3. Improved Taps

Improved Taps

 

Overview

The designs for water taps that have been incorporated into our Sanitation Centre layout are the results of the 2008 IQP team’s intensive study into the current conditions of taps within Monwabisi Park and their recommendations for how they may best be improved, including the addition of concrete pedestal bucket supports and foot pedal water dispensation. These improved taps will be important for reducing the spread of germs, reduce the volume of wasted water, controlling the flow of runoff, and providing a convenient method of performing everyday chores.

 

Water and Sanitation Taps

System Components

  • Water Taps
    • Commercial, suspended above bucket pedestals on concrete rear wall
    • Design foot pedal system for controlled water release and decreased contact with tap spouts to reduce contamination
  • Concrete Pedestals
    • Solid, rectangular
    • Firmly affixed to concrete base and concrete rear wall
  • Grey Water Collection
    • Runoff piped through central drain to primary grey water collection tank
  • Fire Hydrant
    • Standard hydrant for fire fighting. Likely to work better than others due to being supplied by new water main.

Design Considerations and Specifications

  • Target Usage: 200 Users
  • Maximum Daily Volume: 12,000 Litres
  • Station Dimensions: 1 x 0.5 metres
  • Pedestal Height: 0.75 metres
  • Tap Height: 1.5 metres

Operational Plan

  • Water Provision: City to provide water main to tap site.
  • Station Maintenance: Caretaker to clean and decontaminate taps daily.
  • User Education: Caretaker to explain tap operation and encourage water conservation.


Experimental Research Recommendations


Background Research & Discussion

Water taps within Monwabisi Park are fed by the City’s water supply, which is channeled through water mains that run along Mew Way and branch off with underground plastic piping to individual water taps throughout the Park. These double-headed taps often extend out of cement retaining rings containing a gravel bed for runoff catchment, and are monitored by flow metres and maintained by the City. Residents generally use the water from these taps in their homes for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and other uses by filling 20 litre, open-air buckets and carrying them back to their homes. As these buckets are heavy and the resident dwellings are often far removed from the taps, activities such as laundry washing are often performed directly at the taps.

Due to the large number of water taps servicing informal settlements, the extreme wear they incur, and the other responsibilities that strain City resources, many of the existing water taps within Monwabisi Park are currently in disrepair as a result of misuse, mechanical failure, and vandalism. Of the 27 water taps originally installed in the Park’s C-Section, only 7 were found to be fully functional in 2008. In response, the 2008 IQP team considered foot pedal dispensation and concrete pedestal bucket supports to address these issues in hopes of alleviating the constant need for tap repairs.

To read more about the 2008 Water Tap recommendations, click here [PDF 3.21 MB].

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– Toilets, Urinals, and Primary Waste Management – Composting & Pasteurization – Improved Taps – Hand Washing Station – Laundry Station – Grey Water Management Scheme– Caretaker Office – Facility Perimeter –