Water Wheel May/June 2023: Water And Technology

Abstract

New technology to transform water quality testing in South Africa The project could fill a serious gap in South Africa’s water resources management. Monitoring and assessment of the quality of water resources are critical to determining if they are suitable for various uses, including for drinking and personal use, and the country’s national monitoring programmes monitor raw surface water quality in rivers and dams for trends in, for example, chemistry, eutrophication, microbiology and ecosystems. Spot tests also need to be conducted if there are any concern, for example, when sewage treatment works fail or chemical spills occur. However, there is currently a huge backlog in water quality testing, and results are often only available after anything from three weeks to six months. Among the many implications is the health risk to water users, who might still use contaminated water due to a lack of test results that indicate any danger. It is a serious concern in South Africa.

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