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or a French drain), will only be permitted at households with a roof tank, if soil conditions
and topography are acceptable. The undeveloped plot size must also be larger than
200 m 2 . Wastewater volumes must not be excessive. These restrictions will apply in
order to prevent groundwater pollution. Methods of installation and payment will be the
same as per ground level tank households. In circumstances where on site sanitation at
roof tank households is not advisable, the e-xcess water must be removed from the plot
(probably by conventional waterbome sewerage, although this still has to be decided).
Removal of wastewater from the plot however, rather than on site sanitation, is the
preferred option. Waterbome sewerage will usually be installed at households with
standard water pressure. The service provider will be responsible for installing trunk mains
to the subdivision boundary. Reticulation to the _yard boundary will be undertaken by the
developer (State or private sector). Charges for waterbome sanitation will be added to the
monthly household water account. Septic tanks (again subject to site conditions), are also
an option at households with standard water pressure (Davis, 1996)*.
12.4.3 Department of Water Affairs and Forestry guidelines
Guidelines for the provision of water and sanitation services with special reference to the
less developed areas of South Africa were outlined in a White Paper, which was released
in 1994**. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, in terms of the RDP, now
places considerable emphasis on domestic water and sanitation services; and the
facilitation of these services within a defined policy framework (briefly described in the
chapter on health). The guidelines are based on a number of principles - the most
important of which - is the recognition that basic services are a human right. The primary
objective of the Department is to ensure "some (services) for all", rather than "all for
some". The equitable regional allocation of scarce financial, planning and technical
resources (depending on population and level of development), is accordingly necessary
to achieve this goal. Other principles of the new policy include the requirement that
decision making and the control of services should be devolved as far as possible to local
structures, with residents motivating for and accepting responsibility for their own
*
**
Davis, A., 1996. Personal communication, Durban Metro Wastewater Management, Durban. (It
should be noted that Durban Metro Wastewater Management. Durban Metro Water and Durban Solid
Waste, are departments of Durban Water and Waste).
See Anonymous, 1994. White Paper on Water Supply and Sanitation Policy, Report No. WP-I,
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Cape Town, 38 p.