Biomimicry, or innovation inspired by nature, has given us technologies and inventions such as the aeroplane, sonar, and even velcro. The Namib Desert Beetle is a fascinating creature that prompted architect and designer Shaakira Jassat of Studio Sway to start thinking differently about the relationship between buildings in urban environments and water. This particular beetle has a unique ability to harvest fog from its arid surroundings, making it a completely self-sustaining organism. Imagine if our buildings could do the same?
Using innovative practice, and biomimicry, Shaakira has imitated nature to reimagine how we use and increase access to water. Her latest project, Aquatecture, is a revolutionary new technology that harvests rainwater and moisture from the atmosphere.
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Testing the waters
KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s most water-rich provinces, with sparkling wetlands, dams and rivers that are home to a vibrant array of wildlife, and a hub of water sports like the Midmar Mile and Dusi Canoe Marathon. The uMngeni River and its tributaries (like the Msunduzi River) are of particular importance, supplying water to more than two-fifths of the province. The river is also unfortunately one of the country’s dirtiest. But this is something that Liz Taylor and Enviro Champ Nompumelelo Bhengu of the Duzi-Umngeni Conservation Trust (DUCT) in Howick are working hard to change. Nompumelelo is a paid citizen scientist; the eyes, ears and voice of the river, championing its health to her community and local authorities. She, like many other DUCT Enviro Champs, has been trained to monitor and record the health of the river three times a day, while also keeping an eye on illegal dumping sites, leaking sewers and burst drinking water pipes. Together, Nompumelelo and Liz are seeing real change being enacted through their work.
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Planet Ocean
Humans have an ancient relationship with water. When we free-dive, and hold our breath to journey deep into the ocean, our mammalian dive response kicks in. This is the same biological set of automatic reactions that allow whales, dolphins and seals to travel for kilometres underwater before needing to breach.
As freedivers, Zandile Ndhlovu and Hanli Prinsloo have discovered a whole world just below the surface, with its own orchestra of sounds and rhythm of being. They both deeply believe that water can heal and freediving can transform people’s lives. Zandile is the founder of the Black Mermaid Foundation. And Hanli is the founder of the I Am Water Foundation. Both projects aim to get a diverse group of young people from underserved, low-income communities involved in the ocean – swimming, diving and connecting.
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Water in the information age
The information age, and the internet in particular, has fundamentally shaped how we live our lives today. And IoT, or the Internet of Things, pushes the information we can draw from the world around us, even further. Dr Kevin Winter is part of a team at the Future Water Institute that has been using IoT to capture data that will help us understand and monitor the changes occurring across South Africa’s water bodies. With this technology, they can immediately detect threats (like pollutants) to our water and instantly alert the correct department or officials. And there are so many other possibilities. This is water in the information age!
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A brief history of water on Planet Earth
In this episode of For Water For Life, hosts Gugulethu Mhlungu and Michelle Constant facilitate a conversation that’s a little different than usual. With the help of Thato Tshukudu (who is also known as Gogo Mthunzi or Mkhulu Manzini), movement practitioner Tekano Phambani, Professor Anthony Turton and journalist Sean Christie, they’ll be taking you on a cosmic – and maybe even slightly chaotic – journey of water on Planet Earth. It’s a grand history of the universe that aims to spark imaginations.
From Anthony, we learn the science behind where water comes from and how it found its way onto our planet, while Thato and Tekano explore our deep energetic connection with nature and water – and thus the value of listening to it, caring for it and protecting it. Mixing facts and a deep curiosity about water, Sean discusses our historical relationships with water in South Africa and our constant desire to be near it.
The podcast about water that might just change your life. For Water For Life tells the extraordinary stories of 12 ordinary women and men who have made it their life's work to protect, preserve and replenish the water supply in their unequal and water-scarce country, South Africa. From indigenous knowledge to cutting edge science, each episode reveals the challenges and insights of these geologists, healers, innovators, farmers, organisers and activists.
Disclaimer: This podcast series is brought to you by JoJo in the interests of conversations around water. The opinions and comments made in the episodes do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints and opinions of JoJo, and we have made every attempt to ensure the reliability of information provided. Products or technologies mentioned will not be brought to market by JoJo.
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