WaterCAN’s water warriors wrapped up their water testing training sessions for 2024 with a well-attended event in Middelburg, Mpumalanga. The session brought together key organisations and marked a significant step in addressing local water challenges. 

The training was organised by the Middelburg Social and Environmental Justice Alliance (MSEJA) and attracted 39 participants from Middelburg and the neighbouring town of Emalahleni, with young people making up the majority of attendees. WaterCAN was invited by MSEJA to lead the session, and organisations such as the Environmental Justice Fund and Groundwork collaborated to ensure the event’s success.

The program featured group discussions that focused on understanding water issues and their connection to constitutional rights. Participants explored the critical link between water pollution and public health, with local challenges such as mining and illegal dumping taking centre stage. A significant concern raised by the community was the safety of their tap water, which is often contaminated and unsafe to drink, leading to health problems. This highlighted the importance of the training, which aimed to equip the community with practical solutions to address these issues.

WaterCAN representatives Nomsa Daele and Azile Mpukwana conducted hands-on training on water testing techniques and guided participants on how to upload results onto the organisation’s online platform. The community responded enthusiastically, expressing their commitment to testing their water more frequently to monitor its quality and advocating for improved water safety measures.

Wondering why WaterCAN trains citizens to test water? South Africa is facing a water crisis, but citizen science activism can help turn it around. Read here why Dr Ferrial Adam, WaterCAN’s executive manager, is advocating for more people to get involved in testing water. 

WaterCAN is OUTA’s water division. Find out more about their work here. You can send an e-mail to info@watercan.org.za if you want to get involved or donate to their work.