WATNET: water and resource management in South Africa
As part of the BMBF-funded research cooperation between German and South African universities, a delegation from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar took part in multiple events on sustainable water supply and disposal in November 2019. The project partners’ declared goal is collaborative research into novel sanitation concepts.
Combatting antibiotic resistance: WATNET project supports the WHO in South Africa
The WATNET project of the Professorship for Urban Water Management and the Professorship for Biotechnology in Resource Management supported the World Health Organization (WHO) at the global »World Antibiotic Awareness Week« held in South Africa. Two events took place in Potchefstroom in collaboration with the aquatic microbiology research group of the North-West University:
On 18 November 2019, a stakeholder workshop was held on the antimicrobial resistance, responsibility and possible solutions. The interest groups included around 50 participants from clinics, agriculture and science (natural sciences, environment and technology). Prof. Eckhard Kraft from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar gave a lecture on anaerobic fermentation as a possible solution for removing antibiotics. The event was attended by students and colleagues from Potchefstroom and Mafikeng.
Two days later, on 20 November 2019, the topic was taken up at Mooi River Mall in Potchefstroom and presented to the general public: the German research group outlined preliminary project findings and drew attention to how antibiotic resistance is developing and what the African population can do to slow this process. The event was a resounding success: residents of Potchefstroom of all ages and from all walks of life took part in the discussions.
Improving water quality and availability
On 21–22 November 2019, the research group for aquatic microbiology at the North-West University and the WATNET project in cooperation with the JB Marks Municipality – Water Management organised a »Lekgotla« (Tswana for a public gathering) on the subject of »Water, Hygiene and Compliance«. Approximately 120 people from a variety of interest groups attended the event, including representatives from the South African municipality and mayor’s office, MMC councillor Dodo Maneli, scientists and students.
Prof. Eckhard Kraft from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar gave a keynote speech on alternatives to water-based sanitation during which he presented novel approaches, applications and implementation in connection with resource management. High-ranking representatives from the Ministry of Water and Sanitation informed about the latest implementation strategies for Blue Drop (Mr Rodney Mathebula) and Green Drop (Ms Mmakgang Enele). In addition, German and South African students from NWU and the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar explained selected study findings that the municipality could also benefit from.
Network intensification and research on water and resource management at university level in South Africa and Germany (WATNET)
Funding provider: Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Project period: May 2017–April 2021
Project partners: Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, North-West-University – Potchefstroom Campus – South Africa (NWU)
Project description
The proposed project aims to expand the joint research and research capacity in the field of adapted nutrient, energy and water management in urban water and resource management. The theoretical conditions are to be created for a sustainable water supply and disposal system in informal settlements and approaches for novel concepts of residential water management in connection with the entire infrastructure developed. The applicants believe it is necessary to investigate decentralised approaches such as container-based collection as a condition for an integrated sanitation concept in these settlements. Similarly, obstacles to introduction of the new concepts should be identified and removed or solved. While the Germans see solutions in innovative sanitation concepts, for example, the South Africans have experience with adapted or grown structures which can be transferred as necessary. The project partners are not aiming at a north-south transfer of knowledge, but rather the joint exploration of new approaches, taking the experiences of both sides into account.