This year, GfGD’s University Group based at Imperial College London will be supporting Imperial Water Brigades, and their Water Brigades project in Ghana. A number of students from the Department for Earth Science and Engineering will be travelling to Ghana in September 2013 to help construct a rainwater harvesting system – and work with local communities who …[Read More]
Water and Sanitation
Women and Water
March the 8th is International Women’s Day. There are many problems that solely or disproportionately affect women, particularly in developing countries where many women are still fighting for basic gender equality. In honour of International Women’s day, we look at the importance of access to clean water for women and girls. It is vital that both …[Read More]
Guest Blog: Managed aquifer recharge in coastal Bangladesh
Donald John MacAllister has a BSc in Geophysics from the University of Edinburgh and an MSc in Water Management from Cranfield University. He has spent three years working as a hydrologist and water engineer, both in the UK and in the international development sector. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Imperial College London researching the …[Read More]
Event: Water security at the Overseas Development Institute
Despite the clear advantages to investing in water and sanitation, water security remains an elusive goal for many communities around the world. We discussed the importance of a clean and reliable water supply last year in the GfGD Blog ‘water series‘. The Overseas Development Institute are hosting a public event to discuss ‘water security: global …[Read More]
In the News – November 2012
GfGD’s Director, Joel Gill, shares some of the things that have caught his eye in the news recently: Natural Disaters: The past couple of weeks have seen a significant number of natural disasters, from earthquakes in Guatemala and Myanmar (Burma) to hurricanes in the Atlantic – impacting developing nations such as Haiti, and a landslide dam …[Read More]
Water Series (3): Arsenic Contamination in Drinking Water
Following our post about fluoride contamination last week, our water series is now focused on the equally serious problem of arsenic contamination. Some arsenic is present in all groundwater sources (see table 1). Of course this is only a problem if the arsenic has the chance to leak into groundwater as it filters through the rock. …[Read More]
Water Series (2): Fluoride Contamination in Drinking Water
This week, as part of our ‘water series’ we will focus on fluoride contamination in drinking water. In some parts of the UK we add fluoride to our drinking water, because small amounts can help to protect your teeth. However, too much fluoride (>1.5mg/L) can lead to a serious medical condition called fluorosis, affecting the …[Read More]
Water Series (1): The Quantity and Quality of Groundwater
The water available in or near your home can vary dramatically over short distances. In Manchester, there is a robust supply of fresh water from the Lake District, whereas in London (only 200 miles away) the water has passed through limestone, leaving it with a cloudy taste and causing limescale build-up. Signs up on the …[Read More]
In The News – October 2012
A few things have caught my eye in the news recently, a mix of good and tragic: Toilets in India: The BBC reported last week that the Indian Supreme Court have ordered that every school have clean water and suitable sanitation facilities within six months. If this is obeyed, and goes hand in hand with …[Read More]