AfriWatSan PhD student, Mor Talla Diaw, presented his research at the first session of the “doctoriales” in March 2018 at Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor in southern Senegal. This session of the doctoriales brought together PhD students from five universities in Senegal to discuss their research. Here, Mor Talla presented his recent research highlighting the magnitude of faecal contamination of the Thiaroye shallow aquifer. Further, Mor Talla showed using advanced digital mapping of on-site sanitation facilities in Dakar the strong relationship between the magnitude of faecal contamination and the density of on-site sanitation facilities including septic tanks or pit latrines. Mor Talla is currently preparing a manuscript describing this research for the international journal, Water Research.