CSIR researchers deployed a buoy equipped with a series of instruments in Theewaterskloof Dam, one of the largest dams in the country, located in the Western Cape. The team of researchers aim to gain deeper insights into microalgae biodiversity and its significance in supporting the ecosystem health of South Africa’s drinking water dams.

The research team will employ a combination of satellite data and in-water physical and chemical measurements to assess microalgal diversity in near real-time. This approach will also enable the early detection of potential overgrowth of toxic algal species, which can negatively impact water quality and ecosystem stability.