COLISPOT SYSTEM
Faster, easier way to test water quality
Despite the country’s water scarcity, waste water pumped into the rivers and dams is often not clean enoug
A new water test, developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), could be an important tool in the fight to improve SA’s water quality. Despite the country’s water scarcity, waste water pumped into the rivers and dams is often not clean enough, polluting this increasingly scarce resource. According to the latest Green Drop Report, which measures the health of the country’s waste water infrastructure, more than 80% of SA’s waste-water treatment facilities are not functioning properly. Only 135 of the 824 waste-water treatment facilities are functioning well. This means that human effluent and waste are entering the country’s water systems, threatening the health and livelihood of people who depend on rivers and dams for potable water or for irrigation. A common bacteria associated with waste-contaminated water is Escherichia coli (E Coli). Although many strains are harmless, some can lead to serious food poisoning, according to the World Health Organisation. ...
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