Clean water for 1000 community members in Eastern Cape thanks to UJ Peets and Source Global

Three organisations have embarked on an initiative to provide clean drinking water to families in the OR Tambo District of the Eastern Cape.

The University of Johannesburg’s Process, Energy and Environmental Technology Station (UJ Peets), Source Global, and UJ’s Faculty of Health Science – Water and Health Research Centre are involved in the Eastern Cape Water Provision Project. Four hundred hydro panels have been installed in four villages – Lujazu, and Luphoko, including two schools in Mthambalala and Cutwini, giving more than 1 000 community members access to clean water.

Launched in March 2023, the project, led by Dr Kousar Hoorzook from UJ Peets, generates clean water from atmospheric vapour through innovative technology underpinning UJ’s drive to use technology for societal change. The hydro panels, harness the sun’s power to produce clean, drinkable water, alleviating water scarcity in these underserved regions.

“Through community engagement, we were able to identify remote and isolated villages that did not have reticulated water or any likely future water supply. We looked at criteria like access to water, plans for future infrastructure investment to gain access to water, climate and scarcity, to ensure we are responding to the needs of society, responding to a local need and working with the community to take the work forward,” said Hoorzook.

He pointed out the twofold aim of the project was to improve access to quality water in the selected villages, directly benefitting women, children, elders, and people with disabilities who were most vulnerable to water scarcity. Secondly, to reduce the efforts required for water collection, consequently enhancing the socio-economic value of the communities.

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