Access to clean water and proper sanitation is a fundamental human right, yet millions still lack these necessities. This project, a collaborative effort between Zurich University of Applied Sciences, the University of Stellenbosch, and the Public Benefit Organisation Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrading (VPUU), aims to address this issue by developing and testing low-tech water treatment and sanitation solutions for off-grid communities in Cape Town, South Africa.
The Low-Tech Water Project centres on adapting and testing a greywater treatment technology, originally developed at ZHAW, for use in a community centre called "Monwabisi Park" located in the informal settlement of Khayelitsha in the outskirts of Cape Town, South Africa. The technology will be further developed to treat blackwater, opening up new possibilities for its application. Through a participatory approach, the project will engage with the local community to ensure that the solutions focus on their specific needs.