From solar-powered kiosks to nanomaterial filters, water purification solutions not only make a critical resource more widely available, but in some cases they also serve as economic catalysts, reshaping health outcomes, productivity and local markets.

‘I am witnessing the increased adoption of various water treatment technologies [across the continent], including nanotechnology-based water purification,’ says Askwar Hilonga, a professor at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology who specialises in nanomaterials. ‘Other technologies like UV purification, rainwater harvesting and reverse osmosis are also getting momentum. The big step now is a decentralised water delivery system: water stations, kiosks, vending machines… Several companies are coming up with kiosks that deliver water in city centres without human aid – in other words, automated or self-run water kiosks.’

Hilonga is the inventor of the Nanofilter, a device that integrates nanotechnology with sand-based water filtration to provide clean, safe drinking water, affordably and sustainably. This innovation won him the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation back in 2015, and Hilonga says that the technology has since its inception spread steadily from the Arusha and Mwanza regions in his native Tanzania to Manyara, Dar es Salaam, Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar.

‘It has been associated with the reduction of waterborne diseases in Arusha by 42.9%, and provides clean and safe water to 1 320 households and 447 institutions,’ he says. ‘There are 130 water stations and five franchisees, creating jobs for 130 people.’

While this progress sounds impressive, it’s a mere drop in the bucket, if you’ll pardon the expression, considering that 319 million people in sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to reliable drinking water.

Fortunately, the Nanofilter is not the only innovation making an impact.

‘The recent spate of global pandemics (such as Covid-19), coupled with the race to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal [SDG] targets on water, have significantly revolutionised water purification infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa,’ says Nonhlanhla Kalebaila, research manager at the Water Research Commission (WRC) in South Africa. ‘For example, in remote and low-resourced areas, solar-powered decentralised conventional water treatment systems have gained prominence due to their scalability, cost-efficiency and ability to provide localised solutions. In resourced areas, there has been an increased deployment of modular, advanced and transportable treatment plants capable of producing potable water from raw water sources of increasing pollution levels.

‘Key developments in advanced water purification have been driven by innovations in membrane technology, nature-based water treatment solutions and the integration of digital technologies in water quality monitoring, which have improved efficiency, affordability and access to water services.’

The WRC has been instrumental in enabling the implementation of the Water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) agenda in South Africa. In recent years, there has been a greater emphasis on fast-tracking the uptake and deployment of innovative water purification solutions, locally and abroad, to speed up the delivery of safe water services. WRC RDI investment has resulted in the development and deployment of gravity-driven, point-of-use advanced water filtration devices (such as the VulAmanz rural water filter, using a woven fabric microfilter and a post-disinfection step), as well as small-scale water filtration units using ceramic filters or membranes, across a variety of communities.

‘The WRC has also successfully demonstrated the use of solar energy to power water purification processes, improving energy efficiency and operational capacity in remote areas,’ says Kalebaila. ‘Decades of WRC research on advanced water purification has also yielded numerous guidelines and home-grown membrane technologies and expertise, which has been key to streamlining the implementation of water reuse and desalination in the country and within the region.’

Kalebaila adds that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has been a pioneer in water reuse. Spearheaded by the WRC, South Africa hosted the International Water Association (IWA) Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse in March 2025 to celebrate strides taken in promoting water reuse and recycling. The 2025 conference presented an excellent opportunity to highlight the water reuse progress made in the SADC region, explore innovations and share related knowledge.

Community education, participation and development also play an important role in the adoption of new water purification technologies, particularly in rural areas, to demystify them and build trust.

‘Post-pandemic, community-led water management initiatives have gained prominence, emphasising local ownership and sustainability,’ says Grace Oluwasanya, a water scientist and professor of water resources management at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, in Nigeria. ‘Initiatives by WaterAid in Ethiopia and the Water for Life programme in Ghana train volunteers to manage boreholes and purification systems, fostering a sense of responsibility and ensuring the longevity of infrastructure. These community-based systems empower local populations to oversee water distribution and maintenance, promoting a more sustainable approach to water management. Also, after the pandemic there was a wider adoption of point-of-use chlorine dispensers and locally produced chlorine generators.’

Oluwasanya highlights the growing adoption of nature-based solutions (NbS) like biosand filters and constructed wetlands, valued for their simplicity and affordability. Biosand filters employ layers of sand and gravel to trap and remove contaminants, while constructed wetlands, implemented in Rwanda and Ethiopia, treat wastewater for reuse in agriculture. Another standout NbS is the moringa-kenaf combination – a cost-effective, sustainable and easy-to-use household water treatment method. This technique, blending moringa seed coagulants and kenaf plant fibres, reduces turbidity and iron levels, while also removing bicarbonate, zinc and magnesium, and softening hard water. These benefits make it particularly valuable for communities in low- and middle-income countries. Together, these NbS approaches provide practical, environmentally friendly options for water purification.

Public-private partnerships have played a crucial role in expanding water purification infrastructure, adds Oluwasanya. ‘Collaborations between governments, NGOs and private companies have facilitated the deployment of advanced technologies. For instance, the partnership between the African Development Bank and SA-based pump supplier, Grundfos, led to the installation of solar-powered water pumps across several sub-Saharan countries. Similarly, in Nigeria, modular water treatment plants established through government-private sector partnerships served thousands of households. The emphasis on emergency response and resilience also highlighted the need for adaptable water systems. Mobile water purification units and emergency water treatment kits were deployed to crisis-hit areas such as Mozambique after Cyclone Idai in 2019 and during the cholera outbreak in Zambia in 2022. They provided immediate access to clean water, reducing the impact of natural disasters and health crises.’

While sub-Saharan Africa is on par with the global community in its embrace of new and well-established water purification technologies and infrastructure to address the region’s water services challenges, formidable obstacles remain, such as economic constraints, inadequate policy and institutional support, along with commitment from intended users.

‘With the right financial investments and policy support sub-Saharan Africa would be in a prime position to leapfrog water purification innovations and transform water services delivery to achieve universal access to safe water now and for future generations,’ says Kalebaila.

By Robyn Maclarty
Images: iStock, Freepik