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To what extent will bucket systems be eradicated?

Bongani Radebe13 September 2013

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• Definition of terms

• Background

• Census key findings

• Strategic challenges

• Consequences

• Recommendations

Outline

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Definitions

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Sanitation refers to the principles and practices relating to the collection, removal or disposal of human excreta and waste water as they impact users, operators and environment (Asmal et al. 1996:3)

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Basic sanitation service – an accessible, sustainable sanitation to a household, including the safe removal of human waste where this is appropriate and necessary(DWAF 2003)

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Background

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Bucket toilets are an emotive political and service delivery issue...

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Service delivery protests 2007-2012

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Top Five list of grievances

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What does Census 2011 say?

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How the question was asked

The question (H-10)-TOILET FACILITIES focused on the main type of toilet facility used by this household.H-10

What is the Main type of TOILET facility used by this household1= Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system)2= Flush toilet (with septic tank)3= Chemical toilet4= Pit toilet with ventilation (VIP)5= Pit toilet without ventilation6= Bucket toilet7= Other0= None

.

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Definitions....

Flush toilet

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Definitions....

Chemical toilet

Pit toilet

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Definitions....

Bucket toilet?

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other?

Definitions....

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Census 2011- Key Findings

• In 2011, more than half of the households (60%) were using a flush toilet – KwaZulu-Natal just 45% of households were using a

flush toilet (sewer & septic)

• The proportion of households using the bucket toilets decreased from 4,1% in 2001 to 2,1% in 2011– KwaZulu-Natal 2%

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But... 6% reported NO toiletsand another 4% reported ‘other’

That's more than 1 in 10 households without decent sanitation

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Census 2011 toilet access (KZN)No decent sanitation

(bucket, none, other)

12%

Flush

45%

Outside sanitation

(chemical, pit )

43% (sewerage, septic)

2%bucket

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`Flush

45%(sewerage, septic)

68%

49%

48%

34% 32%

26%

26%

23%

21%

21%

13%

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Outside sanitation (chemical, VIP)

43%

70%

63%

61%

61%

61%54%

52%

50%

46%

43%

24%

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No decent sanitation (bucket, none, other)

12%25%

25%

18%

17%

13%

12%

10%

9%

8%

7%

6%

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No decent sanitation (bucket, none, other)

296,432 7,040

10,266

16,126

17,546

19,402

19,629

23,313

32,510

36,997

39,057

74,548

thousand households

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Bucket toilet

2%

3%

2%

2%

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Ugu District

16541094 673

3757

695 523

8396

359 167 14558 523

1503

3124

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

None

Chemical toilet

Bucket toilet

Other

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UguNo decent sanitation (bucket, none, other)

13%

Bucket = 1% (3 124 household)

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Common request….

You went to the households…. Show us where!!

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eThekwini Bucket toilets reportedCensus 2011

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uThungulu District

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What do other data sets say?

• General Household Survey (2012)– 5,7% households with no toilet facility or using a

bucket

• Intestinal infectious diseases 2nd leading cause of death in the province (after TB)– While there are demographic, behavioural and

environmental determinants of intestinal parasitic infection – sanitation is key

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(map disease by district)

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What do other data sets say?

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Challenges – what does it all mean?

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Challenges• Is the data correct?

– Definitions and information provided by households– Census a snapshot to the night of 9 October 2011

(outcomes)– ‘main type used’

• other types available but are not operational• bucket used at night

– Other categories: new phenomenon

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The bucket system is still a reality in some communities

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Challenges (cont)• Servicing of communal toilets and maintenance

of flush toilets connected to sewers• Water interruptions

– Vandalism of infrastructure– Interruptions in supply

• Infrastructure funding– Budget constraints– Prioritisation

• Growth and demand for housing

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We do not have a bucket toilet problem per se – we have a sanitation problem

 Census was not an investigation and it's findings should not be

pitched as such

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Consequences

• Achievement of MDG targets• Causes of death

– Leading causes of death relate to diahorrea– Especially significant in relation to infant mortality

rates of 6%-2015

• Budget implications

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Recommendations• Stop debating data and buckets, start fixing

sanitation

• Data-evidence based decision making– Don’t assume the data is incorrect, investigate the

reasons first– Encourage debate and understanding of methods and

processes for improvement

• Integrated planning– NDP,PGDS,IDPs: war rooms get information from the

source

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Thank you

Contributors:Anneline CreightonRavi NaidooNtobeko Masondo