SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 2025

Campus water management

Water measurement, treatment, pollution prevention, drinking water, efficient infrastructure, landscaping and reuse.

Community water security

Community learning, conservation, sustainable extraction, government cooperation and conscious water use.

 

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In 2025, UWC’s water work connected community water-management skills, practical conservation, groundwater research and sanitation dialogue. The Giyani partnership reached its handover stage, citizen-science learning extended across communities, and research brought residents’ sanitation experiences into discussion with public authorities. Earlier campus infrastructure and the university’s infrastructure policy provide the foundation for this work. [P01] [P08] [Q01] [R01] [C01] [C04]

Campus water management

Water consumption per person; Water usage and care; Water reuse

Measuring total water volume from university water sources

UWC's December 2019 year-end account records the borehole plant's contribution to daily water use alongside municipal supply. The complete dated account below preserves that operational milestone and its reporting period. [C09]

Evidence and context

A dated operational milestone

The Rector’s December 2019 year-end message placed the first boreholes in 2017, plant construction between August 2018 and March 2019, and the launch in September 2019. At that time, it reported that the plant supplied 60% of daily water use and municipal supply the remaining 40%. These figures describe the 2019 position. [C09]

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Processes for treating wastewater

The April 2025 Green New World account describes a planned integrated water-energy-food platform, including borehole pumping, water purification and irrigation. The full development account below keeps its construction status and approval conditions explicit. [C06]

Evidence and context

Developing an integrated water energy and food demonstration

Green New World in 2025

In April 2025, UWC described the first phase of Green New World on West Campus, led by the Energy Storage and Fluid Treatment Centre within the South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry. Initial work included a 130-metre fence around the site. The planned agrivoltaic system would combine solar generation with crop cultivation. Its design linked 90 kW of photovoltaic panels with battery and power-conditioning systems to supply borehole pumping, water purification, irrigation, cooling, e-mobility and part of an adjacent building. [C06]

A demonstration and learning platform

Green New World was presented as a demonstration and learning platform for integrated water–energy–food systems. Trainees were already working on Phase 1 development, including AgriPV, battery integration and cooling solutions. A course covering AgriPV systems, groundwater purification, hydroponics and e-mobility was planned for 2026. In the April 2025 account, construction remained subject to City of Cape Town approval of submitted plans. [C06]

Preparatory work for Green New World on UWC’s West Campus, reported in April 2025. Credit: Jesi Townsend / UWC. Image source.

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Preventing polluted water from entering the water system

The Infrastructure Management Policy assigns responsibility for environmental compliance and infrastructure-risk management. The retained provisions below specify those duties, alongside the complete supporting infrastructure provisions. [C01]

Evidence and context

4.2.5

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

4.2.5 The management of all occupational health and safety and environmental compliance matters in relation to infrastructure and the usage of land. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.5]
Annexure A(g)

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

g) Risks relating to the ownership, use and operation of infrastructure need to be managed as follows:• the possible consequences of failure of infrastructure needs to be identified and mitigated in a cost-effective manner;• critical infrastructure should be identified using a risk-based approach by assessing both the probability of failure and the potential impact on the University’s operations;• high risk infrastructure needs to be prioritised, especially if this is potentially life- threatening or poses a risk to the achievement of the University’s core objectives; and• the University’s liability in the event of infrastructure-related claims needs to be minimised.• Appropriate and continuing investment in bulk services infrastructure (water, electricity and fire) [C01, PDF physical/printed pp.9–10]

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Free drinking water for students, staff and visitors

UWC's 2019 announcement describes campus potable-water production through borehole purification and atmospheric water harvesting. The July 2025 clean-energy announcement recalls these earlier installations; the full historical infrastructure account retains the original dates and capacities. [C03] [C04]

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Building standards and water-efficient infrastructure

UWC's Infrastructure Management Policy requires water-efficient, sustainable infrastructure and regular maintenance. It names the applicable regulatory framework, including the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act; Annexure A(h) states the water-efficiency requirement. The complete retained provisions follow. [C01]

Evidence and context

Water efficiency in infrastructure planning

UWC’s Infrastructure Management Policy, approved by Council on 22 September 2022 and implemented the next day, states that infrastructure should be water-efficient and sustainable. It requires life-cycle asset planning, regular plumbing checks, condition monitoring and records of infrastructure incidents. Its spatial-planning principles also recognise water and indigenous vegetation. These provisions establish water-conscious requirements for planning and maintenance. [C01, control table; 4.2.1–4.2.3; Annexure A(h); Annexure B(3); pp.1, 5, 10, 12]

Policy provisions supporting water conscious infrastructure

Infrastructure Management Policy: control information

University of the Western Cape | Infrastructure Management Policy | C2022/03. The following control information and provisions are reproduced from the policy. The stated implementation date is 23 September 2022. [C01, p.1]

Original policy crest. Credit: University of the Western Cape.

 UWC
Infrastructure Management Policy

Council Approval Reference Number — First Approval

C2022/03 (22 September 2022)

Amendments

 

Implementation Date

23 September 2022

Revision / Amendment

n/a

Revision / Amendment Date

n/a

Provisos

n/a

Policy Owner

Infrastructure and Engineering

Executive Management Portfolio

ED – Finance and Services

Contributors

EMC, SPRC, SEC, IBDC, Council

Circulated by:

Executive Director – Finance and Services

Circulated to:

Institutional Planning and Infrastructure and Engineering staff members.
1 Purpose

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

1 Purpose The purpose of this Infrastructure Management Policy is to establish a Council approved policy for key infrastructure-related principles and objectives that the University’s executive management needs to pursue over time. The Policy is supported by a) a long-term spatial development framework (Campus Development Plan); and b) an annually-updated 3-5-year infrastructure management plan; which promote the efficient, economic, effective and sustainable use of resources. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.4]
2 Scope

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

2 Scope This document establishes the University’s policy for the management of its infrastructure. It includes the management of: a) the demand for infrastructure; b) the creation and prioritisation of a pipeline of interventions; as well as c) the management of land holdings. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.4]
3 Definition of concepts
Infrastructure comprises immovable assets which are acquired or constructed or which result from construction operations and includes moveable assets which cannot function independently from purpose built immoveable assets. It includes Information and Communication Technology (ICT) networks and systems that are used to communicate and to create disseminate, store and manage information, as well as security technology installations.Asset management seeks to effectively, efficiently, economically and sustainably utilise infrastructure to serve the current and emerging needs of the University. Asset management accordingly considers the entire lifecycle (service life) of the infrastructure asset and the associated costs, from the identification of a need through operating costs, and finally to the final decommissioning and disposal of the asset. [C01, p.4]
4.1 Infrastructure development at UWC

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete section reproduced from the policy.

In proposing infrastructure development projects that include the acquisition or construction of new buildings as well as the repurposing and modernisation of existing infrastructure, the University will give due consideration to:a) The alignment of the proposed infrastructure development with the University’s strategic intentions as articulated in its Institutional Operating Plan and the Campus Development Plan; b) Affordability and future financial commitments. c) Continue to apply and seek to optimise the funding opportunities provided by the DHET's infrastructure grants, and in doing so will seek to find a balance between projects focusing on: 1) UWC's academic project, including new programme areas. In this regard the University will seek to find a balance between the repurposing and refurbishment of old infrastructure and new developments / acquisitions; 2) Student growth and the capacity of infrastructure; 3) The needs of students and improving their university experience, especially at smaller campus sites; and 4) Addressing compliance issues and backlog maintenance. d) Where feasible the university will increase the provision of ablution facilities that are:1) Accessible and that serves the requirements of disabled students and staff; and 2) Gender-neutral to support the needs of the University’s gender-diverse student and staff population. e) Optimising appropriate income-generating activities where these opportunities exist or can be established. [C01, pp.4–5]
4.2 opening paragraphs and 4.2.1

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

4.2 Management of infrastructure The University will manage its infrastructure based on the principles set out in Annexure A. The University’s Executive Management is responsible for all aspects of infrastructure management and these functions are largely executed on its behalf by the Executive Director: Finance and Services. In this regard the University will attend to: 4.2.1 Life-cycle infrastructure asset management planning for large individual assets or groups of infrastructure assets, which include operation, maintenance and refurbishment requirements. This planning will inform major refurbishment or upgrading requirements which are incorporated into the infrastructure management plan. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.5]
4.2.2

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

The unusual subparagraph numbering 5)–10) is retained from the policy.

4.2.2 Facilities management, ensuring that:a) the necessary internal and external facilities management resources are in place;b) engineering infrastructure management including the following, occurs:5) budgeting and preparation for planned as well as unplanned maintenance;6) regular checking of hard services (mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services) to keep them serviceable with special attention being paid to critical infrastructure;7) identification and establishment of condition monitoring and inspection plans as per the operating and maintenance manuals to check, test or replace infrastructure systems, subsystems, assemblies or components;8) preventative (scheduled, routine) maintenance plans are drafted and implemented;9) all breakdowns are addressed immediately and repairs planned and prioritised; and10) a record is made of infrastructure breakdowns and incidents which can be analysed to identify trends to inform decisions;c) the day to day soft services (e.g. cleaning, security, catering, fire protection, waste management, reception services) are done properly and that staff or contractors and their performance is measured and reported against performance specifications; andd) demobilisation of facilities management (e.g. Service Level Agreements) for infrastructure that will be disposed of as well as for infrastructure earmarked for upgrades, refurbishments or rehabilitation. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.5]
4.2.3

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

4.2.3 Progressive development of an infrastructure management system to provide reliable, consistent and updated infrastructure information to enable optimised decisions to be made, which should: a) be used to inform infrastructure management activities; and b) provide improved risk control assurance that the objectives in the infrastructure management policy will be achieved on a consistent basis. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.5]
4.5.1

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

4.5.1 The University will develop an annual Infrastructure Management Plan, that will include planning for new infrastructure, as well as plans for the operation, maintenance, refurbishment and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, and disposal of infrastructure which is no longer required to meet the University’s objectives, and it will be based on: a) factors such as policies, norms and standards, condition assessments, functional performance, student enrolment trends, student housing demand trends, current and forecasted levels of optimisation, and academic requirements; b) the infrastructure planning principles contained in Annexure C; c) the grouping of projects into programmes to enable cash flow projections for projects during a financial year to be adjusted and funds to be moved between projects within a programme to avoid under-expenditure without changing the purpose for which funds were approved; and d) the readiness of projects for implementation. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.7]
Annexure A regulatory standards

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

The policy names regulatory and higher-education infrastructure requirements.

a) The requirements of the following regulatory framework need to be met:• The Occupational Health and Safety Act including the - Construction Regulations, - Electrical Installation Regulations - Pressure Vessel Regulations, - Lift Escalator and Passenger Conveyer Regulations, - Driven Machinery and General Machinery Regulations;• The National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act including the National Building Regulations; and• The National Heritage Resources Act.• The National Environmental Management Act No. 107 of 1998• The National Energy Act No. 34 of 1998b) All Department of Higher Education and Training infrastructure-related policies need to be adhered to, including the Higher Education Act, Space and Cost Norms for Buildings and other Land Improvements and the Policy on the Minimum Norms and Standards for Student Housing at Public Universities. [C01, Annexure A(a) and (b), p.9]
Annexure A(h)

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

h) The University’s infrastructure should be accessible, energy-efficient, water-efficient and sustainable. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.10]
Annexure A(k)–(n)

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

k) There needs to be periodic condition assessments of infrastructure, the results of which need to be captured on the infrastructure asset register and used to inform infrastructure plans and budgets.l) There needs to be a periodic assessment of the levels of performance and service that infrastructure delivers, and these should be analysed against the requirements and expectations of users.m) There needs to be a system or process for prioritisation of repairs.n) There needs to be a system for handling of complaints and responding to requests from infrastructure users, which should include standards for reasonable response times. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.10]
Annexure B, 3) Quality of shared/common spaces

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete provision reproduced from the policy.

3) Quality of shared/common spaces Any plan for the University needs to consider place making i.e. the creation of a sense of spatial uniqueness and identity. An important part of this is developing an appropriate response to the site. The spatial implications of this include working with the land, working with water, use of landmarks and the appropriate use of indigenous vegetation. The aim of all universities should be to promote a holistic teaching and learning environment, as opposed to just a classroom-based one. Central to this is recognising the importance of informal mixing and social contact between students of diverse disciplinary backgrounds as part of the total educational experience. The implication of this from a spatial perspective is the creation of dignified, pleasant places of meeting in the public realm. A variety of shared spaces should be offered, which represent the primary informal gathering or meeting spaces for students, staff and residents alike. The dignity of these places will impact on the dignity of the university campuses. Safety and security and heritage considerations need to be taken into account in the creation of these common spaces. [C01, PDF physical/printed p.12]
Annexure B, 6) Sustainability and efficiency and concluding planning provisions

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

The complete sixth principle and the remaining concluding provisions of Annexure B are reproduced below.

6) Sustainability and efficiencyDecisions taken in relation to the location, design and management of the institutions need to be geared towards optimal sustainability. The university campuses should play a leadership role in demonstrating sustainable practices. The University should demonstrate best practice in terms of a broad spectrum of environmental and sustainability including efficiency of land utilisation.The academic vision and the spatial directions of universities should be considered as complementary and synergistic. Direction should accordingly be derived from:• interrogating the University’s mission statement, which provides the highest order of direction for the spatial development plan, to explore the spatial implications of the academic mission; • identifying the desirable performance qualities which a university in South Africa in the 21st century should be seeking to achieve which have spatial implications; and • a comprehensive understanding of the contextual informants (the concrete things which have material substance, shape, topography, environmental character, climate, texture, as well as socio- economic features) which embody very different properties, in accordance with the unique cultural and environmental conditions of the place within which the University campus is located.Academic vision for a particular campus can also have spatial implications for in the creation of:• living and working environments of a quality that attracts and retains world renown academics; • adequate library, student resource amenities, student accommodation with meals and self- catering and IT facilities.The method employed in the development of spatial plans needs to elevate planning and design from opinion to argument in order to seek sufficient consensus around the desired norms and their spatial implications. [C01, p.13]
Annexure C: Infrastructure planning principles

UWC Infrastructure Management Policy | Version C2022/03 | Approved 22 September 2022 | Effective 23 September 2022

Complete annexure reproduced from the policy.

Infrastructure projects are identified, planned and costed, as relevant, by:a) obtaining and considering the expectations and requirements of stakeholders in the University;b) determining appropriate levels of service and identifying the infrastructure required to meet this level of service and to achieve the University’s strategic objectives;c) establishing an infrastructure baseline by reviewing existing infrastructure assets, including the identification of mission-critical assets;d) assessing existing infrastructure assets in terms of their efficiency of use, and proposing improvements;e) identifying any gaps between the existing infrastructure and the required infrastructure;f) considering all possible ways of meeting the gaps, such as building new infrastructure, renting infrastructure, utilising existing infrastructure more effectively, reconfiguring existing infrastructure or sharing infrastructure with other institutions, to determine the best solutions to the gaps;g) taking a ‘whole-portfolio’ approach when considering options for addressing gaps, enabling all available options to achieve the required levels of service to be considered, ensuring the provision of infrastructure at the lowest life-cycle cost;h) analysing asset management information;i) determining the functional requirements and required level of service for new infrastructure and applying the space and cost norms to the needs for new infrastructure;j) comparing the needs against the budget, and prioritising in terms of this policy if the needs exceed the budget; andk) planning for capital projects taking into account the operation and maintenance of the infrastructure for its entire estimated design life after it has been constructed.l) Integrating sustainability principles and strategies into all projectsm) Future proofing all projects, as far as it is practical and cost-effective, against changes in the environmental (e.g. climate change), technological (e.g. 4IR) and regulatory spheres.Adequate access control and monitoring infrastructure needs to be put in place to provide a safe environment for the University community.Credible forecasts of the current and net demand for services or requirements for functionality should be made over a period of not less than ten years. [C01, p.14]

Open/download the complete Infrastructure Management Policy (PDF)

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Landscaping to minimise water use

UWC's 2024 Annual Report records indigenous, waterwise gardens introduced through the Campus Landscaping Project, intended to reduce water use and support biodiversity. The full account retains the 2024 timing of these campus improvements. [C02]

Evidence and context

A water conscious campus

Water-wise planting and essential repairs

UWC’s 2024 Annual Report records an accelerated maintenance programme covering academic buildings, residences and water systems. In the third quarter, the Campus Landscaping Project introduced indigenous, waterwise gardens intended to reduce water use and support biodiversity. These are reported 2024 improvements that form part of the university’s water-conscious campus foundation. [C02, Designed edition p.28]

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Policy to maximise water reuse across the University

The infrastructure policy sets out water-efficiency and sustainability requirements. A separate 2018 Nature Reserve account records rainwater tanks used for toilet flushing and nursery watering. The full dated example below sits alongside the retained infrastructure policy provisions. [C01] [C05]

Evidence and context

An early rainwater-use example

In September 2018, the Nature Reserve reported using two 2,500-litre rainwater tanks for the administration building’s toilet flushing. Three additional 1,000-litre tanks supported other uses, including nursery watering. The same article encouraged staff and students to conserve water and shared practical advice for maintaining rainwater systems. This is a dated example of local rainwater use; tank capacity does not measure how much water was subsequently reused. [C05, Historical report, 7 September 2018]

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Measuring water reuse across the University

The 2018 Nature Reserve account gives the capacities and intended uses of its rainwater tanks. The complete rainwater-use account retains those figures and the date to which they relate. [C05]

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Community water security

Water in the community

Community education in good water management

The Giyani partnership provided community workshops on conservation, water-quality testing and infrastructure maintenance. Its publicly available agricultural-water and solar-pump handbooks extend practical learning beyond workshops, identifying UWC as the water and energy technical partner. [P01] [P02] [P03]

Evidence and context

Water knowledge that communities can use

Practical learning in Giyani

UWC served as the water and energy technical partner in the Giyani Local Scale Climate Resilience Programme. The Water Research Commission (WRC) managed the programme; AWARD supported capacity development and stakeholder engagement; and Tsogang Water and Sanitation led water infrastructure work. The WRC’s July 2025 retrospective reports community workshops on water conservation, water-quality testing and infrastructure maintenance. AWARD records the multi-year programme as completed on 31 May 2025. [P02, pp.2–3] [P08] [P01]

Open learning resources

The programme’s Agricultural Water Management Skills handbook gives farmers practical guidance on irrigation methods, soil-moisture retention, crop selection and reducing avoidable water losses. It identifies UWC as the water and energy technical partner. Its discussion of mulching explains how covering soil can reduce evaporation, while its irrigation guidance distinguishes flood, sprinkler and micro-irrigation methods. The companion solar-pump handbook explains operators’ daily duties, maintenance checks and recordkeeping. AWARD’s public project-resource collection makes these learning materials available online, extending practical guidance beyond individual workshops. [P02, pp.3, 5, 10–12, 16–18] [P03, pp.5, 8–12, 14–15] [P01, Project Resources]

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Water conservation support beyond campus

UWC contributed technical water and energy expertise to the Giyani programme. The WRC's 2025 account reports drip and precision irrigation to reduce waste and the handover of project infrastructure to the Greater Giyani and Mopani municipalities. [P01] [P08]

Evidence and context

Practical water conservation beyond campus

Technology, skills and local ownership

The Giyani programme brought together community water supply and agricultural water use across nine sites. AWARD’s completion account identifies four community-water sites and five agricultural cooperative sites, reporting a cumulative reach of 5,000 people. UWC’s contribution formed part of the wider partnership, rather than a stand-alone university delivery programme. [P01, Completed project overview and timeline]

Reducing losses and improving water use

Giyani’s technical records show how feasibility research, field measurements and discussions with local stakeholders informed water-system designs. The records describe solar-powered pumping, water storage, borehole testing and beneficiary training in water-quality monitoring. The WRC’s 2025 account reports the use of drip and precision irrigation to reduce waste, and confirms handover to the Greater Giyani and Mopani District municipalities. This was practical water-conservation support in communities beyond UWC’s campus. [P06, pp.5–8] [P07, pp.5–8] [P08, Infrastructure and handover sections]

Giyani programme site visit (undated programme image). Credit: AWARD / GLSCRP; individual photographer not identified. Image source.

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Sustainable extraction technologies on associated university grounds

UWC's 2019 infrastructure announcement describes treating water drawn from the campus aquifer and atmospheric water harvesting. The complete source below retains the installation history and announced capacities, which the July 2025 account recalls as earlier resource-security steps. [C03] [C04]

Evidence and context

Building water resilience over time

Groundwater purification and atmospheric water harvesting

In August 2019, UWC announced a borehole purification plant near the Sports Stadium and an atmospheric water generator. The plant treated water drawn from the campus aquifer, with announced capacity of 500,000 litres of potable water a day; the generator’s reported output was about 2,000 litres a day. The programme also prioritised repairing leaks and upgrading pipes and plumbing. UWC’s July 2025 clean-energy announcement recalled both installations as earlier steps in its resource-security programme. [C03, Historical announcement, 30 August 2019] [C04]

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Government cooperation on water security

The Giyani partnership connected UWC's technical work with municipal, provincial and national water-sector bodies and international funding. Other retained examples include groundwater work for Cape Town and De Aar and 2025 sanitation dialogue with City officials and Khayelitsha residents. [P01] [P08] [P12] [P22] [R01]

Evidence and context

Cooperating with government on water security

Local, provincial and national collaboration

The Giyani partnership linked UWC’s technical contribution with the WRC, the Greater Giyani Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality and the Dzumeri Traditional Council. It also involved the Limpopo Provincial Government, with funding from the Government of Flanders. The WRC’s July 2025 account confirms that project infrastructure had been handed over to the two municipalities as water authorities. A draft programme for the February 2025 close-out scheduled UWC’s Professor Nebo Jovanovic to speak on partnerships, alongside community, provincial-government and funder contributions. [P01] [P08, Partnership and handover sections] [P09, pp.1–3]

Cape Town groundwater planning

An August 2024 UWC report submitted to the City of Cape Town examined long-term salinisation risks in the Cape Flats Aquifer beneath the Philippi Horticultural Area. It identifies municipal counterparts in water-demand management and bulk services. The modelling considered climate and abstraction scenarios and recommended groundwater-quality monitoring and more appropriate irrigation practices. This is direct evidence of local-government research cooperation in 2024 and a foundation for the wider water-security story. [P12, PDF pp.1, 2, 3, 4]

Applied groundwater work in De Aar

UWC’s 2024 account of its De Aar partnership names the Department of Water and Sanitation, CSIR and Emthanjeni Local Municipality. Working with local farmers, researchers assessed recharge, aquifer behaviour and sustainable yield through pumping tests. The article documents postgraduate fieldwork in April 2024 and explains how the findings support safe abstraction and allocation planning in a groundwater-dependent town. [P22, Partnership, farmers and fieldwork paragraphs]

Research and dialogue for equitable water futures

Bringing water research into public-sector discussion

UWC’s Institute for Water Studies announced an Open Day for 21 May 2025, with WISA Western Cape as a key partner. The advertised programme included CSIR presentations and a keynote by the WRC’s chief executive, alongside research on remote sensing, groundwater modelling and water-resource management. The announcement offered a forum for researchers and water-sector partners to exchange knowledge. [P10, pp.1–2]

Water-research imagery accompanying UWC’s May 2025 water-security Open Day announcement. Credit: UWC; individual photographer not stated. Image source.

Water, energy and food policy connections

A UNU-WIDER event page records a food-security dialogue at UWC on 26 August 2025. The conveners included the Centre of Excellence in Food Security, the National Planning Commission’s Agriculture and Food Security Task Team and the SA-TIED programme. Water infrastructure and irrigation were among the stated discussion areas. Participation was limited to a pre-selected group of policymakers, researchers and practitioners, under the Chatham House Rule. [P20, Date, venue, conveners and discussion areas]

Evidence on sanitation inequality

Vuyolethu Duba’s November 2025 doctoral thesis, supervised by Philomene Nsengiyumva, examines access to sanitation using South Africa’s 2019 General Household Survey. It considers facility type, sharing and distance, and proposes responses to persistent inequality. A related UWC-authored article on eThekwini and Cape Town was first published online in January 2025. These outputs strengthen the evidence available for equitable sanitation planning, while remaining distinct from implemented service-delivery interventions. [P17, PDF pp.1, 5, 6] [P23, Publisher first-online date and abstract]

Community voices in sanitation services

In May 2025, UWC’s Politics and Urban Governance Research Group co-hosted a workshop with the City of Cape Town and residents of BM Section, Khayelitsha, on sanitation-service challenges involving container-based toilets. Residents and officials discussed ways to improve fault reporting and service responsiveness. [R01, p.15]

A separate participatory research project examined how sanitation governance shapes women’s experiences of menstrual health. During 2025, researchers conducted interviews and PhotoVoice work with residents, held a participant feedback session and shared a policy-oriented pamphlet with City officials. A team workshop on 22–24 October analysed the data and identified further research needs. These activities brought community experiences into sanitation research and public-service dialogue. [R01, p.12]

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Promoting conscious water use on campus

The 2018 Nature Reserve account encouraged staff and students to conserve water and shared rainwater-system advice. In 2025, UWC's SDG Essay and Poster Competition also brought clean-water and environmental-justice topics into campus sustainability learning. [C05] [C07]

Evidence and context

Water in campus sustainability learning

Students explore clean water and environmental justice

The second annual SDG Essay and Poster Competition brought students, staff and guests together at the UWC Library in 2025. Its 41 submissions included 34 essays and seven posters across topics such as clean water, poverty, gender equity and climate action. One recognised essay examined environmental racism in South African informal settlements through SDGs 6, 10 and 13. The event shows students engaging with the social dimensions of clean water and sustainability. [C07]

UWC Library’s 2025 SDG Essay and Poster Competition prize-giving. Credit: UWC; individual photographer not stated. Image source.

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Promoting conscious water use in the wider community

Water-literacy projects, conservation guidance and community learning support informed use of water. The retained examples include 2025 citizen-science activity and a scholar-led Khayelitsha campaign, alongside the Giyani groundwater policy brief and dated guidance on indigenous waterwise planting. [Q01] [P11] [P04] [C08]

Evidence and context

Water literacy through citizen science

UWC-affiliated researcher Jaqui Goldin and partners developed water literacy through Diamonds on the Soles of Our Feet. A 2025 study describes a Limpopo programme combining classroom learning about the water cycle and upstream–downstream relationships with practical water-quality sampling. It distinguishes earlier fieldwork at Boetse Secondary School in 2023 from continuing engagement reported when Mara Primary School reopened in January 2025. In March 2025, the initiative launched in Narok County, Kenya, with twenty schools grouped into five zones. Teachers and local partners received water-sampling training, connecting community knowledge with practical environmental learning. [Q01, pp.1, 6–8, 10]

Youth-led conservation awareness

An October 2025 UWC profile describes Environmental and Water Science graduate Qawekazi Msesane’s clean-up and educational campaign in Khayelitsha. The campaign taught young people about water conservation, waste management and recycling. UWC reported this scholar-led example in October 2025. [P11, Khayelitsha campaign paragraph]

Conservation guidance for longer-term resilience

The programme’s groundwater policy brief promotes monitoring, community participation, infrastructure upkeep, rainwater harvesting and crops with lower water demand. It provides a public resource for continuing conservation conversations. The brief sets out recommended approaches to groundwater conservation. [P04, PDF pp.1, 2]

Learning through indigenous plants

UWC’s Nature Reserve Unit describes an indigenous nursery supporting greening on campus and in surrounding communities. Its overview offers advice on propagation, planting and maintenance and describes public plant sales intended to encourage water-wise indigenous planting. The displayed sales calendar is for 2024. This provides a dated example of practical community gardening education alongside the university’s wider water-awareness work. [C08, Indigenous Nursery section and 2024 calendar]

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Further contributions and context

Regional networks and research capacity

A regional connection in 2025

UWC participated in the water-innovation hackathon at the African Water Investment Summit in August 2025. Stellenbosch University’s account identifies UWC as a member of the AUDA-NEPAD Southern African Network of Water Centres of Excellence. The network’s secretariat separately reports its 2025 review of the SADC Water Research Agenda and recommendations for the next edition. The review is described as a network activity. [P14] [P15]

Supporting the next generation of groundwater researchers

A CIWA profile published in April 2025 describes support for UWC researcher Mmasechaba Moropane through SADC-GMI’s young-professionals programme. Her work uses satellite-based methods to study groundwater-dependent invasive vegetation in the Western Cape. This demonstrates a regional capacity-building connection and research relevant to conservation. The profile also describes plans to engage water managers and teach in communities. [P16, Scholarship, research and future engagement paragraphs]

A longstanding institutional platform

UWC’s UNESCO Chair in Hydrogeology combines groundwater education, research and outreach with an emphasis on sustainable resource use. Its public profile describes support for water-policy implementation through capacity building and an advisory connection to AMCOW.  [P13, Overview and mandate]

References

[C01] UWC Council; policy owner Infrastructure and Engineering. 2022-09-22. UWC Infrastructure Management Policy.

[C02] University of the Western Cape. 2024 reporting year. UWC Annual Report 2024, designed edition.

[C03] Harriet Box. 2019-08-30. UWC implements game changers to become responsible global citizens with its water-wise programme.

[C04] Institutional Advancement. 2025-07-07. UWC Signs Landmark MOU to Launch Comprehensive Clean Energy Security Solution.

[C05] Harriet Box. 2018-09-07. Nature Reserve Leads Water Saving By Example.

[C06] Nathan Adams. 2025-04-16. A Green New World Loading at UWC.

[C07] Tamara Goliath, DVC: Research and Innovation Office. 2025-05-23. Shaping Tomorrow: A Celebration of Sustainability at the SDG Prize-Giving.

[C08] UWC Nature Reserve Unit. Undated; includes 2024 plant-sale calendar. UWC Nature Reserve Unit: Overview.

[C09] Professor Tyrone Pretorius. 2019-12-06. Rector and Vice-Chancellor's 2019 Year End Message.

[P01] Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD). Undated. Giyani Local Scale Climate Resilience Programme: project overview.

[P02] AWARD, WRC, Tsogang Water and Sanitation and UWC. Undated. Agricultural Water Management Skills: a guideline for water-wise farming.

[P03] AWARD, WRC, Tsogang Water and Sanitation and UWC. 2024-11. A Solar Powered Pump Operator’s Handbook.

[P04] AWARD / GLSCRP partners. Undated. Sustainable Groundwater Management: policy and practice brief.

[P06] Derick du Toit and GLSCRP partners. 2024-11-06 (PDF metadata). Nhlambeto Primary Cooperative: technical designs for local multiple-use systems.

[P07] Derick du Toit and GLSCRP partners. March 2023 (cover); 6 November 2024 (PDF metadata). Mbhedle Community Water Supply: technical designs for local multiple-use systems.

[P08] Water Research Commission; partner content in Mail & Guardian. 2025-07-28. The Giyani Local Scale Climate Resilience Programme: Building Climate Resilience Through Water Innovation.

[P09] Water Research Commission. 2025-02-25–27. GLSCRP close-out and handover draft programme, 25–27 February 2025.

[P10] Nathan Adams, UWC. 2025-05-19. Research for Improving Water Security.

[P11] Carmel Roberts, UWC Institutional Advancement. 2025-10-10. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Celebrate Impactful Journeys at UWC Spring Graduation.

[P12] N. Jovanovic, Erin Plato and Clinton Andries, UWC; report to City of Cape Town. 2024-08. Modelling the Long-term Salinization of the Cape Flats Aquifer in the Philippi Horticultural Area.

[P13] University of the Western Cape. Undated. UNESCO Chair in Hydrogeology: overview.

[P14] Stellenbosch University. 2025-08-26. SU students win hackathon with real-time algal biosensor to detect water pollution.

[P15] Yenziwe Mbuyisa, Stellenbosch University. 2025-11-26. CCA Bridges Academia, Policy and Diplomacy in Southern Africa’s Water Security Agenda.

[P16] Cooperation in International Waters in Africa (CIWA), World Bank. 2025-04-07. Researching the effects of groundwater-dependent invasive species in South Africa.

[P17] Vuyolethu Duba, supervised by Philomene Nsengiyumva, UWC. 2025-11. The factors associated with sanitation facility experienced by households in South Africa: insights from the 2019 General Household Survey.

[P20] UNU-WIDER / SA-TIED. 2025-08-26. Food Security Dialogue: Towards a Shared Agenda for Action.

[P22] Myolisi Gophe, UWC Institutional Advancement. 2024-08-06. UWC’s Groundwater Partnership Sustains Karoo Town.

[P23] Vuyolethu Duba and Philomene Nsengiyumva. 2025-01-05 online; March 2026 issue. The Demographic and Socioeconomic Factors Associated With Access to Toilet Facilities in South Africa: The Case of eThekwini Municipality and the City of Cape Town.

[Q01] Jaqui Goldin and Carolina Suransky. 2025-09-06. In the Minor Key: The Minuscular Mycelium and its Implications for Citizen Science.

[R01] Politics and Urban Governance Research Group. 10 June 2026. Politics and Urban Governance Research Group Annual Report 2025.

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