Centre for Water Resources Research

Centre for Water Resources Research The Centre for Water Resources Research is active in research, teaching and capacity building related to hydrology and water resources.

Wrapping up an incredible final stretch at the SAHS 2026 Conference! 🌊📊Over Days 2 and 3, our researchers continued to s...
03/09/2026

Wrapping up an incredible final stretch at the SAHS 2026 Conference! 🌊📊

Over Days 2 and 3, our researchers continued to share vital insights addressing South Africa’s water and climate challenges:

Day 2 Highlights:
Tasmiyah Peerbhai shared key insights from her systematic review of trends in hydrological modelling over the past decade (2015–2025).

Day 3 Highlights:
Prof Jeff Smithers delivered an elevated talk on improved design flood estimation and the current status of the National Flood Studies Programme.

Sandile Dladla presented on copula-based bivariate return periods for design floods in South Africa.

Demian Mukansi outlined research on detecting trends in extreme long-duration rainfall across KwaZulu-Natal.

A huge congratulations to all our presenters, session chairs, and poster contributors for an outstanding showcase of research across the entire conference! 👏✨

Day 1 of the SAHS 2026 Conference was packed with impactful contributions from our team! 🌊📊Our oral presentations showca...
02/09/2026

Day 1 of the SAHS 2026 Conference was packed with impactful contributions from our team! 🌊📊

Our oral presentations showcased cutting-edge water research across South Africa: Dr Stefanie Schutte presented on developing a high-resolution, national-scale hydrological modelling framework for water resources accounting. Prof Seifu Gurmessa shared insights on the divergent geomorphic expressions of groundwater flow in mountain systems. Dr Shaedon Gokool discussed his findings on the water use and productivity of h**p (Cannabis sativa L.) in the KZN Midlands.

Our researchers also engaged delegates during the interactive poster session, featuring work by Richard Kunz, Evania Chetty, Maqsooda Mohamed, and Bontle Finger.

Looking forward to another inspiring day of knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and networking tomorrow!🚀✨

On 9 April, CWRR student Ameera Yacoob attended the ISPRS Geospatial Week 2025 in Dubai, hosted by the Mohammed Bin Rash...
18/05/2025

On 9 April, CWRR student Ameera Yacoob attended the ISPRS Geospatial Week 2025 in Dubai, hosted by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre in collaboration with ISPRS. The opening plenary addressed the shift from reactive to proactive disaster management through satellite data and geospatial intelligence. Dr. Prashanth Marpu emphasised the importance of early identification of high-risk zones and pre-tasking satellites for localised analysis. Mr. Goro Takei showcased Sentinel Asia, which supports disaster response across 126 organisations, with examples from Japan’s Noto earthquake and Southeast Asia. Despite these advances, the “last mile” remains a key challenge—ensuring solutions are usable, accessible, and relevant to local needs.

The UAE’s Space42 platform was presented as a strong example of bridging the research-to-deployment gap, as it integrates data ingestion, model management, and application within a single platform, supporting timely and practical decision-making. Dr. Marpu emphasised that success lies not in data volume, but in delivering the right information to the right people at the right time. This focus on usability marks a necessary evolution in geospatial practice. Although attending only part of the programme, Ameera found the sessions insightful and relevant to her research. The event reinforced the value of Earth observation in building climate resilience and improving disaster preparedness in vulnerable regions.

🌏🛰️🗺️📡🚀🧠🔭✨️

Although World Water Day was officially commemorated on 22 March, today we continue to honour its message and spotlight ...
25/03/2025

Although World Water Day was officially commemorated on 22 March, today we continue to honour its message and spotlight the urgency of Glacier Preservation. Glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates due to climate change, disrupting meltwater flows and triggering floods, droughts, landslides, and sea-level rise. These changes threaten communities and ecosystems across the globe.

The Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR) proudly supports World Water Day and endorses initiatives dedicated to conserving and managing water resources sustainably—protecting this vital resource for both society and the environment.

This year’s campaign calls for collective action to prioritise glacier protection as part of the global response to climate change and the water crisis. Let’s reaffirm our shared commitment to safeguarding glaciers through sustainable practices, reduced emissions, and forward-thinking water policies.

🌍💧❄️⚠️♻️🌱🤝📢🧊📉

On 19 March 2025, the Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR) was honoured to present at the Ripples of Change Water ...
25/03/2025

On 19 March 2025, the Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR) was honoured to present at the Ripples of Change Water Security Conference hosted by IIE's Varsity College, Pietermaritzburg Campus.

CWRR members Duncan Hay, Mutondi Tshikororo, Thobeka Mpungose, Thobeka Xolo, Sharon Ngcobo, and Zamani Zulu attended the conference, while Tinisha Chetty (CWRR Operations Manager) and Tanisha Curtis (CWRR member) delivered a compelling presentation titled "Exploring Citizen Science Application", which highlighted South African case studies.

Their talk emphasised the power of citizen science in fostering learning, producing valuable environmental data, and driving advocacy efforts.

The conference offered a meaningful platform for knowledge-sharing and collaboration on urgent water security challenges.

💧🌍📊🧠🤝🇿🇦🍃✨️

Two postgraduate hydrology students from the Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR), Mr. Thando Mthembu and Mr. Simo...
11/03/2025

Two postgraduate hydrology students from the Centre for Water Resources Research (CWRR), Mr. Thando Mthembu and Mr. Simon Lake, recently attended the Combined Congress 2025 in Polokwane, engaging in discussions on sustainable agriculture and resource optimisation.

Mr. Mthembu was a panellist in the Water Research Commission special session, discussing opportunities and challenges in mainstreaming African indigenous crops. He also presented his PhD research on using the FAO AquaCrop model to simulate the water productivity and nutritional value of sweet potato and taro, earning the Best Student Oral Presentation Award.

Mr. Lake presented his master’s research on land suitability mapping for bambara nut and cowpea, highlighting the impact of frost and planting dates on crop development.

The congress provided an excellent platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange, reinforcing the role of scientific research in shaping resilient agricultural systems.

💧🌱🌾📊🏆🎤📑🗺️❄️📅

As we approach the end of another successful and research-rewarding year, we celebrate the relevance of water resources-...
26/11/2024

As we approach the end of another successful and research-rewarding year, we celebrate the relevance of water resources-related research with our CWRR Postgraduate Honours Class of 2024. The students defended their research projects with in-person presentations on November 22nd. Some of the topics presented included “Assessing Variation in Hydraulic Parameters with Depth in the Sedimentary Karoo Basin of KwaZulu-Natal,” “Leveraging Satellite Earth Observation Data for Estimating Crop Water Use in Smallholder Farms,” and “Evaluating the Value and Credibility of Citizen Science-Derived Water Resources Data,” just to name a few. Their innovative and brilliant work in the field of hydrology reflects their dedication throughout the year. We wish them success as they move forward on their unique paths.

💧🥼🍃🌧✨️

The University of KwaZulu-Natal recently hosted its annual Postgraduate Research and Innovation Symposium (PRIS), bringi...
01/11/2024

The University of KwaZulu-Natal recently hosted its annual Postgraduate Research and Innovation Symposium (PRIS), bringing together scholars, academics, and industry partners at the Coastlands Musgrave Hotel on October 29th and 30th, 2024. This two-day conference provided postgraduate students with an opportunity to showcase their research. This year's symposium focused on the theme "Energy Sustainability." 🌿✨

Congratulations to our CWRR MSc students who excelled at this year’s symposium, winning awards in the SAEES (School of Agriculture, Earth, and Environmental Sciences) category for their presentations! 🎉🏆

In the Flash Category:
1. Ms. Ameera Yacoob took first prize.
2. Mr. Tshikororo Mutondi came in second.
3. Ms. Evania Chetty claimed the third spot.

For the Oral Presentation, Ms. Gugu Buthulezi secured the third prize. 👏💡

We are proud of our students for their outstanding research, impactful presentations, and the contributions they’re making in their fields. Keep up the excellent work, and continue reaching for the stars! 🌟

UKZN's third-year hydrology class recently embarked on an enriching field trip to explore water quality dynamics from th...
31/10/2024

UKZN's third-year hydrology class recently embarked on an enriching field trip to explore water quality dynamics from the Lions River to Midmar Dam. The trip was led by UKZN and CWRR members: Prof. Seifu Kebede, Mr. Mark Horan, and Ms. Thobeka Mpungose. Students engaged in a variety of hands-on activities, including measuring water quality parameters, conducting turbidity trials, collecting biological indicators, testing nutrient levels, and sampling surface water.

This practical experience equipped students with essential water quality assessment and monitoring skills, deepening their understanding of environmental science in a real-world context. By honing their abilities in data collection and analysis, the trip aimed to empower students as future hydrologists and environmental leaders.

🌊🧪🧭📊🌱🎒🏞️🌞

Members of the CWRR recently attended the South African Hydrological Society (SAHS) Conference 2024, held from October 2...
18/10/2024

Members of the CWRR recently attended the South African Hydrological Society (SAHS) Conference 2024, held from October 2-4 at the Protea Breakwater Lodge in Cape Town. This year's symposium, "The Future of Hydrology and Water Security," addressed vital topics such as water security, innovative hydrological practices, and sustainable management strategies amid climate change.

Participants engaged with experts through keynote addresses, gaining valuable insights into the future of hydrology and its emerging challenges. CWRR postgraduate students and researchers showcased their impressive work across various sessions, with special congratulations to MSc candidates Ameera Yacoob and Simon Lake for being recognised among the top five student presentations and to Demian Mukansi for securing first runner-up in the poster presentation category! The event also featured enriching workshops, including a standout session by the Water Research Commission (WRC) that encouraged collaborative discussions on advancing water security research across Africa.

CWRR expresses gratitude to the SAHS for organising this impactful event and to the WRC for its support through research funding and attendance grants. The connections forged with professionals and fellow students were invaluable, and the gala dinner offered a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their collective commitment to advancing hydrological science.

🎉🌍🌊🏅🤝🌿🔍✨

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