DRC soon to be flush with toilets

THE Swakopmund Council has finally moved to tackle the sanitation problem at the town’s informal settlement area, the DRC.

At its monthly meeting last week, the Council agreed to buy 500 non-waterborne toilets, to be installed on the basis of one toilet for every two households. In November, there were 1 092 registered tenants at the DRC, according to a month-end report of the Municipality’s Community Services Department.More than 2 000 people live in the settlement.Council approved the purchase of five test toilets in August last year.At a meeting held with community members in November they were asked to choose between the two types of test toilets.Up to now, no sanitation services had been provided at the DRC.Residents have had to dig their own pits and construct their own facilities.Council also decided to employ DRC residents to install the toilets.Alderman Hans-Dieter G’thje commended Council’s decision.”We are moving in the right direction with the DRC.It is important to meet the requirements of residents at an early stage,” he said.Another request by the DRC community for the installation of more standpipes, which provide pre-paid water to the community, was turned down by Council because of cost implications.According to the Council agenda, the community wanted standpipes be increased to provide one tap for every four households.Residents said this would enable proper control of the pipes.At present the facilities are accessible to everyone at the DRC, which leads to a lot of vandalism of the taps.The installation of additional standpipes would cost N$100 000.The cost of the toilets will only be known once the tender process has been completed.Appropriate rental charges will be determined after installation.In November, there were 1 092 registered tenants at the DRC, according to a month-end report of the Municipality’s Community Services Department. More than 2 000 people live in the settlement. Council approved the purchase of five test toilets in August last year. At a meeting held with community members in November they were asked to choose between the two types of test toilets. Up to now, no sanitation services had been provided at the DRC. Residents have had to dig their own pits and construct their own facilities. Council also decided to employ DRC residents to install the toilets. Alderman Hans-Dieter G’thje commended Council’s decision. “We are moving in the right direction with the DRC. It is important to meet the requirements of residents at an early stage,” he said. Another request by the DRC community for the installation of more standpipes, which provide pre-paid water to the community, was turned down by Council because of cost implications. According to the Council agenda, the community wanted standpipes be increased to provide one tap for every four households. Residents said this would enable proper control of the pipes. At present the facilities are accessible to everyone at the DRC, which leads to a lot of vandalism of the taps. The installation of additional standpipes would cost N$100 000. The cost of the toilets will only be known once the tender process has been completed. Appropriate rental charges will be determined after installation.