Investments in the wastewater and sanitation sector continue to favor large sewered systems, especially in bigger cities. These leave behind people in the fringes of urban centers or those in informal settlements. People in rural communities are likewise left to fend for their own arrangements at their own cost.

The price of sewered infrastructure is prohibitively high. It is difficult to introduce in densely populated cities and towns and is one reason why delivering sanitation to all is elusive. Even worse, there is little evidence that these heavy investments have improved sanitation services, and subsequently improved public health for those who need them the most.

Citywide inclusive sanitation (CWIS) offers a different approach. It aims to shift how we think, design, and implement sanitation projects, by focusing instead on choosing the appropriate mix of systems (sewered or non-sewered, and on-site), technologies, and regulations that will deliver a safe, equitable, and reliable sanitation process. CWIS also promotes sustainability, taking treatment further into resource recovery and embracing the commercial use of waste by-products.

Using case studies and project examples, this session demonstrated how CWIS is delivered through a selection of appropriate systems and technologies, backed up by complementary regulations that ensure safe practices are maintained. The webinar also touched on performance indicators to monitor the delivery of sanitation services.