About Wave

  • WAVE brings together experts across a multitude of sectors, from public health, environmental science, microbiology, and policy development, to human-centered design, climate science, and artificial intelligence.

  • Our focus is on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), zoonotic infections (human-animal transmission), and the impact of contaminated water on ecosystem and human health.

  • WAVE’s objectives align well with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG (Climate Action).

The Challenge of Water Contamination

  • South Africa houses 850 wastewater treatment plants, with 165 being assessed for their state of functioning in the 2022 Green Dot Report. Up to 50% were in a poor state, and 31% were non-functional.

  • WAVE preliminary research has found mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), Hepatitis E (Hep E), and various enteric diseases, pharmaceutical metabolites (such as antibiotics, anti-retrovirals, anti-inflammatories), heavy metals, and industrial chemicals.

  • This poses a potential risk to human and ecosystem health, through long-term contaminants driving amongst other the possibility of antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic diseases.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Water and Health

  • WAVE has partnered with Matchboxology in the development of humancentric and behavioural change interventions. This means that communities are engaged in the co-creation of interventions.

  • WAVE has a One Health approach to our projects. We have created a transdisiplinary team including academics, industry specialists, national Department of Water and Sanitation, researchers, scientists, and corporate partners.

  • Innovation is a key outcome of the consortium, with cutting edge laboratory techniques, real-time monitoring tools, and citizen science being at the forefront of our work.
minja and nkateko testing the water copy

Consortium Focus Areas

  • Water Hygiene and Antimicrobial Resistance: Monitoring pathogens, pharmaceutical pollutants, and waterborne diseases.
  • Zoonotic Infections: Reducing risks of human-animal transmission.
  • Climate and Water Data Integration: Utilizing AI and climate data to track and respond to water-related health risks.
  • Sustainability and Long-Term Impact: Co-developing metrics and frameworks to measure progress on water safety and health.

Featured Areas

The Cradle of Humankind Project:

Summary of the research findings regarding the Percy Stewart Wastewater Treatment Works and its health impacts.

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Partners

Collaborators

  • Paris Pitsillidis

  • Prof Bavesh Kana

  • Dr Christopher Ealand

  • Prof Neil Martinson

  • Dr Lieve Fransen

  • Prof Glenda Gray

  • Prof Marc Mendelson

  • Prof Maritjie Venter

  • Leon Stelten

  • Marienne Doelman

Please note more content is coming – web dev 🙂