The 2017 National Education Infrastructure Management System report states that of the 23,577 public primary and secondary schools in South Africa, there were:

• 5,175 schools without water or with unreliable water supply
• 68 schools with no toilets
• 9,203 schools with pit latrines
• 7,105 schools with VIPs
• 2,912 schools with septic tank systems
• 8,574 schools with flush toilets on municipal systems

This indicates some of the very significant challenges being faced by schools in relation to water and sanitation. Gauge has been exploring how this can be addressed through alternative sanitation models, such as the use of composting toilets, aqua privies and onsite biological systems. These alternatives avoid problems associated with existing flush toilet (such as large-scale water consumption) and pit latrine (the risk of contaminating groundwater) systems used in many schools and have a range of advantages. Please contact us if you are interested in studies on school sanitation and water.