Profiles

DUT Water Team

IWWT Research Staff

Research

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Vision

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To be internationally competitive and locally relevant.

Mission

To be the first port of call and satisfy the needs of the water sector in South Africa.

Overview

The Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology (IWWT) was founded as a research institute as the Centre for Water Research in mid 90’s and subsequently became the Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology. It is one of 13 NRF recognized research niche areas and was granted institute status in 2011. This organization, based at Durban University of Technology, has over the years developed into a “Centre of Excellence” and proficiency. Our focus is largely based on developing and optimizing technology for the treatment of water and wastewater, and green energy to satisfy the needs of industry and the community. Research projects are selected and designed in close consultation with industrial partners with the aim to help industries maintain acceptable levels of effluent discharges and to meet increasing energy requirements. This plays an essential role in reducing negative environmental impact and commercialization of products generated from waste streams.

The strength of the Institute lies in its commitment to develop essential skills through student training. This effectively equips the researcher to venture out into industry and satisfy the much needed human resource requirements of the water sector.

Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the research, the Institute offers post graduate programmes in a wide spectrum of disciplines in Science and Engineering. It accepts postgraduate students whose qualifications are registered in a variety of departments such as biotechnology, chemistry, civil and chemical engineering and environmental health. IWWT post graduate student base comprises local as well as international students. Postgraduate students are trained and developed to satisfy the water and wastewater human resource needs of industry in general. Staff members are further trained by attending workshops and courses as well as international visits to the laboratories of our collaborating partners.

The recent progress/contribution of the institute is a fascinating chapter in the story of higher education and scientific research in Durban University of Technology. To date the IWWT has hosted 16 Post-Doctoral Fellows from reputable international institutions, 14 Doctoral students, 30 Masters and 45 B.Tech students. Publishing research articles are a core part of the research carried out at the Institute with a total of 85 research articles, 6 book chapters, numerous technical reports and national and international conference presentations to its credit.

 

Alignment with SDG  6: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all

Billions of people mostly in rural African areas lack basic access to clean and safe drinking water and sanitation. Globally, two out of five lack basic hand washing facility, one in three people lack access to safe water and large number of areas are stressed with open defecation.

Our institute work closely with municipalities and international organizations to address various aspects related to safe drinking water supply and prevention of existing freshwater resources. We work in areas such as wastewater reuse and treatment, sanitation in informal settlements to find out solutions for various water and sanitation issues at regional and international level.

Postgraduate Studies

Due to the multi-disciplinary nature of the research, the Institute accepts postgraduate students whose qualifications are registered in a variety of departments such as biotechnology, chemistry, civil and chemical engineering and environmental health. IWWT post graduate student base comprises local as well as international students. Postgraduate students are trained and developed to satisfy the water and wastewater human resource needs of industry in general. Staff members are further trained by attending workshops and courses as well as international visits to the laboratories of our collaborating partners.