Sanitech has unveiled a new sanitation prototype designed specifically for the demanding conditions of South African mining environments. Developed in house by Sanitech, the solution treats waste at the point of use, reducing operational pressures, improving hygiene and supporting worker dignity underground.
Sanitation in mining environments presents a major logistical challenge, particularly when it comes to removing waste. Most existing systems rely on manual extraction and transport using already limited underground infrastructure.
“The biggest operational challenge underground is not the cleaning of facilities, but the physical removal of waste,” said Robert Erasmus, Managing Director at Sanitech. “Waste often has to be carried by hand or transported using cages or operational equipment that is already under pressure. Our focus with this innovation was to reduce the volume of waste that needs to be removed from site.”
Unlike conventional holding-tank systems, the new unit integrates a compact wastewater treatment process within a single cubicle. This allows waste to be treated where it is generated, significantly reducing the need for manual handling and transport.
“The concept is essentially a mini wastewater treatment plant built into the toilet unit,” Erasmus explained. “Instead of simply storing waste for removal, we are processing it at source to limit what needs to be extracted.”
The prototype has been designed to fit underground dimensional constraints and support typical usage levels in mining operations.
“The system is designed around approximately 30 users per day, with treated water reused for flushing,” said Paul de Klerk, Divisional Manager: Water and Waste Treatment Solutions at Sanitech.
