Environmental Pollution Programme

To this end, a programme was developed with in-country partners in South Africa as part of a multi-year Environmental Pollution Programme.

South Africa Programme Objectives

The South Africa programme had three elements:

• Modelling of wastewater flow within rivers, covering where and how it impacts the environment and what the chemical makeup of these wastewater emissions are, supported by point sourcing of water quality. Similar analysis of how solid waste released into rivers impacts the environment, including how chemicals from the breakdown of solid waste (e.g. persistent organic pollutants) are transported from rivers to the ocean. Models will include the physical impact of the introduction of high volumes of solid waste and wastewater into waterways on their capacity to respond to climate-forced weather events, such as increased flooding.
• Analysis of the impact of the release of solid waste and wastewater, including quantitative estimates of the reduction in ecosystem capacity for carbon storage along the lifecycle of the waste as it travels from rivers to the ocean.
• Pilot research projects on nature-based solutions which utilise alternative uses of solid waste developed across a minimum of three rural communities in the uMkomazi catchment area of KwaZulu-Natal, developing community monitors for environmental impact of pollutants.

Projects & Outputs

1) Addressing research gaps on the impacts of solid waste and wastewater on water resources in South Africa

Overarching project which aimed to align research gaps in solid waste and wastewater pollution impacts on surface water resources with stakeholder needs.  The project involved undertaking a gap analysis process of research needs within a Theory of Change framework, whilst producing refined solid waste and wastewater pollution hotspot maps for South Africa; characterising source-sink pathways of waste into rivers; and provided a suite of models linking wastewater pollution impacts to biological responses. This project was delivered by Dr Nick Rivers-Moore.

2) Water Quality Decision Support Tool

This project developed an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) for prediction of water quality indices and costing, as a decision support tool. This is for water treatment managers and policy makers applicable across South Africa. Two methodologies were brought together; artificial neural networks and fuzzy logic methods to predict water quality in river systems. The cost of water treatment was also included in the decision support tool. The project validated and applied the decision support tool for South African river systems and investigated its utility in a global context. This project was delivered by the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

3) Modelling Water Quality of the Msunduzi: accommodating for the effects of climate change and wastewater flow

A fundamental understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of pollutant concentration (most importantly variation within and across pollutant types) and how this is influenced by climate change is critical for monitoring and modelling pollution for management purposes in a changing climate. This motivated this project which aimed to develop and apply a mathematical model for assessing water quality of the Msunduzi River in South Africa, with a deliberate design focus on accommodating for the effects of climate change and wastewater flow. This project was delivered by the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

4) Modelling Urban Flood Resilience

The main aim of this project was to generate an integrated and inclusive approach to flood risk modelling (based on different knowledge systems) towards effective solid waste management and flood resilience in urban informal settlements in South Africa. Pursuant to this main aim, two major objectives of the project were: to understand flood vulnerability in informal settlements and the different factors (including solid waste) exacerbating the impacts of floods in informal settlements; and to identify different forms of knowledge to inform a comprehensive framework for an integrated flood risk modelling approach. The project looked at two case-studies in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Quarry Road West settlement in eThekwini Municipality, and Jika Joe settlement in uMgungundlovu Municipality.  The project was delivered by the Institute of Natural Resources.

See link to published paper - Integrated Knowledge Systems Towards Flood Resilience and Sustainable Solid Waste Management in South African Urban Informal Settlements

5) Fate and impacts of microplastic pollution

This project investigated the combined effects of climate change stressors and pollutants on fish. To do this the project explored whether leachates and Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) contaminants have the potential to dissociate from plastic particles and enter the bodies of fish. This has strengthened understanding of potential impacts of pollution on fish and the ecotoxicological effects of pollution at an ecosystem level that could change species composition, food web interactions, and community structure. This project was delivered by the Institute of Natural Resources.

6) The use of nappies and biochar as a soil amendment to restore degraded lands

This research project aimed to assess the utility of low cost, simple and culturally acceptable options for the use of disposable nappies and biochar. Lack of solid waste sanitation services in some rural (and urban) areas means that people have limited options for safe disposal of nappies. Rural communities in the uMkhomazi Catchment also face challenges of land degradation and fodder shortages for livestock in winter. This project sought to test if nappies and biochar can be used as fertiliser on contour based grass hedges that serve the dual purpose of reducing erosion in degraded agricultural lands while also providing a source of quality fodder for livestock. This project was delivered by the Institute of Natural Resources.

7) A feasibility analysis of cost effective biological wastewater treatment options for the dairy sector in South Africa

This project explored the feasibility of using low-cost biological wastewater treatment methods for mitigating the negative environmental effects of this wastewater. Working with the Durban University of Technology and dairy farmers and milk processers, the Institute of Natural Resources investigated the physico-chemical composition of dairy wastewater and how different microbial treatments can digest the wastewater.

8) Environmental monitoring of wetland recovery following an extreme pollution event

An extreme pollution event involving agrochemicals in the uMhlanga River provided the opportunity to track and monitor the recovery of the river’s estuary using an environmental monitoring process focussing on carbon as a key indicator. The project evaluated and provided recommendations on the utility of selected biomarkers and bioindicators for informing restoration of wetlands subject to extreme pollution events. This project was delivered by the Institute of Natural Resources.

9) Nature based solutions (NbS) for solid waste disposal: Community-led spring protection to ensure sustainable self-supply

This project developed and piloted a socio-ecological systems-based approach to capacitating rural communities to better understand and manage water self-supply from springs. This project was implemented at sites within two catchments, namely the uMngeni catchment within the Gcumisa Traditional Authority, and the uMkhomazi catchment within Amangwaneni Traditional Authority. This project was delivered by the Institute of Natural Resources.

10) Achieving community-led solid waste pollution mitigation at the catchment scale: The case of the uMkhomazi Catchment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This project aimed to understand, and co-develop solutions to address solid waste disposal in three communities (ranging from rural to urban) in important water resource areas. The project involved a series of engagements with communities using a participatory action research methodology to test different ways of disposing, recycling and repurposing solid waste. Key capacity building was included in this approach through knowledge exchange and awareness raising. This project was delivered by the Institute of Natural Resources.

The EnviroLab

As part of the legacy of the Environmental Pollution Programme in South Africa, a state‑of‑the‑art 4×4 mobile laboratory, known as the EnviroLab, was established to transform environmental pollution monitoring and community engagement in remote areas of the country.

Equipped with cutting‑edge, modular laboratory equipment, the EnviroLab enables environmental sampling and pollution analysis to be carried out in situ and in real time. This capability is critical for responding to pollution issues in areas that have historically lacked access to monitoring infrastructure. The laboratory supports both water and soil testing, allowing rapid assessment of environmental health, while also providing safe and appropriate facilities for transporting samples over long distances when required.

Beyond its technical role, the EnviroLab acts as a hub for outreach, education and collaboration. It provides a platform to strengthen relationships with citizen scientists and community champions, who have been key partners in the success of the Environmental Pollution Programme. Through community visits, workshops and hands‑on learning opportunities, the EnviroLab supports local stakeholders to better understand, monitor and manage environmental pollution challenges.

The EnviroLab is hosted at the Institute of Natural Resources. For further information and to learn how you can partner with the EnviroLab see here.