Non-sewered sanitation systems CASE STUDY

This fact sheet by GreenCape, produced in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, defines non-sewered sanitation systems (NSSS) and outlines their benefits, drivers, and the market potential for their implementation in South Africa and globally.

• Non-sewered sanitation systems (NSSS) are defined as sanitation systems that do not require reticulation and operate independently of a sewerage system, instead collecting and storing human excreta on site for disposal or treatment.
• Investment in water and sanitation provides a significant return in reduced healthcare costs, estimated at between U$D 2.5 and 5 for every dollar invested.
• South Africa faces several challenges that NSSS can address, including the fact that it is the 30th driest country globally and that 63% of its population lives in urban areas, a figure projected to reach 71% by 2030.
• There are significant financial opportunities and government commitments for NSSS in South Africa, including R4.7bn in potential metropolitan projects to replace bucket and chemical toilets and R3.4bn allocated by the Department of Basic Education for school sanitation over two years.
• Global financing for water infrastructure is projected to rise from USD 6.7 trillion by 2030 to USD 22.6 trillion by 2050. To achieve SDG 6.1 and 6.2 by 2030, an annual capital investment of USD 114 billion is required, with USD 19.5-billion for basic sanitation and USD 49-billion for safe faecal waste management.

APA

GreenCape (n.d.). Non-sewered sanitation systems CASE STUDY. https://greencape.co.za/assets/FNF-Case-Study-3-NSSS.pdf

Chicago

GreenCape. Non-sewered sanitation systems CASE STUDY. n.d. https://greencape.co.za/assets/FNF-Case-Study-3-NSSS.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=GreenCape |title=Non-sewered sanitation systems CASE STUDY |url=https://greencape.co.za/assets/FNF-Case-Study-3-NSSS.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{greencapendnonsewered, author = {{GreenCape}}, title = {{Non-sewered sanitation systems CASE STUDY}}, institution = {GreenCape}, url = {https://greencape.co.za/assets/FNF-Case-Study-3-NSSS.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }