Almost 40% of school water samples found unsafe for drinking
A national school-based water testing initiative has found that nearly 4 in 10 water samples from South African schools are unsafe for human consumption.
The Water Warrior school water quality project, launched by WaterCAN under the Water Warriors Collective, ran for a month and involved 95 schools across eight provinces.
Teachers trained pupils to use water testing kits and upload their findings to the online MapMyWater tool, turning them into citizen scientists.
Water sources tested included tap water, JoJo tanks, and rivers.
While only 53 schools (47%) successfully submitted results, limited by technical issues and school holidays, the data paints a troubling picture: 43% of water samples showed unsafe bacterial contamination;
73% of tank water samples contained harmful bacteria, including E. coli;
66% of river samples and 23% of tap water samples were unsafe;
Some samples indicated low pH and elevated phosphate levels, both of which may pose long-term health risks.
JoJo tanks, which are widely used in rural and township schools, emerged as the worst-performing water source.
Poor maintenance, infrequent cleaning, and unreliable municipal supply were identified as major problems.
According to Timeslive , many schools, particularly those in quintile 1–3 categories, lack reliable access to clean water.
Some pupils bring bottled water from home, while others rely on rainwater or streams.
In extreme cases, learners relieve themselves in open fields due to non-functional toilets, without water or soap for hygiene.
This has wider consequences beyond health; it undermines dignity, concentration, and school attendance, especially for girls during menstruation.
Executive Director of WaterCAN, Dr Ferrial Adam, said, 'This is not just citizen science, it's civic action.'
'Unsafe water is not just a health issue, it's an education issue, a gender issue and a human rights issue.'
WaterCAN notified affected schools when they found contaminated water and guided them on immediate interventions and long-term engagement with municipalities.
Adam stressed that with over 24 000 schools in South Africa, this project only scratches the surface.
'The findings call for a nationally coordinated school water testing and response programme. Every learner deserves clean, safe access.'
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
eNCA
5 hours ago
- eNCA
The fight against drug use
JOHANNESBURG - As the world marks World Drug Day, officially known as the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the spotlight is glaring on a global crisis. It's looking at the devastating impact of substance abuse, particularly across African communities. The drug crisis continues to tear apart families, schools, and communities with terrifying consequences. But there's hope: the World Changers Candidate, a South African non-profit organisation, is confronting this head-on, working at grassroots level to tackle addiction and its cruel ripple effects.
TimesLIVE
6 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Lungu's death 'should not be used in a PR stunt by the Zambian government'
Makebi Zulu, the spokesperson for the family of the late former Zambian president Edgar Lungu, has accused the Zambian government of using Lungu's death and funeral arrangements as a publicity stunt. On Wednesday, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria halted the funeral plans to bury Lungu after an urgent court application filed by Zambian officials to stop the scheduled private ceremony by the family, which was set to take place on the same day. The Zambian government wanted full control of the former president's funeral arrangements, including the repatriation of his body. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Zulu said taking Lungu's body to Zambia would not give him a dignified funeral. 'The family has been consistent. He mattered to the family when he was president, he matters to the family now,' he said. 'The family only wants to give him a dignified burial, not one that's shrouded in mockery, PR and giving the international community a perception that he was properly treated when in fact not. 'His death should not be used as a PR stunt by the government of Zambia.' Lungu died in a South African hospital on June 5 at the age of 68. He was receiving specialised treatment at a medical centre in Pretoria after suffering from a rare disorder that caused a narrowing of the food pipe, for which he had been treated in South Africa before. This is six months after his attempt to return to politics was curbed by a court ruling that he could not run for office again. Zulu claimed Lungu was not treated well by the Zambian government, saying that the court processes would give the family an opportunity to tell the truth about how Lungu was treated. 'Maybe this time around Edgar has refused to go down to the soil without the truth being told. Now onwards until his burial, the truth of Edgar shall be told, and we shall tell it in a very systematic way. 'That story shall be told in court, and evidence shall be brought before the court that will exonerate President Edgar and his family. This is an opportunity we shall take with both hands and tell the story of Edgar.' He said Lungu was brought to South Africa as private citizen and wasn't given the privileges of a government official. 'We shall tell the full story in court. How he came into South Africa as a private citizen, how that he came on a commercial flight, flying economy, walked through security clearance, walked through immigration like a normal person, waited for an Uber outside the airport. Is that the life of a former president? Certainly not.' Lungu took over the Zambian presidency in 2015 after former president Michael Sata died. After taking office, Lungu embarked on legislative reforms which were seen as progressive, including amending the constitution to reduce the power of the president. He won a presidential election in 2016 that gave him a five-year term in office. But shortly before it ended, he tried and failed to reverse the constitutional changes he had made. Zulu called on the Zambian government to apologise for not treating Lungu well when he was alive. 'Decency requires that the government should say 'we are sorry we never treated him well. We are sorry we did wrong to him. Now that he's dead how can we make amends?' 'No-one spoke for Edgar when he was alive and now people want to pretend to speak for him when they were never there for him in his lifetime,' said Zulu.
The South African
6 hours ago
- The South African
BEER problem: Fire breaks out at SAB in Soweto
The Johannesburg Emergency Services has responded to a fire incident at the South African Breweries (SAB) in Soweto, near South Gate. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) spokesperson Xolile Khumalo says the blaze reportedly began when the grass in a nearby field caught fire. She said the fire spread and ignited storage crates on the brewery's premises. When South Africans connect, we don't just network; we build a community. The Lekker Network is a professional network where every conversation starts with, 'How can I help you?' Come join us & be a part of a community of extraordinary Saffas. 'At this stage, no injuries have been reported. Emergency teams are working swiftly to contain the fire and prevent further damage,' said Khumalo. No injuries have been reported at the time of publishing. Khumalo warned residents to stay away from the area as a safety precaution. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
