Engineering, Art & Tech
Press Release: New method offers rapid monitoring of contamination in drinking water
12th October 2021: Scientists have developed a reliable new method to monitor the risk of contamination in drinking water which gives immediate results, enabling global communities to respond rapidly and help reduce their exposure to waterborne diseases.
Drinking water contaminated with human and animal faeces is consumed by at least two billion people worldwide. This pollution is responsible for outbreaks of waterborne diseases that remain common, even in high-income countries.
For decades, standard approaches to test water supplies have used bacteriological indicators of faecal contamination, most commonly thermotolerant coliform bacteria known as TTCs. Analysis of these indicators requires use of sterile equipment and culturing techniques, which practically limit the frequency of water sampling so that contamination events can be missed. Time lags of 1 or 2 days before results are returned mean that people can already have been exposed to the faecal contamination.
A new study, published this week in Water Research by a collaborative team from Makerere University, the British Geological Survey, and University College London, shows how a technique exploiting the fluorescent properties of microbiological materials in water provides an easy-to-use method to test for faecal contamination.
Co-author Jacintha Nayebare, PhD student at Makerere University said, “In-situ fluorescence spectroscopy provides an instantaneous assessment of faecal contamination allowing rapid feedback to consumers that could reduce exposure of consumers to faecally contaminated drinking water.”
The team examined changes in water quality over a 14-month period from 40 sources supplied by groundwater in Lukaya Town of south-central Uganda. The results show not only that in-situ fluorescence provides an instantaneous measure of faecal contamination but also that it is a more reliable measure of the risk of faecal contamination than TTCs.
Co-author, Dr. Robinah Kulabako from Makerere University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering said, “this rapid, robust method of monitoring the risk posed by faecal contamination has enormous implications in Uganda not only for untreated water sources such as wells and springs thereby, enabling communities to respond rapidly to contamination events but also for low-cost, continuous monitoring of piped water supplies.”
This research builds upon field studies conducted by the team in a network of urban observatories in Senegal, Kenya and Uganda under the AfriWatSan project, supported by The Royal Society and DFID, as well as research in the UK, India, and Zambia funded by Natural Environment Research Council.
Lead-author, James Sorensen from the BGS and UCL said: “the ability to test in-situ fluorescence as an indicator of faecal contamination risk in a wide range of environments and conditions has greatly improved both the evidence base for this method of water quality monitoring and our understanding of what fluorescence observed in water means.”
Makerere University, through its College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT), proudly hosted the first-ever Joint 8th Advances in Geomatics Research Conference (AGRC) and 14th Eastern Africa Land Administration Network (EALAN) Conference 2025. The event brought together scholars, land professionals, and policymakers to shape the future of land governance across the continent. Makerere’s role as host was in line with its current Chairmanship of EALAN.
Participants from over five African countries—namely Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and South Sudan—attended the conference, which commenced on July 31 and is set to conclude on August 1. The official opening was presided over by Hon. Judith Nabakooba Nalule, Uganda’s Minister of Lands, Housing, and Urban Development. She applauded the Department of Geomatics and Land Management at CEDAT for organizing and hosting the event.
Hon. Nabakooba highlighted the relevance of the conference theme, Geo-Enablement for Sustainable Development: Harnessing Innovation in Geomatics and Land Administration, noting it directly addresses national needs. “Indeed, sustainable development fundamentally depends on effective land management and efficient geospatial data collection,” she stated. She underscored the necessity for accurate information to guide policymakers and emphasized that the NRM government recognizes land as wealth. “This is precisely why we have prioritized the ongoing reforms in Uganda’s land administration systems, from the expansion of the Land Information System to strengthen the land registration services. We are also now focusing on further enhancing our systems through cutting-edge blockchain technology to ensure transparency, security and efficiency in land governance,” she added. Hon. Nabakooba called for stronger collaboration between government, academia, and the private sector to realize these goals, adding that “research is crucial for generating evidence to inform policy and that universities play a vital role in training professionals.” She urged scientists to be agents of change and devise practical solutions to land-related challenges.
Speaking at the same event, Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Robert Wamala remarked that the conference’s theme aligns with Makerere University’s revised research agenda 2025–2030, which emphasizes sustainable urbanization and housing. He cited challenges like population growth, informal settlements, housing deficits, and environmental sustainability, stating, “Makerere University is conducting research on urban land governance, spatial planning, infrastructure development, affordable housing models and the integration of innovative geospatial technologies for managing urban growth.” These research efforts, he noted, aim to inform evidence-based policies and ensure urban areas are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, consistent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Vision 2040, and other national development frameworks.
Prof. Wamala encouraged attendees to use the conference as a platform for sharing research and building collaborations that can translate academic innovations into practical outcomes. “The conversations and partnerships that emerge from this conference should help us shape policies, help us strengthen institutional capacities, but also to expand opportunities for technological transformation and entrepreneurship in the field of geomatics and land administration,” he said. He commended the organizing committee led by Prof. Gidudu Anthony, as well as partners and sponsors such as GIZ, UN Habitat, and CEDAT, for their dedication and hard work.
In her keynote address, Dr. Upendo Matotola, Director of Real Estate at Tanzania’s Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human Settlements Development, stressed the critical need for financing innovation to improve land administration systems in East Africa. She noted that land is more than a production tool; it is also a source of identity, heritage, and power. Dr. Upendo called for a transformation in land governance, pointing out that innovation must transcend technology to include inclusive policies, empowered communities, and stronger institutional coordination. Addressing issues such as outdated paper-based records, limited access to land information, and conflicting legal frameworks, she warned that, without urgent action, land insecurity will continue to threaten peace, development, and investment. Drawing lessons from Tanzania, she advocated for harmonized and citizen-centred reforms to build more efficient and equitable land systems.
The conference that was held at Kabira Country Club also featured keynote speeches from respected figures such as Prof. Jaap Zevenbergen from the University of Twente (Netherlands), Prof. Timothy Dube from the University of Western Cape (South Africa), Dr. Pamela Duran-Diaz (Netherlands), and Mr. Simon Peter Mwesigye from UN Habitat.
Prior to the official opening, pre-conference activities, including seminars and workshops, were held. One such workshop focused on Fit-for-Purpose Land Administration (FFPLA) and was officially closed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe. He urged universities to look beyond teaching and graduating students to proactively planning and advising government on land management policies. “We as universities must study these issues and come up with solutions,” said Prof. Nawangwe. He encouraged researchers to lobby government with policy recommendations for implementation. He thanked the Government of Uganda for financially supporting such research and also commended the Department of Geomatics and Land Management at CEDAT for their contribution to improved land use and planning, while encouraging them to continue pushing forward.
The workshop, which started on Monday, July 28, was officially opened by Mr. Joseph Sembatya, Commissioner for Land Administration at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.
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