The Water Wheel May/June 2019 1 CONTENTS 04 UPFRONT WATER SUPPLY 12 Keeping the taps on: Richards Bay at the water crossroads WATER HISTORY 16 Travels of Robert Jacob Gordon – Part 4 ALTERNATIVE WATER SUPPLY 20 Seawater desalination: Thoughts on implementation WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT 24 Ecological Disaster took Kamfers Dam by Surprise DROUGHT 26 What Cape Town’s drought can teach other cities about climate adaptation WATER KIDZ 28 Africa’s beautiful rivers THE WATER WHEEL is a two-monthly magazine on water and water research AT A GLANCE published by the South African Water 30 Nqweba Dam Research Commission (WRC), a statutory organisation established in 1971 by Act of Parliament. Subscription is free. Material in this publication does not necessarily reflect the considered opinions of the members of the WRC, and may be copied with acknow- ledgement of source. Editorial Committee: Dr Sylvester Mpandeli (Chair), Ms Khosi Jonas, Ms Manjusha Sunil, Mr Bonani Madikizela, Dr Mamohloding Tlhagale and Sudhir Pillay. Editorial offices: Water Research Commission, Private Bag X03, Gezina, 0031, Republic of South Africa. Tel (012) 761 9300. Fax (012) 331-2565. WRC Internet address: http://www.wrc.org.za Follow us on Twitter: @WaterWheelmag Editor: Lani van Vuuren, E-mail:
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[email protected] on page 12. The Water Wheel May/June 2019 3 Upfront FLUID THOUGHTS Sanitation innovation – a key to Africa’s WRC CEO, Dhesigen Naidoo development strategy The demographic dividend, new production revolution, shifting has to reversed by 2030.