Projects Restoring Land and Water
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Investigation of Stratification in the Vaal Dam Using Electrical Conductivity Profiling
Investigation of Stratification in the Vaal Dam using Electrical Conductivity Profiling Reveck Hariram*, Nicolene Van der Walt** Rand Water, Scientific Services Division, P.O. Box 1127, Johannesburg, 2000, South Africa E-mail: [email protected] ; [email protected]; Tel: +2711 682 0479/0735 ABSTRACT water to more than 11 million people in South Africa. Purifying it and selling it to various Municipalities, mines and industries. The Vaal Dam is continuously monitored to provide an early warning of changes to water quality so that the configuration of the water treatment plant can be adapted to ensure only the best quality water is supplied to our customers. er quality by sampling bi-monthly at four strategically located sampling sites. The two major tributaries entering the Vaal Dam are monitored, namely the Wilge and Vaal River respectively. Furthermore, the water quality at the confluence of these tributaries is also monitored together with the most essential It has been found that the electrical conductivity in the Vaal Dam has been relatively consistent over the years (2003 to 2014) with an average of 25 mS/m. The salinity of the Vaal Dam is greatly influenced by the water quality of the two major tributaries (Wilge and Vaal) and the source water from Lesotho (via Lesotho Highlands Water Scheme) that feeds into the Wilge tributary. The purpose of this study was to investigate and verify if any stratification occurs in the Vaal Dam as previous studies indicated no stratification. In 2014, a new monitoring tool was utilized called the CastAway- CTD. The instrument can be lowered into a river or dam capturing data such as GPS position, conductivity and depth along the vertical profile. -
The Search for Cryptosporidium Oocysts and Giardia Cysts in Source Water Used for Purification
The search for Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts in source water used for purification M Grundlingh* and CME de Wet Rand Water, Microbiology Laboratory, Scientific Services, PO Box 3526, Vereeniging 1930, South Africa Abstract Cryptosporidium and Giardia are intestinal parasites which cause a self limiting gastro-enteritis, in healthy people but severe and often fatal disease in immuno-compromised individuals. Both organisms are characterised by the ability to survive in an aquatic environment with Cryptosporidium having a high tolerance to most of the drinking water disinfectants. The absence of bacteria associated with feacal pollution does not necessarily indicate the absence of Cryptosporidium or Giardia. Being a common cause of waterborne disease, the requirement for detecting the presence of these organisms in environmental and treated water samples is growing. Although cysts and oocysts can be found in natural waters from any source, the risks of contamination are much greater in surface waters than in ground waters. A number of waterborne outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis, from potable and recreational water have been recorded. In many cases these outbreaks have occurred from water that complies to current microbiology standards. Introduction finished waters during the treatment process, which may result in additional interference. Organisms and debris that autofluoresce or The potential occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia demonstrate non-specific fluorescence, such as algal and yeast cysts in water supplies is a significant issue for the water industry cells, when examined by epifluorescent microscopy, may interfere since outbreaks have been reported in Milwaukee, New Jersey, with the detection of oocysts and cysts and contribute to false North West (UK) and more recently in Sydney, Australia. -
Country Profile – South Africa
Country profile – South Africa Version 2016 Recommended citation: FAO. 2016. AQUASTAT Country Profile – South Africa. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Rome, Italy The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The views expressed in this information product are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of FAO. FAO encourages the use, reproduction and dissemination of material in this information product. Except where otherwise indicated, material may be copied, downloaded and printed for private study, research and teaching purposes, or for use in non-commercial products or services, provided that appropriate acknowledgement of FAO as the source and copyright holder is given and that FAO’s endorsement of users’ views, products or services is not implied in any way. All requests for translation and adaptation rights, and for resale and other commercial use rights should be made via www.fao.org/contact-us/licencerequest or addressed to [email protected]. FAO information products are available on the FAO website (www.fao.org/ publications) and can be purchased through [email protected]. -
A Classification of the Subtropical Transitional Thicket in the Eastern Cape, Based on Syntaxonomic and Structural Attributes
S. Afr. J. Bot., 1987, 53(5): 329 - 340 329 A classification of the subtropical transitional thicket in the eastern Cape, based on syntaxonomic and structural attributes D.A. Everard Department of Plant Sciences, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 6140 Republic of South Africa Accepted 11 June 1987 Subtropical transitional thicket, traditionally known as valley bushveld, covers a significant proportion of the eastern Cape. This paper attempts to classify the subtropical transitional thicket into syntaxonomic and structural units and relate it to other thicket types on a continental basis. Twelve sites along a rainfall gradient were sampled for floristic and structural attributes. The floristic data were classified using TWINSPAN. Results indicate that the class subtropical transitional thicket has at least two orders of vegetation, namely kaffrarian thicket and kaffrarian succulent thicket. Two forms of thicket were recognized for both these orders viz. mesic kaffrarian thicket and xeric kaffrarian thicket for the kaffrarian thicket and mesic succulent thicket and xeric succulent thicket for the kaffrarian succulent thicket. Ordination of site data by DECORANA grouped sites according to these vegetation categories and in a sequence along axis 1 to which the rainfall gradient can be clearly related. Variation within the mesic kaffrarian thicket was however greater than between some of the other thicket types, indicating that more data are required before these forms of thicket can be formalized. Composition, endemism, diversity and the environmental controls on the distribution of the thicket types are discussed. 'n Aansienlike gedeelte van die Oos-Kaap word beslaan deur subtropiese oorgangsruigte, wat tradisioneel as valleibosveld bekend is. Hierdie studie is 'n poging om subtropiese oorgangsruigte in sintaksonomiese en strukturele eenhede te klassifiseer en dit op 'n kontinentale basis in verband met ander ruigtetipes te bring. -
Feasibility Study of Botterkloof and Merino II Hydropower Sites
Feasibility Study of Botterkloof and Merino II Hydropower Sites Presented By BJ Rochecouste Collet W: aurecongroup.com E: [email protected] T: +27 12 427 3144 History & Treaty Lesotho Highlands Water Project delivers water from the Mountains of Lesotho to South Africa by means of dams and tunnels constructed which discharges in the Ash River, near Clarens, Free State Province. Several phases were envisaged. A Treaty between the two governments was signed to ensure the delivery of an average flow of 24.5 m3/s (based on an annual volume) which is applicable to Phase 1 (1A and 1B). New Treaty for Phase 2 states that delivery of (additional) water from Phase 2 would be “on-demand” based on the volume required to compensate the yield of the Vaal catchment (including existing transfers). Scope of Services Aurecon Scope of Services Include: •The Environmental studies; •The Geotechnical Investigation; •The assistance for the WUL application ; •The Interconnections studies; •The Technical Feasibility Study; •Necessary assistance in the bid submission to the DoE for the REIPP programme; •The Detailed Design, Project Management & Construction Supervision. Ash River Reserve Flow (Minimum Maintenance Low Flow): 50 l/s. Phase 1 (A & B) annual flowrate: 24.5 m3/s. Flows into the Liebensbergvlei, then into the Wilge River and thereafter into the Vaal River. Serious erosion problems which lead to construction of several structures to reduce the flow velocity and minimise erosion. Hydrology & Future Flows Year Increase in Yield from Total Mean Annual Flow Phase 2 (m3/s) (m3/s) 2012 - 24.5 2014 - 24.5 2020 5.0 29.5 2025 5.0 29.5 2026 5.2 29.7 2030 6.8 31.3 2034 8.5 33.0 2038 10.1 34.6 Hydrology & Future Flows (Cont.) Botterkloof/Stortemelk Site Project Location The Stortemelk Site is located approximately 1.6 km downstream of the Ash River Outfall at the existing Boston A Dam. -
Early History of South Africa
THE EARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA EVOLUTION OF AFRICAN SOCIETIES . .3 SOUTH AFRICA: THE EARLY INHABITANTS . .5 THE KHOISAN . .6 The San (Bushmen) . .6 The Khoikhoi (Hottentots) . .8 BLACK SETTLEMENT . .9 THE NGUNI . .9 The Xhosa . .10 The Zulu . .11 The Ndebele . .12 The Swazi . .13 THE SOTHO . .13 The Western Sotho . .14 The Southern Sotho . .14 The Northern Sotho (Bapedi) . .14 THE VENDA . .15 THE MASHANGANA-TSONGA . .15 THE MFECANE/DIFAQANE (Total war) Dingiswayo . .16 Shaka . .16 Dingane . .18 Mzilikazi . .19 Soshangane . .20 Mmantatise . .21 Sikonyela . .21 Moshweshwe . .22 Consequences of the Mfecane/Difaqane . .23 Page 1 EUROPEAN INTERESTS The Portuguese . .24 The British . .24 The Dutch . .25 The French . .25 THE SLAVES . .22 THE TREKBOERS (MIGRATING FARMERS) . .27 EUROPEAN OCCUPATIONS OF THE CAPE British Occupation (1795 - 1803) . .29 Batavian rule 1803 - 1806 . .29 Second British Occupation: 1806 . .31 British Governors . .32 Slagtersnek Rebellion . .32 The British Settlers 1820 . .32 THE GREAT TREK Causes of the Great Trek . .34 Different Trek groups . .35 Trichardt and Van Rensburg . .35 Andries Hendrik Potgieter . .35 Gerrit Maritz . .36 Piet Retief . .36 Piet Uys . .36 Voortrekkers in Zululand and Natal . .37 Voortrekker settlement in the Transvaal . .38 Voortrekker settlement in the Orange Free State . .39 THE DISCOVERY OF DIAMONDS AND GOLD . .41 Page 2 EVOLUTION OF AFRICAN SOCIETIES Humankind had its earliest origins in Africa The introduction of iron changed the African and the story of life in South Africa has continent irrevocably and was a large step proven to be a micro-study of life on the forwards in the development of the people. -
Volume 10 Number 004 Anglo-Zulu War - I
Volume 10 Number 004 Anglo-Zulu War - I Lead: In the late 1870s faced with a British imperial ultimatum to disband their military system, the Zulu clans of Northeastern South Africa prepared for a war their leader was certain they would lose. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: The ancient tribal homeland of the Zulu lies north of the Tugela River in the northeastern part of South Africa’s Natal Province. The Zulu are a Bantu-speaking people, part of the Nguni ethnic grouping and were a relatively unimportant clan until the early decades of the 1800s. At that time there came to the throne one of the significant military thinkers in world history. Shaka (Chaka) subdued his family rivals and united the Zulu clans under his leadership. He then began to re- organize the Zulu war apparatus. He modified the traditional tribal weapon, the assegai, creating a new short iron sword designed for close in combat, he shaped his army into regiments, housed them in barracks for most of the year, refused to allow them to wear shoes so as to toughen their feet, thus increasing their speed, and then developed new unified flanking tactics directed by hand signals which when perfected overwhelmed his African enemies and gave the Zulu preeminence in the region. Shaka’s assassination in 1828 by his brothers Dingaan (din gane) and Mpande did not diminish Zulu power they were nearly everywhere triumphant until defeated by the Africaaners at the Battle of Blood River in 1838 and weakened by civil war in 1856. -
The Vaal River Inquiry Provisional Report
Final Report of the Gauteng Provincial Inquiry Into the Sewage Problem of the Vaal River 17 February 2021 The Vaal Report Executive Summary The South African Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) had been alerted to online and print media reports, published during July and August 2018, reporting that raw sewage, from the Emfuleni Local Municipality (‘the Municipality’)’s Rietspruit Waste Water Care and Management Works situated in Vanderbijlpark, the Leewkuil Waste Water Care and Management Works situated in Vereeniging and other areas within the Municipality, had for weeks and months been leaking into and polluting the Vaal River and the Rietspruit. In addition to the raw sewage polluting major and essential bodies of water, the media reports stated, amongst other things, that: the main sewers in Vanderbijlpark were blocked and that raw sewerage was flowing into people’s yards and properties. In September 2018, in order to test the veracity of the media reports, the Commission’s Gauteng Provincial Office conducted an inspection-in-loco at certain sites within the Emfuleni Municipality, and observed: raw sewage flowing in a small stream that cut across the Emfuleni Golf Estate; two burst sewerage pipes on the banks of the Rietspruit that runs through the Emfuleni Municipal area; defective bio-filters at the Rietspruit Waste Water Treatment Works; a clogged sewerage manhole at the Sharpeville Cemetery and children swimming in, and consuming, polluted waters in the area of a school. Having established a prima facie violation of human rights in the Emfuleni Municipality, regarding the flowing of raw, untreated sewage flowing in the streets, homes, graveyards and also flowing into the Vaal River, the Dam, the Barrage and the Rietspruit (referred to collectively as ‘the Vaal’), and acting within its legislative mandate, the Commission established an Inquiry. -
Conference Proceedings 2006
FOSAF THE FEDERATION OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN FLYFISHERS PROCEEDINGS OF THE 10 TH YELLOWFISH WORKING GROUP CONFERENCE STERKFONTEIN DAM, HARRISMITH 07 – 09 APRIL 2006 Edited by Peter Arderne PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION SPONSORED BY: sappi 1 CONTENTS Page List of participants 3 Press release 4 Chairman’s address -Bill Mincher 5 The effects of pollution on fish and people – Dr Steve Mitchell 7 DWAF Quality Status Report – Upper Vaal Management Area 2000 – 2005 - Riana 9 Munnik Water: The full picture of quality management & technology demand – Dries Louw 17 Fish kills in the Vaal: What went wrong? – Francois van Wyk 18 Water Pollution: The viewpoint of Eco-Care Trust – Mornē Viljoen 19 Why the fish kills in the Vaal? –Synthesis of the five preceding presentations 22 – Dr Steve Mitchell The Elands River Yellowfish Conservation Area – George McAllister 23 Status of the yellowfish populations in Limpopo Province – Paul Fouche 25 North West provincial report on the status of the yellowfish species – Daan Buijs & 34 Hermien Roux Status of yellowfish in KZN Province – Rob Karssing 40 Status of the yellowfish populations in the Western Cape – Dean Impson 44 Regional Report: Northern Cape (post meeting)– Ramogale Sekwele 50 Yellowfish conservation in the Free State Province – Pierre de Villiers 63 A bottom-up approach to freshwater conservation in the Orange Vaal River basin – 66 Pierre de Villiers Status of the yellowfish populations in Gauteng Province – Piet Muller 69 Yellowfish research: A reality to face – Dr Wynand Vlok 72 Assessing the distribution & flow requirements of endemic cyprinids in the Olifants- 86 Doring river system - Bruce Paxton Yellowfish genetics projects update – Dr Wynand Vlok on behalf of Prof. -
Review of Existing Infrastructure in the Orange River Catchment
Study Name: Orange River Integrated Water Resources Management Plan Report Title: Review of Existing Infrastructure in the Orange River Catchment Submitted By: WRP Consulting Engineers, Jeffares and Green, Sechaba Consulting, WCE Pty Ltd, Water Surveys Botswana (Pty) Ltd Authors: A Jeleni, H Mare Date of Issue: November 2007 Distribution: Botswana: DWA: 2 copies (Katai, Setloboko) Lesotho: Commissioner of Water: 2 copies (Ramosoeu, Nthathakane) Namibia: MAWRD: 2 copies (Amakali) South Africa: DWAF: 2 copies (Pyke, van Niekerk) GTZ: 2 copies (Vogel, Mpho) Reports: Review of Existing Infrastructure in the Orange River Catchment Review of Surface Hydrology in the Orange River Catchment Flood Management Evaluation of the Orange River Review of Groundwater Resources in the Orange River Catchment Environmental Considerations Pertaining to the Orange River Summary of Water Requirements from the Orange River Water Quality in the Orange River Demographic and Economic Activity in the four Orange Basin States Current Analytical Methods and Technical Capacity of the four Orange Basin States Institutional Structures in the four Orange Basin States Legislation and Legal Issues Surrounding the Orange River Catchment Summary Report TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 General ......................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Objective of the study ................................................................................................ -
Midgard Africa Routing
SOUTHERN AFRICA EXPEDITION SOUTHERN AFRICA LEG 1 Cradle of Humankind to Katse Dam The Cradle of Humankind is a paleoanthropological site about 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Gauteng province. Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999, the site currently occupies 47,000 hectares (180 sq mi) and contains a complex of limestone caves. The registered name of the site in the list of World Heritage sites is Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa. It's the world's richest hominin site, home to around 40% of the world's human ancestor fossils. • Expedition Press Launch will be held at the iconic Maropeng Visitor Centre • Bjorn will deliver the Expedition Manifesto • Ron Clark presents the history of human evolution via Little Foot • Crew visits Sterkfontein Caves & archeological sites with Ron Clark. • Viking Longboat will be on display for the day • Press and Public to engage with the crew • Expedition will commence journey to Katse Dam early the next day The Katse Dam is situated on the Malibamatso River in the Kingdom of Lesotho. It is the highest dam in Africa. It is by far the most efficient storage dam in Africa due to its great depth and relatively small surface area, which reduces evaporation. The Dam is also Africa’s closest thing to a Fjord. • Journey will take 2 days to get to Katse Dam Lodge • Viking Longboat will be launched in the Fjord • 4 Days of Flat water trials will take place • In this time rowing and sailing will be fine tuned • Crew training and team building • Highlands Water Project and Local Culture SOUTHERN AFRICA LEG 2 Katse Dam to Mont Aux Sources Mont-aux-Sources is a mountain in Southern Africa, forming one of the highest portions of the Drakensberg Range. -
WATER QUALITY and ABATEMENT of POLLUTION NATAL RIVERS
WATER QUALITY and ABATEMENT of POLLUTION I ID NATAL RIVERS Part Ill THE TUGELA RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES - P.A.J. Brand, B.Sc . (Hons.), P.H. Kemp, B.Sc. , A.R.C.S., D.I.C., W.D. Oliff, M.Sc. and S.J. Pretorius, M.Sc. A research report by the National Institute for Water Research, C S I R and the Town and Regional Planning Commission 1967 WATER QUALITY AND ABATEMENT OF POLLUTION IN NATAL RIVERS PART III THE TUGELA RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES 1. INTRODUCTION The survey of the Tugela river was undertaken by the National Institute for Water Research of the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research on behalf of the Natal Town and Regional Planning Commission under the terms of a Rivers Research Fellowship. Studies of the main Tugela r iver were made by Mr. W.D, Oliff as Research Fellow during the period 1953 - 1955. This river was the first river in Natal to be surveyed in this way, the emphasis in this early period being on the hydrobiology of the water. Subsequently various tributaries of the Tugela were studied - the Bushmans river in 1956 - 1957, the Buffalo river in 1959 - 1960, the Mooi river in 1961 and the Sundays river and other streams that drain the Natal coalfields in 1960 - 1963. Various analysts assisted with the chemical work in the early phases of the survey, but subsequently a chemist, Mr. P , H. Kemp, became a permanent member of the Rivers Research Team in Natal and was solely responsible for the analytical work and some of the later river surveys .