6. Existing Strategies and Plans

6. EXISTING STRATEGIES AND PLANS

6.1 INTRODUCTION

Water is a limiting factor in development in the Western Cape and, as water requirements in the province grow, it is becoming increasingly important to manage and plan for water resources. A considerable amount of work has been done by National, Provincial and Local Government over the past decade to develop strategies to manage water resources in the Province, and these are reviewed in this section. A brief introduction to the existing strategies is given in this section, and then each one is reviewed. A summary is provided, and then the gaps identified during the process are highlighted and commented on. Recommendations on how these may be addressed will form part of Phase II of this study.

6.2 STRATEGIES INITIATED BY DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS

6.2.1 Brief History

The development of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) strategies for the Western Cape Province forms part of an overall process that has been unfolding for over a decade under the direction of the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). A brief history of this process is described below in order to provide a context to the review of exWATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

6.3 INTRODUCTION

This Section provides an overview of water resource availability and requirements within the Western Cape Province. It focuses on two levels of information, firstly a regional overview at Water Management Area level, based on existing information (of which the 2005 DWA Internal Strategic Perspectives) form the basis, supported by more recent subsequent information that may have since become available. Secondly, it presents the preliminary information currently available from the All Towns Reconciliation Strategy, being undertaken by DWA, so as to prioritize those towns in which the most urgent attention is required to address water availability related issues. The management of water resources (including water availability and utilization), is undertaken on the basis of water management areas. As shown on Figure 6.3.1, the majority of the province falls within four WMAs, namely:

 Berg WMA (No 19);  Breede WMA (No 18);  Gouritz WMA (No.16); and

 Olifants-Doorn (No.17) WMA (approximately 50% thereof). In addition there are small areas that overlap into two adjacent WMA‟s namely the Fish to Tsitsikamma WMA (No 15) and the Lower Orange WMA (No.14)

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Figure 6.3.1 The Western Cape and its WMAs.

Surface water catchments are defined by topographical features and as such, the catchment areas do not coincide with municipal and provincial boundaries, which are determined based on other factors. Within the scope of this study, it is therefore neither possible nor of added value to try and disseminate available regional surface water resource information to match provincial boundaries. Rather, an overview at WMA level provides an indication of the current status.

6.4 WARMS DATABASE – REGISTERED USERS

At the time of submission of this draft Status Quo Report, the WARMS information for the Western Cape Province had yet to be made available for the study. To provide provisional indication of the largest water users per District Municipality, the Study Team has accessed information from the Water Masterplans undertaken by each municipality and consolidated that into a summary as provided in Figure 6.4.1 to Figure 6.4.5.

Figure 6.4.1 Largest 10 water users in the Cape Winelands District Municipality. The indicated water use by the Haasdag Dagsentrum appears to be incorrect and should be verified once the WARMS data set is available.

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Figure 6.4.2 Largest 10 water users in the Central Karoo District Municipality.

Figure 6.4.3 Largest 10 water users in the Eden District Municipality.

Figure 6.4.4 Largest 10 water users in the Overberg District Municipality.

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Figure 6.4.5 Largest 10 water users in the West Coast District Municipality.

Information from the City of Cape Town has been requested but was not available at the time of submission of this Draft report. In the interim, information from the City‟s Integrated Water Resources Planning Study of 2000 has been reviewed and at that stage, the largest 10 water users were as indicated in Figure 6.4.6.

Figure 6.4.6 Largest 10 water users in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality (2000).

6.5 OVERVIEW OF THE ALL TOWNS STRATEGY

The DWA Directorate of National Water Resource Planning is currently undertaking a Reconciliation Strategy for the individual towns in both the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces. This focuses on understanding the status quo of water availability and utilization within each town, as well as the projected increase in water requirements. A strategy is then developed for each town towards reconciling the current and projected water demands, through identification of both potential demand- side (water conservation and demand management) and supply-side (water source) interventions. To date the reconciliation strategies for the Western Cape District Municipalities are in final draft form, and have been submitted to DWA for approval (with the exception of the West Coast DM, for which the strategies are yet to be completed). Figure 6.5.1 provides a summary snap-shot of those towns in which current water shortages regularly occur, as well as those towns where peak season (summer) supply is inadequate. The latter, in most cases, is associated with lack of bulk storage or insufficient infrastructure reticulation capacity, to meet the short peak season water requirements, typically occurring during the summer holiday periods.

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Figure 6.5.1 Towns exhibiting current water supply concerns.

Ref: Draft District Municipality Strategies (Umvoto), March 2011.

6.6 GROUNDWATER

This Section provides an overview of groundwater resource availability and requirements within the Western Cape Province. The geological setting is a key driver of geohydrological patterns. A brief discussion is held of the geology of each WMA. Structural geology is also important as this controls, often to a significant degree, groundwater behaviour. Based on the geological setting the aquifer types have been determined by DWA and these are also presented and discussed briefly. The aquifer types have been sub-divided into:  Fractured aquifers (fractured and fissured bedrock resulting from decompression and /or tectonic action. Groundwater occurs predominantly within fractures and fissures in sedimentary and metamorphic rocks)  Intergranular aquifers (generally unconsolidated but occasionally semi-consolidated. Groundwater within intergranular interstices in porous medium. Tertiary – Quaternary coastal deposits and alluvial deposits along river terraces).

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 Fractured and Intergranular aquifers (largely medium to coarse grained granite, weathered to varying thickness The typical borehole yields that can be anticipated from these aquifer types are also indicated and have been classified according to the following 5 yield categories:  > 0.5 ℓ/s  2.0 – 5.0 ℓ/s  0.5 – 2.0 ℓ/s  0.1 – 0.5 ℓ/s  < 0.1 ℓ/s The approach for this Status Quo report is essentially to complete a basic groundwater balance per Quaternary catchment. The amount of groundwater recharging a Quaternary catchment is used as the total groundwater input and the amount of groundwater abstracted as the outflow. These two values are used to calculate a groundwater stress index (i.e. abstraction / recharge). The concept of a Stress Index is used to assess the sustainability of current groundwater use and the stress status of the groundwater resource. The Stress Index is the abstraction expressed as a percentage of the recharge. The concept of stressed water resources is addressed by the National Water Act, but is not defined. Part 8 of the Act gives some guidance by providing the following qualitative examples of „water stress‟ (Parsons and Wentzel, 2006).  Where demands for water are approaching or exceed the available supply;  Where water quality problems are imminent or already exist; or  Where water resource quality is under threat. Once a stress index value has been calculated, it is assigned a stress level based on Table 6.6.1. The lowest permissible category is D, since it is the lowest limit of sustainability. If the Stress Index is a category E or F, the assumption is that there is no more groundwater remaining for further allocation. No further groundwater abstraction may be granted.

Table 6.6.1 Guide for determining the level of stress of a groundwater unit (GRDM Manual)

PRESENT STATUS DESCRIPTION STRESS INDEX STRESS INDEX CATEGORY (percentage) (ratio) (abstraction / recharge) (abstraction / recharge)

A < 5 < 0.05 Unstressed or slightly stressed B 5 - 20 0.05–0.20

C 20 - 40 0.20–0.40 Moderately stressed D 40 - 65 0.40–0.65

E Highly stressed 65 - 95 0.65–0.95

F Critically stressed > 95 > 0.95

The other very important component of the groundwater use is the amount of groundwater that needs to be set aside for the Groundwater Reserve. Under the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998), „the Reserve‟ means the quantity and quality of water required:  To satisfy basic human needs by securing a basic water supply, as prescribed under the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997) for people to be supplied with water from that resource, and

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 To protect aquatic ecosystems in order to secure ecologically sustainable development and use of water resources. The Reserve is calculated per quaternary catchment by calculating the volume of groundwater required to satisfy the basic human needs of the catchments population (25 ℓ/person/day) and the volume of baseflow for each month (plus any other ecosystem requirements dependent on groundwater (e.g. springs, groundwater dependent ecosystems etc)). Typically the groundwater allocation for basic human needs (25 ℓ/person/day) comprises a small percentage of the overall resource. The groundwater contribution to river baseflows per Quaternary catchment is also mapped and listed as part of this project. It gives an indication where groundwater plays an environmental role and also indicates where groundwater abstraction must be prevented in close proximity to riparian zones. The data sources used in this report include:

 Geology (Council for Geoscience 1:1 000 000 scale geological data)  Aquifer Types (Department of Water Affairs 1:500 000 scale hydrogeological map series)

 Groundwater Recharge (Department of Water Affairs, Groundwater Resources Assessment Phase II project (DWAF, 2005), with updates by Institute of Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State  Groundwater abstraction (Department of Water Affairs, Groundwater Resources Assessment Phase II project (DWAF, 2005)  Groundwater stress index (a calculation using the data sets listed above)  Groundwater contribution to river base flow (Institute of Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State). The groundwater Reserve data obtained for this study from the Institute of Groundwater Studies, University of the Free State is based on rapid, low confidence calculations and is thus not presented as part of this report. It is thus also better to use the Stress Index to assess whether there is groundwater remaining for allocation. Ideally more detailed studies are needed for each Quaternary catchment to obtain a more accurate groundwater Reserve value and also to take into account groundwater monitoring data when calculating allocable groundwater volumes. Another component that has not been taken into account in the groundwater balance equation is groundwater storage. This is important when calculating the volume of allocable groundwater.

The data sets presented and listed above however do give a high level indication of groundwater status per Quaternary Catchment.

6.6.1 Groundwater Recharge

Groundwater recharge is considered to be the precipitation that reaches the „water table‟, i.e. the saturated zone within a geological profile. There are numerous factors that influence the amount of recharge and these include: rainfall intensity, elevation, antecedent moisture conditions, topographical slope, soil type and thickness, the presence of preferential pathways, the geological material comprising the vadose zone, and geological setting of the aquifer etc. Recharge values can range from approximately 35 % to 0 % of precipitation but is typically <10 %. There are numerous methods for determining groundwater recharge and these have been well documented (Bredenkamp et al, 1995). A national scale project was completed whereby recharge was calculated for the entire country on a cell size of 1 km x 1 km (DWAF, 2005). The results of this work have been aggregated up to Quaternary catchment values for this Status Quo Report. In addition the recharge considered is direct vertical recharge and it does not take into account any lateral inflows.

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6.6.2 Groundwater Quality

Groundwater quality is influenced by many factors such as rainfall volumes, length of time for host rock/groundwater interaction, aquifer parameters, geological rock type, etc. Groundwater quality is also impacted by anthropogenic sources, both point source and non-point sources of pollution. Groundwater pollution sources have been widely documented in the water quality guidelines (DWAF, 1999) are very useful in assessing groundwater quality in terms of fitness for use and these guidelines are currently being updated. There are also other guidelines for assessing the suitability of groundwater for use. In addition the microbiological content of the water also needs to be assessed to ensure fitness for use. Groundwater quality is a complex topic, however there are key indicators that can be used to determine an overall potential suitability for use. For this Status Quo phase of the IWRM study Electrical Conductivity (EC) as measure in mS/m is used as an indicator of water quality. No other parameters are considered and microbiological content is also not taken into consideration. The EC classes used in this report are those used by DWA in the 1:500 000 scale hydrogeological map series. They do not conform exactly to the DWA (1999) classes but more closely to the SABS (1984) categories (70 mS/m is the recommended maximum limit and 300 mS/m the maximum allowable limit for domestic supplies). Thus according to the map presented in this report the above two groups are coloured blue and green respectively. The yellow and red areas are above (> 300 mS/m) the SABS (1984) maximum allowable limit for domestic supplies.

6.7 ECOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

6.7.1 National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas

The NFEPA project is a multi-partner project between CSIR, South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), Water Research Commission (WRC), Department of Water Affairs (DWA), Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) and South African National Parks (SANParks). The NFEPA project aims to: 1. Identify Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (hereafter referred to as „FEPAs‟) to meet national biodiversity goals for freshwater ecosystems; and 2. Develop a basis for enabling effective implementation of measures to protect FEPAs, including free- flowing rivers. The first aim uses systematic biodiversity planning to identify priorities for conserving South Africa‟s freshwater biodiversity, within the context of equitable social and economic development. The second aim comprises a national and sub-national component. The national component aims to align DWA and DEA policy mechanisms and tools for managing and conserving freshwater ecosystems. The sub- national component aims to use three case study areas to demonstrate how NFEPA products should be implemented to influence land and water resource decision making processes at a sub-national level. The project further aims to maximize synergies and alignment with other national level initiatives such as the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) and the Cross-Sector Policy Objectives for Inland Water Conservation (discussion paper published by Water Research Commission, Report TT 276/06).

The NFEPA data primarily identifies quaternary catchments of category “A” or “B” Present Ecological State (PES) classification, to determine priority areas. Quaternary catchments upstream of these priority areas, and not NFEPA sites themselves, have also been identified as level two priorities for conservation and preservation due to the impact they have on the downstream NFEPAs. The NFEPA maps for each WMA are included in the WMA chapters (from Chapter 8 onwards). Further using the information data from the Water Quality analysis, will be overlaid with the NFEPA data to identify priority areas for preservation of water resources.

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6.8 WATER AVAILABILITY AND UTILISATION CHALLENGES

The following issues relating to water resources availability and utilization have been identified:

6.8.1 Planning Processes

Planning processes for water resource management can be extremely slow and risk not keeping pace with the rate at which the demand for water increases. This can be partially attributed to capacity related challenges within the water management institutions, often as a result of loss of human resources, inadequate budget and the lead times required to accommodate the necessary planning, authorisation processes, EIAs, licensing, design, procurement, construction and commissioning. Coupled to this challenge is the long term nature of the water resource planning horizons, required to at least consider a 10-year forward planning period (or more), compared to the shorter timescales that are important to local government. As a result, many towns are often not that well organised for meeting the future requirements. The drought (2010) intensified the problem. This was especially evident in the Garden Route area where emergency augmentation measures were required, as was the case at Beaufort West.

6.8.2 Impact on the Reserve on Water Availability

One of the major impacts on water availability is the introduction of the Reserve. Historically the Reserve was not considered, and it has been relatively recently introduced as a water requirement. In many cases the Reserve has effectively taken up any „spare‟ capacity and in some cases has pushed the catchment into a deficit. The implementation of the Reserve has „suddenly‟ brought many catchments to the limit of surface water development. Progress with the Ecological Reserve determination process is shown in Annexure C. The Breede-Overberg is a prime example of this, where it was always thought that there was surplus water, and that additional large-scale irrigation expansion, or possible increased water transfers to the Berg WMA for Cape Town‟s water supply were possible. The latest draft of the BOCMA Catchment Management Strategy has found that, based on current information, a cautionary approach needs to be adopted to the allocation of water from the Breede, until such time as the availability of water has been confirmed through an updated water availability assessment study (WAAS). This recommendation has been taken into consideration by DWA (D: National Water Resource Planning), in terms of their programme for further water availability assessment studies. Another example where the impact of the Reserve is very marked is that within the integrated Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS). The output from the planning tool that was developed confirms how the water available to the system decreases when the Reserve is introduced in the catchments of the existing dams. In the Olifants-Doorn catchment the adopted approach regarding a raised Clanwilliam Dam is that the Olifants River (already significantly developed) will provide only a small contribution to the Reserve. However, water resource development within the Doring River will be limited, such that it can provide the majority of the Reserve to the Olifants River downstream of the confluence with the Doring and importantly also to the estuary.

6.8.3 Impact of Climate Change

Although unconfirmed, the possibility that the recent droughts could also be attributed to the early effects of climate change cannot be ignored. Refer also to the Climate Change Chapter of this report. The WCWSS planning tool also shows the effect of certain climate change scenarios and the potential related impacts, which need to be monitored so as to incorporate this effect into the future planning of water resource management.

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6.8.4 Water Efficiency – Bulk Water Losses

The refurbishment and/or replacement of ageing conveyance infrastructure, such as the irrigation supply canals in the Stompdrift-Kammanassie area of the Gouritz, and the irrigation supply canals of the Olifants River Irrigation Scheme (Lower Olifants River Water User Association) offers potential in terms of reducing water losses. However, the replacement costs have been identified as being significant and are likely to exceed the affordability of the agricultural water users to implement upgrading and repair. Each and every water service provider should have a water conservation and demand management strategy, setting realistic achievable targets and interventions towards becoming more efficient. These strategies must be implemented, monitored to ensure that the effects of their efforts are measured. Efforts to implement water conservation and demand management must be a requirement before consideration by DWA is given to licence applications for development of new water resources.

6.8.5 Monitoring

The outcome of water resource catchment studies to determine the availability of both surface and groundwater is only as reliable as the observed information against which the various models are calibrated. Whilst there are areas in which there is a need to improve the streamflow gauging (middle Breede River, Upper Olifants River, the Overberg, for example), the monitoring of groundwater resources is generally inadequate throughout the Province. This is common problem, not only specific to the Western Cape. The frequency of monitoring and the distribution of sites to enable aquifer specific monitoring (not just individual boreholes) require attention.

6.8.6 Governance and Leadership

Strong leadership and co-operative governance between all role-players is required to give effect to successful and sustainable water resource management and planning. An example of how this has been effectively achieved is the way in which the 2010 drought in the George to Plettenberg Bay coastal catchments has been managed. Regional Disaster Management provided strong leadership and took control, driving the process, arranging meetings every two weeks to assess the situation. Government officials are too busy with the day-to-day business of addressing queries and do not necessarily have the time and resources to stay focused on the overall picture regarding water availability in the short-, medium- and long-term. An independent person or group with the prime purpose of driving this process is key, and with a mandate and freedom to make appropriate decisions.

6.8.7 WASTE WATER TREATMENT WORKS

The following summary provides of some of the key issues and challenges associated with the operation and management of waste water treatment works and the risk posed to the receiving water resources:

 Local authorities are under-funded, with the result that systems are not maintained or upgraded. There is a concern that funding for maintenance and upgrading is not being given sufficient priority in the IDPs;  In the past expenditure has focused on capital costs, with little or no money earmarked for operational budgets;  Pollution and the threat of disease as a result of inadequate sewage disposal is an issue affecting all informal settlements;  Informal settlements are often located over sewage infrastructure, which makes the servicing of this infrastructure impossible. One such example is in Khayelitsha, where informal dwellings

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have been located over the interceptors (large council sewer pipes), thus these cannot be serviced;  All pump stations have the ability for any overflow of sewage to be directed into the storm water system. Consequently there are times when raw sewage flows into the storm water systems, ending up firstly in the rivers and then in the ocean;  Telemetry systems which detect when there is pump station failure are connected to a central control station, from which they are monitored. However, telemetry systems are sometimes not fully operational;  In areas where rapid development is taking place, this is outpacing infrastructure provision. For example, in the City of Cape Town, this is occurring up the West Coast (Melkbos, Parklands, etc.), as well as in the Durbanville, Helderberg and Botleray areas. The WWTWs responsible for servicing these areas are coming under pressure to cope with the increased loads. These include: o West Coast – Potsdam (Killarney), Melkbos & Atlantis WWTWs; o Durbanville – Kraaifontein, Scottsdene & Bellville WWTWs; o Helderberg – Khayelitsha & Macassar WWTWs; o Botleray – Bellville, Macassar & Khayelitsha WWTWs;  Once a site for a new WWTW has been identified, it then takes between four and five years (at best) before it becomes operational. This has implications when planning any new large housing developments. Planning and authorisation processes require more effective streamlining for authorising new WWTWs and upgrades. New urban developments should be equipped with their own package treatment plants with containment tanks (to allow for off peak processing to cope with capacity) and grey water reticulation (purple tape systems) for toilet flushing, garden irrigation and car washing. Waste products from package plant can then be directed into formal sewer networks.  Opportunities exist for the increased re-use of treated effluent from WWTWs and these have been identified and documented in detail in all of the draft municipal WCDM strategies in the Western Cape. The challenge lies in the implementation and institutional challenges of these opportunities, and this must be addressed through the current Provincial WCDM strategy being undertaken;

 DWA has found that sewage discharges often far exceed the standards and conditions specified by the approved licences (BERG ISP, 2004);

 In the larger urban centres (e.g. Oudtshoorn) vandalism of the sewage reticulation and pump- station infrastructure occasionally leads to sewage spills from the system (Gouritz ISP, March 2004, DWA);  Many of the WWTWs in the City of Cape Town discharge into already severely modified rivers e.g. the Swineryalt River and the Black River. Similarly the Stellenbosch WWTWs discharges into the Eerste River. The question needs to be asked whether or not the further degradation of these rivers should be allowed;  WWTWs discharging in close proximity to estuaries should pump their effluent to an upstream discharge point to facilitate dilution before entering the estuary itself. The financial constraints on the part of local authorities to implement such measures will need to be addressed;  Informal settlements are often situated close to rivers or streams, contributing to the pollution of these resources, typically from the resulting surface water runoff from areas with inadequate sanitation services. Informal settlements should be encouraged to pay a nominal fee for services (e.g. R20 per stand), to be collected by an NGO for the settlement. This will improve the “footing” and validity of their claims for services, as well as contribute a nominal fee towards the services. This may alleviate frustration in relation to services, as well as

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vandalism of infrastructure, and the perception by “wealthier” neighbourhoods claiming that informal settlements receive free services.  Diffuse pollution from poorly serviced informal settlements and the use of soak-aways on the banks of rivers and streams in the Province are a cause for concern. This pollution into rivers not only has negative ecological and social (health) implications, but it also has negative economic implications and on the potential for utilisation of those resources for water supply. The latter is particularly relevant where farms downstream make use of this polluted water for their crops; and  In relatively small quantities, dried sewage sludge can be used as fertiliser for agricultural purposes (provided it has had microbial and Endocrine Disruptor treatment). The use of even minimal amounts of sewage sludge may limit access to certain markets, which insist that sewage sludge is not used in food production. (Note: EuropGap, the European Good Agricultural Practice, does not support the use of human waste as fertiliser).

6.9 WATER EFFICIENCY AND WCDM

Water efficiency and water conservation and demand management (WCDM) are included in both the NWA and the WSA. The WSA requires each Municipality to draft a Water Conservation and Demand Management Strategy, which will be discussed below. The NWA is a little less defining, and suggests that water efficient methods should be used, but does not specifically regulate water efficiency for section 21 water users. As such, the DWA National Office is in the process of drafting regulations relating to the limiting or restricting the purpose, manner or extent of water use by water conservation measures and the monitoring, measurement and recording of water consumption and the disposal of water and water containing waste. To date, these regulations have not been gazetted for public comment. However, the Department has embarked on several sector related studies across the country, investigating the cost and benefits of WCDM in various water intensive industries.

6.9.1 URBAN WCDM

6.9.1.1 Introduction

The availability of water has historically been based on addressing one side of an equation, namely that of supply. This traditional approach to water supply has focussed on the continued development of water supply schemes to meet increasing demands. The development of new infrastructure such as dams and weirs, bulk distribution systems and water storage facilities has been the main approach. Water demands will continue to increase as the population grows and as migratory patterns change. It will continue to be necessary to develop new water sources and infrastructure such as new dams, raised dams, reservoirs, reticulation systems and in the case of the Western Cape, possibly further inter-basin transfers to those already in place. As water resources have become increasingly stressed and options for affordable and sustainable development of new sources equally scarce, the other side of the equation must play a larger contributory role, namely through WCDM implementation. This offers a vital opportunity to postpone, or delay the implementation of new water supply schemes, of which viable conventional surface water options are all but exhausted in the Western Cape. In order to avoid an “ESKOM-type” planning problem, water resource institutions such as the DWA, the City of Cape Town, and other local authorities are investigating and implementing alternative solutions. These include large-scale groundwater development and desalination for example which are typically far more expensive solutions than conventional surface water schemes. However, the need to investigate these alternative options is now driven by the need to provide sustainable sources of water, and not only on the financial cost thereof. Ultimately the user pays, therefore it is in the interest of each and every water user (government, private, industry, agriculture, etc.) to make more efficient use of existing sources, and to postpone the implementation of new sources, for which affordable options have become very limited.

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The demand-side interventions focus on more efficient use of existing sources, curtailment of water demands, water reuse opportunities, public awareness, and means of discouraging wasteful or excessive use of water (such as water restrictions in dry periods, increased water and sanitation tariffs, etc.). There is no shortage of good ideas or knowledge on the subject, and in many cases significant efforts have been made, with the very best intentions, and with varying degrees of success. There remains a lot more that can be done, starting with small incremental steps in the right direction towards implementation of effective ways to use water more efficiently. Typical opportunities have been investigated in many studies to date and some of these include:

 The use of grey-water;  Installation of rainwater tanks;  Appropriate tariff structures for water supply;  Bylaws to force the use of water efficient fittings in new developments;  Retro-fitting with water efficient fittings in state owned buildings;  Phasing-out of inefficient water fittings and appliances from availability in the market;  Public awareness;  Ensuring appropriate monitoring of bulk and reticulated water;  Improving the revenue stream (ensuring that users pay);  Encouraging water re-use in industry through a strong “Polluter Pays” approach;  Reducing conveyance losses in the agricultural sector;  Improved irrigation efficiencies;  Appropriate crop selection and improved scheduling of irrigation,  etc.

It is however in the implementation of these opportunities, the acceptance of responsibility, the cooperative governance, and ultimately the monitoring of the effectiveness of implementation, that pose the greater challenges. Whilst Government is certainly a very important stakeholder in this regard it is not, and cannot be held solely accountable for making the effort. The business and industrial sector, agriculture and each and every individual water user must play a role in WCDM. Unlike electricity, in which rolling blackouts can be effectively and spontaneously implemented, the supply of water is a basic human need and its curtailment is more difficult to implement in a fair and sustainable manner.

The overall objective is to reduce and delay the need for new water resource infrastructure through making optimum and efficient use of the substantial capital investments that have already been made into existing water supply infrastructure.

6.9.1.2 Municipal Water Conservation and Demand Strategies

In the Western Cape, the existing draft WCDM Strategies of twenty-one local authorities (municipalities) as well as that of the City of Cape Town were reviewed, of which the latest versions date back to 2006, but the majority are as recent as 2008. In the table which follows overleaf it will be seen that the general approaches proposed in those municipal WCDM strategies are all very similar, but the strategies also contain specific recommendations for each town. An obvious starting point towards achieving savings in water use would be to target the largest users, and this is the objective throughout these strategies. The potential for water reuse by the industrial and manufacturing sector offers significant opportunity and for that reason the largest water users in each municipality have been identified in the strategies. The CCT, which is the largest user of water in the Western Cape, has a very specific strategy and this is discussed separately thereafter.

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6.9.1.3 Specific Comments on Urban WCDM initiatives

Knysna has recognised the potential for increased water re-use, which currently only involves an irrigation scheme at Sparrebosch Golf Estate. The Treated Sewage Effluent Study (2009) has investigated various additional options, but has concluded that at this stage, the re-use of treated effluent in Knysna is not yet economically feasible when compared to the other options available at that time, in that area.

Beaufort West has implemented a membrane filtration plant which is the first of its type in South Africa and has been installed as a recent urgent drought relief measure. The further development of the groundwater resource at Beaufort West is also being targeted with the intention of providing water to blend water with that from the reuse scheme. These options will serve to supplement the region and reduce the reliance on the Gamka Dam, particularly during periods of low rainfall and surface water runoff.

The George Municipality has implemented a project involving the re-use of water from the Outeniqua WWTW, which discharges approximately 10 Ml/day of treated water from the WWTW into the existing Garden Route Dam. Not only is this an example of effective water re-use but also one in which the use of existing infrastructure is optimised, another very important objective when considering best practice in responsible water resource development.

In Mossel Bay, the municipality has implemented a water re-use scheme (July 2010) at Hartenbos whereby treated effluent is supplied to PetroSA, in exchange for an equivalent reduction from their allocation from the Wolwedans Dam, effectively making more water available for urban water supply.

The Bietou Municipality has developed and is implementing a Drought Management Policy which sets out the monitoring initiatives required, how large water users will be water-audited, how water restrictions will be implemented based on available storage, use of efficient water fittings, drought and disaster management responsibilities, public awareness, and the provision of bylaws. This serves as an example that can be followed by others.

Oudtshoorn’s draft WCDM Strategy concludes that there is significant opportunity for water saving. Estimates are that up to 928 000 kl/year could be saved through public awareness, a new tariff structure, water saving at sports grounds and swimming pools, a water loss management programme, targeting largest users (notably the SANDF), water reuse by the Klein Karoo leather tannery and abattoir.

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Municipal WCDM Strategies General (excluding CCT) Recommendations

Municipality Date Largest 5 Water Users to Target for Reuse Opportunity  Identify opportunities for reuse of water Beaufort West Feb Spoornet, Country Road Farm stall/Abattoir, Police station, K. Martins (targeting largest 2008 (Residential), Beaufort West Golf Club. water users). Bietou Nov Keurbooms River Lodge, Beacon Island Hotel; Promed Construction,  Implement leakage 2007 Holding Family Trust, Formosa Garden Village (all Plettenberg Bay) management Berg River Feb A J S Richter (Eendekuil), PIKETKO, Liebenberg Slagtery, Piketberg programme. 2008 Municipality, High School (all Piketberg)  Revise pricing policy to include stepped Cape Agulhas Feb Perdekamp (Bredasdorp), Plaaslike Raad, Vissers Unie ; Arniston Hotel (all tariffs. 2008 Waenhuiskrans); Cape Agulhas Municipality  Implement socio- Cape Nov Breede River Municipality - Tiger Brands Foods, Parmalat SA, Montagu political programme. Winelands DM 2007 Dried Fruits & Nuts, Langeberg Ashton Canning, Bonnievale Coop Cellar  Set example at Breede Valley Municipality - Rainbow Chickens, Worcester Correctional municipal properties – Services, Hextex textile, Haasdas Day Centre, Eben Donges Hospital install water Drakenstein Municipality - Verhoff Property Investment, Bontebok conservation Residential Flats, Allandale Correctional Services, Bougainvilla Residential products. Flats, Parmac Fruit Juices  Meter and record bulk Stellenbosch Municipality - Distell, Spier Properties, Parmalat, De Zalze water supply monthly Winelands Golf Estate, Cape Sawmills.  Improve quality of Witzenberg Municipality - Ceres Fruit Growers, Ceres Correctional data regarding Services, Ceres Municipal Buildings, Du Toit Vegetables, Ceres Hospital, consumer use Ceres Fruit Juices monthly)  Initiate WDM Cederberg Feb Lamberts Bay Foods, Goede Hoop Sitrus (Citrusdal), Cederberg Mun.(Oord communication 2008 Huis), Secondary School, Augsburg Landbou Gimnasuim (all Clanwilliam) campaign to report on George Nov Plattner Golf, Conville Swembad, Gemeenskapontwikkeling (Prison) – Bos what the 2007 en Dal / Groenweide Park; Lancewood Cheese (Industrial/Tamsui); Nelson Municipalities have Mandela Metropolitan University (Rural). achieved (lead by example). Hessequa Nov Marais, Tersia Residential (Riversdale), ABSA Bank Properties (Heidelberg),  Implement a stepped 2007 Van Vuuren,KJ Residential (Heidelberg), Scholtz,WE Residential tariff structure (where (Heidelberg), Van Staden, PJS Residential (Heidelberg). not in place) and Knysna Mar Bunting JN & BA (Belvidere), SK Riviera Supermarket, Knycot Investments, consider steeper 2008 Venroco, BPK, Invoto (all Knysna) steps at high volume consumption to target Matzikama Feb Matzikama Municipality (Doringbaai), Dept. Public Works (Vanrhynsdorp), largest water users. 2008 Peninsula Beverage Properties (Vredendal), Dept. Public Works  Evaluate the impact of (Vredendal), ALWA Motors (Klawer). price changes in Mossel Bay Nov Harbour Manager, PetroSA, Municipal Buildings, Mossel Bay Golf Club, different Western 2007 Pinnacle Point Resorts (all Mossel Bay) Cape municipalities  Investigate water Oudtshoorn Nov SANDF (Infantry School), KK Tannery & Abattoir, Sports grounds, saving at sports 2006 Correctional Services, Rotary Retirement Village, Municipal Swimming grounds by means of Pools. purified sewerage. Overstrand Mar Gansbaai Marine, Hudd Trust (Coastal Line), Onrus Manor (Coastal Line),  Implement a schools 2008 Hermanus Beach Club (Hermanus Line) WDM programme  Implement water Saldanha Bay May Sea Harvest, Duferco Steel Processing, Springfontein Trust (all Saldanha saving by individual 2008 Bay), Suid Oranje Vissery, Brittania Bay Developers (all St. Helena Bay). large water users through reuse of Swartland Jan CBL Properties (Darling), Correctional Services (Piketberg), Roelcor Meat, wastewater 2008 Country Fair Foods, Malmesbury, Schoonspruit High School (all  Monitor progress of Malmesbury). the WDM process Swellendam Feb J Malan, LJ Theron, J.A Wentzel, LJ Viviers, Southern Oil Ltd (all 2008 Swellendam)

T‟Waterskloof Feb Elgin Orchards (Grabouw), Southern Associated Malt, P&A Familie Trust, 2008 Overberg Agri Bedrywe , Caledon Prison (all Caledon)

Latest information (July 2011) indicates that WCDM strategies have yet to be developed by Laingsburg, Prince Albert and Kannaland, due to the fact that their masterplanning is not yet in place. DWA is presently supporting Stellenbosch, Cederberg, Hessequa, Beaufort West and Laingsburg in

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the development of updated strategies. DEADP is currently in the process of commencing with a Provincial WCDM Strategy (2011) and it is critical that this dovetails with the above-mentioned municipal WCDM strategies undertaken in recent years.

6.9.1.4 The City of Cape Town‟s WCDM Strategy

The CCT‟s WCDM strategy was developed in 2007, in which it was estimated that through the implementation of WCDM the following savings could be achieved:

 Reduction of water wastage from an estimated 148 Ml/day to 111 Ml/day  Reduction of inefficient water usage from 210 Ml/day to 147 Ml/day  Reduction in the normal natural growth rate due to new consumers by 25 % per annum.

Figure 6.9.1 shows the city‟s most recent (2010) water requirement information. Although the latest trend in actual water demands appears to be stabilising, they are not in line with the projected savings (depicted by the restricted demand curve).

Figure 6.9.1 CCT Water Demands This may be due to a number of factors including:

 Possible over-expectation in terms of actual savings predicted;  The possibility that actual water requirements have been higher than anticipated;  The possibility that not all of the proposed interventions for which budgets have been set aside, have all been fully implemented;  The possibility that monitoring is not yet optimal.

It is interesting to note how effective the stringent water restrictions implemented in 2005 were, in reducing the water requirements. This illustrates what can be achieved under onerous conditions, but the preferable trend would be to achieve realistic targeted reductions due to ongoing and sustainable best practice, and effective management and operation, rather than being reliant on strict curtailments during critically water-stressed periods.

If the actual water requirements in future tend towards the upper curve, then Cape Town will be faced with a serious problem, as new sources will be required by the end of 2012 – a physically impossible achievement. If on the other hand, the actual requirement tends towards the lower curve, then a new scheme will be required by 2018. Taking into account the typical lead times required (at best 8 years)

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for planning, authorisations, design, licensing, environmental approvals, tendering and construction, 2018 could only just be met, and this assumes that the CCT‟s projected savings in water demands are actually achieved.

Updated information on the CCT‟s largest water users was not available at the time that this report was compiled. However it is relevant to note that based on the CCT‟s Integrated Water Resource Planning Study (2002), the Top 5 users (City of Cape Town, Parks and Forests, Public Works, Portnet and Caltex) constituted 49% of the total water use. This provides direction in relation to which users should be targetted first in terms of their WCDM implementation.

Table 6.9.1 The Largest Water Users in the CCT (CCT, 2002)

Sequence Estimated Average Industry User 3 No. Annual Use (Mm /a)

CCC 2.397 Parks and Forests 2.206 Department of Public Works (Including Pollsmoor Prison) 1.413 Portnet 1.160 Commercial and 1 Eskom 1.003 Public CMC 0.984 V & A Waterfront 0.621 Spoornet 0.319 Dept of Community Development (Includes Silvermine Naval) 0.314 Caltex AFRICA Ltd 2.212 2 Chemicals Kynoch Fertilizer 0.817 University of Cape Town 0.502 Petz estates 0.545

Residential and Ndabeni Development Area/Site 5 0.502 3 Institutional Tygerberg Hospital 0.454 Castle Steel Properties Ltd 0.366 Peninsula Technikon 0.311

Trident Press (Pty) Ltd 0.373 4 Paper and Printing Nampack Paper 0.758 Country Fair Foods, Fisantekop 0.487 5 Refined Foods Peninsula Beverage Prop (Pty) Ltd 0.324 6 Textiles Sans Fibres (Pty) Ltd 0.802 7 Engineering Atlantis Diesel Engines 0.343

Total 19.212

6.9.1.5 The City of Cape Town‟s Strategy for Water Re-use

As part of its WCDM Strategy, the CCT has embarked on a specific strategy to target water re-use, so as to improve on the current extent of only 13% of the available treated discharge. Some of the challenges in increasing the extent to which water is reused include certain social, religious and environmental concerns, the proximity of potential users to the existing waste water treatment works, reticulation infrastructure limitations, setting of tariffs, water quality standards, treatment technologies, absence of bylaws governing water reuse of water, financing of potential projects, and the limited

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availability of bulk storage in the water supply system. However, these are not insurmountable challenges. This has been illustrated during recent drought events in Beaufort West for example, where water reuse has been the only available source. The City is intending to undertake a water reuse feasibility study (scheduled to commence in 2011). This will not only expand on the already identified re-use opportunities but must also interface with other planning initiatives, such as the potential raising of Lower Steenbras Dam, which is an option being considered by DWA. This could provide a mutual benefit through the provision of a significantly increased bulk water storage facility and an opportunity for blending. The City and DWA are both represented on the Western Cape Reconciliation Strategy Steering Committee, which provide the appropriate platform for engagement on technical matters and planning challenges in this regard.

6.9.1.6 The National Strategy for Water Re-use

DWA is currently developing Version 4 of its Draft National Strategy for Water Reuse, which is being developed by the Directorate of National Water Resource Planning. That strategy provides a framework for implementation covering the following aspects:

 Key drivers affecting water re-use  The need for water re-use per water use sector  Case studies  Decision making  Legislative considerations  Technology and capacity to implement  Financing and Enforcement

6.9.1.7 The 2008 Western Cape Provincial WCDM Strategy

The Western Cape Water Demand Management Strategy (April 2008) identifies five key focus areas for Urban WCDM implementation in the Province, namely:

 water tariff and price adjustment  water loss management  pressure management  schools WDM projects  reuse of wastewater

This strategy provides an analysis showing that that there is significant potential to reduce water demand in Western Cape Municipalities. It identified that water loss management and pressure management are the measures with potentially the largest contribution to the total potential water saving. It also recognised that a very high priority must be given to ensure accurate metering and monitoring of water consumption, both in relation to bulk supply and to individual consumers. Without this, it is not possible to ascertain what degree of success (or failure) is being reached through interventions implemented.

An important recommendation in all of the municipal WCDM strategies is that the actual water use by individual water users be monitored and used as a guide to reflect on the savings achieved, rather than the assessment of figures for towns as a whole. The latter is less desirable due to the nature of uncertainty in water demand projections and the actual growth in water requirements being different from those projected. Certain water users (such as schools, prisons, clinics and government hospitals for example) may be unaware of their water consumption, as billing is directed to an umbrella user (Department of Public Works). This unknown consumption factor is undesirable and each and every institution must be made aware of their actual water consumption.

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6.9.1.8 Specific WCDM Aspects raised during Phase 1

During Phase 1 of this Study, numerous opportunities were raised by stakeholders in relation to WCDM interventions in the Province.

Overloaded Waste Water Treatment Works are as a result of the volumes of water reaching the works, which is typically as a result of increase water consumption on the one hand, and the management of stormwater on the other. Inadequate treatment, direct spills and operational challenges pose a direct risk to the receiving water environment.

Rainwater harvesting offers some opportunity via the installation of rainwater tanks, particularly for use in baths, showers, laundry and toilet flushing, and with further opportunities if coupled with grey water systems. The practicalities associated with this include the costs associated with private installations, the need to stimulate social conscience and the limited storage volumes available. A positive further advantage is the opportunity to make a small contribution towards reduced urban water runoff and to lower the water table (in areas prone to flooding) during high rainfall periods.

Grey-water systems for toilet flushing and garden irrigation are available, as well as opportunities to retro-fit inefficient devices. At household scale, the former (at this stage) relies on social conscience and affordability of capital the costs for the general public to have such systems installed.

6.9.1.9 Challenges for this Implementation and Action Plan

To date, many opportunities have been identified and estimates of potential savings made in respect of urban WCDM interventions. This implementation action plan must take a bold step towards how these opportunities will be implemented in the Province, and in particular must interface with the Province‟s WCDM Strategy, for which a service provider is to be appointed to update the 2008 Version. In particular, the following must be addressed:

 How will WCDM institutional roles and responsibilities be defined?  How will communication routes between stakeholders and institutions be managed?  Are current awareness programmes for WCDM adequate and how can these be improved?  Are water savings targets of current WCDM strategies realistic?  Is monitoring adequate to track progress and results, and where should the focus lie in terms of the most immediate benefit from WCDM in the Western Cape?  How are the achieved savings communicated to the water users?  Who will be the lead driver in the implementation of WCDM?  Which institutions / stakeholders will be responsible for implementation and how will they co- operate?  What forum/platform will be used for addressing progress in implementation and who will the custodian of the overall WCDM plan be?  Are existing bylaws in place to regulate WCDM and how are these enforced?  Are realistic budgets provided for to implement and pay for WCDM initiatives?  Where does WCDM sit within the overall priorities of municipal service providers?  How can WCDM be elevated to its appropriate priority level within an environment in which many institutions are battling with the provision of basic water and sanitation services?

6.9.2 AGRICULTURAL WATER CONSERVATION AND DEMAND MANAGEMENT

6.9.2.1 Introduction

Three significant factors affect the efficiency of water use within the irrigation sector. These are:

 losses in the conveyance system (river or dam to field edge),

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 losses relating to the type of application method (e.g., flood irrigation, sprinkler etc.), and  the scheduling of the irrigation according to monitored soil moisture content.

In terms of the potential for large scale volumetric benefits the opportunity of recovering the largest volumes lies in those areas where unlined canals or canals requiring refurbishment are used to transport water over long distances. Although these may not be the most cost effective, due to the financial costs of refurbishment or replacement, and the resulting affordability of the saved water to the agricultural sector. Although significant reduction in water losses are possible (estimates of 30% in some cases), the question of financing of such projects requires particular attention, not only from an affordability perspective but also from an ownership one. The operation and maintenance of conveyance infrastructure associated with some government water supply schemes, has been transferred to Water User Associations (WUA). The resulting responsibility for refurbishment has become an issue in terms of who should pay, versus who will benefit from the water savings, and if the resulting pass-through costs to the water tariffs are affordable to the irrigation sector, one which has historically received water at very low tariffs.

Previously disadvantaged groups expressing an interest in become a new entrants into the formal agricultural sector could certainly benefit from a share in the resulting water savings, but again the question of who assumes the financial responsibility could be a limitation. Furthermore where water has been over-allocated (such as in the Klein Karoo), and if compulsory licensing is ever implemented by DWA, then there may be opportunity to offset the impacts thereof through WCDM. But again who assumes the financial responsibility in terms of expensive intervention options such as those described above? Another unique challenge differentiating agricultural WCDM from urban WCDM is that relating to the uptake of water from savings achieved. For example, where farmers have a particular legal allocation of water, and where they themselves introduce measures to use water more efficiently, why should they not be entitled to utilize that saving in the further expansion of their irrigation, whilst still remaining within their allocation?

In order to further develop an understanding of the status quo of WCDM in the agricultural sector, use is made of a case study undertaken by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture in 2007, entitled the Oudtshoorn Agricultural Feasibility Study. This study is very relevant to this Western Cape IWRM Action Plan due to the following:

 it falls within the Western Cape Province,  it addresses the challenges of infrastructure ownership and affordability;  it focuses on a very water stressed region where water has been over-allocated;  the farmers in this region have expressed grave concern within the Phase 1 Public Process of this IWRM Plan;  the farmers are of the opinion that despite recommendations of the agricultural study, their concerns are not being addressed by the relevant government institutions;  there is an opinion within this water user group that the provision of new dams to provide storage for flood water is a viable solution to the water shortages in the region;  the national water resource regulator (DWA) may not share the same view on new infrastructure development, and may well require compulsory reallocation of water, in order to address the situation, which in turn will be a very contentious and lengthy process.

6.9.2.2 Oudtshoorn Agricultural Study (2007)

This study was commissioned by the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and was undertaken in three phases namely, investigation of water availability, efficiency of water use, and socio-economic aspects. For purposes of this Status Quo Report, focus is on the efficiency of water use.

The Stompdrift and Kammanassie Dams are the main sources of water for irrigation in the Klein Karoo, providing water to farms through a system of canals extending more than 75 km along the Olifants River valley downstream of the dams. The canals are unlined over most of their length, with

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the result that water losses are very high. The water from the two dams and from other sources has been significantly over-allocated. As a result water can only be supplied erratically, and in some years only at a fraction of the full allocation, making irrigated agriculture very difficult to manage and sustain. This is of grave concern to the agricultural users in this area.

Water losses from the canals are estimated to be about 20% of the quantity of water released from the dams, or about 4,4 million m3/a. The study found that if the main canals were to be fully sealed and concrete lined, then about 2 million m3/a could be saved, which when expressed as a unit reference value, would be about R6,87/m3 (2007) of water saved, a comparatively expensive option for irrigation water supply. Desalination for example is currently considered relatively expensive as a source of water for urban water supply, at unit reference value of about R7/m3 (current). The benefits of replacing the unlined canals with pipelines (reduction in evaporation) has also been estimated as potentially introducing an average saving of 2,8 million m3/a at a unit reference value of R9,78/m3 of water(2007). From a socio-economic perspective, reducing canal conveyance losses to make more water available at field edge would not be economically viable for the irrigation sector to implement at their cost. Other alternative interventions that were recommended would be to:

 improve the efficiency of irrigation methods so as to obtain increased yields of crops from the same quantities of water delivered to the field edge;  use the available water to produce higher value crops on reduced areas of irrigated lands.

The Oudtshoorn study further indicated that the possible raising of the existing Gamkapoort Dam (subject to authorisation by DWA) on the Gamka River might make an additional quantity of about 7 million m3/a of water available. This could be used to supplement the supply to the scheme at a unit reference value of R1,30/m3. The local perception of the irrigation sector ( expressed at the Phase 1 public meetings of this IWRM Plan study) is that during flood periods, water that could be stored was being spilt and lost downstream. It is important to take cognisance of the fact that the affordability and effectiveness of creating storage is directly linked to the availability of regular base flow and not on the infrequent occurrence of large flood events. If dams in such areas, where streamflow is very erratic, were to be sized on the basis of being able to store major flood events, without regular baseflow, they would remain unfilled in most years and would prove to be economically not viable. It is recognised that reduction in the extent of flood irrigation techniques in favour of micro-jet and drip irrigation (for example) is desirable. However in areas prone to infrequent flood events, use of opportunistic flood irrigation approaches such as “saai-damme” should not necessarily be discouraged.

6.9.2.3 Other Agricultural WCDM Opportunities

The Feasibility Study into the potential raising of Clanwilliam Dam has also identified challenges associated with the question of infrastructure ownership. An agreement is being developed for the apportionment of capital costs between DWA and the LORWUA for the raising (and simultaneous essential dam safety embetterments) of the dam (owned by DWA). In addition, the conveyance canals that deliver water downstream of the dam experience significant losses. Refurbishment could serve to benefit existing irrigators, emerging farmers and local towns along the downstream reaches of the Olifants River, where urban water supply is in shortfall. These canals are also owned by DWA and operated by the LORWUA, so this potential for water savings through refurbishment is another example of who should pay versus whom might benefit. An appropriate financing model with shared costs between DWA and the LORWUA would be required.

Another relevant study undertaken in the province was the Breede River Basin Study (2002). One of the key components of that investigation was to identify WCDM in the agricultural sector through a selected case study in the Robertson region. It was found that typically less than 50% of water entering a farm dam, actually reached field edge, after evaporation, seepage and conveyance losses. The outcomes of that study provided recommendations into other possibilities for water savings, which include:

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 The implementation of appropriate monitoring (possibly supported by DWA) should be implemented to ensure that agricultural water use is appropriately metered, and that a suitable form of “watchdog” would be required to ensure compliance. This is particularly relevant between points of water release, through conveyance systems and then in subsequent uptake / abstraction.  The first level of monitoring responsibility and compliance should be by means of self- monitoring through the WUAs, and communication with the eventual Catchment Management Agencies.  WUA‟s must be made accountable to ensure that their individual members are compliant through self-policing, monitoring and effective metering of water consumption.  Attention to means of scheduling of irrigation practices offers opportunity to ensure that irrigation only takes place when necessary, for example by monitoring of soil moisture content.  The management of catchments and the control of invasive alien plant infestations are recognised and is a practise that must be continued and intensified, focussing on priority areas for clearing. Clearing in the upper Riviersonderend River catchment for example has been shown to offer potential towards restoring flow to the Breede system for ecological purposes.  The adoption of appropriate irrigation techniques and the development of water management plans by WUA‟s.  Realistic water tariffs for irrigation based on the DWA Pricing Strategy for Raw Water Use Charges (1999).  At individual farm levels, opportunities for agricultural WCDM include:

 Crop type selection. Planting “thirsty”, low value crop types would not be sensible. Although crop type selection can significantly influence the quantity of water required, there can also be resulting financial and socio-economic impacts.  Seasonal variations in water demand by crops must be exploited to take advantage of the opportunity to adjust the rate of irrigation, particularly where on-farm infrastructure may be old, applying water at a constant rate.  Short duration frequency of water demand projections by agriculture offer opportunity to regulate water distribution and management systems.  Where flood irrigation techniques have been replaced by more efficient systems, the farm level management of these systems must be optimised.  Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) allows for controlled water stress to certain crop types to be applied, but only if very stringent monitoring of soil moisture is undertaken.  Partial root zone drying (PRD) is a technique that introduces intentional and controlled fluctuation in the moisture content with soil depth within the root zone to create wetter and drier zones, and in so doing use less water without adverse impact to the crops.

Again it is emphasized that the options of what can be done in the agricultural sector are well established but the questions of by whom, by when, and how remains the biggest challenge.

6.10 HUMAN CAPITAL

6.10.1 WWTWs

In the Western Cape there are 156 Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs) currently owned, operated and maintained by the Western Cape Water Service Authorities. To assess the operational functionality of these plants a scoring system has been devised and can be explained in terms of the following five categories: 1) Operators 2) Supervisors

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3) Process controller 4) Design capacity vs operational capacity 5) Vacancies Scoring Personnel: The water [and wastewater] works and Process Controllers are required to be registered according to the relevant legislation (Revised Regulation 17 of the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997) / Regulation 2834 under the Water Act of 1956; 1985 Requirements) and the Process Controllers must be licensed according to the Class of water treatment works. The water treatment works must have a site-specific Operator‟s Manual to guide Process Controllers. (DWAF, 2008) Operators: Score ranges from zero to ten. Zero being the most desirable and ten being the least desirable. If the number of actual operators employed matches the required, the score is zero. If the number of actual operators doesn‟t match the requirement, the score is discretionary in between one to ten. Supervisors and process controllers are also scored accordingly.

Scoring of Operators, Supervisors and Process Controllers

No. of >2 2 – 4 5 – 7 8 - 10 11 -13 14 - 16 17 20 < 20 controllers

Score 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Design capacity vs operational capacity: If a treatment works is operating below its design capacity than it is considered to be running efficiently and thus is scored zero. If the case is opposite in effect where the operational capacity exceeds the design capacity a score of five is given.

Scoring of Operational Capacities

Design = Operational Design > Operational Design < Operational

2.5 0 5

Vacancies:

Score of Treatment Work Vacancies

No. of > 2 2 – 4 5 - 7 8 - 10 < 10 Vacancies

Score 1 2 3 4 5

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So if score is one, weighted score would be calculated as follows:

Five of the district municipalities (DM) of the Western Cape have been scored and the ten worst operating plants of each DM have been listed below. It has not been possible to assess every single treatment works as there has no sufficient dad has been provided for them.

City of Cape Town

Plant Name Score

Design Vs Process Operators Supervisor Operational Vacancies Total Controller Capacity

Athlone 0 0 3 5 0.6 8.6

Bellville 0 0 0 5 0.6 5.6

Borchards 0 0 1 0 0.6 1.6

Cape Flats 0 0 3 2.5 0.6 6.1

Camps Bay 8 0 7 0 1.2 16.2

Dover 10 10 7 0 1.2 28.2

Gordon‟s Bay 10 8 7 5 1.2 31.2

Green Point 8 0 6 0 0.6 14.6

Houtbay 10 0 7 0 1.2 18.2

Klipheuwel 10 0 7 0 1.2 18.2

Kraaifontein 7 7 5 5 1.2 25.2

Llandudno 10 0 7 0 0.6 17.6

Maccassar 7 0 6 0 0.6 13.6

Melkbosstrand 4 7 6 0 1.2 18.2

Millers Point 10 0 7 2.5 0.6 20.1

Mitchells Plain 0 0 2 0 0.6 2.6

Oudekraal 10 10 7 2.5 1.2 30.7

Parow 8 0 6 0 1.2 15.2

Philadelphia 0 0 7 0 1.2 8.2

Potsdam 0 0 1 0 0.6 1.6

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City of Cape Town

Plant Name Score

Scottsdene 0 0 4 5 1.2 10.2

Simory Dam 0 0 6 0 0.6 6.6

Westfleur 0 4 5 0 1.2 10.2

Wildevoelvlei 6 2 5 0 1.2 14.2

Zandvliet 0 0 4 0 0.6 4.6

From the above table the ten worst performing WWTWs within the CCT are; 1) Gordon‟s Bay 2) Oudekraal 3) Dover 4) Kraaifontein 5) Millers Point 6) Melkbostrand 7) Klipheuwel 8) Houtbay 9) Llandudno 10) Camps Bay

Central Karoo

Plant Name Score

Design Vs Process Operators Supervisor Operational Vacancies Total Controller Capacity

Leeu Gamka 9 6 7 5 0.6 27.6

Klaarstroom 9 6 7 2.5 0.6 25.1

Prince Albert 8 6 6 0 0.6 20.6

Beaufort 10 10 6 0 0.6 26.6 West

Merweville 10 9 7 2.5 1.2 29.7

Nelspoort 10 9 7 0 1.2 27.2

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Eden District

Plant Name Score

Design Vs Process Operators Supervisor Operational Vacancies Total Controller Capacity

Albertina 8 7 7 0 0.6 22.6

Heidelberg 7 8 6 0 0.6 21.6

Calitzdorp 0 8 7 2.5 0.6 18.1

Zoar 8 8 7 0 1.2 24.2

Ladismith 0 0 6 5 1.2 12.2

Overberg

Plant Name Score

Design Vs Process Operators Supervisor Operational Vacancies Total Controller Capacity

Bredasdop 3 5 7 0 1.2 16.2

Napier 3 7 7 2.5 1.2 20.7

Struisbaai 3 7 7 2.5 1.2 20.7

Waenhuiskrans 3 7 7 5 1.2 23.2

Barrydale 0 0 7 5 1.2 13.2

Buffeljags 10 10 7 0 1.2 28.2

Malgas 0

Cape Infanta 0

Suurbrak 10 10 7 0 1.2 28.2

Swellendam 0

Gaansbaai 3 9 7 5 1.8 25.8

Hermanus 9 9 4 0 0.6 22.6

Overberg

Plant Name Score

Hawston 10 10 7 0 1.2 28.2

Koornland 10 10 7 2.5 1.2 30.7

Klip Rivier 0 0 7 2.5 1.2 10.7

Kleinmond 8 0 7 0 1.2 16.2

Stanford 10 10 6 0 0.6 26.6

Botrivier 10 10 6 2.5 0.6 29.1

Caledon 10 10 6 0 0.6 26.6

Genadendal 7 10 7 5 1.2 30.2

Grabouw 0 0 7 0 0.6 7.6

Greyton 10 10 7 2.5 1.2 30.7

Riviersonderend 10 10 7 2.5 0.6 30.1

Villiersdorp 7 10 6 5 0.6 28.6

From the above table the ten worst performing WWTW‟s in the Overberg are; 1) Greyton 2) Koornland 3) Genadendal 4) Riviersonderend 5) Botrivier 6) Villiersdorp 7) Buffeljags 8) Suurbraak 9) Hawston 10) Caledon

West Coast DM

Plant Name Score

West Coast DM

Plant Name Score

Design Vs Process Operators Supervisor Operational Vacancies Total Controller Capacity

Doringbaai 10 8 7 2.5 0.6 28.1

Strandfontein 10 8 7 2.5 0.6 28.1

Klawer 10 8 7 5 0.6 30.6

Lutsvillle 8 10 7 0 0.6 25.6

Lutsvillle West 10 8 7 2.5 0.6 28.1

Koekenaap 10 8 7 2.5 0.6 28.1

Ebenhaezer 10 8 7 2.5 0.6 28.1

Vredendal 8 8 7 0 1.2 24.2 South

Vredendal North 10 8 7 0 0.6 25.6

Van Rhynsdorp 10 8 7 0 0.6 25.6

Langebaan 7 8 6 0 0.6 21.6

Shelly Point 8 8 7 0 0.6 23.6

St Helena Bay 8 8 6 0 1.2 23.2

Hopefield 8 8 6 0 1.2 23.2

Paternoster 8 8 6 0 0.6 22.6

Saldanha 6 7 6 0 0.6 19.6

Vredenberg 6 7 6 0 0.6 19.6

Darling 0 0 7 0 0.6 7.6

Yzerfontein 0

Koringberg 0 0 7 2.5 0.6 10.1

Riebeek Kasteel 0 0 7 2.5 0.6 10.1

Malmesbury 0 0 7 0 1.2 8.2

West Coast DM

Plant Name Score

Mooreesberg 0 0 7 0 1.2 8.2

Chatsworth 0 0 7 2.5 0.6 10.1

Kalbaskraal 0 0 6 2.5 0.6 9.1

Riebeeck West 0 0 7 2.5 0.6 10.1

From the above table the ten worst performing WWTWs in the West Coast DM are: 1) Klawer 2) Lutsville West 3) Koekenaap 4) Strandfontein 5) Ebenhaezer 6) Doringbaai 7) Lutsville 8) Van Rhynsdorp 9) Vredendal North 10) Vredendal South

Cape Winelands District Municipality

Plant Name Score

Design Vs Process Operators Supervisor Operational Vacancies Total Controller Capacity

Ashton 7 0 6 0 1.2 14.2

Bonnievale 8 0 7 0 1.2 16.2

McGregor 6 0 7 0 1.2 14.2

Montagu 7 0 6 2.5 1.2 16.7

Robertson 7 0 6 0 1.2 14.2

De Doorns & 6 0 7 0 1.2 14.2 Orchards

Cape Winelands District Municipality

Plant Name Score

Rawsonville 7 0 6 0 1.2 14.2

Touwsrivier 7 0 6 0 1.2 14.2

Worcester 8 0 5 0 1.2 14.2

Paarl 9 4 6 0 1.2 20.2

Kliprug 5 3 7 0 1.2 16.2

Saron 10 0 7 0 0.6 17.6

Hermon 6 3 7 0 1.2 17.2

Gouda 10 0 7 2.5 1.2 20.7

Wellington 7 8 7 0 1.8 23.8

Ceres+ Belle Vista 7 0 7 0 1.2 15.2

Op die Berg 0 0 7 2.5 1.2 10.7

Tulbagh 0 0 7 0 1.2 8.2

Wolseley 0 0 7 0 1.2 8.2

La Motte 7 5 6 0 0.6 18.6

Klapmuts 6 3 6 0 0.6 15.6

Pniel etc 8 3 6 0 1.2 18.2

Raithby 0 0 7 5 0.6 12.6

Stellenbosch 6 3 7 0 0.6 16.6

Wemmershoek 8 3 6 0 0.6 17.6

From the above table, the ten worst performing WWTWs in the Cape Winelands DM are, 1. Wellington 2. Gouda 3. Paarl 4. La Motte 5. Pniel 6. Saron 7. Wemmershoek 8. Hermon 9. Montagu 10. Stellenbosch

In terms of personnel, high scoring treatment plants are at risk as consequences could involve poor operation and maintenance procedure which is detrimental to overall management of the plant. It is also concerning that a high percentage of personnel employed in “skilled‟ positions, do not comply with the requirements for supervisors (22%) and process controllers (39%). These numbers, combined with the number of vacancies in these positions, amount to a significant number of positions that are not filled by any form of skill or by inadequate/inappropriate skill. The value of this information is that it places Provincial Government in an ideal position to address this skills gap on an informed, quantified basis, and to formulate a Plan with clear targets, deliverables, timeframes, costs and methodology to address this specific gap, ideally in partnership with LGSETA and ESETA (DWAF 2008).

A high scoring treatment plant indicates that there is an urgent need of expansion, rehabilitation, refurbishment or upgrading, augmentation, and redressing management of the inflows.These tables are grouped per WMA in the WMA specific chapters as District and Local Municipal boundaries overlap WMA areas.

Summary of noted problems:  Few or low skilled operational staff.  A high number of treatment plants can be considered as priority cases.  Some municipalities are not licensed in terms of the NWA and are operating with extended or expired permits.

6.11 PROBLEM SYNTHESIS

The problems and gaps identified in this Chapter are broadly summarised as follows:

 Provincial and municipal boundaries do not correspond with physical catchment boundaries. The dissemination of water resource information to match municipal boundaries is not easily done.  Water use Information available from the CCT for this report dates back to 2000 and update information should be made available..  The planning horizon for water resource augmentation options is very long whilst planning at municipal level is often over shorter periods. Planning requires appropriate allowance for lead times to account for the lengthy duration of authorisation processes. The Reconciliation approach adopted by DWA is an example of effective planning.  WCDM is not being implemented at the same level of effort between the various municipalities, and appropriate metering to determine water losses is generally inadequate.  Potential WCDM interventions have been investigated, documented and costed . The challenges lie in implementation, technical capacity, institutional will, regulation, and monitoring.  If WCDM targets are not met, then augmentation schemes are required sooner than would otherwise be necessary. Municipal bylaws must be appropriate and specific to the particular municipality and realistic targets for WCDM must be set.  Groundwater monitoring is inadequate throughout the Province and must be addressed to ensure proper management of that resource.  Access to the WARMS data base is restricted by DWA and information can be difficult to obtain. The sharing of information and co-ordination of a central data facility is encouraged.  Operation, maintenance and refurbishment of WWTWs is a major concern and poses a significant risk to the water resources. This problem is strongly linked to technical capacity challenges.

 The lack of provision of adequate sanitation and refuse services to dense settlements poses a significant risk to the water resources, particularly during the onset of the winter rains.  Water reuse opportunities have been identified but implementation is lagging.  Agricultural WCDM is more difficult to implement and to monitor. As a first step, Irrigators must be held accountable for metering their water use.  Ownership issues relating to old canal systems for example, where losses can be significant, is a problem. Who would be financially responsible for repair and refurbishments (DWA or the irrigators), and can these expensive modifications actually be afforded?