The Water Hub in Franschhoek is a research and demonstration site dedicated to improving water quality. The Water Hub applies nature-based solutions to filter polluted runoff from an informal settlement with inadequate service provision in order to improve and protect the Stiebeuel River, the wider Franschhoek Valley, and the region that relies on the Berg River. The system is designed to remove nutrients, chemicals, and microplastics from water at a steady flow rate, with current projects treating roughly 35 000 litres per day. This cleaner water supports downstream agriculture and strengthens ecosystems towards greater resilience. The Water Hub is a collaborative space convened by the Future Water Institute (UCT). Researchers, government partners, and community members are invited to contribute to testing solutions that can be replicated across the Western Cape, South Africa and the World.
Water quality samples were collected roughly every two weeks, from December 2025 to August 2026, at each stage of the Water Hub treatment process: the Stiebeuel River (source), the biofilters (B1 & B2 in parallel), the SMART Cell, and the irrigation output.
