| City invests in sanitation for Overcome Heights Informal Settlement | City invests in sanitation for Overcome Heights Informal Settlement | | <img alt="" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/PublishingImages/Informal%20Settlements%20Header.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" /> | <p>The City of Cape Town’s Water and Sanitation Directorate recently refurbished 20 full-flush toilets in Overcome Heights Informal Settlement near Seawinds. An additional 20 new full-flush toilets and four taps were also installed and another set of 20 full-flush toilets are also planned for the 2024/2025 financial year.<br></p> | <p style="text-align:justify;">As part of the current 2023/2024 financial year, the City is investing over R53 million to install taps and toilets in 480 informal settlements across Cape Town. More recently, the Water and Sanitation Directorate refurbished existing full-flush toilets and installed 20 new full flush-toilets in Overcome Heights Informal Settlement.<br></p><p> Overcome Heights is situated in False Bay Coastal Park and is a culturally-diverse informal settlement. The City currently provides 1 738 toilets to this area and plans to expand on these. The City was able to install traditional full-flush toilets, as it does wherever it is geographically and legally possible. Formal ablution blocks can only be installed in certain parts of an informal settlement, where there is space for laying of pipes and reticulation infrastructure or construction of toilet blocks. </p><br><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/City%20invests%20in%20sanitation%20in%20Overcome%20Heights%20Informal%20Settlement%201.jpg" alt="" style="width:1020px;" /></figure>In instances where there are constraints, such as limited space, land ownership issues, close proximity to a wetland or communities established on a sand dune; residents are provided for with viable alternatives. The range of sanitation solutions currently implemented includes portable flush toilets (PFTs), container toilets and chemical toilets.<br><p></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Unfortunately, informal settlements regularly experience sewer network disruptions due to vandalism or blockages in the system often caused by wet wipes, rags, diapers, sanitary pads and other foreign objects flushed down the toilets. Only toilet paper and human waste should be flushed, which helps to maintain the functionality of the sewer system. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Residents are encouraged to report vandalism and sewer blockages as soon as possible, so that they can be resolved. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">Maintenance teams also provide support to residents in informal settlements, with repairs and maintenance to City-installed taps and toilets, to ensure they are in working condition. Across all informal settlements in Cape Town, maintenance teams have attended to 23 773 service requests from July 2023 to the beginning June 2024. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">'The City currently spends more than R300 million in annual servicing costs of toilets in informal settlements. This includes 14 740 chemical toilets, 11 062 container based toilets, approximately 26 000 portable flush toilets and 135 conservancy tanks. <br></p><p style="text-align:justify;">'We encourage residents to assist us to ensure the toilets and taps are clean and in good working order. If they experience issues, such as pipe leakage, damaged toilets structures or taps, theft and vandalism, residents are encouraged to log a service request so our teams can come out and attend,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span></span></p><figure class="subtopic-fullsize-img"><img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Images%202/City%20invests%20in%20sanitation%20in%20Overcome%20Heights%20Informal%20Settlement%202.jpg" alt="" style="width:2137px;" /></figure><strong>To</strong><strong> log </strong><strong>a</strong><strong> service requests for vandalism, blocked sewers</strong><strong> or</strong><strong> sewer overflows</strong><strong>, contact the City on any</strong><strong> one of the following channels:</strong><p></p><ul><li>Call: 0860 103 089</li><li>WhatsApp: 060 018 1505 (Photos can also be shared) </li><li>SMS: 31373 (maximum 160 characters)</li><li>Email: <a href="mailto:water@capetown.gov.za">water@capetown.gov.za</a> </li><li>Online: <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests/">www.capetown.gov.za/servicerequests/</a> </li><li>Visit a walk-in centre (see <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/facilities">www.capetown.gov.za/facilities</a> to find the one closest to you)</li></ul><strong>Anonymous tip-offs about vandalism are welcome</strong><br><br>If you have witnessed an incident or have any other information, please report it via:<br><br> <br><ul><li>A landline: call 107 for free.</li><li>A cell phone: call 021 480 7700 or call 112 for free and ask for City of Cape Town's Public Emergency Call Centre.</li></ul>Residents are also reminded to use solid waste services provided to get rid of their waste correctly in bins and recyclables at City drop-off facilities.<br><p><br></p><p><strong>End</strong><br></p> | 2024-06-12T22:00:00Z | GP0|#1d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70;L0|#01d539e44-7c8c-4646-887d-386dc1d95d70|City news;GTSet|#62efe227-07aa-45e7-944c-ceebacca891d | | | | | GP0|#424fbb2f-e27c-44db-b853-dbbdb893d37a;L0|#0424fbb2f-e27c-44db-b853-dbbdb893d37a|Water;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb;GP0|#d3ae5ed3-8f42-4593-a930-0e1debd471b9;L0|#0d3ae5ed3-8f42-4593-a930-0e1debd471b9|informal areas;GTSet|#2e3de6c1-9951-4747-8f53-470629a399bb | 1 | | | | | | | | | | Media Office, City of Cape Town | 0 |
