The WaterCAN Youth Collective has launched a groundbreaking water testing project for high school students, empowering them as environmental advocates and future water guardians.

In partnership with OUTA’s WaterCAN, Adopt-a-River, WESSA, Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo, the Cape Town Science Centre, the Nelson Mandela Bay Science Centre, Makhanda River Rescue, and the Leap Institute, the initiative aligns with World Water Day 2025.

With 26% of South African schools lacking clean water, pollution and mismanagement threaten communities nationwide, an initiative like this matters. Armed with WaterCAN Citizen Science Test Kits, students will monitor local water sources, detect contamination, and push for accountability.

HOW IT WORKS

• Training and workshops: Teachers and students learn to test water and report findings.

• Water testing: Schools conduct real-world tests on taps, tanks, rivers, and dams.

• Community engagement: Armed with data, students can challenge municipalities and drive change.

“This project goes beyond science - it builds youth leadership in environmental justice,” says Dr Ferrial Adam, WaterCAN’s Executive Manager.

Water justice starts now. The next generation is ready to protect our most precious resource. 

Find out more about this exciting project here.