Status on Water Supply Security PRESENTATION TITLE

Presented by: Name Surname Directorate WC Property Developers Forum

Date

Presented by: John Roberts Designation: Deputy Director Directorate: Western Cape

Contact details: 062 694 0295 [email protected]

Date: 13 December 2017

1 Content

• Status on Western Cape Water Supply System • Interventions by DWS Bulk Restrictions • Future Supply Options • Annual rainfall spread • Overview of other dams in Western Cape • Categorisation of Municipalities – Risk Levels • Risk Maps • Groundwater as an alternative source • Treatment of alternate sources – end user • Water Use Authorisations v.s Bylaws • Key information required to process authorisation

When the well is dry, we learn the worth of water.

Benjamin Franklin WCWSS

Yield of system:

Original system: 475 Mm3/a Berg Rivier Dam: 81 Mm3/a Total: 556 Mm3/a

Storage(6 dams): 889 Mm3 Current weighted supply: 35.78%

Yield:

The maximum quantity of water obtainable on a sustainable basis from a dam(s), river or groundwater source in any hydrological year (at a certain level of risk), and under specified conditions of catchment development and system operation. WESTERN CAPE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM

Weighted Full Supply Capacity of System (%) in month of January since 2013

Versa

100 Accumulative rainfall in previous 516 100 season (mm) 90 348 (14/15) 655 [Average 504]

Restrictions introduced 60 382 < 36 210 (16/17) DWS INTERVENTION BY RESTRICTIONS: WCWSS System Dams Restriction (s) 4 December Water Users Comments 2017 (%) Urban* Irrigation Gazetted 16 September 2016 (effective 1 June 2016)

City of Cape Town, 20% 20% Achieved CCT (26%), Drakenstein, Drakenstein LM, & & Swartland (18%) Stellenbosch LM, other LMs less than (5%);

Western Agriculture weighted (14%) – Berg 34.75 West Coast DM: Cape Water River farmers less than 5% [Bergrivier, Swartland,, Supply Saldanha Bay] & System Gazette 10 May 2017 Theewaterskloof LMs & (effective 1 March 2017) seven (7) IB / WUA 20% 30%

Gazette 28 September 2017 WCWSS 40% 50% Effective 1 October 2017 WCWSS (after System operating modelling)

Acting DG signature still Gazette “12 December 2017” required (CD:LS, 45% 60% Effective 1 December 2017 DDG:P&I recommended, DDG:NWRI pending)

Future water supply options • Water is a non-replaceable source and the Department is constantly investigating and exploring alternatives to ensure long term availability of water. • From the Western Cape Water Reconciliation Strategy, 2007 (update April 2016) other potential surface and ground water interventions are being studied with planned years for introduction, such as – the Voёlvlei Pumpscheme Phase I from Berg River (2019) – ave 23 Mm3/a (4 m3/s rate) – deep aquifer TMG groundwater augmentation, (2017 – 2019 +, progressive) +/- 50 Mm3 – Cape Flats aquifer Alluvial groundwater (2017 – 2019 + progressive) +/- 30 Mm3 – local re-use of treated water and desalination. (2017 - 2019, progressive) – the Raising of Lower Steenbras Dam with possible further phases of the existing Transfer Scheme from the Palmiet River to the Steenbras Dams in a partnership with ESKOM, – Mitchell’s Pass Diversion (Upper Breede) in augmentation of the Voëlvlei Dam (Phase ii),

• The DWS promotes the move towards a multi water use mix of – rainfall reliance schemes, 1 Mm3 – groundwater, = – desalination, 1000 Ml – recycling of water – maintaining an applied water use efficiency (brown and green footprint)

Ave Annual Rainfall Spread mm

Winter May June July Summer Storm August September Events floods April October

Year round September October November Overview of Provincial Status of Dams at 4 December 2017 Item Cap in 4 Dec Comments 106m3 % (WCWSS): 889 34.74 Six (6) dams for WCWSS including inter-basin transfer from Voëlvlei 159 26.30 Palmiet River * (City of Cape Town, Stellenbosch LM, Drakenstein Berg River 127 64.01 LM, West Coast DM (Voelvlei Dam) [Swartland LM, Berg River LM and Saldanha Vredenburg LM], Overberg Water (TWK Theewaterskloof 479 22.12 dam)[Caledon]) and agricultural users direct from dams and indirect from downstream releases (3 x WUA, 4 x IB plus City’s dams individual farmers riparian to TWK dam). Steenbras Upper 32 100.17 “Releases made from Steenbras Upper to Lower dam” Steenbras Lower 34 52.57 Wemmershoek 59 51.45 WCWSS was 54.05 % last year this time.

Other dams provincial dams: Greater Brandvlei Dams: Brandvlei 286 29.49 Agricultural 50% and D&I 25% restrictions

Kwaggaskloof 169 31.07 Clan William Dam: Agriculture 80% restrictions, restricted operational releases for D&I Clanwilliam 122 22.38 Bulk domestic supply Worcester: Level 1 restriction Stettynskloof 14.8 99,12 Gamka 1.8 0 Beaufort West LM: D&I (Level 4: 40%) – extreme drawdown gw Other dams in BG levels [84% of supply; 16% RO; ample water –requires infrastructure] WMA < 10% Six 6 dams (predominantly irrigation in Klein & Greater Karoo)10 Categorisation of Municipalities: Risk Levels

High Risk Medium Risk Low Risk

• Langeberg Local Municipality • Cederberg Local Municipality • Cape Agulhas Local Municipality • Matzikama Local Municipality • Witzenberg Local Municipality • Mossel Bay Local Municipality • Bergrivier Local Municipality • Theewaterskloof Local Municipality • George Local Municipality • Drakenstein Local Municipality • Hessequa Local Municipality • Breede Valley Local Municipality

• Stellenbosch Local Municipality • Bitou Local Municipality • Prince Albert Local Municipality

• Knysna Local Municipality • Laingsburg Local Municipality • Overstrand Local Municipality • Kannaland Local Municipality • Beaufort West Local Municipality • Swellendam Local Municipality • Saldanha Bay Local Municipality • Oudtshoorn Local Municipality

• Swartland Local Municipality

• City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality

Measured against a number of variables, e.g. resources and sources status (river, groundwater, dams, system), sole source dependency, operational, infrastructure, water demand and

supply, trigger points for introduction of restrictions 11 15 March 2017 (prior to Provincial Drought Declaration)

12 30 November 2017 Groundwater as an alternative source?

There are many techniques to find water with ‘divining’ instruments – metal hooks, pendulums, olive branches, willow branches, coconuts, speed pedal cables, milk bottles, etc.

%&?#@ Not to be confused with ‘dividers’. Groundwater

• Groundwater is not a infinite source

• It require rain, storm events and snowfall to replenish primary (alluvial aquifers – saturated zone) and deeper secondary aquifers (TMG)

• Groundwater feeds perched- and perennial springs, as well as contribute to significant river and/or stream flows

• Groundwater suffers from two major disadvantages.

• First, it is intangible – it cannot be seen or touched.

• Second you need to have undergone specialised training to understand its occurrence and movement, and the resource has to be properly managed to promote its sustainable use.

• Sustainable yield: The safe amount of water that can be abstracted without causing damage to the system.

Principles / Terminology

High potential risk of all boreholes and well-points sunk in Cape Flats Aquifer may be impacted by cone of depression and zone of influence of other neighbouring users, resulting progressive steady drop in water table and occurring additional cost to end user to access water source. Once current use calculated against sustainable natural recharge; restrictions on groundwater use volumes may follow.

Treatment of Alternate Water Sources

• Groundwater inherent qualities may require pre-treatment – Iron, Manganese, Nitrates, Phosphates and other pollutants e.g. hydrocarbon (petroleum and diesel), FOG (Fats, Oils and Grease), Ecoli, to name but a few.

• Re-use of treated return flows from waste water treatment facilities

Construction industry:

 Bulk of water consumptive use in dust depression – use any alternate source without minor treatment if any.  Concrete – Treat water with FOG, Hydrocarbons and Nitrates – 1st source alternative water supply options – cube tests of all sources to determine strengths and treatment required, if any  Use of iron and manganese (sandstone/TMG) may cause colour changes; nitrates (shale, limestone) can influence iron oxidation over time.

Other industries:

 source of water (e.g. type of aquifer) and applied end use will dictate treatment required.  Ecoli high risk in alluvial aquifer of Cape Flats (minor iron content) – other pollutants (hydrocarbon and FOG)

Technology has much improved to treat risks from alternative sources at reasonable cost.

Authorisations

• Its all about the level of impact • Authorisation is not required for the drilling or sinking of boreholes and/or well- points • Authorisations is required for the taking or abstraction of water • Use < 10 m3/day or 10 000 l/day can be authorised under a general authorisation (low impact); • Use between < 25 m3/day could be considered under either General Authorisations (medium impact) or Licensing (high impact). • Use > 25 m3/day only considered under Licensing (high impact)

• Disparities between Water Use Authorisations in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 that governs use of natural resources and the Bylaws of the City and/or local authority on the use of groundwater. – City Bylaw # 58: Notice of the sinking or digging of boreholes, wells and wellpoints • The Department is currently preparing a generic groundwater use bylaw for adoption at local municipal level that describes the categories of use, the supporting documentation and level of information (detail) required by the different institutions

Different water uses that maybe associated to groundwater use

Section 21 of the NWA, Act 36 of 1998

• 21(a) taking of water from a resource • 21(b) storing of water • 21(c) impeding or diverting flow of water in a water course • 21(e) engaging in controlled activities, irrigating with waste water, artificial recharge, etc. • 21(f) discharging waste or water containing waste … • 21(g) disposing of waste … • 21(h) disposing in any manner of water which contains waste … • 21(i) altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a water course • 21(j) dewatering of a mine area Key information to include in an application (level of detail to differ for level of intended use (impact); pre-application meeting

• Geo-hydrological report • Borehole information • Supporting report on geology and site map (include Erf number, City/Mun registration number), Provide co-ordinates in format decimal degrees (WGS 84); Borehole construction details e.g. depth of borehole, depth of water strikes, borehole diameter, type of casing: steel/PVC, depth of screens, etc • Yield of borehole(s) – proper pump test with draw down and rest water levels measured whilst other’s boreholes within minimum of 300 m radii were also monitored (zone of influence) • blow yields and step draw pump tests (the intended end use will prescribe length of test, 8 or 24 hrs; water quality samples at various depths and rates of abstraction) • Volume to be abstracted and intended end use (shared) • Hydro-census (potential impact on other groundwater users) • Measurement • all groundwater use should be metered regardless • Disposal of water containing waste (brine - from reverse osmosis treatment)

• If within 500m from a wetland, additional studies maybe required

Applications currently being assessed Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd Shoprite Park: Redefine Properties Riverside Mall: Redefine Properties Blue Route: Redefine Properties Ottery Centre: Redefine Properties The Towers: Redefine Properties Black River Park: Redefine Properties Spear head Business Park: Eagle Park: Redefine Properties CTX: Redefine Properties Tip Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd of the Eurodev Projects (Pty) Ltd Iceberg Consol Manufactoring (Sacks Circle) Consol Glass (Pty) Ltd - Athlone x 2 Barrs Pharmaceuticals Vincent Palotti Hospital Grand West Ithemba Laboratories Cycil Vinegars Excellent Meat Holdings Schools, Hospitals (PGWC) & Tsogo Sun Hotels