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THE simple thought of saving water is what drives Merah Mas founder Bernelle Verster.
The 30-year-old from Benoni in the East Rand, Johannesburg, is a self-professed "water maverick" on a mission to save the precious resource from being wasted, and is working towards changing the way the world thinks about waste.
"Most of us may take it for granted, but not having clean, fresh water coming out of our taps could be a reality sooner than most expect," she says.
Verster's company is a registered industrial biotech consultancy that currently focuses on industrial biotics. Though barely four years old, it is already stirring waters of change.
"If you need your water to be treated and to create valuable bioproducts from the waste, then we are the right people for you," she says.
Merah Mas works with biology, utilising actual biological tools and biomimicry – which involves bio-inspired design and tools. Instead of handing out heaps of information, the company involves the public by engaging it in fun activities.
"I'm not talking imbizos, workshops or surveys here," says Verster. "I'm talking adventure sport, graphic design and parties - as opposed to keeping the public out and just delivering a solution - to create different approaches to wastewater solutions."
She says an integrated approach to education and awareness, waste management and profitability is achievable.
"I believe wastewater treatment can be used to aesthetic effect in a landscaping application, while educating about biotechnology and contributing to service delivery. It's fully functional art, if you like."
Currently completing a PhD at the Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research at the University of Cape Town, Verster says she aims to develop the production of valuable bioproducts - specifically biopolymers from wastewater - in the near future.
Working to save water
Verster is working with various partners to facilitate change in the way South Africans view the water crisis the country is currently facing.
"When you talk about a water crisis, a lot of people think this is something that is still going to happen in the next few years," explains Verster.
"What they don't realise is that South Africa has been in this calamity for the past 10 years."
She says her interest in the subject is not only as a qualified biologist, but also as a concerned human being.
"Water is the first thing you can go to in order to reduce health hazards," she says. "It's just a matter of changing people's perception towards it - because there can be change if we all work together."
Technology and innovation play a critical role in society, adds Verster, and this is why her team the Water Mavericks came to being.
"We are a group of people that are not affiliated with anybody in particular, and we have no political caps or corporate constraints," she explains.
"These are people who know what they want to do and go about doing it, because they realise that there are many tech solutions out there."
The Mavericks, though, say the challenge is that the path from tech to business is not well developed in the local water industry.
Despite this, Verster is determined to come up with technology-based solutions that are friendly to water sustainability. She says often young innovators lack the exposure, support and networks needed to realise their dreams.
Educating in a fun way
Part of this strategy was the Moola for Amanzi competition.
The inaugural contest was run as part of the Dutch-SA water partnership during National Water Week, which took place between March 20 and 25.
The project encourages partnerships among young water entrepreneurs and helps them communicate ideas in a way that makes business sense.
"When I launched this last November, I stood in front of an audience with my heart and my credibility in my hands as I begged that the dreams and the fire I see in the water professionals' eyes be transferred to paper," she says.
"I had nothing to offer, really – these people had more than enough to do without entering a little competition dreamt up by a maverick. But they listened, they complied and today we've had a successful competition."
Moola for Amanzi involved entrepreneurs coming up with quality investment proposals addressing water and sanitation issues, and building awareness not only in the water sector but also outside conventional water-related industries.
It also aimed to facilitate a change in the way the water industry views the problems the country faces to reach a sustainable solution.
Verster and the Mavericks have targeted schools and local businesses "to educate in a fun way".
Various programmes - such as the Wildlife Society of South Africa's environmental education - and national initiatives, like the Aqua Enduro under the department of water affairs, have been implemented with the aim of creating "critical thinking" not only in the child but also in communities.
"The important thing is to link up with existing initiatives, not to reinvent the wheel but to work together."
Even though government has prioritised water as a diminishing resource, Verster says it is up to each and every citizen to play a role in saving it for the country's future.
"Not having water is going to affect all of us," she says. "The crisis is so big that you cannot afford not to be part of the solution. Being a part of the love of water movement is being a part of survival."
Five ways to be water wise
- Fin24
The 30-year-old from Benoni in the East Rand, Johannesburg, is a self-professed "water maverick" on a mission to save the precious resource from being wasted, and is working towards changing the way the world thinks about waste.
"Most of us may take it for granted, but not having clean, fresh water coming out of our taps could be a reality sooner than most expect," she says.
Verster's company is a registered industrial biotech consultancy that currently focuses on industrial biotics. Though barely four years old, it is already stirring waters of change.
"If you need your water to be treated and to create valuable bioproducts from the waste, then we are the right people for you," she says.
Merah Mas works with biology, utilising actual biological tools and biomimicry – which involves bio-inspired design and tools. Instead of handing out heaps of information, the company involves the public by engaging it in fun activities.
"I'm not talking imbizos, workshops or surveys here," says Verster. "I'm talking adventure sport, graphic design and parties - as opposed to keeping the public out and just delivering a solution - to create different approaches to wastewater solutions."
She says an integrated approach to education and awareness, waste management and profitability is achievable.
"I believe wastewater treatment can be used to aesthetic effect in a landscaping application, while educating about biotechnology and contributing to service delivery. It's fully functional art, if you like."
Currently completing a PhD at the Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research at the University of Cape Town, Verster says she aims to develop the production of valuable bioproducts - specifically biopolymers from wastewater - in the near future.
Working to save water
Verster is working with various partners to facilitate change in the way South Africans view the water crisis the country is currently facing.
"When you talk about a water crisis, a lot of people think this is something that is still going to happen in the next few years," explains Verster.
"What they don't realise is that South Africa has been in this calamity for the past 10 years."
She says her interest in the subject is not only as a qualified biologist, but also as a concerned human being.
"Water is the first thing you can go to in order to reduce health hazards," she says. "It's just a matter of changing people's perception towards it - because there can be change if we all work together."
Technology and innovation play a critical role in society, adds Verster, and this is why her team the Water Mavericks came to being.
"We are a group of people that are not affiliated with anybody in particular, and we have no political caps or corporate constraints," she explains.
"These are people who know what they want to do and go about doing it, because they realise that there are many tech solutions out there."
The Mavericks, though, say the challenge is that the path from tech to business is not well developed in the local water industry.
Despite this, Verster is determined to come up with technology-based solutions that are friendly to water sustainability. She says often young innovators lack the exposure, support and networks needed to realise their dreams.
Educating in a fun way
Part of this strategy was the Moola for Amanzi competition.
The inaugural contest was run as part of the Dutch-SA water partnership during National Water Week, which took place between March 20 and 25.
The project encourages partnerships among young water entrepreneurs and helps them communicate ideas in a way that makes business sense.
"When I launched this last November, I stood in front of an audience with my heart and my credibility in my hands as I begged that the dreams and the fire I see in the water professionals' eyes be transferred to paper," she says.
"I had nothing to offer, really – these people had more than enough to do without entering a little competition dreamt up by a maverick. But they listened, they complied and today we've had a successful competition."
Moola for Amanzi involved entrepreneurs coming up with quality investment proposals addressing water and sanitation issues, and building awareness not only in the water sector but also outside conventional water-related industries.
It also aimed to facilitate a change in the way the water industry views the problems the country faces to reach a sustainable solution.
Verster and the Mavericks have targeted schools and local businesses "to educate in a fun way".
Various programmes - such as the Wildlife Society of South Africa's environmental education - and national initiatives, like the Aqua Enduro under the department of water affairs, have been implemented with the aim of creating "critical thinking" not only in the child but also in communities.
"The important thing is to link up with existing initiatives, not to reinvent the wheel but to work together."
Even though government has prioritised water as a diminishing resource, Verster says it is up to each and every citizen to play a role in saving it for the country's future.
"Not having water is going to affect all of us," she says. "The crisis is so big that you cannot afford not to be part of the solution. Being a part of the love of water movement is being a part of survival."
Five ways to be water wise
- Turn off your tap and tighten it when you are not using it.
- Avoid using a bathtub; opt for a shower with a small head instead.
- Do not flush waste down the drain.
- Do not use harmful chemicals; only use ones you can expose children to.
- Save as much electricity as possible.
- Fin24
