By Isabella Gosetto and Natasha Hunt
In our latest blog post, our EPP team announce the launch of EnviroLab in South Africa – a mobile pollution testing laboratory.
In Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, JNCC’s Environmental Pollution Programme (EPP) partners, the Institute of Natural Resources (INR), recently launched the EnviroLab, a state-of-the-art 4x4 mobile laboratory. Designed to leave a lasting positive legacy, the EnviroLab aims to transform the way environmental monitoring of pollution and community engagement are carried out in remote areas of the country.
Figure 1. The EPP’s EnviroLab – a mobile laboratory in South Africa (© Isabella Gosetto).
Equipped with cutting-edge modular laboratory kit, the EnviroLab enables environmental sampling and pollution analysis to be conducted in-situ and in real-time. This capability is critical for addressing pollution issues and supporting communities in areas that previously lacked access to such resources. Covering both water and soil testing, the laboratory can quickly assess environmental health, as well as providing facilities to ensure the safe transportation of samples across distances.
Beyond its technical capabilities, the EnviroLab is a hub for outreach and education. It serves as a platform to strengthen relationships with citizen scientists and community champions – key collaborators in the EPP’s success. By visiting communities, hosting workshops, and fostering hands-on learning experiences, the EnviroLab aims to empower local stakeholders with knowledge and tools to better understand and manage their environmental challenges. We hope this improved environmental management alongside sampling and analysis will contribute to alleviating poverty faced within rural communities through improved health, livelihoods and sanitation.
During the launch event, following an introduction from INR’s Executive Director and JNCC’s Environmental Pollution Strategy Lead, INR provided a demonstration of the laboratory’s features and capabilities. They tested for coliform bacteria and E. coli, and evidence of potentially toxic metals Lead and Cadmium in the Msunduzi River. The E. coli sample recorded a count of 1,624 colonies per 100 ml of water, which is 1,494 colonies per 100 ml over the safe swimming limits!
Figure 2. INR partners providing a demonstration of equipment available with the EnviroLab (© INR).
The launch event was attended by stakeholders in academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local and national government in South Africa, as well as community-based monitors who are instrumental in successful delivery of projects in remote communities. Also in attendance was local journalist in Kwazulu-Natal, Derek Alberts. Following the event, Derek Alberts has produced a press release on the event in local media outlet The Witness.
Figure 3. INR technicians and Principal Scientist at the EnviroLab Launch Event (© INR).
With the EnviroLab now operational, JNCC and its partners are excited about the opportunities it presents to enhance environmental monitoring and community collaboration. The arrival of the EnviroLab in South Africa represents a leap forward in tackling pollution and building resilience within vulnerable communities.
Luckily for JNCC, during a recent EPP visit to South Africa, some of the team had the exciting opportunity to visit the brand-new laboratory. It was particularly rewarding to see first-hand the outcome of the significant work that’s gone into designing a fit-for-purpose laboratory for remote environmental monitoring.
Figure 4. JNCC’s Environmental Pollution Programme team with South African partners Nick Rivers-Moore and the Institute of Natural Resources (INR) welcoming the EnviroLab to South Africa (© Isabella Gosetto).
Following on from a rewarding 3-year programme researching and addressing solid-waste and wastewater pollution in South Africa, the EnviroLab provides an impactful EPP legacy. We look forward to hearing about future environmental monitoring and community engagement in remote areas of the country facilitated by the EnviroLab, with the aim of working together for a pollution-free future for nature, climate and people.
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