Clean water is a right for everyone. Knowing it’s safe should be too.
The Water Warrior Project is TCSC’s community programme. We bring free and affordable water testing to communities that can’t afford it — and train young people as Water Warriors with the skills to protect their communities and earn a living doing it.
Why this matters
51%
of South African drinking water measured had poor to bad microbiological quality in the Department of Water and Sanitation’s 2023 Blue Drop Watch Report.*
71%
of treatment plants failed to achieve chemical compliance in the same report.*
Yet most households, schools and community projects never test their water at all. Laboratory testing is often too expensive, too slow and too far away — especially for communities that rely on boreholes, tanks, rivers and informal supply. And while youth unemployment remains one of South Africa’s biggest challenges, the skills to test and protect water are scarce in the places that need them most.
The Water Warrior Project tackles both problems at once.
*Department of Water and Sanitation, Blue Drop Watch Report (June 2023), as reported by BusinessTech. Plants that did not submit data on time were counted as non-compliant.
What the project does
💧 Free & affordable testing
Free water testing for households and communities that can’t afford it, and low-cost testing for everyone else — using TCSC’s rapid test kits, with SANS 241 lab confirmation where it’s needed.
🦸 Youth Water Warriors
Unemployed young people are trained in water quality testing, sanitation practices and small-business skills — becoming Water Warriors who serve their own communities and earn an income.
📚 Community education
Workshops, free online courses and practical guidance so people understand their results — and know what to do when their water isn’t safe.
🛠️ Clean-up & solutions
Hands-on action with communities — from removing waste from polluted rivers to consultation on treatment and sanitation improvements.
How free testing is funded
The Water Warrior Project runs on a self-sustaining model. Every kit, lab test and service you buy from TCSC helps pay for free testing in a community that can’t afford it.
- TCSC income — a share of revenue from kits, lab services and The Water App.
- Partners — organisations that co-fund testing, training or clean-up projects.
- Sponsors and donors — companies and individuals who fund testing in a specific community.
Profits are reinvested to grow the project, reach more communities and, over time, take it beyond South Africa.
In the field: Alexandra Water Warriors
The challenge: the Jukskei River in Alexandra is polluted by biological, chemical and physical contaminants, and sewage spills into the streets.
What the Water Warriors did: physically removed waste from the river and surroundings, tested water quality with TCSC’s 21-in-1 Water Testing Kit, and provided consultation on what the results meant for the community.
Become a Water Warrior
Want to turn water testing into your own business? The Water Testing Warrior Programme gives you the kits, training and tools to start testing and selling in your area. No science background needed.
Starter Business Package — R12,000
- 7 starter test kits: 2 × 21-in-1 (with E. coli tests) and 5 × 25-in-1
- About 8 hours of self-paced online training, plus a certificate of completion
- 12 months’ access to the Warrior Portal for quotes, invoices and stock
- Marketing toolkit with social media templates
- Mentorship and sales support from the TCSC team
Who it’s for
- Young people and aspiring entrepreneurs
- Community health workers, teachers and NGO staff
- Plumbers, borehole installers and other trades
- Science and environmental health students
Income depends on your sales effort, pricing and local market and is not guaranteed. Kits are screening tools; Warriors refer clients who need compliance-grade results to TCSC’s SANS 241 laboratory panels.
Start learning for free
Not ready to start a business? Our free online courses teach the basics every Water Warrior needs:
- Water Parameters — what each test measures and why it matters
- Water Sampling — how to collect a sample that gives a reliable result
Get involved
Communities
Can’t afford to test your water? Apply for a free water test for your household, school or community project. T&Cs apply.
Partners & sponsors
Fund testing, youth training or a clean-up in a community you care about — with impact reporting you can share with your stakeholders.
Ready to make a difference in water and sanitation?
Talk to us about testing, training or partnering.
📞 +27 (0)74 272 0227 · ✉️ admin@thechemistrysolutionscompany.com