Many communities in South Africa struggle to access reliable and adequate quantities of potable water for various water requirements. This is against the backdrop of decreasing freshwater availability and increasing water demands in the country mainly due to urbanization, pollution of fresh water sources and climate change. Presently, attention in the reuse of wastewater for drinking and non-drinking water uses is increasing in the country. The government has already declared wastewater reuse as a strategy in the water management policy.
Dr Khalid Muzamil Gani presenting during the digital living lab.
The Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT) at the Durban University of Technology hosted the first Digital Living Lab Series on Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse. The digital living lab series aimed at bringing both local South African and International students interested in the water and wastewater sector weekly from 23rd July – 13th August 2020. Dr Khalid Muzamil Gani, who is working as a research associate at IWWT, delivered weekly online lectures on technical, economical as well as social aspects of wastewater reuse. The online lectures were followed by an interactive discussion in which students and professionals discussed their queries. The title of the lectures was: Basics of Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse; Technologies and Management for Water Reclamation and Reuse; Health and Environmental Concerns in Water Reuse; and Social and Economic Dimensions of Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse. A total of 28 students (17 local and 11 international) completed the Wastewater Reclamation and Reuse digital living lab in August 2020 and were rewarded with certificates of participation for their involvement in the digital living lab. Feedback of the digital living lab series was carried out in which the participants stated that they enjoyed the weekly contents delivered and esired to be given projects to interact more with fellow participants in the next digital living lab series.
Digital living lab conducted through Microsoft Teams.
Bridging the Water is part of the Orange Knowledge Programme.