Title | Rethinking sanitation improvement for poor households in urban South Africa : paper presented at the IRC symposium ‘Sanitation for the Urban Poor: Partnerships and Governance’, 19 – 21 November 2008, Delft, the Netherlands |
Publication Type | Conference Paper |
Year of Publication | 2008 |
Authors | Eales, K |
Pagination | 23 p. : 7 fig.; boxes |
Date Published | 2008-11-19 |
Publisher | IRC |
Place Published | Delft, The Netherlands |
Keywords | flush toilets, south africa, toilet flushing, wastewater |
Abstract |
In South Africa, flush toilets have historically been associated with white privilege, and dry toilets with racial discrimination. The sector slogan ‘Sanitation is Dignity’ has deep resonance, and in urban areas, anything other than a flush toilet is regarded as inferior and at best an interim option. The emphasis ondignity, rights and aspirations has led to a focus on toilet technologies, rather than on integratedsanitation improvement. But rapid extension of reticulated water and sanitation infrastructure iscreating significant bulk infrastructure bottlenecks; the focus on meeting coverage and bucketeradication targets far bolder than the MDGs is compromising sound operation and maintenance, and there is widespread evidence of wastewater treatment failures which have severe consequences forhuman health and the natural resource base. In a context of growing water scarcity, safe-guarding waterquality is critical to ensure it remains fit for use. (authors abstract) |
Notes | Includes references |
Custom 1 | 72, 824 |