worked together to design and install a series of new communal toilet facilities for the residents of Extension 1 Diepsloot, in collaboration with WASSUP Diepsloot, (Water Amenities Sanitation Services Upgrade Programme), a dedicated volunteer and non-profit organisation.

Teams worked tirelessly through a range of unique challenges specific to the local environment.  Teams worked together with local partners on the ordering and sourcing of local materials, equipment, and tools to assist in the organisation and planning of schedules to find collaborative solutions for the new communal toilet facilities.

By taking part in the challenge, the young skilled champions were able to develop new skills and understanding which will assist them in their respective professions and professional careers as plumbers, architects, welders and engineers.

“We believe the impact that Community Plumbing Challenge 2016 leaves on the Diepsloot community will keep this project going for a longer period of time. The forging of new partnerships makes small community actions much stronger and more long term,” states Sean Kearney IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officers) International Project Leader.

Further highlights of the Community Plumbing Challenge 2016 included collaboration between local teams and global partners, a science and engineering forum held with Johannesburg Water, and official visits from representatives of participating countries.

“It’s the global, national and local collaborations that make CPC2016 work; none of this can be done alone,” concluded Kearney.

The 2016 edition of the Community Plumbing Challenge will conclude at the World Plumbing Conference which takes place on 15 and 16 September in Cape Town. There, the performance of the communal toilet designs will be showcased, based on the results of data logging and water metering of the new designs over the next two months.