BIOMIMICRY - INNOVATION BORROWING FROM NATURE - November/December 2014 Volume 13 No 6
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ISSN 0258-2244 November/December 2014 Volume 13 No 6
BIOMIMICRY
– INNOVATION
BORROWING
FROM NATURE
CONTENTS
4 UPFRONT
10 OBITUARY
Ali Mazrui – Celebrating the life an intellectual giant
11 TALES FROM THE FIELD
Why apps fly and cell phones should float
12 RESEARCH INNOVATION
Biomimicry: Exploring nature’s genius for a better tomorrow
16 WATER-FOOD-ENERGY
New project lends from nature to power up villages
21 AGRICULTURAL WATER USE
More fruit with less water possible, WRC study shows
26 WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
South Africa and Namibia ensuring enough irrigation water together
30 WATER RESOURCE ASSESSMENT
Novel research aims to clarify the impact of fog
34 WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
Water loss: Are we wasting our way into a potential water crisis?
CLIMATE CHANGE AND AGRICULTURE
38 Climate Change – Both sides of the coin: How will agriculture in
South Africa cope in the future?
THE WATER WHEEL is a two-monthly
42 WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Parched prospects: The emerging water crisis in South Africa
magazine on water and water research
published by the South African Water
Research Commission (WRC), a
48 WATER KIDZ
Nurturing our family farms
statutory organisation established in LAST WORD
1971 by Act of Parliament.
Subscription is free. Material in this 50 Symposium shows word still out on potential impacts of
unconventional gas
publication does not necessarily reflect
the considered opinions of the mem-
bers of the WRC, and may be copied
with acknowledgement of source. ISSN 0258-2244 November/December 2014 Volume 13 No 6
Editorial offices:
Water Research Commission, Private Cover: The Water Wheel takes
Bag X03, Gezina, 0031, Republic of a look at the new discipline of
South Africa. biomimicry, which aims to emulate
Tel (012) 330-0340. Fax (012) 331-2565. nature’s solutions to human
WRC Internet address: problems. Read the story on page 12.
http://www.wrc.org.za
Follow us on Twitter: BIOMIMICRY
– INNOVATION
@WaterWheelmag BORROWING
Editor: Lani van Vuuren, FROM NATURE
E-mail: laniv@wrc.org.za;
Editorial Secretary: Mmatsie Masekoa,
E-mail: mmatsiem@wrc.org.za;
Layout: Drinie van Rensburg,
E-mail: driniev@wrc.org.za
The Water Wheel November/December 2014 3
Upfront
Fluid Thoughts
Fluid Thoughts WRC CEO, Dhesigen Naidoo
UPPING THE GAME ON GENDER EQUALITY IN WATER
T
he beginning of Novem- was a phenomenon of both the of gender equality. The Epiphany no-water sanitation solutions
ber saw one of the developing and the developed pathway relies on the concientis- present significant opportunities
world’s largest dialogues world. And there was consen- ing of opinion leaders, decision- to address the plight of women
on gender and water matters, sus that gender represents the makers and society at large on and girls. The pathway has a lag
when delegates from 37 coun- pinnacle of the degrees of mar- the issues of negative effects and phase as is generally experienced
tries converged in East London, ginalisation (Fig. 1) with women opportunity cost of gender ine- with user technologies, but
South Africa to participate in the and the girl-child carrying the quality as well as the economical acerbated within time to reach
Gender, Water and Development heaviest burden. social dividend of equality. This the 2055 end goal.
Conference. The participants then acts as the major driver of
ranged from rural community The group of participants, led by change and through a series of The third pathway has a
women to Ministers for Water, the WRC, took a futures journey loops, followed by plateaux of stronger reliance on Regulation
academics to activists, public by creating scenarios for gender consolidation, the 2055 goal is and oversight or the principal
to private, and local entities to and water in the 2055 time- reached. driver of change. These will
international institutions. frame. In a variation on classical include gender considerations
scenarios development exercises, The Technology pathway is in water allocations, budget dis-
There was strong convergence the team also developed a set of premised on the fact that gen- tribution, representation norms
that Gender Equality was not pathways options to the scenario der inequality, while pervasive in governance structures, an
only a human rights issue, but of gender equality in the water worldwide, is starkest in envi- oversight system to ensure
that gender inequality was domain in 2055, based on the ronments of resource constraints performance. This pathway has
a fundamental constraint to nature of the pre-dominant and scarcity. This relates par- a much larger lag phase to deal
sustainable development. The dividers (Fig. 2). ticularly to water scarcity and with the expected resistance to
case studies affirmed the univer- limited access to safe sanitation change. This is followed by a
sality of the challenge as the case The Epiphany pathway has the services. New and innovative period of accelerated develop-
studies illustrated that gender highest potential to make quick technology based solutions like ment after both seeing out the
inequality and the Figure 1
suppression gains in the short term in the point-of-use water quality treat- change management phase as
of women and the girl child
Degrees of marginalization realisation of increasing degrees ment and safe low-water and
Figure 2
well as the positive cost-benefit
High
Epiphany
Extent of Gender Equality
Technology Driven
Rural/Urban Class
Divide and Race Women Regulated
Low
2014 2020 2026 2055
Time
Figure 2
Figure 1 The three pathways to the ideal goal of Gender Equality in Water in 2055.
The three degrees of marginalisation still find the rural black woman being The three pathways to the 2055 goal are the Epiphany, Technology and
most marginalised. She experiences the worst of the urban/rural divide, the Regulatory pathways. Although all three have the potential to realise the
burden of poverty and race and then the further differentiation of not being ideal end state in the long term, they have different lag and acceleration
male. phases over the 40 years.
4 The Water Wheel November/December 2014
Upfront
ratio of investing in gender
equality takes a firmer foothold.
International award for Rhodes research fellow
In order to better inform the
prioritisation of the investment D r Oghenekaro Nelson Odume of the
Unilever Centre for Environmental
Water Quality in the Institute for Water
drivers toward the 2055 goal a
higher investment in water and Research at Rhodes University was
gender research and develop- announced the winner of the prestigious
ment is required. The WRC International Emerging River Professional
and its partners are currently Award at the 17th International River
developing the R&D agenda for Symposium held in Canberra, Australia.
further consultation and imple- The Emerging River Professional Award
mentation. This is an important is an initiative of the International River
dialogue that we invite the entire Foundation and was established to recog-
water family to participate in. nise and foster those in the early stages
of their careers in river and water resource
management. The award identifies and
Water diary rewards individuals who have worked in
their field for ten years or less, and have core of water resource management industrial sewage in relation to river
Wastewater treatment demonstrated exceptional leadership, while emphasising stakeholder engage- health, and on mainstreaming environ-
27 November innovation and excellence in river, basin ment and combining both ecological and mental ethics in value system clarification
The Water Institute of South Africa and water resource or river-dependent social science approaches and methods in in the context of multi-stakeholder
(WISA) and the Western Cape Process community management. working towards the achievement of inte- engagement processes.
Controllers Division cordially invites all After entrants from around the world grated water resources management in Dr Odume, who emphasised the
water and wastewater process control- were screened by a panel of judges of the context of social-ecological systems. importance of mentorship in water
lers to attend the fifth Process Control- international repute, Dr Odume was Dr Odume demonstrated this new resource research, attributed his achieve-
ler Workshop in collaboration with the one of three finalists who competed for way of doing water resource research in ment to the sterling leadership and guid-
Department of Water and Sanitation, the grand prize at a special session. In the Swartkops River catchment where he ance he received from his PhD supervisor
Overberg Water, South Africa Local his presentation he showcased a new collaborated with municipal officials in and mentor, Prof Tally Palmer, Director of
Government Association and Saldanha research practice in which integration, the Nelson Mandela Bay metro to develop the Unilever Centre.
Bay Municipality. Enquiries: Gavin collaboration and reflection are at the new and innovative tools for managing Source: Rhodes University
Williams, Tel: (022) 701-7047; Email:
gavin.williams@sbm.gov.za
Researchers identify algae to treat
Residuals and biosolids acid mine drainage
June 7-10, 2015
R
The Water Environment Federation, esearchers at the CSIR are one step The researchers explain in the article wetland system with an integrated algal
together with the International Water closer to the development of a that conventional acid mine drainage pond system using different species of
Association, is hosting a conference on successful biological method to treat acid systems involve continual addition selected macroalgae, with a wide pH and
Residuals and Biosolids in Washington, mine drainage following investigations of expensive chemicals, such as lime, temperature tolerance that can be used
USA. Visit: www.residualsbiosolids- into the ability of specific freshwater which generates sludge. The disposal for the bioaccumulation of sulphates and
WEFIWA.org metals. They collected algae samples
algae to absorb metals. of the sludge can be an environmental
Limnologist, Dr Paul Oberholster, bio- problem in itself. Thus, for many years at study sites in Mpumalanga where
Social science
chemist, Po-Hsun Cheng and, microbiolo- researchers have been looking at passive a number of defunct and flooded coal
July 2015
gist, Bettina Genthe, joined Anna-Maria treatment methods, for example, through mines contribute to pollution in the
The third World Social Science Forum is
Botha from Stellenbosch University’s constructed wetlands. Upper Olifants River catchment.
set to take place in Durban. The forum
Department of Genetics, to publish their This relies on macrophyte uptake as The ability of three algae species to
is a global event of the International
Social Science Council that brings findings in the April edition of the journal, a biological process for metal removal. absorb zinc, aluminium and manganese
together researchers and stakeholders Water Research. The metal storage capability in artificial was compared and the researchers found
in international social science coopera- Legislation requires operating mines wetlands can, however, be lost in temper- that Oedogonium crissum fared the best
tion to address topical global issues to rehabilitate any environmental dam- ate regions during winter when plant in the laboratory, possibly making it a
and future priorities for international age that may occur during the mining and microbial metabolic processes are preferred algae to use in the treatment of
social science. The theme for this event process. However, it is estimated that reduced due to lower water temperature acid mine drainage.
is ‘Transforming global relations for a 90% of acid mine drainage originates and shorter days. According to Cheng, the researchers
just world’. Visit: www.codesria.org/ from abandoned underground coal and The researchers developed a hope to continue this research through
spip.php?article1674 gold mines. In this case rehabilitation laboratory-scale hybrid passive treat- field studies
comes at the public’s expense. ment system combining an artificial Source: CSIR
The Water Wheel November/December 2014 5
Upfront
WRC Exec SA team Research chair
Manager is an improving in science
international safety at Moz communication
award winner dam a first for Africa
W ater Research Commission
Executive Manager: Business
Development, Marketing and
T he National Directorate of Water
through the Regional Administration
of Water South (ARA-Sul) has awarded a
T he first research chair in science com-
munication in South Africa has been
awarded to Stellenbosch University (SU).
Communications, Dr Inga contract for the rehabilitation of the dam- It is the first chair of its kind on the
Jacobs, has been presented with aged bottom outlet and related works on continent of Africa, positioning the uni-
the 2014 International Water the 48-m high Massingir Dam in the Gaza versity to pioneer the development of this
Association (IWA) Young Water Province of Mozambique. academic field across the continent.
Professionals (YWP) Award at Consulting engineer, Aurecon, has Science communication has over the
the IWA Conference held in Lis- been appointed to supervise the con- past few decades been established as
bon, Portugal, earlier this year. struction of these rehabilitation works. an important new area of research, and
The Young Professionals Award is the Following the raising of the full many universities from across the world
highest recognition an individual mem- YWP Chair (2012-2014) and has also supply level of the dam through the launched academic and research pro-
ber (under the age of 35) can achieve served on the board of IWA and the Water installation of six large spillway crest grammes in this field. Minister of Science
within the IWA. This prestigious award Institute of Southern Africa as YWP repre- gates, a sudden failure of the outlet & Technology, Naledi Pandor, led the way
is given biennially to one exceptional sentative. She is particularly proud of the conduits in 2008 resulted in an uncon- to promote this learning area locally by
YWP. The holders are recognised water South African YWP Chapter, one that has trolled discharge of around 1 000 m3/s means of a research chair.
professionals with outstanding career grown in strength since its inception in to the downstream area, threatening A number of South African universities
achievements and who have contributed 2007 and one that boasts the largest YWP the safety of the dam. Funded by the competed to host this chair. The National
significantly to the YWP network. These regional conferences. African Development Bank, the latest Research Foundation announced the
young people already have an impact on As the award winner, Dr Jacobs will project will enhance the safety of the decision to establish the chair at SU after
the water industry, but their potential to become the honourable Ambassador IWA dam and render it fully operational a competitive process which lasted for
have a more influential role in the future Young Water Professional for the next again, increasing its capacity to supply more than a year. The Department of
is unquestionable. two years, and has dedicated herself to downstream irrigation demands. Science and Technology will fund the
Dr Jacobs has served as the IWA YWP host the first YWP Africa Conference in “In designing the rehabilitation works chair for a period of 15 years (three terms
Chair (2010-2012), the South African November 2015. we drew on our previous experience in of five years each).
delivering cost-efficient and construct- In reaction to the announcement Prof
New technology smokes out illegal ible major dam irrigation projects in
Africa for many clients,” noted Aurecon’s
Leopoldt van Huysteen, Acting Rector
and Vice Chancellor at SU said: “Given
stormwater discharges Dams Leader, Peter Blersch. “Our local the lack of research capacity in this area,
engineers, who have experience working this poses a unique opportunity for
T he City of Cape Town is rolling out the
use of smoke technology to detect ille-
gal stormwater/sewer cross-connections.
with a compliance order to rectify the
matter within a stipulated period, failing
which a fine will be issued.
with ARA-Sul and who are familiar with
the local environment, will be supervising
the construction. They will be supported
Stellenbosch University to take the lead
in research and training of post-graduate
students in the area of science com-
Earlier this year, testing was conducted “Illegal connections are problematic by specialists in South Africa.” munication.”
in various parts of the city and under in that, especially during wet weather, The rehabilitation works comprise the The new chair will be housed within
different conditions to determine the the presence of excess water can stretch installation of 6.4-m diameter steel liners the Centre for Research on Evaluation,
system’s efficacy. The introduction of the capacity of the City’s wastewater into the existing reinforced concrete out- Science and Technology at SU. Prof Peter
smoke testing technology represents conveyance systems,” said Mayoral let conduits, installation of hydropower Weingart, a world leader in the area of
a significant step forward for the City, Committee Member for Utility Services, offtakes, mass and heavily reinforced infill interaction between science and society,
and is like to result in significant savings Councillor Ernest Sonnenberg. “Not only concreting and grouting, and rehabilita- will occupy the new science communica-
for the ratepayer. Preliminary estimates can this result in overflows, but the City’s tion of the two downstream radial control tion chair. He is professor extraordinaire
indicate that maximum savings could be wastewater treatment plants are being gates, including new hydraulic and at the University of Bielefeld in Germany,
in the region of R37-million. forced to process water that otherwise electrical equipment. and has been a visiting professor to SU for
This new method of detection involves should not have been treated. Limiting Other work on the dam includes the the past 15 years.
pumping smoke into the local sewerage the amount of water that is unneces- construction of large diameter pressure The new chair will create opportunities
system to local inappropriate ingress of sarily treated every year will improve relief wells, installation of supplementary for post-graduate students and research-
stormwater. Where it is found that such the quality of effluent that enters the dam safety instrumentation and crest ers to study science communication
illegal or unsanctioned connections exist, environment.” lighting on the 4.5 km-long earthfill within an African context, as well as to
the property owners will be provided Source: City of Cape Town embankment. hone their practical communication skills.
6 The Water Wheel November/December 2014
Upfront
New DST announces new council on innovation
Knersvlakte
Nature Reserve W ater Research Commission CEO,
Dhesigen Naidoo, is one of 19
to the Minister on the role and contribu-
tion of science, mathematics, innovation
Announcing the new members, Pandor
said: “I am pleased with the calibre of
proclaimed new members of the National Advisory
Council on Innovation (NACI) announced
and technology in South Africa’s social
and economic development.
the Council members and the wealth of
knowledge and expertise that they bring
on National by Science & Technology Minister, Naledi The NACI council members are drawn to this institution, which is a key priority
Heritage Pandor, in September.
NACI is a statutory body established to
from various sectors and are people of
distinction, influence and expertise in
for government. All appointees bring an
impressive range of skills and experience
Day advise the Minister of Science & Technol- their fields. The council will be headed by from a diverse range of backgrounds. I am
ogy and Cabinet on all matters pertinent Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Uni- sure you will make a valuable contribu-
T he Knersvlakte, one of the crown
jewels in the country’s rich botanical
treasure trove, has been added to the
to innovation. The council provides advice versity of Pretoria, Prof Cheryl de la Rey. tion to the innovation of the country.”
national network of protected areas.
Regional chapter of International
WWF South Africa, Cape Nature and Water Security Network launched
the Leslie Hill Succulent Karoo Trust
announced on Heritage Day the declara-
tion of the new Knersvlakte Nature
Reserve during a celebratory event at
I n a move to secure South Africa’s
water, Deputy Minister of Water
and Sanitation, Pamela Tshwete, has
‘risks and vulnerabilities’ and ‘innovation
and adaptive capacity’, the programme
with investigate urban water security,
“We take note of the fact that South
Africa has been selected to be among
the first countries targeted for this
the historical Griqua farm, Ratelgat, near launched the South African regional transboundary water security and programme. Our participation will also
Vanrhynsdorp. chapter of the International Water improving water quality security. improve participation, collaboration
The Knersvlakte, located north of Security Network. “This five-year collaborative initiative and cooperation in other international
Cape Town, has long been recognised as This global network brings together will complement our strategies as a platforms where we are involved in
a priority region for plant conservation. the University of the West of England, country and the work we have been relation to water security, sourcing,
The area is known for its characteristic Monash South Africa and the University doing as part of water provision in the control and provisioning to all our
white quartzite gravel that conceals of Arizona to investigate issues around different spheres of government,” communities.”
unique vegetation, including rare dwarf water security. Under the themes of Tshwete said at the launch. Source: DWS
succulent plants with an indomitable
instinct for survival.
The Knersvlakte boasts about 1 500 SA research giants renew collaboration agreement
plant species, with 190 endemic species,
of which 155 are threatened with
distinction according to the IUCN’s
Red-list of species in the area. Experts
T he CSIR and Stellenbosch University
(SU) have renewed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) following
two institutions to join forces in creating
skilled human capital and increase the
number of people with post-graduate
doing directed research.”
In the area of natural resources and
the environment, areas earmarked for
say some of these plants are extremely successful collaboration between the training as articulated in the National collaboration include sustainability
vulnerable to climate change. two organisations in various areas of Development Plan and various strategies studies, including wind and solar
The reserve – the first to be declared research and development. of government.” photovoltaics, ocean energy, invasive
in 20 years in the Western Cape – has Dr Rachel Chikwamba, CSIR Group According to Prof Cloete, the biology, resource economics, sustainable
been proclaimed in terms of the Executive: Strategic Alliances and Com- university is exploring possible areas energy, environmental assessment
National Environmental Management: munication (pictured with SU Deputy of collaboration which will position and management, ecosystem services,
Protected Areas Act. The new 85 500 ha Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eugene Cloete), them as one of the leading research coastal engineering, groundwater and
reserve falls within the succulent Karoo says that the relationship established universities in the world. “The most criti- environmental microbiology.
region. in terms of the original MoU signed in cal challenges that South Africa faces
Dr Morné du Plessis, CEO of WWF 2008 was fruitful, and has resulted in require collaboration among different
South Africa commented: “We are numerous successful projects. universities and research councils to cre-
celebrating an extremely vital moment “Historically our scientists (of CSIR ate critical mass to investigate and solve
in our country’s conservation history and SU) have collaborated in a variety these problems. SU and the CSIR have
by protecting this seemingly desolate, of areas. The MoU seeks to elevate had a synergistic relationship in the past
largely under-appreciated area. This collaboration in specific priority areas, and with this MoU, we aim to intensify
land holds immense biodiversity, and which are aligned to national priorities the collaboration in areas where we
its plants have adapted to the arid and are core to the strategies of the two have complementary expertise. The col-
hot climate making them beautifully organisations,” she said. “Human capital laboration expands the capacity of the
unique.” development is a critical mutual objec- university to produce highly qualified
Source: WWF-South Africa tive, and this partnership will allow the staff, especially at doctoral level, while
The Water Wheel November/December 2014 7
Global news
Plants have little wiggle room to survive drought – study
P lants all over the world are more
sensitive to drought than many
experts realised.
stationary, plants are especially depend-
ent on this ability.
“Plants are masters of plasticity,
Compiling and analysing data for
numerous species from various ecosystem
around the world, Bartlett found that
Drawing on both new data and previ-
ously reported data, the team determined
the overall picture of how much plant
This is according to a study by changing their size, branching patterns, most species accumulate salts in their cell species adjust their cell sap saltiness to
scientists from the University of California leaf colours and even their internal bio- sap to finetune their tolerance to seasonal maintain turgor and continue to grow
– Los Angeles (UCLA) and China’s Xish- chemistry to adjust to changes in climate,” changes in rainfall. But that adjustment during drought. “For most plants these
uangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden. It said Lawren Sack, a professor of ecology only provides a relatively narrow degree adjustments were small,” explained
is expected that the research will improve and evolutionary biology in the UCLA of additional drought tolerance. Sack. “This means they only have limited
predictions of which plant species will College and the study’s senior author. Saltier cell sap gives plants the ability wiggle room as droughts become more
survive the increasingly intense droughts Little has been known about the to continue to grow as soil dries during serious. On the plus side, this discovery
associated with global climate change. degree to which plastic changes might drought. Unlike animal cells, plant cells are means we can estimate species’ drought
Predicting how plants will respond allow plants to endure worsening enclosed by cell walls. To hold up the cell tolerance relatively simply. We can make
to climate change is crucial for their droughts. walls, plants depend on ‘turgor pressure’ a reasonable drought tolerance measure-
conservation. But good predictions “Plants have evolved this amazing – the pressure produced by internal water ment for most species regardless of time
require an understanding of plants’ ability ability to sync with their environment, pushing against the inside of the cell wall. of year or whether we are sampling
to acclimate to environmental changes, or but they are facing their limits,” noted As the cells dehydrate, the turgor pressure during dry of wet conditions.”
their ‘plasticity’. All organisms show some Megan Bartlett, a UCLA doctoral student declines until the cell walls collapse, and The research has been published in the
degree of plasticity, but because they’re and the study’s lead author. the leaf becomes limp and wilted. journal, Ecology Letters.
Water world saddened by passing
UN launches handbook on human
of international award winner
right to water and sanitation
T he international water community
is mourning the death of 2014
Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, Prof
unwavering commitment to improving
the lives of people on the ground.
His genius lay in his fusion of science,
A new publication, Realising the
human rights to water and sanita-
been developed to clarify the meaning
of the human rights to water and
tion: A handbook, has been published sanitation; explain the obligations
John Briscoe, who passed away on 12 policy and practice, which gave him by UN Special Rapporteur, Catarina de that stem from these rights; provide
November from colon cancer. unrivalled insights into how water Alburquerque. guidance on implementing the human
South African born, Prof Briscoe should be managed to improve the The handbook will serve as a practi- rights to water and sanitation; share
received the 2014 Stockholm Water lives of people worldwide. Prof Briscoe cal guide, explaining the meaning and good practices and how these rights
Prize from Sweden’s King Carl Gustav became known for his passionate legal obligations that stem from the are being implemented; explore how
(pictured on the right) for his unparal- commitment to sustainable economic human right to safe drinking water governments can be held to account
leled contributions to global and local development, his disrespect for and sanitation. It translates the often on delivering their obligations; and
water management, inspired by an constructed boundaries between sectors complicated legal language into infor- provide checklists, so users can analyse
and people, and for mation that can be readily understood how they are complying with the rights.
his insistence that by practitioners, including government To access a digital copy of the
the voice of people officials and members of civil society handbook, Visit: http://unhabitat.org/
who are affected organisations. un-launches-handbook-on-human-
– from the poorest Specifically, the handbook has right-to-water-and-sanitation/
of farmers to the
private sector, to
political leaders – “I lived a very blessed life as many of prize money to set up the John Briscoe
be heard. you know. This is true with my friends, Science, Technology, Engineering and
At the time of my family and with my profession. I Mathematics (STEM) Award at his alma
his death he lived had every opportunity imaginable to mater, St Patrick’s Christian Brothers
in the United States a young boy from South Africa. And College Kimberley. The award will be
and worked at always my life was a lucky one with made to the 12th grade student who
Harvard University. immense opportunity at every stage, has shown the greatest achievements
Shortly before including the 22 years at the World Bank in mathematics and science, has shown
his death Prof and the last six at Harvard University.” an interest in technology and has
Briscoe sent out the As a last act of his kindness and indicated an intention to study
following message: generosity, Prof Briscoe used his engineering.
8 The Water Wheel November/December 2014
New reports
vesti
gatio
ns New from the WRC
is h Kill In ica
F
l for South Afr
anua
ls
Hoh
M in &B
nt, D
Huch
zerm
eyer
adaptive management systems through here is on freshwater inland wetlands and political variables influencing water
B Gra
which rights to access, use and benefit but the lessons are derived from and allocation reform and land reform
from the ecosystem services derived from could equally be applied to other aquatic programmes and projects; assess the
wetlands are granted, acknowledged and systems, particularly lakes, rivers, dams, efficient development and use of water
TT 58
9/14
honoured. estuaries and our coastline. The decision- within the broad framework of food value
Manua
l for Fis
support system has been developed as chains; analyse alternative opportunities
h Kill
Inves
Report No. 2195/1/14 part of this project. for including beneficiaries of selected
tigat
ions
in So
New housing unit designed for ceramic water and land reform projects in the
uth Af
ric
water filters in rural and peri-urban Report No. TT 603/14
a
TT 589/1
4 food value chain; and to develop guide-
communities in South Africa Quality of harvested rainwater and lines for the sustainable development and
Report A previous WRC study was carried out application of point of use treatment use of water in food value chains within
No. TT 589/14 in the Limpopo Province and the results systems (PH Dobrowsky; A van Deventer; water allocation reform projects. Also
Manual for fish kill investigations in South showed that the Potters for Peace ceramic M Lombard; M de Kwaadsteniet; W Khan available is Volume 2: Guidance on water
Africa (B Grant; D Huchzermeyer & B Hohls) water filter (sourced from Ghana) is a & TE Cloete) conservation in food value chains. This
Large-scale fish kills have become a viable option. Part of the study was look- Domestic rainwater harvesting (DRWH), volume is divided into three parts, Part
common phenomenon that is increasing ing how the rural communities accepted which involves the collection and storage 1: Guidebook for emerging farmers in the
internationally. An understanding of the these filters and what possible changes of water from rooftops and diverse sur- Maruleng Municipal Area (Report No. TT
causes of fish kills and why they occur could be made to increase the efficiency faces, is successfully implemented world- 607/1/14); Part 2: Guidebook for exten-
is fundamental in order to implement of the filters. It was found that if certain wide as a sustainable water supplement. sion officers in the Maruleng Municipal
preventative measures to reduce their design aspects could be addressed, the In this study, available literature on the Area (Report No. TT 607/2/14); and
frequency and magnitude. However, water filter would be better accepted. chemical and microbial quality of DRWH, Part 3: Guidebook on different types
despite the advancements in fisheries In this follow-up project an industrial with a particular focus on the sources of of emerging farmers and the everyday
and aquatic sciences, the science of fish designer was appointed to assist with microbial pollution and the major patho- challenges they face: Insights for policy
kill investigations at an international the redesign of the ceramic filter housing gens associated with the water source advisors (Report No. TT 607/3/14).
level is still considered rudimentary. The to be both functional and effective for was reviewed. Incidences of disease that
purpose of this study was to adapt and local use. have been linked to the consumption and WATER
NCE ON S
2: GUIDA UE CHAIN
refine current internationally-applied utilisation of harvested rainwater are also VOLUME
CONSERVA
TION IN
FOOD VAL
idebook for
g Farmers
Emergin
a
Part 1: Guruleng Municipal Are
protocols and local guidelines for fish kill Report No. 2098/1/14 discussed. Finally, various procedures and in the Ma
KAREN NOR
TJE, NIKK
/14
I FUNKE
AND WILLE
M DE LANG
E
No. TT 607/1
An approach towards developing technical methods used for the disinfection and
WRC Report
investigations specifically for the South
African context. In doing so, the study sanitation solutions for informal settle- treatment of harvested rainwater, such
sought to promote a consistent national ments (A Lagardien & C Muanda) as the implementation of filter systems,
approach in response to the investiga- This research project was aimed at inves- heat treatment and chlorination, among
tion of such incidents and improve the tigating technical sanitation solutions others, are presented.
management thereof. for informal settlements in response to VOLUME
2: GUIDAN
Report No. 1958/1/14
CE ON WAT
numerous sanitation challenges faced by
CONSERVA ER
TION IN
FOOD VAL
UE CHAINS
Part 2: Gui
in the Mar debook for Extensio
uleng Mun n
icipal Are Officers
Report No. 1986/1/14 dwellers. The intention of the research is An investigation of water conservation KAREN NOR
TJE, NIKK
WRC Report
No. TT 607/2
/14
a
I FUNKE
AND WILLE
M DE LANG
E
Wetlands in South Africa: Their contribu- mainly to develop an approach for sanita- in food value chains by beneficiaries of
tion to well-being (D Hay – Editor) tion concepts and solutions that respond water allocation reform and land reform
It is widely accepted that unmanaged to particular conditions of informal programmes in South Africa (W de Lange; K
competition is causing degradation settlements. Nortje; N Funke; A Nahman; B Mahumani;
that reduces the supply of ecosystem C Musvoto) VOLUME
2: GUIDAN
TION IN
FOOD VAL
ER
CE ON WAT CHAINS
UE
CONSERVA
Report No. TT 605/14
s
services. This is particularly prevalent The project on which this report is based debook on
Different Type
Everyday
Part 3: Gui g Farmers and the for Policy
of Emergin they Face: Insights
Challenges
at wetlands where inappropriate land Wetlands and well-being: Getting more out was conceptualised by the WRC in an Advisors
KAREN NOR
TJE, NIKK
I FUNKE
/14
E
AND WILLE
M DE LANG
No. TT 607/3
of South Africa’s wetlands (D Hay; D Kotze attempt to engage with the need to
WRC Report
use leads to declining supply relative to
need, competitive behaviours and over- & C Breen) improve the alignment of water and land
utilisation. This study investigated how to This handbook is a product of a research reform initiatives in South Africa. Among
sustain the linkages between well-being project on the contribution of wetlands to others, the report sought to review the
and wetlands through governance and the well-being of communities. The focus social, cultural, institutional, economic
To order any of these reports, contact Publications at Tel: (012) 330-0340;
Fax (012) 331-2565; E-mail: orders@wrc.org.za or Visit: www.wrc.org.za
The Water Wheel November/December 2014 9
Obituary
ALI MAZRUI
– Celebrating the life of an intellectual giant
O
n 12 October 2014 Africa – Prof Mazrui became a well-known
and the world – lost one of its figure outside of academia in 1986 when he
greatest sons with the passing wrote and hosted the nine-part television
of renowned Pan-Africanist, series, The Africans: A Triple Heritage. The
scholar and teacher, Prof Ali Mazrui. He show’s subtitle refers to the three legacies
died aged 81 at his home in Vestal, New – Islamic, indigenous and Western – that
York, following several months of illness. have been most apparent in the formation
Born in Mombasa, Kenya, Prof Maz- of modern African identity.
rui was one of the world’s most prolific Wrote the South African Presidency
writers on Africa, its people, history and in 2007: “Prof Mazrui is one of the great-
future. In a career stretching over 50 years est minds ever to have been produced by
he authored and co-authored more than the African continent. His prolific writing,
40 books as well as hundreds of articles in coupled with the variety of fields he has Prof Ali Mazrui with WRC CEO Dhesigen Naidoo in 2012.
major scholastic journals and for public been covering in his academic life proves
media. In this way, he profoundly influ- the versatility of his intellect. He has put of river blindness, and affects the whole
enced ideas about Africa among scholars the African continent on the pedestal, society in quest of hygiene in water usage,”
and members of the general public alike. unearthing and laying bare the grandeur of he said.
Described as a free thinker who Africa to a world that had been but paying Prof Mazrui’s vision for Africa, is in
would not distort the truth and facts to marginal attention to the intellectual depth many ways shared by that of the WRC. In
the dictates of the establishment, Prof of the African continent.” the words of lifelong friend Burjor Avari,
Mazrui’s views did not always sit well Mazrui’s honours are numerous. honorary research fellow at Manchester
with some audiences, yet his powerful For example, he won the Distinguished Metropolitan University, Prof Mazrui
writing style made it impossible for even Faculty Achievement Award of the wanted the people of his beloved continent
his harshest critics to ignore the unique University of Michigan in 1988 and the to enjoy the benefits of modern science and
perspective he brought to a variety of Distinguished Africanist Award of the technology and become more prosperous.
African issues. The subject matter of his African Studies Association of the U.S. His eldest sons, Jamal, Alamin and
writings ranged from politics, sociol- in 1995. The President of Kenya awarded Kim posted a heart-warming tribute to
ogy, philosophy, languages, literature, him the National Honour of Commander their father on Facebook: “Our father’s love
history, heritage, religion, to spirituality, of the Order of the Burning Spear and of life leaves us all to pause and consider
and demanded that people from all walks the President of South Africa made him more deeply: what would we be, what
of life participate and contribute to dis- Grand Companion of Oliver Tambo. could we be, if we moved beyond fear and
course and dialogue. Morgan State University awarded him the anxiety and embraced, as he did – our
His soft-spoken charm and eloquence DuBois-Garvey Award for Pan-African incredible human potential and the fulfil-
as a lecturer also made him a favourite Unity. In 2005, the American journal ment of life in all of its glory.”
among students at every university he Foreign Policy and the British journal Says WRC CEO Dhesigen Naidoo:
served. So revered was he as a teacher and Prospect ranked Mazrui among the top “Baba Mazrui’s empowering contribution
mentor that family and friends referred to 100 public intellectuals in the world. has been to demonstrate that harsh corners
him as ‘Mwalimu’ (Swahili for teacher). In November 2012, the Water Research of fundamentalism and discrimination
At the time of his death, Prof Mazrui Commission (WRC) was privileged to can be smoothed through the calmness
was the Albert Schweitzer Professor in the host Prof Mazrui as a special keynote of intellectual enquiry, paving the way
Humanities and Director of the Institute speaker at the International Conference for a more informed dialogue to sow the
of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton on Freshwater Governance for Sustainable seeds of sustainable solutions. His legacy
University, State University of New York. Development, held in the Drakensberg. will continue to inspire Africa and all her
He had also been serving as the Andrew Here he emphasised our inextricable link partners for many generations to come.”
D White Professor-at-Large Emeritus and with water not only as it sustains life, but Prof Mazrui was laid to rest according
Senior Scholar in Africana Studies at Cor- also in terms of culture, religion and herit- to his wishes in the 900-year-old Mazrui
nell University and as the Albert Luthuli age. “The issue of water affects the farmer family cemetery in old town Mombasa. He
Professor-at-Large at the University of Jos, praying for rain, affects a villager in fear is survived by his wife, Pauline, five sons
Nigeria. of a hurricane, affects a mother terrified and a daughter.
10 The Water Wheel November/December 2014Tales from the field
Why apps
fly and
cell phones
should float
Any water scientist worth
his salt will tell you to al-
ways expect the unexpect-
ed, especially in the field.
And as Shanna Nienaber, KwaZulu-Natal. It was imperative to visit Above: A triumphant Mark Graham (in front) reunites
the site where the mThimzima stream Shanna Nienaber (in front left) with her phone while members
Mark Graham, Tembeka of the SADC mini-SASS workshop look on.
enters Midmar – a site of some of the most
Dambuza and Jim Taylor serious point source pollution to enter the
found out, sometimes sto- dam. The best way to get there is by canoe, works! Lo and behold, the phone switches
ries have a happy ending. which is also a cool way to travel, and have on as if nothing ever happened to it. This
fun! begs the question, should we be developing
W
At the Mthimzima stream confluence, a mini-SASS cell phone app or a phone that
hen a story starts with “it’s a whilst trying simultaneously to admire floats?
true story” it’s seldom true. some fish eagles, study some algae and bal-
But here’s a story of the trials, ance in a K2 canoe; Shanna Nienaber, our
tribulations and comedies unfortunate DST colleague, dropped her A TRUE STORY
of working in the water sector that really is cell phone into Midmar dam. No amount of THAT’S REALLY TRUE
true. You may have heard about the Stream river searching, swearing or sloshing was to
Assessment Scoring System (mini-SASS), reveal the phone – it was gone for good – There once was a girl who
a citizen science tool that has been devel- or so it seemed. didn’t know what to do,
oped to monitor the health of a river and And so life moved on, phones will When she dropped her cell
help ordinary people develop a river health always come and go, won’t they? Except phone off the side of a canoe!
index? MiniSASS does this by reading for the two dedicated WESSA and Weeks went by, she let all hope
the stories that the insects, or actually the GroundTruth canoe enthusiasts, Jim die.
groups of macro-invertebrates, that live in Taylor and Mark Graham, who never gave But then, the magic of Midmar
the stream have to tell us. By studying these up looking. They dutifully revisited the dam,
creatures we get closer to the truth about site of the cell phone’s fatal plunge as the Spat the phone out of the
river health. days went by. Twenty-four days later, on 7 water onto the banks for a tan.
A unique partnership between the September 2014, no rain and some evapo- Where ‘lo and behold’ (as the
Water Research Commission, Department ration later, Midmar Dam revealed the story is told)
of Science & Technology (DST), WESSA extremely muddy, and wet, white Samsung Two blokes going by, spotted
and GroundTruth is now developing a S3 on its banks. the phone from the corner of
miniSASS cell phone app. This is the stuff The wet cell phone was cleaned, wiped their eye.
of goose bumps and ‘realising the dream’.... and placed on a window sill to dry. On the So now the girl has no reason
everyday citizens uploading important river 30 September the Mini-SASS team held a to moan,
data in real time, alongside rivers around SADC-wide workshop to learn about citizen Because the universe has
the country – and for free! science tools and put mini-SASS through its reunited her with her phone.
The 15 August 2014 marked the grand paces. Whilst presenting the exciting news And best of all .... It switches
occasion when the App development of the new mini-SASS app, which is still right back on
team visited Howick to meet the Mini- under development, Shanna was presented As if nothing at all, ever went
SASS team and to get their feet wet with with her, now clean, white cell phone with wrong!
a real experience of mini-SASS-ing in a still very muddy cover and guess what, it
The Water Wheel November/December 2014 11Research innovation
BIOMIMICRY:
Exploring
nature’s
genius for
a better
tomorrow
M
an has studied
nature for hun-
dreds of years.
First we tried
to tame it, to
control it with our structures
and machines. In many ways we
now seek to protect it against
As populations those same structures. Yet our
expand and pressures challenges remain – billions of
people around the world still
on our water increase, lack access to clean water while
scientists have to find pollution threatens the supply of
new, innovative ways those who have access.
to protect the nation’s In 1997, US biologist Janine
scarcest natural Benyus introduced the world to
the concept of biomimicry. Since
resource. A new then this new discipline has taken
research discipline off in leaps and bounds. Biomimicry
is illustrating that the is described as the practice of learn-
ing from and then emulating natural
secret to a successful forms, processes and ecosystems to
survival strategy solve human design challenges and cre-
ate more sustainable designs.
might lie in nature
itself. Article by “We are very used to learning about nature,”
Lani van Vuuren. explains biomimicrySA founder, Claire Janisch,
speaking at an interview earlier this year. “Biomim-
icry turns this around and asks what can we learn
from nature and how can we take that learning and
apply it to our own designs so that we ourselves start
Peter Chadwick/Africa Media Online
to emulate that genius we see in nature?”
12 The Water Wheel November/December 2014Research innovation
There are three types of biomimicry – one is copy- downstream (potentially high energy) treatment sys-
ing form and shape, another is copying a process, tems and water purification, notes Dr Naidoo. If suc-
like photosynthesis in a leaf, while the third is cessful, this methodology can then be implemented
mimicking at an ecosystem level, such as building a on other systems and processes where appropriate.
nature-inspired city.
The study is looking to exploit knowledge on how
The core idea is that nature, imaginative by neces- nature cleans water to better engineer constructed
sity, has already solved many of the problems we are wetlands to meet the challenges of current and emerg-
grappling with. Animals, plants and microbes are the ing pollutants and pathogens. The core project team
consummate engineers, physicists, chemists and engi- comprises engineers and scientists with expertise in
neers. They have found what works, what is appropri- various sectors. During the duration of the project
ate, and most important, what lasts here on Earth. experts have been consulted and invited to participate
in workshops and seminars in order to incorporate
By looking to nature’s examples we can begin to their knowledge and delivery a novel approach to
create innovative and progressive solutions to the constructed wetland designs for water treatment.
design, engineering and other challenges we now
face: in energy, food production, climate control, “This project is really exciting as it is not an easy
transportation, water supply and more. The vision methodology to apply. We are asking researchers to
of the biomimicry movement is to create products, stop thinking about innovation in a traditional sort
processes, organisations and policies – new ways of of way and enter a more creative, multidisciplinary
living – that are well adapted to life on earth over space,” says Dr Naidoo. “This project is only the start
the long haul. An important note on biomimicry of what we hope will be a new wave of creativity to
is that it uses the recipes from organisms – not the enter the South African water space.”
organisms themselves.
To date, the team has had a mixed reaction from col-
leagues, with some researchers not seeming very keen
BIOMIMICRY’S on giving up their conventional way of thinking and
POTENTIAL FOR WATER others seeing the potential of biomimicry. Perhaps the
true worth of biomimicry will not be in solving just
R
ealising the potential of this new discipline for the water sector problems but in contributing to eco-
water, the Water Research Commission (WRC) nomic growth and the knowledge economy through
initiated a five-year project to demonstrate the the development of innovative products and processes
biomimicry methodology in a South African setting. for the marketplace, notes Dr Naidoo.
The project, being undertaken by Golder Associates
Africa, together with Cape Peninsula University of
Technology, the University of the Witwatersrand and
HOW DOES BIOMIMICRY
biomimicrySA, will be completed next year. THINKING WORK?
G
The mouth of the
Traditionally, we have thought in very linear ways older environmental engineer, Priyal Dama humpback whale has an
when looking to solve our water problems, look at a Fakir, explains in a Water Institute of Southern excellent water filtering
typical wastewater treatment chain: wastewater goes Africa conference paper what the key steps in mechanism.
in through concrete structures, gets treated, then
flows out again, explains WRC Research Manager,
Dr Valerie Naidoo. “The biomimicry methodology
challenges us to think more three-dimensionally.
Instead of fighting against nature we are now looking
to it for innovations, using nature’s own principles to
come up with solutions to our challenges.”
Since this is the WRC’s first foray into this field, for
now the project is focused only on biomimicry and
wetland design. Researchers are looking to nature for
innovative ways of enhancing constructed wetlands
and rehabilitating existing wetlands. “Wetlands serve
as natural filters, removing pollution from waters
Wikipedia
flowing through them. The economic value of this
natural filter is immense, reducing the full cost of
The Water Wheel November/December 2014 13Research innovation
the biomimicry innovation methodology are. The first Key here is to look for repeated successes and the
step is to identify the core problem that needs to be principles that achieve this.
solved, asking questions such as: What do I want to
achieve? and What do I want my design to do? Now it is time to emulate – to actually mimic the
innovation discovered. The last step is to evaluate
The next step is to interpret or to ‘biologise’ the your innovation again life’s principles and identify
question. “As an example, consider a design problem areas of improvement to the design. These princi-
where the designer is required to treat water contain- ples include being resource efficient, using
ing high concentrations of sulphate. Typical questions life-friendly chemistry, integrating development
would be: How does nature remove sulphates from and growth, being locally attuned and positive,
water? How does nature survive under high sulphate adapting to changing conditions and evolving to
conditions? What natural processes require high survive.
sulphate conditions?,” explains Dama Fakir. One also
needs to understand the overall context of the solu-
tion being investigated.
EXAMPLES FROM
NATURE
The third step is to discover – actually finding solu-
T
tions in nature. This means brainstorming between he WRC study has come up with a tool to
designers and biologists, identifying nature’s models guide a whole host of potential innovations.
which meet the functions indentified, and selecting Nature is full of examples of sufficient and
the champions by considering the context and identi- efficient ways to treat water. Take the mangrove, for
fying the organisms whose survival are dependent on example. Remarkably tough, mangroves can live in
the function. water up to 100 times saltier than most other plants
Mangroves can tolerate
extremely salty water due can tolerate. This is because of the ability of these
to their desalinisation The next step is to abstract or understand the princi- estuarine plants to filter out the salt as the water
abilities. ples and context and select a shortlist of champions. enters their roots.
Peter Chadwick/Africa Media Online
14 The Water Wheel November/December 2014Research innovation
Some species of mangroves excrete the salt through emulated in existing biomimetic technology, called
glands in their leaves. Others concentrate the salt Baleen filters. Water runs through the filter, causing
in older leaves or bark. When the leaves drop or the visible solids and particles to remain behind in the
bark sheds, the stored salt goes with them. filter. Hereafter, a second high-pressure, low-volume
spray of water dislodges the solids and carries it away.
The ability to filter water is also found among ani-
mals. Flamingos have bills lined with numerous Among nature’s genius that has been most success-
complex rows of lamellae, which filter out the various fully emulated are aquaporins. An aquaporin is a
small crustaceans, algae and unicellular organisms membrane protein that allows water to pass through
on which the birds feed. The feeding process requires cell walls. These proteins contain pores in the shape
a series of tongue movements and opening and clos- of an hour glass, made of crystalline material and
ing of the beak, which allows food items to be filtered are used to transport water in and out of cells.
by the lamellae and eventual ingestions. Aquaporins transport the water through membrane
at a rate much faster than diffusion.
Unwanted items, such as mud and water are pushed
out by the tongue. Swinging the head to and fro A Danish firm, also called Aquaporin, has
allows water to enter the beak. Acting as a pump the mimicked this by using a forward osmotic system
tongue moves back and forth sucking the water in incorporating aquaporins to increase the water
and forcing it out. transport rate. Aquaporins are embedded into arti-
ficial membranes simulating the natural behaviour
Looking to an example from the sea, Baleen whales, of biological membranes. Since aquaporins are
which feed on krill, have no teeth. Instead, they have ubiquitous among all living organisms they can
developed a keratinous row of fibres, known as a bal- easily be produced.
len, to filter out organisms from seawater. The kera-
tin sheath of each baleen plate encapsulates hair-like Several other successful innovations have been
strands that become evident as the sheath is worn identified during the WRC study which could
down and splits open. potentially be mimicked to produce sustainable
water treatment technologies. It is hoped that some
Upon closing its mouth, the whale’s lower jaws innovations can be tested at lab scale and could lead
distends, creating pressure against the baleen. This to new solutions for the water sector and beyond.
forces water through the keratin fibres, but retains
all organic material. Once material is forced out the It is hoped that this WRC project on biomimicry
whale’s tongue rises and sweeps the organic material will be the start of a new way of approaching South The WRC project is looking
off the baleen and swallows it. Africa’s water challenges. As we look to learn from to nature to improve the
nature’s genius, may it also awaken the genius in functioning of constructed
The principles of Baleen whale filtration have been ourselves. wetlands.
“Biomimicry
asks what can
we learn from
nature and how
can we take
that learning
and apply it to
our own de-
signs so that we
Roger de la Harpe/Africa Media Online
ourselves start
to emulate that
genius we see
in nature.”
The Water Wheel November/December 2014 15You can also read
