Upscaling rainwater harvesting technologies in informal settlements

The South African government has earmarked rainwater harvesting as an alternative and sustainable water source in rural areas and urban informal settlements. But while the practise of harvesting rainwater has been around for ages, the technology has not kept up with our modern, more polluted, conditions. In urban areas rainwater becomes contaminated with heavy metals due to air pollution from nearby industrial areas. Microorganisms from the debris of plants and faecal matter from birds and small animals on the roofs also find their way into rainwater tanks. These microorganisms are associated with diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and worm infections, amongst others. Dr Wesaal Khan’s research group in the Department of Microbiology at Stellenbosch University is one of the first laboratories in South Africa to focus on the large-scale monitoring of the chemical and microbial quality of rainwater. Since September 2015, they have been monitoring three pilot rainwater harvesting pasteurization systems in the informal settlement of Enkanini outside Stellenbosch. The settlement has a population of 8 000 to 10 000 people, with access to only 36 communal taps. Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-...