The National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has kicked off public consultations on the second draft National Faecal Sludge Management Strategy (NFSMS), starting in George on Thursday and continuing in Stellenbosch on Friday.
The draft policy has been developed in response to 2016 National Sanitation Policy and Water and Sanitation Master Plan requirements.
“The DWS is developing the NFSMS for onsite sanitation systems throughout the entire sanitation value chain,” says DWS Western Cape sanitation services deputy director Mchumane Hlazo.
The strategy is expected to be finalised early next year and implemented immediately.
The second draft currently being presented to stakeholders to obtain inputs aims to provide an opportunity for the water sector to discuss the results of Status Quo Analysis from data received from provincial stakeholders and identify key issues and root causes contributing to the status of sanitation.
The NFSMS outlines the sanitation value chain positions of capture and containment; ensuring safe, affordable and sustainable emptying and transport services are available to all users of onsite sanitation systems; treatment to ensure that all faecal sludge is safely received and treated at appropriate treatment facilities; and end use and disposal to establish an enabling framework for the beneficial use of faecal sludge products / safe disposal of faecal waste.
Meanwhile, the DWS is reviving the Provincial Sanitation Task Teams, comprising various national government departments, provincial government, local government, non-governmental organisations and institutions of higher learning.
The Provincial Sanitation Task Team will ensure coordinated efforts geared towards ensuring improved sanitation to restore the dignity of communities, besides others.