Stantec’s Winnovators sanitation concept selected for implementation in Papua New Guinea

Stantec’s Winnovators sanitation concept selected for implementation in Papua New Guinea

Stantec’s employee-developed sanitation concept, created through WaterAid’s Winnovators program, is moving from idea to real-world impact, with WaterAid selecting the proposal for implementation in coastal communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The concept will be piloted in Pari Village, a stilted coastal community near Port Moresby where traditional sanitation systems are difficult to deliver. Funded through WaterAid Sweden and the Swedish Postcode Lottery’s Dream Project initiative, the pilot will be delivered over the next three years.

Developed for WaterAid Australia’s 2024 Winnovators technical challenge, Stantec’s proposal responds to significant sanitation challenges in PNG, which ranks among the lowest globally for access to basic sanitation. In coastal villages like Pari, limited land availability and complex land tenure arrangements restrict conventional on-land solutions, often resulting in waste flowing directly into the sea.

“Our aim was to create a practical sanitation solution that could work in over-water communities while responding to PNG’s broader social context,” said Josh Lawrence, civil engineer at Stantec, who co-led the Winnovators proposal. “Alongside improving sanitation, it was crucial that the concept supported gender equality, accessibility, and dignity for all users.”

Adapting a proven local solution
The selected concept adapts Sago’s compostable dry toilet system—already used successfully in on-land PNG communities—for installation over water. The waterless design captures and dehydrates waste through a sealed, low-maintenance system, enabling safe disposal while reducing environmental impacts in sensitive marine environments.

Manufactured locally in PNG, the toilets are designed to be accessible for women, children, and people with disabilities, with features such as handwashing facilities and solar lighting to support safe use day and night.

“What makes this solution innovative is that it builds on what already works in Papua New Guinea,” Lawrence said. “By adapting a proven local system rather than introducing something entirely new, the solution supports long-term use, maintenance, and community ownership.”

Infrastructure with education at its core
Beyond physical infrastructure, the project includes a culturally grounded water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) education program delivered through WaterAid’s Healthy Islands model. The program focuses on safe toilet use, hygiene education, and meaningful participation from women, girls, and people with disabilities, recognising that behaviour change is central to long-term success.

For the team behind the proposal, seeing the concept selected reinforces the purpose behind their work.

“It reminds us why we went into engineering in the first place,” Lawrence said. “To create solutions that genuinely help people and support positive change where it’s needed most.”

About Stantec
Stantec empowers clients, people, and communities to rise to the world’s greatest challenges at a time when the world faces more unprecedented concerns than ever before.   

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