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.”
It is my pleasure to present to you the CEDAT annual report for the year 2023. This report highlights the major achievements and the challenges faced during the period under review. The report further provides an overview of the colleges’ performance regarding the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2019/2020-2029/2030.
As you might be aware, I took over the mantle of College Principal on the 2nd of October 2023, together with the Deputy Principal Assoc. Prof. Kizito Maria Kasule. This was during the third quarter of the implementation of the planned activities for the year under review. It is based on this fact that I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to our predecessors, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe and Dr. Venny Nakazibwe, the Principal and Deputy Principal respectively, for the leadership of the College until the end of their tenure. Much of what is reported therefore is greatly attributed to their effort. That notwithstanding, I take this honor to appreciate the appointing authority for giving me this opportunity to serve and to the CEDAT community for the warm reception and cordial working relations enjoyed so far.
We have a task before us as per our mandate of teaching and learning, research and innovation, as well as knowledge transfer and partnerships. This is no mean task and it calls for concerted effort by all the stakeholders including the students, the academia, and the industry. During my reconnaissance to bring myself up-to-date with the college and the state of affairs as a new leader, I interacted with key administrative units of the college including the centers, the three Schools, namely the School of Engineering, School of the Built Environment, and the Margaret Trowel School of Industrial and Fine Art. Several issues came up, both positive and negative and these need appropriate action if we are to maintain CEDAT as a Home of Innovations. I am optimistic that with the team spirit exhibited at CEDAT, a lot will be realized as we play our specified roles
I extend my sincere gratitude to all our stakeholders including but not limited to all CEDAT staff, students, alumni, partners, funders, and service providers for your unwavering commitment to serving humanity. I entreat you to keep the spirit alive as we journey together toward realizing the vision and mission of Makerere University
We are looking forward to an even more successful period ahead of us, and together definitely we shall achieve all we set out to do
Assoc. Prof. Moses Musinguzi
Principal, College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology
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