Citizen science initiative at Hennops River

The Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) partnered with Hennops Revival to host a river clean-up and awareness campaign at the Hennops River recently.

The main focus of the initiative was citizen science and to empower locals with knowledge about monitoring water quality for safe consumption and use.

Tarryn Johnson, the founding director of Hennops Revival, led the initiative on March 26 by conducting various tests on the river water to assess its suitability for consumption.

Each test involved careful procedures and had to be shaken until the tablets in the water dissolved. This was followed by a five-minute waiting period.

The water temperature during the tests was recorded at 24º C.

According to Johnson, the first test was to measure the oxygen in the water.

“The results will only become available within the next five days because the tests still need to be incubated,” she said.

Johnson emphasised the importance of the test, as it measures the amount of oxygen in the water and the presence of bacteria.

“If there is no oxygen in the water, then there is no life,” she said.

The second test focused on checking the nitrates, with results indicating a level of 5. Johnson explained that lower nitrate levels are favourable and ideal.

She said that the data collected are integrated into a global citizen science system that allows people to access the water quality results from various locations.

“For South Africa specifically, there is an online platform where you can go and check; the information includes specific times and cycles,” she said.

Continuing the assessment, Johnson measured the pH of the water to determine its acidity or alkalinity. The test then revealed a pH level of 8.

“A pH of 7, which turns the water light green is considered ideal for water quality,” she explained.

After the tests, members of the TCTA and local youth united to clean up the area around the Hennops River.

Wanda Mkhutshulwa, the spokesperson for the TCTA, shared the company’s commitment to river campaigns over the past three years.

She emphasised that people living close to the river need to be more aware of the impact of their daily actions on water quality.

“The little efforts by many of us will lead to a great impact,” she said.

Mkhutshulwa added that getting support from those with the resources will yield a significant impact.

Tshepo Kgaudi of the Black Business Council expressed his gratitude to TCTA and Hennops Revival for their citizen science and water clean-up initiatives.

He stressed the importance of establishing long-term partnerships to integrate citizen science education into schools.

“We need more companies to form partnerships so that such initiatives don’t only happen on special days but so that we continue looking after our sustainability,” he said.

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