Development of a GIS-based knowledge hub for contaminants of emerging concern in South African water resources using open-source software: Lessons learnt

Tarryn Lee Botha; Emomotimi Bamuza-Pemu; Ashira Roopnarain; Zibusiso Ncube; Gert De Nysschen; Busiswa Ndaba; Ntebogeng Mokgalaka; Maryam Bello-Akinosho; Rasheed Adeleke; Akani Mushwana; Michael van der Laan; Phedisho Mphahlele; Fanelesibonge Vilakazi; Penny Jaca; Eunice Ubomba-Jaswa

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13007

Development of a GIS-based knowledge hub for contaminants of emerging concern in South African water resources using open-source software: Lessons learnt

Heliyon. 2023 Jan 18;9(1):e13007. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13007. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Authors

Tarryn Lee Botha^{1

2}, Emomotimi Bamuza-Pemu³, Ashira Roopnarain⁴, Zibusiso Ncube⁴, Gert De Nysschen⁴, Busiswa Ndaba⁴, Ntebogeng Mokgalaka^{5

6

7}, Maryam Bello-Akinosho⁸, Rasheed Adeleke⁹, Akani Mushwana⁴, Michael van der Laan^{10

11}, Phedisho Mphahlele^{4

7}, Fanelesibonge Vilakazi^{4

9}, Penny Jaca¹², Eunice Ubomba-Jaswa¹²

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, 1710, South Africa.
² Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa.
³ OptimalEnviro; Postnet Suite 073, Private Bag X21, Queenswood, Pretoria, 0121, South Africa.
⁴ Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology Research Group, Agricultural Research Council - Natural Resources and Engineering, Pretoria, South Africa.
⁵ University of Pretoria, Mamelodi Campus, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.
⁶ Tshwane University of Technology, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
⁷ Department of Chemistry, Tshwane University of Technology, Private Bag X680, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
⁸ Pathogenic Yeast Research Group, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
⁹ Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, South Africa.
¹⁰ Agricultural Research Council (ARC) - Natural Resources and Engineering, Private Bag X79, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
¹¹ Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20 Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.
¹² Water Research Commission, Lynnwood Bridge Office Park, Bloukrans Building, 4 Daventry Street, Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria, 0081, South Africa.

Abstract

With population growth and dwindling freshwater sources, protecting such sources has come to the forefront of water resource management. Historically, society's response to a problem is based on funding availability, current threat, and public outcry. Achieving this is largely dependent on the knowledge of the factors that are resulting in compromised water sources. These factors are constantly changing as novel contaminants are introduced into surface water sources. As we are in the information age, the interest in contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) is gaining ground. Whilst research is being conducted to identify contaminants in South African water sources, the research outputs and available information is not collated and presented to the science community and stakeholders in readily available formats and platforms. Current research outcomes need to be made known to regulators in order to develop environmental laws. By using fourth industrial revolution technology, we were able to collate available data in literature and display these in a user-friendly online format to regulatory bodies as well as researchers. A standardized excel spreadsheet was developed and uploaded to a PostgreSQL, running a PostGIS extension and was then processed in the GeoServer to allow for visualization on an interactive map which can be continuously updated. The near real-time access to information will reduce the possibility of duplication of research efforts, enhance collaboration in the discipline, and act as a CEC early warning system.

Keywords: Biological contaminants; Collated data; Freshwater; Interactive map.