https://en.sputniknews.africa/20260618/local-ideas-for-lifesaving-water-africas-innovation-revolution--1089037767.html
Local Ideas for Lifesaving Water: Africa’s Innovation Revolution
Local Ideas for Lifesaving Water: Africa’s Innovation Revolution
Sputnik Africa
In many communities across the continent, the water crisis isn't simply about scarcity. It's about toxicity. Invisible threats lurk in Africa's water—from... 18.06.2026, Sputnik Africa
2026-06-18T13:36+0200
2026-06-18T13:36+0200
2026-09-10T15:02+0200
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Every Drop Counts: Africa’s Innovative Solutions for a Water-Secure Future
Sputnik Africa
Across the continent, access to clean water remains a daily struggle for millions, a crisis often met with imported, unsustainable solutions. But two brilliant women are fighting back with homegrown solutions that prove the future of African water is not imported. It's being built right now, making every drop counts.
Water is life, they say, but African waters carry more than life. Decades of mining, unregulated industry, and decaying colonial-era infrastructure have left water sources poisoned with heavy metals. Dr. Nomthandazo Sibiya-Dlomo, an award-winning chemical engineer from South Africa, is asking a radical question: what if the solution to water pollution is hiding in our garbage? She says fruit peels—the very things we throw away—can be transformed into powerful, low-cost weapons against heavy metals.Also, speaking on Pan-African Frequency, Professor Muthumuni Managa, of the Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability in South Africa, explains how biofilms—living, invisible and slimy bacteria—colonise stored water in jerricans, tanks, and pipes after days of storage. These bacteria, she argues, represent a neglected dimension of Africa’s water crisis.To listen to the whole discussion, tune in to the Pan-African Frequency podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.Discover more insights from our outstanding guests on the Pan-African Frequency podcast, proudly brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, and Podcast Addict► Check out all the episodes of Pan-African Frequency
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sputnik africa, africa, podcasts, water security, water resources, pan-africanism, innovation, technology, science, south africa, аудио
Local Ideas for Lifesaving Water: Africa’s Innovation Revolution
13:36 18.06.2026 (Updated: 15:02 10.09.2026) In many communities across the continent, the water crisis isn't simply about scarcity. It's about toxicity. Invisible threats lurk in Africa's water—from source to storage. But two African women scientists are fighting back with homegrown solutions.
Water is life, they say, but African waters carry more than life. Decades of mining, unregulated industry, and decaying colonial-era infrastructure have left water sources poisoned with heavy metals. Dr. Nomthandazo Sibiya-Dlomo, an award-winning chemical engineer from South Africa, is asking a radical question: what if the solution to water pollution is hiding in our garbage? She says fruit peels—the very things we throw away—can be transformed into powerful, low-cost weapons against heavy metals.
“We use something that is readily available like your banana peels, orange peels, your sugar cane peggers [...] We want to find something that is more affordable, and at the end of the day, it will sustain us for a longer future. So it's more on integrating, moving away from a costly solution or technologies, to a cheaper one,” she said.
Also, speaking on Pan-African Frequency, Professor Muthumuni Managa, of the Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability in South Africa, explains how biofilms—living, invisible and slimy bacteria—colonise stored water in jerricans, tanks, and pipes after days of storage. These bacteria, she argues, represent a neglected dimension of Africa’s water crisis.
“One of the misconceptions that we have is that when we look at water, since it's clear, it means that it is clean. But, that is not necessarily so. In the rural areas, we will either collect water from the borehole, or collect water from the freshwater streams. We're seeing that it's clean, but is it really? Does it not contain any form of microorganisms? [....] Water security is not just about having enough water, but it is equally ensuring that the water remains safe from point of collection to use. We know that in many African communities, particularly rural areas, they rely on storing their water, and even can go for days,” Professor Managa noted.
To listen to the whole discussion, tune in to the Pan-African Frequency podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
Discover more insights from our outstanding guests on the Pan-African Frequency podcast, proudly brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of Pan-African Frequency 
