Socio-economic assessment of communal water house, Jansenville

The Communal Water House (CWH) is a German-South African Demonstration project for the improvement of rural life by advanced water treatment technologies, water recycling and sanitation. The CWH provides for water management by recycling and rational water use for unserved communities.

It has been developed and advocated by a project partners including companies, universities and professional bodies. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has committed to supporting a demonstration project of the CWH project in Jansenville, Ikwezi Municipality, and Cancadu District Municipality, in the Eastern Cape. It is envisaged that the success of the CWH could establish it as a viable model for wider delivery in other district municipalities following the pilot.

The DST requires initial advice on the planned CWH project, assessing both the technical aspects as well as the socio-economic dimensions. Such an assessment should form an important part of the strategy for pilot roll-out, as well as managing risks in relation to this Project. The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) is invited by DST to assist with: - Making an initial assessment to DST on the social, economic and institutional aspects of the project based upon the available documentation, and preliminary engagements (including the scheduled stakeholderconsultation). -Formulating recommendations for consideration in the project rollout and risk management strategy.