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Hydrological Heritage Overview: Johannesburg GOLD IN THE RAND, WATER FROM THE LAND Obtainable from: Disclaimer Design and layout: Water Research Commission The Water Research Commission (WRC) Dreamwave Design Solutions Private Bag X03 has approved this book for publication. Gezina Approval does not signify that the contents ISBN 978-1-4312-0710-7 0031 necessarily reflect the views and policies of Printed in the Republic of South Africa the WRC, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement © Water Research Commission or recommendation for use. © Gerrit Burger Hydrological Heritage Overview: Johannesburg Gold in the Rand, Water from the Land Matthys A. Dippenaar (with photographic contribution by Gerrit Burger) A publication of the Water Research Commission of South Africa October 2015 SP91/15 Contents Preface 4 CHAPTER 2: 13 CHAPTER 3: 30 Acknowledgements 5 A GLIMPSE THROUGH TIME: A GLIMPSE THROUGH TIME: ANCIENT HISTORY RECENT HISTORY CHAPTER 1: 7 INTRODUCTION The Origin of Water on Earth 14 Discovery of Gold 32 A Long and Intricate Geological History 15 The Gold Rush and the Founding Johannesburg: City of Gold 7 Greenstone 22 of Johannesburg 33 The Hydrological Heritage Johannesburg Dome 22 After the war 37 Overview Project 9 Witwatersrand Supergroup 23 Urban Landscape 10 Ventersdorp Supergroup 25 Water Demands of the City Transvaal Supergroup and Black of Johannesburg 11 Reef Formation 25 Diabase and Syenite 26 Karoo Supergroup 26 Landscape Development and Surface Drainage 26 The Rise of Man 29 2 | Hydrological Heritage Overview: Johannesburg CHAPTER 4: 38 CHAPTER 5: 50 CHAPTER 6: 58 A MATTER OF DEMAND VERSUS SUPPLY WATER SUPPLY AND WATER RESOURCE THE ROAD AHEAD Johannesburg’s Initial Water Supply 42 Water Quality and Supply 50 Selected Bibliography 60 Establishment of the Rand Water Board 43 Rural and Peri-urban Impacts on Damming the Vaal River 43 the Water Cycle and Water Quality 54 Water for the Coalfields 44 Urban Impacts on the Water Cycle and Water Quality 54 Water from the Tugela River 45 Mining Impacts on the Water Cycle Water from the Senqu River in Lesotho 47 and Water Quality 55 Establishment of Johannesburg Water 49 Water Treatment and Discharge to Development of Johannesburg’s other Catchments 57 Sanitation System 49 Hydrological Heritage Overview: Johannesburg | 3 Preface Johannesburg – More than a century from its industrial and mining activities. of water supply innovation From initial efforts to obtain water from meagre streams and groundwater sources The world is experiencing an unprecedented water is now imported from as far as the rate of urbanisation. According to the United Tugela River in KwaZulu-Natal and the Senqu Nations, half of humanity now lives in cities, River in Lesotho through some of the most and within two decades, nearly 60% of the sophisticated bulk water infrastructure in world’s people will be urban dwellers. the world. Urban growth is most rapid in the It is in celebration of these scientific developing world where cities gain an and engineering efforts that Johannesburg average 5 million residents every month. was selected as the topic of choice in this The exploding urban population growth the second of the Hydrological Heritage creates unprecedented challenges, among Overview series. The aim of this publication which provision for water and sanitation is to increase understanding and appreciation have been the most pressing and painfully for the sustained effort required to keep South felt when lacking. Africa’s economic powerhouse running. For Johannesburg, the constantly It is the hope of the Water Research increasing demand for water has been a Commission that this publication will potential impediment to socio-economic serve as more than a glimpse into the water Dhesigen Naidoo growth from its conception over a century ago. management challenges of South Africa’s As one of the few major cities in the world not largest city, but that it will be a useful tool to located on or near a significant water resource, garner awareness of the important role that Johannesburg has had to increasingly find each citizen has to play in ensuring a water new, innovative ways to supply its residents secure future for Johannesburg. with water, while stemming the pollution 4 | Hydrological Heritage Overview: Johannesburg Acknowledgements Water is pivotal in development, and journalism and for making and similarly, the work published this project much easier, having here is a collation of numerous written the book on South Africa’s persons’ efforts, willingness, time large dams. and information. It is always hard The reference group of this to write acknowledgements, fearing project guided the research and omission of someone critical. contents throughout the project. Nonetheless, this work would not What I envisaged initially differed have been possible with some very from what is published here, and important contributions. it is their guidance that redirected First and foremost, sincere me to the critical aspects covered gratitude is expressed to the in this book. Thanks to Prof Kevin South African Water Research Wall (University of Pretoria), Prof Commission (WRC). Their Johann Tempelhoff (North West dedication to the promotion of University), Mr Jude Cobbing Matthys Dippenaar water awareness and research is (Independent Hydrogeologist), Mrs and access. It is not always easy world class. Thanks for funding Lani van Vuuren (Water Research to be the mediator between the this project and for continuing the Commission), Mrs Elanda Schaeffer public and the municipality and I Hydrological Heritage Overview (SEFSA), Mr James Boale (City of believe you’ve done an exceptional (H2O) campaign as established in Tshwane), Mr Arne Singels (City job in supplying me with valuable the preceding Pretoria projects. of Cape Town) and Mrs Nomvula information. In particular, thanks goes to Mofokane (City of Johannesburg) To Mr Joe Moreira, owner of Dr Shafick Adams of the WRC, for your input, comments, edits the valuable Facebook groups Lost research manager for this project, and peer review of this publication. Johannesburg and Lost Pretoria for his enthusiasm, guidance and I want to express a special – thank you for advocating our input. Also from the WRC, thanks word of thanks to Mrs Nomvula projects so openly on your sites to Mrs Lani van Vuuren for sharing Mofokane for all her contributions and for granting permission to use all her experience in science writing in the form of data, information graphics from the sites. It is not Hydrological Heritage Overview: Johannesburg | 5 Acknowledgements always easy finding archive footage; To Ingrid Booysens and the GIS truly remarkable to see the story your input is highly appreciated. team at the University of Pretoria, come to life so beautifuly. To my colleague and friend, who compiled the bulk of the maps Finally, to the people who had to Gerrit Burger of Rockhouse used: my sincere gratitude for your bear with me through this project Productions: thank you very much assistance in this regard. A picture – notably my colleagues Louis for the amazing photographic and does indeed say a thousand words van Rooy and Brendon Jones, and video footage. We spent many days and without all the maps, context my family Tharina and Femke – on the road, driving on dirt roads, would have been lost. I cannot thank you enough. Your running around in the rain, and To Nthabiseng Nooe, doing her support and help in this regard are walking up mountains and down masters dissertation on this project, greatly appreciated! rivers. I could not possibly ask for thank you for your accompaniment, Although this product supplies a a better filmmaker or photographer as well as your assistance with glimpse into a much longer story, it to convey the message in such a research and management of the is difficult to mention every aspect visually appealing manner. project administration. of Johannesburg’s water heritage. To Lizelle Olivier from Clear- Thank you to Drinie van The purpose of this booklet is to creative, thank you as well for the Rensburg who first did the layout become aware of water supply, and motion graphics used in the film of the Pretoria book, which served therefore a lot of content is omitted and for the bulk of the still graphics as inspiration for this one. Your or toned down. I nonetheless trust used in the book. Your capability work is exceptional and I thank that an understanding of the water of making history modern and you for conveying the message so supply of Johannesburg throughout making science interesting is a perfectly. To Elke Momberg, for the past will be insightful to some significant contribution in itself. doing the layout of this book, it is but hopefully motivational for most. 6 | Hydrological Heritage Overview: Johannesburg Chapter 1: Introduction If a dedication as prequel ever value or agricultural soil. But as the too, that our mineral dependence “’But what’s had ground, this is it: to the people population increases, the pressures is hosted in the same Rand that worth more than of Johannesburg, who are worth on these natural resources also christened our currency and gave gold?’ ‘Practically more than gold; and to the precious increase. birth to our heritage of pollution. everything. You, water required for humanity’s People so easily complain about In the case of large cities, such survival and prosperity, also issues related to the supply of as Johannesburg, a remarkable for example. Your worth more than gold. The story energy, water, fresh produce and story awaits telling on how weight in gold is of Johannesburg is not about gold. It other consumables. Yet we easily water is imported from different not very much is a narrative of humanity’s growth forget that, in mega-cities and catchments for supply to South gold at all. Aren’t and the quest for clean water.