Water

From sewers to signals: CSIR scientists turn wastewater into an early outbreak warning system

Long before patients arrive at clinics, the first signs of an outbreak may already be flowing beneath our cities. Every day, wastewater carries microscopic traces of viruses, bacteria and parasites shed by infected individuals, creating a hidden but powerful stream of public health data. Watch

Aquifer maps to boost water service delivery in the Northern Cape

The Northern Cape town of De Aar will become one of the few in South Africa to strategically drill and pump its boreholes using scientific maps of underground aquifers. The CSIR, the University of the Western Cape and the Northern Cape branch of the Department of Water and Sanitation used modern, cost-effective hydrogeophysical methods to map the aquifer systems of De Aar. They pinpointed the location, extent and thickness of groundwater channels and measured the quality of groundwater in terms of acidity, flow, temperature and potential harmful contaminants.

Dr Rembu Magoba talks water

Water is not only essential for life, but it is at the core of sustainable development and economic growth. The CSIR’s Dr Rembu Magoba discusses the organisation’s role in addressing the complex and multi-faceted challenges of managing water. Watch and Read more.