Latest news with #WaterWarriorsCollective
The South African
a day ago
- Health
- The South African
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.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Nearly half of school water samples tested unsafe: WaterCAN project
A water testing initiative has shown that almost 40% of water samples taken from schools in South Africa are unsafe for human consumption, highlighting the dire state of water access and sanitation in the education system. The Water Warrior school water quality testing project was a campaign that empowered pupils to become 'scientists' for something many take for granted: clean water. Launched by the Water Warriors Collective, the project saw 95 schools in eight provinces take part in a month-long water testing initiative led by WaterCAN, a collective of citizen science activists. Pupils and teachers were trained to use water testing kits and upload their findings to WaterCAN's online MapMyWater tool. Water sources tested were tap water, water tanks (JoJos) and rivers. Key findings include: only 53 schools (47% of participants) successfully uploaded test results due to various issues, including technical difficulties and school holidays; 43% (23 samples) were classified as unsafe for drinking due to high bacterial contamination; 73% of tank water sources tested positive for harmful bacteria, including E coli; and 66% of river water samples and 23% of tap water samples also showed unsafe bacterial levels. In a report issued by WaterCAN, chemical tests, including for nitrites and chlorine, were mostly within safe limits, but some schools showed warning levels for phosphates and low pH, both of which could signal long-term health concerns.
