Project Lead(s): Hippolyte Nkoba
Issue
Dealing with wastewater is a major public health issue in the developing world and more than 4,000 children under age five die every day from diarrhea related to poor sanitation.
Irrigation of vegetables with polluted water can expose consumers of these products to major health risks.
Solution
The project involved establishing a planted macrophytes lagoon system to treat urban effluent in Matadi, DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo), used for watering vegetable gardens.
The aim was to improve environmental conditions for market gardening in Matadi, with possible expansion to all Congolese towns.
Outcome
Six months after the establishment of the bioreactor, heavy rains broke the dikes, causing the project to be abandoned.
With continued support from Grand Challenges Canada, the project team wants to rebuild the dikes and strengthen them with reinforced concrete, as well as expand the project to other market gardens.
Results of the project have been published.