Low-tech greywater treatment and reuse in South Africa

Description

Greywater from showers, laundry and kitchens is produced in large quantities and could be reused for purposes such as irrigation, toilet flushing or laundry. Reusing it without treatment, however, can pose health and environmental risks. Affordable systems that are easy to operate and maintain could make safe reuse more accessible, particularly in communities where water and sanitation services are limited.

The project brings together researchers from Switzerland and South Africa to examine low-tech greywater treatment solutions. The partners review existing technologies and local practices, including indigenous approaches to greywater reuse. They also survey people in rural communities to understand their preferences, concerns and barriers to adopting treatment systems. These findings will inform a publicly available catalogue that compares solutions in terms of performance, cost, maintenance and social acceptance.

Building on this work, the partners will install and monitor a pilot treatment system at the University of South Africa. They will assess its treatment performance, operational stability and maintenance needs, as well as potential uses for the treated water. The project combines technical and social research to support solutions suited to local conditions and to lay the groundwork for wider implementation.

Key data