In a spirited celebration of innovation and environmental stewardship, SAICE Durban in partnership with Umngeni-uThukela Water, hosted the Annual Schools Aqualibrium Competition at Northmead Secondary School in Phoenix on Wednesday, 9 April. The event, underscored the City’s ongoing commitment to tackling the water crisis while nurturing the future of water sustainability.
Amid the challenges posed by the persistent water crisis, Durban’s brightest young scholars gathered to showcase their ingenuity in simulating real-life water distribution systems. With guidance from UKZN Civil Engineering students, the competition transformed theoretical knowledge into hands-on learning. The students received detailed instructions from the UKZN Student Chapter Team and had three rounds of trials before the final, nail-biting winning round. Fourteen schools across Durban participated, including: Northmead Secondary School, Seatides Combined Secondary, Eden College, Sastri College, St Henry’s, Umlazi Commercial High School, Al Falaah College, Ganges Secondary, Durban Girls High School, Durban High School, uMthombomuhle Intermediate School, Curro Hillcrest High School, Verulam Islamic School and Westville Boys High School.
After an exciting day filled with creative challenges and teamwork, the winners were Durban Girls High School in first place, Al Falaah College in second place and Eden College in third place. The success of the day was amplified by the generosity and expertise of several key figures. Northmead Secondary School set the welcoming tone for the competition, while the sponsor, Umngeni-uThukela Water, reiterated its unwavering support for educational initiatives. Special accolades went to Sunita Doodhnath, the Education Specialist from Umngeni-uThukela Water, and Civil Engineer Lindokuhle Kunene, whose captivating talks on water conservation and engineering careers left a lasting impression on the young minds.
Durban Girls High School is set to compete in the national finals on 9 May, at the Sci Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg. SAICE Durban’s collaborative spirit is open to further partnerships. Members and interested parties are invited to reach out to Kavita on 084 584 1799 or via email at durban@saice.org.za, to join in future initiatives.
In a city facing significant water challenges, the Aqualibrium Competition stands out as a beacon of hope and progress – empowering young scholars today to become the engineers of tomorrow.
