Data Collection - Monitoring Station

Until now there was little information on how the heavily urbanised environment of the Jukskei River headwaters functioned.  Useful observations of storm water drainage were also lacking, making it difficult to plan sustainable interventions. 

In a collaborative effort between Water for the Future, the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) and principal hydrologist at SRK Consulting, Dr Simon Lorentz, a data collection station was installed within the culvert near the river’s daylight point. The station consists of a water quality sampling device with integrated flow measurement and meteorological instrumentation.  Equipment was donated by Campbell Scientific, and water analysis is performed pro bono by Bureau Veritas.

The station generates data which guides how our panel of experts, stakeholders and the city council can strategically work to improve the quality of the water and ecosystem. The understanding and time series generated from this station will provide invaluable data to the City of Johannesburg and University research efforts.  Furthermore, Water for the Future envisions that the ongoing running of the station will enable further education of local communities and landowners.  Work is underway to empower the local communities of these suburbs in aspects of river-upkeep and citizen-led data analysis.