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South Africa Visit: JNCC’s Environmental Pollution Programme in Action

By Isabella Gosetto

In our latest blog post, Isabella Gosetto from our Environmental Pollution Programme Team tells us about a recent JNCC visit to South Africa.

Isabella Gosetto and Jason Weeks from JNCC recently visited South Africa to meet with Environmental Pollution Programme (EPP) partners, the Institute of Natural Resources (INR), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and Dr Nick Rivers-Moore. The trip included site visits, project partner meetings, and participation in community workshops, offering a unique opportunity to see the direct impact of EPP projects on local communities and the environment.

Solid Waste Management: Engaging with Local Communities

The week kicked off with a rural community workshop, where we met with waste pickers and a waste collection service provider as part of the EPP’s solid waste management project, being delivered by INR. The workshop sparked insightful discussions about the challenges local communities face regarding waste collection services. Key topics included the need for more effective waste management solutions, understanding the barriers towards waste management and the critical role these waste collection services play for the community. The discussion centred around the creation of a community cooperative to ensure sufficient volumes of waste for collection. This project and the associated awareness campaign has been a significant step towards addressing both pollution and socio-economic challenges within these communities.

Image 1. Community workshop as part of the EPP solid waste management project (© Isabella Gosetto).

Spring Protection: A Success Story of Water Access and Income Generation

Next, the team visited two freshwater spring sites where INR-led EPP interventions have positively impacted local rural communities. These interventions protect and manage spring water sources which are essential for local water supply. The visit revealed the tangible benefits of the project, including improved access to clean water for households and agriculture. During the visit, the team met a local community member who has benefitted from the improved water access. Thanks to the EPP spring protection project, the individual has expanded his vegetable patch and is now selling produce, creating a new source of income. This story highlights the wider socio-economic benefits of ensuring safe and sustainable water sources.

Image 2. Household vegetable garden (© Isabella Gosetto).

Environmental Monitoring at Mpenjati Estuary: Assessing Habitat Recovery

The team also visited the Mpenjati estuary, where another INR-led EPP project is assessing the use of environmental monitoring in the recovery of habitats impacted by extreme pollution events. The project team sampled vegetation to evaluate the carbon storage capacity of the estuary and study the long-term impacts of chemical pollution on the ecosystem’s ability to absorb carbon. This fieldwork is part of a broader effort to understand how pollution affects coastal habitats and their role in climate mitigation, particularly through carbon sequestration.

Image 3. Vegetation sampling at Mpenjati Estuary site (© Isabella Gosetto).

Exploring Algae-Based Wastewater Treatment: A Dairy Facility Field Trial

One of the highlights of the trip was a visit to an INR-led field trial for an innovative algae-based wastewater treatment system at a dairy processing facility. Four large stabilisation ponds have been set up on the site, treating wastewater from the facility at varying concentrations. Using natural algae to clean the water is a sustainable and potentially low-cost solution for managing wastewater in the dairy industry. The positive engagement from the facility staff has been instrumental in ensuring the success of the algae treatment system, which is showing exciting potential to be scaled up in other agricultural industries.

Image 4. Algae-based wastewater treatment stabilisation ponds set up at dairy processing facility (© Isabella Gosetto).

Collaborating with the University of KwaZulu-Natal

We also met with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in Durban, a lead partner in the EPP to review progress on two important computer modelling projects. One project is focused on modelling wastewater flow with consideration for climate change, while the other is developing a decision-support tool to calculate the costs of water treatment. We visited UKZN’s laboratory, where six microsensors are being developed to provide real-time water quality monitoring. These sensors are being deployed at selected river sites, and will provide valuable continuous data to support with water quality management in the region and beyond.

 

Image 5. One of six microsensors that have been fabricated by UKZN for real-time monitoring of water quality (© Isabella Gosetto).

Research on Wastewater and Solid Waste in South Africa

We also met with Dr Nick Rivers-Moore, another lead partner working on an overarching project to identify research gaps in how wastewater and solid waste is managed in South Africa. This includes a study which is using environmental DNA to assess biological community composition at various points upstream and downstream of wastewater treatment works with different levels of regulatory compliance. Another site visited was the Kluitjieskraal wetland near Cape Town, where research is assessing the impact of wastewater on wetland ecosystem services, helping to evaluate how wastewater treatment and management can be improved for ecological benefits.

Image 6. Kluitjieskraal wetland (© Isabella Gosetto).

Collaborative Discussions and Future Direction

In addition to field visits, we met with project partners and stakeholders, fostering valuable discussions about how the individual projects were connected, and the future of the programme. These conversations focused on the legacy of the EPP, how the work can be scaled up and into new areas, and the next steps in addressing environmental pollution challenges in South Africa. The collaborative efforts observed throughout this trip demonstrate the important role that local communities, academic institutions, and industry partners play in creating sustainable solutions for environmental pollution. The EPP’s work in South Africa continues to drive innovation, empower local communities, and protect biodiversity for future generations.

As the team reflects on their time in South Africa, the lessons learned and relationships built during this visit will serve as a foundation to drive forward the work of JNCC and the Environmental Pollution Programme for nature, people and planet.

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