CPUT researchers are actively contributing to South Africa’s water knowledge base.

From wastewater to sanitation concepts, CPUT researchers showcased their work at the Water Research Seminar, hosted by the Engineering Faculty on the Bellville Campus.

Water Research at CPUT is aimed at solving everyday water-related problems that are critical to the sustainable development of South Africa.

Leading research in this area is the institution’s Community Water Supply and Sanitation Research Unit (CWSS). The unit is involved in a large number of cutting-edge projects across the country.

One of the most notable projects is a collaboration with the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Breede-Overberg Catchment Management Agency.

This project, which has received support from Nuffic, a Netherlands based organisation that supports international cooperation in higher education and research, focuses on the areas of catchment studies, sanitation, water reuse technologies and demand management.

Researchers are also focusing their attention on the needs of local industries, such as the multi-million rand wine industry. The Biocatalysis and Technical Biology research unit is developing innovative ways to treat wine wastewater. This process involves using specialised sand filters to treat wine wastewater. Collaborators on this project include staff members from the Institute of Microbial Biotechnology and Metagenomics at UWC.

The Chemical Engineering Department is also actively involved in groundbreaking projects. Currently, a group of researchers in the department are inventing new ways to improve the treatment of waste water.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

CPUT and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) will play a central role in research and training for Integrated Water Resource Management in South Africa.

With funding of 1.5 million Euros from Nuffic, a Netherlands initiative for capacity development in higher education, the institutions will work jointly on a water research and training project that will span over the next four years.

The announcement of the project, which took place at the Bellville Campus on 28 July 2010, was attended by delegates from government, Nuffic and the Netherlands Embassy in Pretoria.

Addressing delegates, Prof Lagardien, Director of the Centre of Water and Sanitation Research at CPUT and project leader said: “IWRM will become increasingly important in order to cope with the challenges of the water sector in South Africa.”

These challenges cover the entire water use cycle and range from inadequate planning for bulk water infrastructure to poor community participation in water planning and delivery.

Prof Lagardien, said: “This project will give practitioners a new set of IWRM skills required by the labour market and increase their career opportunities. In addition, it will help consolidate IWRM expertise focusing on equitable, efficient, effective and sustainable management of water resources, through CPUT and UWC.”

The project also supports the National Water Resources Strategy which calls for complimentary strategies in building capacity and expertise among practitioners in the water sector.

The project will identify niche areas and develop related IWRM training programmes at both institutions. It will also establish four IWRM related Niche

Areas with appropriate research and training agendas and infuse cross-cutting themes related to gender and institutional learning.

UWC Dean of Natural Sciences Prof Jan van Bever Donker said they are looking forward to working on the project with CPUT.

UWC has an established IWRM profile. Their experience, coupled with CPUT’S expertise in water engineering, will provide a foundation for both institutions to create IWRM capacity in South Africa.

Dr Chris Nhlapo, DVC Research, Technology and Innovation Partnerships said this project will add impetus to research activities at CPUT and assured Nuffic that the institutions will deliver on the key aspects of this initiative.

Rashid Khan, Chief Director of the Department of Water Affairs (Western Cape) gave the project his stamp of approval. Khan said it is vital that one of the outcomes of the project is skills development. Nokwanda Mpanza, Water Chamber coordinator of the ESETA noted the project’s potential to contribute to improved sector skills planning.

Dr Carin Vijfhuizen from Nuffic said they will monitor the project and are looking forward to positive results.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
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