Building better cost data for better decision-making.
A clear understanding of sanitation costs is essential for city planners and investors. Reliable data to guide these decisions has only recently become available, thanks in part to the CACTUS tool (Climate and Costs in Urban Sanitation), which collects real-world cost data on urban sanitation systems. Many CBS providers, with detailed insights into their own operations, are helping the sector build a more accurate understanding of the true cost of sanitation.
Key findings
Well-managed urban sanitation systems typically cost Int$ 250–550 per household annually
A landmark 2023 study by researchers at the University of Leeds, Does “low cost” urban sanitation exist? Lessons from a global data set, looked at the real costs of sanitation systems, re-evaluating the notion of low-cost sanitation, concluding that thinking of sanitation systems as expensive or low-cost is not meaningful, with a range of well-managed urban sanitation systems – including CBS – typically costing Int$ 250–550 per household annually.
2021 EY study suggests CBS cost-efficiency potential at scale
The 2023 University of Leeds study provides the most rigorous and validated analysis of CBS costs to date. An earlier 2021 EY assessment, based on the same underlying dataset but using broader assumptions, suggested substantial savings for CBS services: between 37% and 83% lower household-level costs than sewers, and for those projected to operate at scale, up to 38% and 74% lower per household per year than pit latrines and septic tanks, respectively.
CBS brings $4 for every $1 invested
Costs are only part of the picture. In 2022, the Aquaya Institute analysed the benefits of expanding Fresh Life services in Kisumu, Kenya. Their benefit-cost analysis found that each dollar invested could generate $2 in benefits after three years and nearly $4 after 15 years. Expansion to Nyalenda and Manyatta LIAs could produce $25 million in net benefits over 15 years, reflecting gains for households, sanitation authorities, and the healthcare sector.
Coming soon: In 2025, CBSA supported members to contribute additional data to the CACTUS project. A briefing paper on CBS costs based on this data is currently in development and will provide further insights for investors and city planners.
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