Data on microbial water quality in Mozambique using a mobile DNA analyser

Together with our project partners in Mozambique (WE Consult and AIAS) we have received a subsidy from VIA Water om in Mozambique met DNA-methodes de microbiële waterkwaliteit te meten. to measure the microbial water quality in Mozambique using DNA methods.

At the present time water quality is determined through the measurement of E. coli. E. coli is an indicator organism for faecal contamination of water. Present methods do not look at other pathogens and are not practical in the field. New DNA detection technology produces more and more accurate data on water quality that are available digitally within a couple of hours. The project therefore focuses on this.

We will concentrate on demonstrating ‘the usual suspects’ such as E. coli and Salmonella, but also on new water pathogens for which there is little data available because these cannot be (easily) cultivated. Furthermore, in Mozambique we will test a mobile DNA analysis device that can be used by non-specialists to generate data in the field quickly and easily – ideal in a land with few laboratories.
In this project we are working together with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Georgia Tech and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education on the selection of pathogens and feedback on the sampling protocol. We will analyse 150 groundwater samples from urban areas, spread over Mozambique. These are to be made available by locally operating partners, Vitens Evides International, the drinking water companies united in the Dutch Water Authorities, ARA zambeze and World Vision. parties who will give feedback on the applicability of the data and technology and on the possibility of scaling up at the end of our project.
You can follow our project on the website of Aqua for All.

Annelise Herman is an environmental technologist and passionate about wastewater treatment and the way natural processes can be used for this purpose. Orvion is, therefore, the perfect place for her to work as a trainee (National Water Traineeship) using her knowledge and analytical skills for a variety of water and soil based problems, and to further her own development in this field. The microbiological world surrounding us is full of still to discover biotechnological possibilities.