BUAN starts reusing treated wastewater for irrigation
In a transformative initiative, the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) has substantially improved its water infrastructure through the deployment of an innovative solar-powered wastewater recycling system. This milestone project, facilitated by MarketVest's involvement, represents a collaboration with German start-up Boreal Light, renowned for its expertise in water treatment systems. Notably, the installation, overseen by Kenyan start-up Waterkiosk, signifies a breakthrough in water desalination technology within Botswana and the broader Southern African sub-region.
The newly implemented system boasts an impressive capacity of 11 m3 per hour, equivalent to 264 m3 per day, revolutionizing BUAN's approach to water utilization. The raw water source, a sewage-fed reservoir heavily contaminated with minerals, bacteria, viruses, algae, and turbidity, undergoes advanced purification within the Boreal Light system. The treated water is then channeled to support a pivot irrigation system and modern drip irrigation lines at BUAN's university farm, addressing water scarcity challenges and enhancing agricultural productivity.
This pioneering endeavor aligns seamlessly with BUAN's broader objectives, aiming to catalyze the transformation of Botswana's agriculture and natural resources sectors by 2027. Moreover, BUAN is steadfast in its commitment to producing competitive, high-caliber graduates and contributing significantly to Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which emphasizes eradicating hunger, ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and fostering sustainable agriculture. As a testament to sustainable development, MarketVest's involvement underscores the strategic importance of private-sector collaboration in advancing impactful projects with a broader societal benefit.
