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Water being tested
A group of 12 young people in Groot Marico, near Zeerust in the North West, are calling on government to assist them with resources to do water monitoring in the Marico River.
They use indigenous methods, to determine if the water is safe for consumption by people and animals.
The Marico River forms part of the broader dolomitic aquifer system that feeds into the Limpopo River, providing water to people in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
The project is part of an UNESCO initiative started in 2018 but lack of resources is threatening its viability.
Coordinator for Marico Biosphere Reserve Youth Network, Kagiso Mogapi says they use a number of different instruments to do their work.
“We are using various instruments to measure the width and depth and flow of the river stream. We also use water kits to see how clear the water is.”
Data collected is then provided to the UNESCO data base, as well as the Department of Water and Sanitation.
The group does the work for free because they love to conserve the environment. The majority of young people here are unemployed and they had hoped this this project would change their fate.
“The importance of water monitoring is that it must be safe for people and animals to consume safe and clean water because when the water is unsafe and health it will cause illnesses.”
“So, if the government can give us money we might as well get stipend, so the people will be motivated and we can do thing this thing for a long term.”
“In our community there is lot of unemployment, so I decided to join this group because I want to gain more experience.”
