Conducting hands-on experiments plays a crucial role in students’ understanding of scientific principles. However, the lack of laboratories and appropriate equipment in secondary schools limits this opportunity. This project aims to respond to this problem by focusing on a concrete application: the improvement of the coagulation – decantation process of MES in the treatment of wastewater. Using local plants (okra and aloe vera) as natural. This research explores environmentally friendly and cost-effective solutions for water treatment, while providing students with an opportunity for hands-on learning and technical skills development.

South African based water awareness learning App, stems from their research findings that Drop Drop is the project name of a water education and awareness app. Their decision to design a made them realise the need for enhanced, innovative and interactive awareness programs that educate people to make informed choices about water use and water management that will have positive environmental and economic impacts. According to the compulsory national standards as required by the Water Services Act of 1997, one of the standards states that we require ‘’…the provision of appropriate education in respect of effective water use.’’ Considering that historically and geographically, South Africa is a water stressed country with water resources under tremendous pressure due to various factors, authorities need to emphasise regular water awareness campaigns to strengthen the need for responsible citizenry. Behavioural change is vital and seeks to develop strategic intervention to assist South Africa to promote water conservation and proper water management by implementing the principles of Agenda 21 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The aims and objectives of this project, addresses the sub goals of SDG 4 and SDG 6.

The Drop Drop prototype will be easy accessible and affordable because it is data free to use. The free Application downloader, already available on smart phones and the ZAR 29 Mb data was used to create the Drop Drop mobile game. The coding was done using Java Script. The game, in the form of questions and quizzes with the scoreboard was created. The information was researched and collated from textbooks, articles, internet sites, journals and newspapers. The app was tested with a test sample, to determine its functionality and impact on the users. 

FLOODWISE is an innovative automated flood management system designed to mitigate flooding and repurpose water efficiently. The system integrates a flood indicator, a biofiltration setup, and an eco roof. These components work in synergy to convert floodwater and rainwater into usable water for non-potable purposes such as washing and flushing. By combining real-time flood monitoring with sustainable water treatment and storage solutions, FLOODWISE aims to enhance urban water resilience and promote eco-friendly water usage practices.

We conducted a diagnosis of the community issues in Teotitlán del Valle, focusing primarily on the scarcity of water for productive activities. The principal economic activity, rug production, utilizes clean water for dyeing with both natural and synthetic dyes, leading to the disposal of untreated inked water. Employing the Logical Framework approach, we proposed the development of a home filter to facilitate the reuse of inked water in vegetable cultivation. This project entails the evaluation of filtered water samples from homemade filters designed specifically for natural and synthetic dyes. Through experimental and observational assessments, we measured pH levels and coloration before and after filtration, noting variations with pH values ranging from 7 to 8. The filtered water was subsequently used for the germination of spinach and radish seeds, with further experimentation planned for other appropriate vegetables. The objective of this project is to establish a sustainable system that enhances family economies and nutrition, contributes to environmental conservation, and provides a viable water reuse strategy for the community.

Enhancing Plant Salinity Stress Tolerance Through Rhizobacteria-Mediated Salinity Mitigation allowing brackish water irrigation and saving freshwater for domestic use.

My project aimed to develop a water test that identifies fecal contamination in under 10 hours, part of UNICEF’s 2021 global innovation challenge. Unlike existing 24-hour tests requiring labs and only detecting indicators (often inaccurately), my test works in the field and detects all bacteria within 9 hours. This ensures accurate assessment of drinking water safety. In rural African communities, it allows immediate water quality reassessment after extreme weather events and can determine the safer of two water sources within the same day. By testing directly for bacterial pathogens, I provide a more reliable method to ensure safe drinking water globally, particularly in vulnerable regions.

This project aims to prevent further melting of Arctic ice through the creation of a bioengineered strain of glacial Cryobacterium that can uptake dissolved silicon, and biomineralize it into silica (glass), to increase the reflectivity of glaciers. This novel, environmentally-friendly solution will lead to an increase in reflectance that will alow the glaciers to recover over time and prevent devastating sea level rises that would occur due to climate change. 

Bilge Vessel + Scupper Valve is a decentralized greywater collection, recycling system that bridges the gap between theoretical research and practical application. This system reduces the water demand, essential for sustainable development, by collecting, treating, and reusing greywater generated in a household at the source without requiring any modifications in the current home plumbing system. With this product-driven intervention, a family can save 5,000-6,000 litres of potable water/month and can reduce 50% of their water demand. This decentralised approach reduces carbon emissions by 80-85% compared to the centralised STP setups. It therefore addresses two challenges: water scarcity and operational carbon emissions linked to freshwater supply, treatment and conveyance of treated water, contributing to embodied carbon savings in plumbing infrastructure, STP construction.

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for plant growth, playing a crucial role in various physiological processes, including energy transfer, nucleic acid synthesis, and root development. As an essential component of DNA, RNA, and ATP, phosphorus is indispensable for the overall health and productivity of plants. Despite its significance, phosphorus is considered a non-renewable resource with limited global reserves. The primary source of phosphorus is phosphate rock, and the extraction and production processes are energy-intensive. The finite nature of phosphorus resources raises concerns about future availability and sustainability, emphasizing the need for efficient phosphorus
management. Thus, the present study, aims at benefit from the phosphorus present in eutrophic water through two aquatic plants (i.e., Pistia stratiotes and duckweed). This study investigates the feasibility of growing these aquatic plants on different water types. The focus is on observing the growth patterns, leaf protein production, and the generation of brown juice as potential by-products containing high phosphorus content and a possible plant growth biostimulant. The study aims to provide insights into sustainable phosphorus utilization and recovery from eutrophic water within the context of a circular economy.