Effective wastewater treatment and re-use: learning from Lynedoch

Decentralised wastewater treatment presents the opportunity for remote communities to benefit from the convenience of waterborne sanitation. To offset the water demand of full waterborne sewage systems, the Lynedoch Eco Village in the Western Cape of South Africa has adopted an innovative approach to wastewater treatment, using low energy, low technology treatment processes and reclaiming treated effluent for toilet flushing and irrigation. This approach, combined with rainwater harvesting, enables flush toilets to be provided with a minimal supply of fresh water. Now in its 10th year of operation, valuable lessons can be drawn from the Lynedoch case study to inform the effective provision of decentralised wastewater treatment systems. This paper concludes with ten key recommendations that should be considered in the design of sustainable decentralised wastewater treatment systems.