Empowering communities through collaborative water monitoring
Access to safe, clean drinking water remains a persistent challenge for many communities worldwide, particularly in remote regions lacking conventional water infrastructure. In these areas, residents often rely on alternative water sources such as rainwater harvesting, surface waters, and boreholes – sources that frequently suffer from poor microbial and chemical quality. Recognizing the need for improved water quality monitoring and management in these underserved areas, researchers have increasingly turned to citizen science as a tool for engaged research and responsible innovation.
This case study explores how a partnership between the Amakhala community in South Africa’s Eastern Cape and researchers at Rhodes University leveraged citizen science approaches to co-create a sustainable community-based water quality monitoring program. Drawing on the principles of Engaged Research and Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), the project empowered local residents as “citizen scientists” to actively assess the quality of their drinking water sources and make informed decisions about appropriate treatment methods.
Identifying community needs and co-designing the research
The roots of this project trace back to an ongoing partnership between the Amakhala community and Rhodes University’s Community Engagement Division, which had been collaborating on various community development initiatives since 2017. During this time, the researchers engaged with community members to better understand their pressing concerns and opportunities for collaborative action.
Through informal discussions, the researchers learned that the Amakhala communities were deeply concerned about the quality of their drinking water. Reliant on a combination of rainwater harvesting, boreholes, and surface water sources, residents were unsure of the safety and potability of their water supplies. This uncertainty, coupled with the remoteness of their villages, left them feeling vulnerable to the health risks associated with contaminated water.
Recognizing the community’s strong interest in understanding their water quality, the researchers proposed a citizen science-based approach to water monitoring. By engaging residents as active participants in the research process, the project aimed to empower the Amakhala community, foster agency in decision-making, and generate contextually relevant data to inform more effective water management strategies.
Establishing a community-based water quality monitoring program
To launch the citizen science initiative, the researchers first conducted a survey with 29 households across five Amakhala villages. The survey gathered baseline information on the community’s current water sources, usage patterns, and existing treatment practices. This helped the team identify the specific parameters of water quality that were most relevant to the community’s needs and interests.
Based on the survey findings, the researchers selected the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) test kit as the primary tool for the citizen science water quality monitoring program. H2S kits provide a low-cost, user-friendly method for detecting the presence of coliform bacteria in water samples – a critical indicator of microbial contamination. Importantly, the H2S test kits could be easily applied by community members with minimal training, aligning with the project’s goal of empowering local residents as active participants.
Over an 18-week period, the citizen scientists from Amakhala used the H2S kits to test their rainwater and borehole water sources on a weekly basis. Researchers provided hands-on training and co-facilitated weekly reflection sessions to support the community’s understanding of the test results and guide discussions around appropriate water treatment strategies.
To validate the accuracy of the citizen science data, the researchers also conducted periodic “paired sampling” – collecting water samples in parallel and analyzing them using the industry-standard Colilert® test in a laboratory setting. This approach allowed the team to assess the reliability of the H2S kits while reinforcing the authenticity and scientific rigor of the citizen-generated data.
Fostering community empowerment and informed decision-making
The active engagement of the Amakhala community throughout the water monitoring process was a critical component of the project’s success. By involving residents as equal partners in shaping the research agenda, the team was able to build trust, ensure relevance to community needs, and cultivate a sense of ownership over the outcomes.
The weekly testing and reflection sessions provided an ongoing platform for knowledge exchange, collaborative problem-solving, and informed decision-making. As the citizen scientists interpreted their water quality results, they were able to make more confident choices about appropriate treatment methods, such as boiling or chlorination, to ensure the safety of their drinking water.
Importantly, the project also highlighted the significant financial barriers that many resource-constrained communities face in implementing water treatment solutions. By acknowledging these challenges and discussing potential strategies to overcome them, the researchers and citizens were able to work together to identify feasible, community-driven approaches to improving water security.
Overall, the integration of citizen science tools within this Engaged Research and RRI framework demonstrated the value of meaningful community engagement in water quality monitoring. By empowering the Amakhala residents as active participants, the project not only generated reliable, contextually relevant data but also fostered a heightened sense of agency and ownership over the solutions.
Lessons learned and future directions
The Amakhala citizen science water monitoring project offers several key insights for researchers and practitioners seeking to apply similar approaches in other remote or underserved communities:
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Prioritize community engagement from the outset: Investing time and resources to deeply understand community needs, interests, and perspectives is crucial for ensuring the relevance and sustainability of the research.
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Leverage low-cost, user-friendly technologies: Selecting monitoring tools that are accessible and intuitive for community members to use enhances their ability to participate actively and interpret the results meaningfully.
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Validate citizen-generated data through parallel scientific testing: Integrating scientific validation methods builds trust, strengthens the credibility of the citizen science data, and aligns with the principles of Engaged Research and RRI.
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Foster ongoing knowledge exchange and problem-solving: Regularly convening with community members to discuss findings, troubleshoot challenges, and co-develop solutions reinforces the collaborative nature of the research and drives long-term impact.
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Address financial and institutional barriers to implementation: Acknowledging and addressing the practical constraints that communities face in implementing water treatment solutions is essential for developing truly impactful and sustainable interventions.
As the Amakhala community continues to monitor their water quality and explore treatment options, the researchers are exploring opportunities to develop more rapid, on-site testing technologies that can further empower residents to make informed decisions about their water use. By building on the successes of this citizen science initiative, the team aims to continue strengthening the partnership between researchers and the Amakhala community, ultimately co-creating water management strategies that are responsive to local needs and priorities.
