Equipment and health and safety modifications required for developing the capacity to support grantees field-testing in Durban, SA

Purpose

To augment the services provided to transformative technology grantees and sanitation practitioners wishing to demonstrate their technologies in Eastern Africa.

Activities

The grant was awarded to the Pollution Research Group (PRG) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in order to increase the capacity of the PRG to provide support to sanitation practitioners working in the faecal sludge management field. This included covering the cost of upgrading the laboratory to increase health and safety (improved extraction, storage, standard operating procedures for helminth analysis etc.), provide more space for visiting researchers, and to purchase analytical equipment to increase the range of tests that can be undertaken.

In addition, the PRG offers training support to other laboratories wishing to undertake similar analyses. Staff labour costs of the PRG are covered by the grant, but all other costs such as chemicals, consumables, and travel and subsistence need to be covered by the researcher requesting assistance.

Countries of activity

Location of main activity

Objectives

- To have a laboratory, field testing and office facilities available for use by faecal sludge researchers
- Increase the chemical, physical and microbiological data available of relevance to faecal sludge researchers

Further information

Research or implementation partners:
eThekwini Water and Sanitation
Water Research Commission of South Africa
Research partners: Durban University of Technology, Sanergy; Centre for Science and the Enviroment; Eawag; Sandec; Asian Institute of Technology; BORDA; Oklahoma State University; UNESCO-IHE; University College London

Filter tags

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Capacity development Faecal sludge treatment processes Fundamental research and engineering Specific to one or several countries Sub-Saharan Africa University, education or research institution

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