The use and disposal of greywater in the non-sewered areas of South Africa: Part 2 – Greywater management options

K Carden,O Sichone,N Armitage,K Winter

doi:10.4314/wsa.v33i4.52936

Abstract

Greywater has been identified as a key area of research in South Africa owing to the fact that service delivery in low-income areas largely consists of on-site dry sanitation with communal water points where greywater has the potential to create a host of environmental and health problems. The main aim of this study was to investigate the use and disposal of greywater in non-sewered areas in South Africa and this included developing options for the management thereof, both in terms of reducing health and environmental risks as well as possibly providing benefits through controlled reuse. This paper reports on observations made in the course of a two-year study that examined greywater management in 39 low-income non-sewered settlements situated in 6 of the 9 provinces. Proposals are made for the selection of various greywater management options as well as guidance for the planning for, and handling of, greywater from low-income areas.Keywords: greywater strategies, greywater management options, greywater generation, greywater disposal, greywater use, non-sewered areas

Highlights

There is a noticeable gap between government policies on urban water provision and drainage in South Africa
Proposals are made for the selection of various greywater management options as well as guidance for the planning for, and handling of, greywater from low-income areas
It is important that the management of greywater is included in the series of targets for the delivery of sanitation services that have been set in terms of the Strategic Framework, in vulnerable areas where waterborne sanitation is not provided

Summary

Introduction

In the context of this study, non-sewered areas were defined as those areas without on-site waterborne sanitation. These are generally informal settlements in urban and periurban areas, and include formal settlements in peri-urban areas that have implemented dry sanitation systems, as well as households in rural and communal authority areas. Settlements with dysfunctional or inadequate sewerage systems ( communal toilet facilities) were included in the definition of non-sewered areas. Government policy makers require guidance in the development of strategies for the management of greywater, with respect to typical greywater generation rates and the likely impact of changes in the service levels associated with water and sanitation services. Residents and municipal planners need help in determining greywater management options as well as ways to reduce any negative impacts

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