A collaborative water testing project in 115 high schools across five provinces equips students with the knowledge and tools to protect South Africa’s water quality.
“Water checked, future secured” is the slogan of the WaterCAN Youth Collective’s water testing project for high school students. The recently launched project aims to empower teachers and students as environmental advocates and future water guardians while promoting water justice and climate resilience.
The project is a partnership between WaterCAN, an initiative of the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), Adopt-a-River, the Wildlife & Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA), Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, the Cape Town Science Centre, the Nelson Mandela Bay Science Centre, Makhanda River Rescue, and the Leap Institute.
Timed to align with World Water Day on 22 March 2025, the project provides each participating school with two WaterCAN Citizen Science Test Kits, developed by iLAB, to monitor water quality from local sources such as taps, tanks, rivers, and dams.
Why this project matters
South Africa’s water resources are under increasing pressure from pollution, mismanagement, and climate change, leaving many communities – particularly vulnerable and marginalised ones – without access to safe drinking water. Alarmingly, nearly 26% of South African schools lack access to clean water.
By equipping students with scientific skills and advocacy tools, this initiative fosters a network of youth citizen scientists who can monitor water quality, raise awareness, and hold authorities accountable when water safety is at risk. If any school’s water is found to be unsafe, WaterCAN and its partners will assist in engaging with local authorities to ensure urgent remedial action.
The project will be implemented in three phases.
- Training and workshops: Students and teachers will be trained to test water, upload the results, and take action if the water is unsafe to drink.
- Water testing: Students will use the provided Citizen Science Test Kits to conduct water quality tests and analyse key pollution indicators.
- Community engagement: Equipped with accurate data, students and teachers will engage with local municipalities to address water safety issues and lead awareness campaigns on water conservation and pollution prevention.
The initiative directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
- SDG 10: Reduced inequalities
- SDG 13: Climate action
Building a generation of water guardians
“Training the active citizens of tomorrow starts today,” says Dr Ferrial Adam, executive manager of WaterCAN. “This project goes beyond science—it creates a platform for youth leadership in environmental justice.”
Nomfundo Ndlovu, programme manager at WESSA, reinforces this vision: “Empowering young people to take responsibility for water resources is about justice, resilience, and action. Through this initiative, we are building a generation that values water and is ready to protect it for the future.”
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He pull it out, and opens it up, and in horror he shouts \’Sies! Daar\’s kak in hierdie doos!\’
And from behind the curtain his friend yells, \’NEE MAN, DRAAI HAAR OM!\”
Commando
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