Originally published on 14 March 2024

Leaking sewage systems pollute South Africa's freshwater supply. A group of dedicated citizen scientists in KwaZulu-Natal showed how community involvement could help tackle this environmental crisis.

What was the problem?

Reports from the Department of Water and Sanitation showed that many sewage treatment plants were not working, causing untreated wastewater to enter rivers and dams. This sewage caused severe pollution and health problems, like the cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal in 2023, and harmed water bodies like the Hartebeestpoort Dam.

How did they solve it?

In 2009, young, unemployed residents from Mpophomeni in KwaZulu-Natal became "Enviro-Champs" to fight the sewage crisis. The Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust and the uMgungundlovu District Municipality supported this initiative, helping them monitor and report environmental hazards. They used tools like clarity tubes and a special mobile app to record sewage spills and other problems, giving real-time data to local authorities.

By 2016, the Enviro-Champs stopped sewage leaks from 104 maintenance holes. Their work grew, and soon 1,000 Enviro-Champs were active across KwaZulu-Natal, with help from different organisations and funding from the Presidential Employment Stimulus and Social Employment Fund.

Acknowledgements:

Original article written by: Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust

Photograph supplied by: Duzi uMngeni Conservation Trust and GroundTruth

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