LABORATORIES & TESTING
BUILDING KNOWLEDGE, DELIVERING INSIGHT Armed with the vision to create a world of universal access to clean water and safe sanitation, the WASH R&D Centre – previously called the Pollution Research Group – focuses on building knowledge and delivering insight that provides solutions for global water and sanitation challenges through an integrative, transdisciplinary approach.
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he late Professor Chris Buckley, former director of the University of KwaZuluNatal (UKZN) WASH R&D Centre, strongly encouraged collaboration with researchers in agriculture, development studies, chemical and civil engineering, economics, statistics, modelling, and social sciences when solving water and sanitation challenges,” says Dr Colleen Archer, parasitologist and head of laboratory, UKZN WASH R&D Centre. She adds that this approach has Dr Colleen Archer, parasitologist and head of laboratory, UKZN WASH R&D Centre
filtered into the structure of the WASH R&D Centre, where its key activities include: • research support to eThekwini Municipality on aspects of water and sanitation service delivery and management • provision of technical, engineering and laboratory support to developers of new sanitation technologies being tested in the field • research into the circular economy and the link between sanitation and agriculture • engaging with communities and households participating in water and sanitation research projects • supervision of postgraduate students in projects related to water, sanitation, agriculture and health • strengthening existing collaborations with funders, government bodies, research organisations and industry, and forging new relationships.
Community engagement
Thabiso Zikalala, acting lab manager, UKZN WASH R&D Centre
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The Social Sciences Division plays a huge role within the UKZN WASH R&D Centre. “Social acceptance of sanitation technology is pivotal to the success of new toilets. Sanitation pilot projects must be placed within a community that accepts them. The community needs to understand the value the toilets can bring, and often need to accept that they are not a permanent feature. Furthermore, new sanitation technology relies on feedback from
the community for modifications and improvement,” explains Thabiso Zikalala, acting lab manager, WASH R&D Centre.
Collaborative partnership with eThekwini Municipality
Since 2003, the UKZN WASH R&D Centre has provided eThekwini Municipality’s Water and Sanitation Unit (EWS) with scientific support to develop and implement innovative water and sanitation services to the underserved, along with efforts to maintain cost-competitive waste treatment services to industry, and ensure the health and environmental status of rivers and beaches is maintained. Over the years, memoranda of agreement have been signed between the two organisations to formalise the collaboration. Most projects conducted by the WASH R&D Centre have an impact on water and sanitation service delivery in eThekwini, and EWS is a key partner in the Centre’s research. “We believe in conducting research that can be applied in our own ‘backyard’. This collaboration ensures the success of new sanitation technologies because they are thoroughly tested by us both in the field and in our laboratory. EWS is dedicated to improving sanitation,” states Archer.
Bioprocessing laboratory
The WASH R&D Centre maintains a modernised bioprocess engineering
