The Kirstenhof and Environs Residents’ Association (KERA) took part in WaterCAN’s 4th annual Citizen Science Water Testing Week, contributing vital local data from the Kirstenhof Duckpond, Westlake River, and Keysers River to South Africa’s largest public water-quality database. The national campaign, launched on 18 September 2025, mobilised thousands of volunteers and learners across the country to test and record the health of rivers and taps, empowering communities to take action for cleaner water.
In line with WaterCAN’s 2025 youth focus, KERA involved three Kirstenhof Primary School learners—Rebecca Latham (7), Luke Brown (8) and Jessie Brown (7)—who enthusiastically sampled, tested, and logged results while learning about water ecosystems and pollution.
KERA’s tests showed generally stable chemical water quality across the sites, though elevated phosphate and bacterial levels in parts of the Westlake and Keysers Rivers highlighted the ongoing impact of sewage spills from the nearby Pollsmoor site. The findings underscored the importance of continuous citizen monitoring and collaboration with the City of Cape Town’s Inland Water Quality (IWQ) Dashboard, which tracks urban water health.
KERA thanked WaterCAN, the young “citizen scientists,” and residents for their participation, and urged the public to report pollution events via the City’s C3 reporting system. “Ongoing citizen monitoring not only built awareness but strengthened partnerships between communities, schools, and City departments as we worked toward becoming a Water Sensitive City by 2040,” said Barry Tranter, KERA’s Westlake River Water Quality portfolio holder.
