MAPPING OF WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS: A COMPARISON OF INLAND AND COASTAL SETTLEMENTS THROUGH REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES

The global status of water quality continues to dwindle due to the combined effects of climate change and anthropogenic factors. The compromised water quality threatens the very existence of humankind and their ability to derive a livelihood and affects their health. Furthermore, abundant contaminated water bodies serve as potential sites for both waterborne and water-related vectors, capable of transmitting various diseases to nearby communities. In sub-Saharan Africa, and South Africa in particular, numerous reports have been made of cases linked to vectors that transmit waterborne and water-related diseases, such as Vibrio cholerae (the cholera bacterium) and Plasmodium falciparum (the malaria parasite), which can be fatal. The increase in the number and spatial extent of informal settlements closer to major urban centres often increases the risk of waterborne and water-related diseases, due to poor housing infrastructure, inadequate hygiene, and a lack of proper water supply and sanitation. This problem is further exacerbated by the inherent locations of informal settlements, which often occupy marginal and ecologically sensitive areas, such as wetlands. Informal settlements are often established near small water bodies, which pose a threat to the health of the communities nearby. Monitoring water quality in the proximal water bodies of informal settlements is thus very important. However, the continued water quality monitoring in these small water bodies, located near informal settlements in South Africa, is often hindered by the inherent dangers of conducting field surveys and the inaccessibility of such water bodies. The advent of remote sensing offers the possibility of mapping water quality in informal settlements at fine spatial and temporal scales. It is therefore crucial to map not only the distribution of small water bodies around informal settlements but also to assess their quality, which often affects the settlers. This report is based on the research project entitled “Mapping of water quality parameters: A comparison of inland and coastal settlements through remote sensing techniques.” The research was conducted by the University of Zululand in collaboration with the Water Research Commission, University of Venda and the University of Limpopo, with project grant number C2022/2024-00809.