WEC Water has recently supplied and installed 15 NEWgenerator^TM off-grid sanitation systems to address the major problem of undignified and unsafe sanitation some of the schools in the Eastern Cape is facing.

Says Ntwanano Mandlazi, Project Engineer at WEC Water, “Historically, many of the schools involved in the project have relied on pit latrines which have proven to be unhygienic and unsafe. In addition, the schools are located in areas where water is scarce, and the electricity supply is erratic. NEWgenerator^TM addresses these challenges in a few unique ways.”

The NEWgenerator^TM treats the blackwater from the toilets and basin water through biological, physical and chemical processes to a quality suitable for reuse as flushing water in a virtually closed loop system. Each NEWgenerator^TM is built into a 6 m refurbished shipping container and consists of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), membrane filtration, a nutrient capture system and disinfection. The systems also allow for remote monitoring by the WEC Water team. Each unit is powered by 10 solar panels, making it a truly off-grid solution.

Each NEWgenerator^TM is capable of treating 1 250 L of wastewater per day. The process produces a nutrient-rich fertiliser as a by-product which can be used for gardening. In addition, the biogas produced from the treatment process can be captured safely and utilised for cooking. The compact and modular design of the NEWgenerator^TM makes it easy to transport, install and commission on site.

The systems have been deployed to 15 schools in Stutterheim, Qonce, Zwelitsha, Mthatha, Peddie, Ngqeleni, Port St Johns and Sterkspruit.

Says Mandlazi, “Once the WEC team has built, installed and commissioned the units, we also have a 5-year Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contract, which emphasises our commitment to assisting these schools with the operation and maintenance of their units. We are particularly proud of our association with the NEWgenerator^TM technology as it enables Africa to overcome the major challenges of access to safe flushing water and sanitation and provide its people with a greater degree of dignity. The technology not only benefits schools but also informal settlements, and small businesses.”