Project Lighthouse Africa and the University of Koblenz-Landau’s Institute for Environmental Science have formed a partnership to develop an integrated water treatment concept for African countries. A pilot project, entitled ‘Integrated Water Treatment’, will be implemented in the Gambia. The Water 3.0 innovation will be adapted to suit the local context.

The Water 3.0 team has developed an innovative solution to remove anthropogenic stressors from water. These stressors include residues from medicines, fertilisers, and plastic microparticles, which cannot be effectively eliminated through conventional wastewater treatment methods.

The researchers in Landau, in collaboration with industry partners, have discovered a flexible and cost-effective solution to purify water from these substances using hybrid silica gels. This collaboration aims to improve water treatment in African countries, contributing to the overall goal of ensuring access to clean and safe water for all.