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FOR THIS & OTHER DEGRÉMONT’S WATER TREATMENT PLANT EQUIPMENT, CONTACT : DUMI LUTHULI, Deputy Managing Director [email protected]

MORNAY DE VOS, Business Develop. Mg [email protected] Tel: +27 (0) 11 807 1983 Fax: +27 (0) 11 807 4118 www.degremont.co.za THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT SPECIALISTS CONTENTS

4 upfront Water resource management 14 From a flood to a trickle – Water for all but only if we start saving Water history 20 Kamanassie Dam Water quality Dryland salinity: Threatening water resources in the semi-arid 24 Western Cape

Urban water supply 27 Cape Town – Water for a thirsty city (Part 1) Wetlands 30 Working together to protect SA’s wetlands Knowledge dissemination 32 The importance of producing impactful research Knowledge sharing 35 Climate change in a climate of change Water kidz Rain, rain don’t go away! THE WATER WHEEL is a two-monthly 36 magazine on water and water research published by the South African Water Last Word Research Commission (WRC), a 46 Heritage-biodiversity link celebrated at historical site statutory organisation established in 1971 by Act of Parliament. Subscription is free. Material in this publication does not necessarily reflect the considered opinions of the mem- bers of the WRC, and may be copied with acknow­ledgement of source. ISSN 0258-2244 November/December 2010 Volume 9 No 6

Editorial offices: Water Research Commission, Private Bag X03, Gezina, 0031, Republic of Cover: The government’s latest water resource planning strategy report has reaffirmed how South Africa. precarious South Africa’s water situation is. Tel (012) 330-0340. Fax (012) 331-2565. See page 14. Cover design based on a WRC Internet address: photograph by Guy Stubbs. http://www.wrc.org.za Editor: Lani van Vuuren, E-mail: [email protected]; Future water supply – Editorial Secretary: Mmatsie Masekoa, What are our options? E-mail: [email protected]; Layout: Drinie van Rensburg, E-mail: [email protected] The Water Wheel November/December 2010 3 Upfront

Conference to look at future role Environmental Water diary of groundwater department lays SMALL WASTEWATER TREATMENT down the law SYSTEMS NOVEMBER 23-24 he Department of Environmental The Second WISA Small Wastewater TAffairs has embarked on a six- Treatment Conference will be held month campaign to inspect compli­ at the Regent Hotel, in East London. ance to environmental legislation. Email: [email protected] or The Environmental Management [email protected] Inspectorate, commonly referred to as the Green Scorpions, is carrying out MINE CLOSURE he call for papers is open for the next sustainability in the years to come will the compliance assessments across NOVEMBER 23-26 TBiennial Conference of the Ground­ make ever-greater demands on ground­ the country. It is expected that up to The Fifth International Conference on water Division of the Geological Society of water. This challenges hydrogeologists 40 environmental authorisations and Mine Closure will be held in Santiago, South Africa. and fellow professionals to find new ways 20 waste licenses will be inspected Chile with the theme ‘Responsible The conference, which is being organ­ to progress, often with limited resources. during the campaign. Closure: Living up to Communities’ and ised in association with the International Papers have been invited on the According to the department, the Stakeholders’ Expectations’. Association of Hydrogeologists, will be following topics: climate change and main objectives of the campaign are Email: [email protected] or held in Pretoria from 19 to 21 September drought, dealing with uncertainty, water to monitor adherence to conditions Visit: www.mineclosure2010.com with the theme ‘Groundwater: Our Source quality, merging science and policy, stipulated in environmental manage­ of Security in an Uncertain Future.” mapping and data, water and energy, and ment plans and waste licenses as HYDROLOGY Financial, economic and environ­ from pollution to remediation and protec­ well as to improve the general status DECEMBER 6-10 mental changes and uncertainty require tion, among others. The closing date of compliance within the regulated The School of Bioresources Engineer­ innovative approaches to hydrogeological for abstracts is 30 November. For more community through taking proper ing and Environmental Hydrology science and groundwater management. information, Email: [email protected] enforcement actions in the event of at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Delivery of services and environmental or Visit: www.gwd.org.za non-compliance. is hosting a course on Advanced Modelling of Water Flow and Solute Transport in the Vadose Zone: HYDRUS Will urine become a commercial fertiliser? at Skukuza. Enquiries: [email protected] DESALINATION he Bill and Melinda local sources of nutri­ FEBRUARY 9-11 TGates Foundation ents is growing. The Australian Water Association has provided a grant of Eawag has many 4th Membranes and Desalination US$3-million to support a years of experience Specialty Conference will take place joint project by the Swiss in the research of at Crown Plaza, Surfers Paradise. Federal Institute of Aquatic urine separation, and Enquiries: www.awa.asn.au Science & Technology has done successful (Eawag) and the eThekwini preparatory work INDUSTRIAL WATER USE Water and Sanitation in Nepal, which FEBRUARY 15-17 Utility in South Africa to demonstrated that The Water in the Southern African develop technical solutions urine processed Minerals Industry Conference will be for urine processing for to make the held at the Ingwenyama Conference nutrient recovery. phosphorus-based & Sport Resort, White River. The event The separate collection fertiliser struvite can is hosted by the Southern African of urine provides innovative opportuni­ of urine-based fertiliser, thus enabling help to close regional nutrient cycles Institute for Mining and Metallurgy ties for the improvement of sanitation a cheap, efficient and widely-accepted and promote awareness of the value of (SAIMM) and will seek to explore and the recycling of nitrogen, phospho­ sanitation system to be set up. the nutrients contained in urine. “This and define water and mining-related rus and potassium. The project, to be There is a growing awareness that in experience plus the collaboration with challenges within the southern African undertaken over the next four years, many parts of the world an alterna­ an extremely progressive adminis­ region, propose solutions and possible will study the logistics of collection tive is needed for the conventional trative department in Durban were funding methodologies. Enquiries: and transport of urine from toilets to sewer-based sanitation and central important reasons for developing our Raymond van der Berg (Conference processing facilities. Scientists will also wastewater treatment system. At the project in South Africa,” says Kai Udert, Coordinator); Tel: (011) 834-1273; Fax: examine ways in which sanitation can same time, the global demand for the Eawag researcher in charge of the (011) 833-8156; Email: Raymond@ be paid for by the production and sale fertiliser is so great that interest in South African project. saimm.co.za; Visit: www.saimm.co.za

4 The Water Wheel November/December 2010 Upfront

R&D spend up, but SA still off target Polluters must pay, says Minister needed to focus specifically on boosting the skills level and increasing the number outh Africans responsible for her department had concluded the of post-graduate students – which she Scontaminating the land must Framework for the Remediation of pointed out currently stood at only 34% of pay. So says former Minister of Water contaminated land. “The coming into all graduates. & Environmental Affairs Buyelwa effect of the contaminated land sec­ Part of the country’s challenge was that Sonjica. tion of the Act is imminent. I will soon research funding was dispersed according “We have taken the view that be able to identify contaminated land to sectors, which meant there was not a the cost of reducing pollution must and order investigations to determine central point of administrative control, be shared between people who are the extent of contamination as well as leaving research areas largely dependent responsible for waste, the polluters. the form of remediation required.” on the focus of a particular department. The private sector accounted for 58% We are now saying the policy of the There will be a database or register of spending on research with 24,4% of polluter pays will be strictly pursued of all contaminated land which will be research spending being in the field of without fear,” the minister said. She linked to the Deeds Register to ensure espite spending R2,4-billion more on engineering sciences. The remainder was speaking at a
waste management that transfers take into account infor­ Dresearch and development (R&D) last of research spending is concentrated in conference held earlier this year. mation relating to the contamination year, South Africa is still failing to meet natural sciences (20,6%), medical and Sonjica also announced that of land parcels. the government target of spending 1% of health sciences (14,6%), information and GDP on R&D. communication technologies (13,1%), Presenting her department’s National social sciences and humanities (12,5%) International water body honours Survey of Research and Experimental and applied sciences and technology Stellenbosch dean Development report for 2008/09, Minister (9,1%). Agricultural sciences only made up of Science & Technology Naledi Pandor 5,5% of total R&D spend. tellenbosch University Dean of Group, and is a past Vice-President and revealed that the country’s R&D spend On a positive note, a survey by the Science, Prof Eugene Cloete, has Board Member of the association. He is dropped slightly to 0,92% of GDP. This was Human Sciences Research Council did S become the first representative from a member of the Coca-Cola World Water despite R&D expenditure having increased reveal that South Africa has one of the Africa to be included in the new Fel­ expert panel and is Chair of the South 2,2% in real terms between 2007 and highest proportions of women research­ lows Programme of the International African Academy of Science committee 2008, from R18,6-billion to R21-billion. ers in the world. The survey indicated Water Association (IWA). on poverty and technology. According to Pandor, a key concern is that women represent nearly 40% of Prof Cloete, a microbiologist and He has been dean of the Faculty of that the country’s number of research­ researchers in South Africa, compared to ers is decreasing. She said the findings 13% in countries such as Japan and 33% inventor of the teabag water filter, is Science at Stellenbosch University since of the survey indicated that the country in Norway. one of 34 newly elected fellows. They 2009, and is the driving force behind include researchers, water resource the recently established Water Institute managers, inventors and academics there. He was also the founding direc­ UKZN student grabs award from countries such as Japan, the tor of a similar Water Institute at the USA, Mexico, Germany, Spain and the University of Pretoria. Prof Cloete has asters Chemical Engineering stu­ Bwapwa’s work focused on the treat­ Netherlands. promoted 78 MSc students and 25 PhD dent, Joseph Bwapwa, has received ment of complex wastewater generated M According to the IWA, election to students at the two universities. the Chemical Technology Specialisation in low-income communities using an IWA Fellow grade one is ‘one of the Award in the Water Category for his paper ABR or anaerobic baffled reactor (a highest honours the association can dealing with wastewater research. containerised sewage treatment system). bestow on an individual’. It recognises The award was handed over to the stu­ The research team discovered that the unusual and outstanding distinction dent from the University of KwaZulu-Natal ABR removed 80% of the pollutants and in the profession and is conferred at a special ceremony organised by Crown solid matter from the treated wastewater Publications and the South African Institu­ and the effluent generated was within by the IWA Board of Directors on a tion of Chemical Engineers earlier this year. the irrigation limits specified by the person with an extraordinary record of Supervised by Dr Katherine Foxon and Prof Department of Water Affairs. accomplishments that has contributed Chris Buckley, Bwapwa is a key role-player It is reported that the results of importantly to the advancement in the Pollution Research Group’s sanitation the study will go a long way towards of application of water science and project being conducted in Durban in assisting the municipality in solving the technology and that has brought collaboration with eThekwini Water and issue of sewage treatment in informal the realisation of significant value to Sanitation, the Water Research Commission, settlements, as well as helping to contain society. and the Bremen Overseas Research and waterborne diseases. Among others, Prof Cloete currently Development Association (Borda). Source: UKZN serves on the IWA Biofilm Specialist

The Water Wheel November/December 2010 5 Biodiversity: South Africa’s Luneburg farmer, Horst Filter whose livestock farm lies within the Protected Society’s behaviour must first protected Environment. “The attention was always change, conservationists warn environment on game reserves and the Big Five and never on critical areas like the grasslands. n innovative grouping of scientists recognise that biodiversity loss is typically declared I think it’s very important that this whole and practitioners have come together the result of unintended human actions initiative filters through to the rest of A he first protected environment in to advocate a fundamental shift in the and therefore raises unique difficulties. South Africa.” South Africa has been declared. way we view biodiversity. They state, “The impacts of a particular T The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) This follows after MEC for Economic In their paper, which has been action are often distant in space and time. and Nedbank’s Green Trust has been a Development, Environment and Tourism published in the journal Science, they This makes effective regulation difficult, driving force behind the protection of this for Mpumalanga, Jabu Mahlangu, signed argue that unless people recognise the as no single body has jurisdiction over the region and beyond. Recognising the critical the final document officially announcing link between their consumption choices world’s biodiversity.” water production role of the high-altitude that 23 000 ha of privately-owned farm- and biodiversity loss, the diversity of life As part of the solution, the authors grasslands between KwaZulu Natal, land extending from Wakkerstroom to on Earth will continue to decline. Dr Mike advocate managing biodiversity as a Mpumalanga and the Free State (which Luneberg in the high altitude grasslands Rands, Director of the Cambridge Conser- global public good. They argue that an provide water to the whole of Gauteng, as of southern Mpumalanga is a protected vation Initiative and lead author of the appreciation of biodiversity as a global well as to several of South Africa’s major environment. A protected environment paper, says: “Despite increasing worldwide public good with economic and societal power stations) eight years ago, WWF/ is effectively one step below a national conservation efforts, biodiversity continues value, providing benefits that far out- The Green Trust agreed to fund a project or provincial nature reserve, enjoying a to decline. If we are to make any kind of weigh the cost of conserving ecosystems, spanning 1,6-million ha in this region, high level of formal protection with major impact, it is critical that we begin to view should be central to all policy-making called the Enkangala Grassland Project. conservation gains. biodiversity as a global public good which that impacts on the environment.“The The KwaMandlangampisi Protected Called the KwaMandlangampisi Pro- provides such benefits as clear air and fresh value of biodiversity must be made an Environment is situated within the tected Environment it is a critical water water, and that this view is integrated not integral element of social, economic, and Enkangala Grassland Project area. catchment area for South Africa that just into policies but also into society and political decision-making, as is starting to Source: WWF includes the headwaters of the Pongola individuals’ day-to-day decisions.” happen with carbon and climate change. River and the Assegaai River, which feeds The conservationists, from conser­ Government, businesses and civil society the Heyshope Dam and provides clean vation organisations as well as academia, all have critical roles in this transition.” water for national power generation. Ranging from 1 400 m to 2 000 m above sea level, it spans threatened high altitude grasslands, wetlands and indigenous mistbelt forest, and is home to threatened and endemic plant, bird and animal species, including the Oribi and South Africa’s three crane species (Wattled, Grey Crowned and Blue). “This is the most important thing San benefit from that has ever happened to conservation bio-prospecting license in this country,” says fifth generation ormer Water and Environmental medicinal and other uses of Sceletium. FAffairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica has As such the South African San Council, African freshwater species in presided over the ceremonial handover Paulshoek and Nourivier communities are perilous state of the first bio-prospecting license to the beneficiaries of the commercialisation HGH Pharmaceuticals in Khwa Ttu, in the of any potential products. fifth of freshwater species in Africa damselflies, and selected families of Western Cape. Sceletium has been used by nomadic A are threatened with extinction, put- aquatic plants. Some of the biggest The license grants the pharmaceutical pastoralists and hunter-gatherer com- ting the livelihoods of millions of people threats to African freshwater species company local and international research munities as a mood altering substance at risk, a new study has found. come from agriculture, water abstrac- rights on cultivated plant material and for thousands of years. According to the In the most comprehensive assess- tion, dams and invasive alien species. extracts from Sceletium tortuosum (known National Environmental Management ment of its kind, more than 5 000 Afri- This study highlights the peril- locally as Kanna, Channa or Kougoed) Biodiversity Act, no person may trade can freshwater species were evaluated ous state of our natural environment and to commercialise the product for commercially in any indigenous biological by 200 scientists over a five-year period and will provide vital information for central nervous system conditions. The San resource from South Africa without a for the IUCN Red List of Threatened decision-makers as they plan to greatly peoples are acknowledged as the primary permit ensuring sustainable harvesting Species, including all known freshwater expand the use of Africa’s inland water indigenous knowledge holders of certain issued by the Minister. fish, molluscs, crabs, dragonflies and resources, the authors say. The results

6 The Water Wheel November/December 2010 are particularly important for resource In Lake Victoria, a decline in water stem the loss of these species, not only a 100 km stretch of water, are highly managers as, for the first time, species quality and the introduction of the will the richness of Africa’s biodiversity threatened due to upstream pollution. have been mapped to individual river Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) have caused be reduced forever, but millions of The findings of this assessment basins. a reduction in many native species people will lose a key source of income, are also being published in a series of “Freshwaters provide a home for a over the past 30 years, threatening food and materials.” regional reports. disproportionate level of the world’s traditional fisheries. This IUCN Red List Priority areas of highly threatened biodiversity. Although they cover just assessment studied 191 fish species in and restricted range species can now be Source: IUCN one percent of the planet’s surface, Lake Victoria and found that 45% are identified. For example, in the waters freshwater ecosystems are actually threatened or thought to be extinct. of the crater-lake Barombi Mbo, in home to around 7% of all species,” says Around the great lakes of Africa, fish Cameroon, 11 species of fish are highly Jean Christophe Vié, Deputy Head of provide the main source of protein and threatened and live a precarious exist- IUCN’s Species Programme. “This latest livelihoods for many of the continent’s ence as deforestation increases the risk IUCN Red List assessment clearly shows poorest people. The livelihoods of an of lake ‘burping’, where large levels of that lakes, rivers and wetlands haven’t estimated 7,5 million people in sub- carbon dioxide are released from deep escaped the grasp of the current extinc- Saharan Africa depend on inland fisher- within the lake, suffocating the fish. tion crisis.” ies. These new data will be invaluable Without management intervention Even the loss of a single species can in helping to safeguard these fisheries, these species, some of which are impor- have a dramatic impact on livelihoods. freshwater supplies and the many other tant food sources, may be lost forever. In Lake Malawi, a group of fish, known associated resources. Other freshwater species, such as as ‘chambo’ by locals, forms an extremely “Africa is home to an astonishing molluscs, dragonflies, crabs and aquatic important source of food. Of these, diverse range of freshwater species, plants also play vital roles in maintain- Oreochromis karongae, an endangered many of which are found nowhere else ing functioning wetlands and these species, has been hugely overfished, on Earth” notes William Darwall, leader should not be ignored. In the rapids of with an estimated 70% reduction in the of the project and Manager of IUCN’s the lower reaches of the Congo River, population over the past ten years. Freshwater Biodiversity Unit. “If we don’t 11 species of mollusc, found only within

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Study explores vulnerability of Water resources study enters southern Cape coast final year

ness West, Sedgefield-Swartvlei and three-year study into availability clusters, as well as the related yields of Knysna. The majority of the Eden District Aof water resources in South Africa’s the resource were collected from previous Municipality is comprised of hydrauli- northern towns has passed the halfway study reports, explains Skinner. The cally conductive and therefore vulner- mark. algorithms for the water situation assess- able primary and fractured quartzitic The Northern Regions Reconciliation ment model were applied where detailed aquifers, which are accessed along the Study was initiated by the Department analysis was not carried out. “Appropriate coastline for water supply. In light of of Water Affairs (DWA) in 2008. The study adjustments were made to account for this, coastal areas with the highest rank- area comprises the water management upstream land-use activities such as small ing for groundwater contamination from areas of Limpopo, Luvuvhu and Letaba, dams, abstractions and return flows,” salt water intrusion include Wilderness Crocodile (West) and Marico, and Olifants. explains Skinner. West, Sedgefield-Swartvlei, Knysna and The main objective of the study is to The groundwater component included ome 44% of the Eden District Munici- Pletternberg Bay. provide first order water supply reconcili- a review of groundwater resources on Spality coastal zones are at risk of sea According to Umvoto, areas that ation strategies to ensure the availability the basis of the geographic location, level-induced coastal erosion and inunda- reflect low gradient headland-adjacent of water resources now and into the potential aquifer boundaries, exploration tion, 69% are at risk of groundwater or inlet/pocket bay beaches in association future for all towns in the Northern potential of the regional aquifers, current contamination from salt water intrusion with high population and extensive Planning Region. Towns must be studied groundwater usage for domestic and irri- and 44% are at risk of large storm surges. development close to the shoreline are in a prioritised order based on availability gation purposes and, taking cognisance These are the findings of a study most at risk from extreme events such of water and reconciliation strategies of possible sources of contamination, the prepared for the Western Cape Provincial as storm surges and tsnunamis. These completed in that sequence. probable water quality. Government Department of Environmen- areas include Stilbaai, Mossel Bay and the Consulting engineering firm SRK Con- “The study is in its second year, and tal Affairs and Development Planning. Plettenberg Bay to Nature’s Valley area. sultants was appointed to undertake the a number of challenges have had to be The study was undertaken by earth Recommendations for each coastal study for DWA. According to Sarah Skinner, overcome to generically identify the sciences consultancy Umvoto Africa, who hazard have already been developed. SRK principal scientist, most of the regions groundwater sources of supply in the study uncovered a number of high risk coastal This includes a collective response from under review are water stressed. “Many area while still providing sufficient infor- zones in the Eden municipal area. both municipalities and local residents so dams are struggling to provide sufficient mation for the development of a conclusive Regions most at risk of sea-induced that long-term institutional, accommoda- water to satisfy domestic requirements strategy,” notes Skinner. “These challenges coastal erosions include Mossel Bay and tion, retreat and soft protective measures as well as water for economic growth have included the sheer extent of the study the Wilderness to Knysna area, with the are undertaken to manage long-term and development. The potential for using area (some 2 000 towns), disparity in data highest risk ranking including Wilder- coastal evolution. groundwater to augment water supply sources and contradictory information in is therefore of paramount importance the available data sources. in consideration of any water resource At the time of writing feasibility Special award for Sedgefield management strategy.” studies were in progress for about 80% project Information regarding the surface of the area and completed for about 40% water resource used for each of the of the area.

he submission ‘Life beyond our Sedgefield, which is home to 6 000 Trivers – a Sedgefield case study’ has permanent residents (a figure which received a Special Recognition Award in doubles during peak holidays) ran out of the Technical Excellence category for SSI water when its main source of supply, the Engineers & Environmental Consultants, Karatara River, ran dry. Water had to be at the recent South African Institution trucked in and the Knysna municipality of Civil Engineers’ National Awards for consequently adopted SSI’s approach to Engineering Excellence. supplement surface supply from alterna- SSI developed a demand-based tive sources. solution to solve the water supply crisis The surface water supply from the in the small southern Cape town, which Karatara/Hoogekraal rivers was there­ has been gripped in one of the worst after curtailed to 1,5 Mℓ/day; while a droughts in the area in living memory. new 0,5 Mℓ/day groundwater supply the surface, ground and desalination Such has been the impact of the The town falls in the Knysna municipal was developed. A further 1,5 Mℓ/day is water with the re-use of final effluent Sedgefield scheme that SSI has provided area. The consultant succeeded in provided by a small mobile desalination from the wastewater treatment works. similar solutions all along the Garden Route, developing something that was both plant located at Mayoli beach. The additional 1 Mℓ/day is expected to including Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, and economical and took weeks rather than To meet the long-term demand of provide for Sedgefield’s potable water Plettenberg Bay with combinations of efflu- years to implement. 4,5 Mℓ/day it is proposed to supplement needs to 2034. ent reuse and/or desalination technologies.

8 The Water Wheel November/December 2010 Global news

Pollutants don’t reportedly the first step in a process of air quality and therefore has direct coming decades, the report warns. The adopting new water use regulations in implications for human health. unsustainable use of freshwater also discriminate Australia’s largest river system. “We do not know for sure how much drives biodiversity loss, it says, citing between rich At the centre of the controversy are of the dust within these storms ends the example of North America, where the sustainable diversion limits – the up in the atmosphere and how much nearly 30% of continental freshwater and poor amount of water that can be removed returns to earth once the winds have fauna populations are threatened from rivers for consumptive use. Current died down,” explained Dr Knippertz. with extinction due to depleted and omes in low-income and affluent basin-wide diversion of 13 700 gigalitres “This project will help us answer this contaminated water resources. Hcommunities have similar levels of do not leave enough water in the river question and to produce a comprehen- “Achieving a better balance between endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), system for it to function properly. The sive representation of the global dust human and environmental water needs according to US research. Levels of EDCs proposed cuts will affect areas that grow cycle with the view to developing more will require significant changes in were also found to be higher in the wheat, rice, and cotton. Agricultural accurate models.” legislation – and you need legal tools home than outside it. areas without diversified economies will Ultimately the project team hopes to do this,” reports Gabriel Eckstein, The researchers, from the Silent also feel the pinch. that the study will help eliminate the report’s lead author. In Australia’s Spring Institute, Massachusetts, took some of the uncertainties in predicting New South Wales, for example, the samples of air and house dust in homes climate, weather and the impacts on Water Management Act dictates that in from two different communities in the Study on dust human health. the event of a severe water shortage, San Francisco Bay area. These samples freshwater will first be allocated to were then tested for 104 different storms to help meet basic domestic and municipal substances, including 70 suspected scientists see Governments needs, then in response to environ- EDCs. The sampling included 40 homes mental necessities and then finally for in an urban, industrial, low-income area climate clearer must ramp up all other purposes. and ten homes in an affluent, coastal The Water Resources Act in Paraguay he University of Leeds, in the UK, action to ward community. ranks the water needs of aquatic is leading a £1-million project to Levels were generally higher indoors T off looming ecosystems as second to humans but study the giant desert storms of the than outdoors. The scientists expressed ahead of agriculture, power generation Sahara which will help improve climate water crisis surprise at finding higher concentrations and industry. “These laws recognise and weather prediction models. of some phthalates outdoors near urban – UN report the immense value of freshwater Extreme sandstorms like the homes contributing to higher indoor resources,” notes Eckstein. fast-moving ‘walls of dust’ seen in ith competition on the rise levels as well, but concluded that EDCs The UNEP study also points to the Hollywood film the Mummy may between humans and other ‘are ubiquitously common across socio- W economic gains that can be derived look spectacular, but their effects on species for the world’s limited water economic groups.” from having freshwater resources weather systems and climate change supplies, governments must take envi- The study appears in the American protected by national law. The world’s are even more dramatic. These storms, ronmental issues into consideration Chemical Society journal, Environmental wetlands, for example, are estimated known as ‘haboobs’, sweep large quan- when drafting laws on the use of water Science & Technology. To read the article to provide as much as US$15-trillion tities of mineral dust off the sands of to avert an impending water crisis, cau- Visit: http://pubs.acs.org/stoken/press- in ecosystem services through their the Sahara into the atmosphere, where tions a new United Nations report. pac/full/10.1021/es100159c natural ability to purify and detoxify it exerts a wide range of effects on the Although more than two-thirds of water. environment. the planet is covered in water, only Aussie farmers According to project leader Dr Peter 2,5% is freshwater, most of which is Knippertz, dust is a really impor- stored deep underground or in glaciers, oppose Murry- tant player in the climate system, leaving only 1% available for human Darling plan for example, dust from the Sahara use. A key challenge facing countries provides most of the nutrients needed is how to meet the water needs of a government plan to reduce to fertilise the Amazon rainforest. “But growing human population, while A irrigation diversions in the Murray- the harsh desert environment of the maintaining freshwater ecosystems Darling Basin apparently has farmers in Sahara means very few measurements and supporting environmental Australia up in arms. have ever been made there.” sustainability, says Greening Water Water news site, www.circleof- Dust is one of the main sources of Law, the new publication launched blue.org, reports that the draft plan, iron to the oceans where it is important by the United Nations Environment which proposes a reduction of water in the formation of CO2-guzzling phyto­ Programme (UNEP). entitlements in the region by up to 29% plankton. In the atmosphere, dust If the international community does to protect the river’s environmental particles affect how much energy from not take action to improve freshwater function, has been vehemently opposed the sun enters and leaves the planet, supplies for drinking, sanitation and by residents of the basin, with some which has a longer-term impact on cli- hygiene, up to 135 million prevent- staging public protests. The guide is mate, and dust also deteriorates overall able deaths could occur in the

The Water Wheel November/December 2010 9 Upfront

New from the WRC

Report No: 1701/1/10 these resources. The project has focused New DVD explores SA’s water journey Sustainability indicators in communal on the Maputaland Coastal Plain where wetlands and their catchments (S Pollard; D there is an extremely strong interaction he WRC has released a new DVD general understanding of water issues du Toit; T Cousins; D Kotze; E Riddell; C Davis; between the surface water features and Ton South African water-related within the South African context will S Addy; E Chuma and BB Mkhabela) local aquifers. issues for schools and university be of benefit. This work emerged from the growing students in the sciences. Several subjects are covered in a acknowledgement of the importance of Report No: 1669/1/09 The DVD, Water is Life: A visual, non-technical way, including wetlands in the livelihoods of people, in An Investigation of Innovative Approaches South African Journey, is aimed freshwater resources, natural water particular of the rural poor in communal to Brine Handling (IW van der Merwe; at encouraging young people to cycle and climate change, water lands in South Africa. However, many A Lourens & C Waygood) consider future career options in resource management and water of these wetlands, used as community- Salinisation of South Africa’s public water the water sector. Presented by ecosystems, cycle of water use, water property resources, are degraded. The aim system has been identified as the single one of the country’s best-loved conservation and protection of water of this project was to develop and test a most serious pollution threat facing the environmental presenters, Erald resources. The DVD is also accompanied coherent and practicable set of indicators country. This situation is deteriorating Felix, the DVD has also been by an explanatory booklet providing for an integrated approach to the sustain- and has been recognised in various recent designed for use as an awareness additional background to the subjects able use and management of communal pieces of legislation. For this reason, the tool for everyone interested in water covered on screen. wetlands and their catchments, with a WRC initiated a research project to assess issues, particularly decision-makers The DVD is available free of charge strong focus on rehabilitation. the strategies to manage brine resulting in related disciplines wherein a from the WRC in Pretoria. from desalination processes. This report Report No: 1681/1/10 gives expression to this directive and Modelling the Influence of Vegetation, Soil assesses the current status of brine Moisture and Aerosols on Early Summer and sludge treatment as well as new, Southern African Climate (M Tadross; innovative technologies that represent I Oliveira; M Mdoka; F Tummon; G Maure; the outcomes of South African technology N MacKellar; O Crespo; S Hachigonta; drivers. B Hewitson) This project focused on the links between Report No: TT 450/10 early season (September-January) rainfall Integrated Water Quality Management: and local antecedent conditions of vege­ A Mindset Change (L Boyd; R Tompkind; tation, soil moisture and atmospheric R Heath) aerosols. The majority of the project has In developing countries in general – and focused on using Regional Climate Models in South Africa particularly – implemen- (RCMs) to simulate the impact of changes tation of national legislation and enforce- in these antecedent conditions on rainfall. ment of its provisions is an acknowledged Several RCMs were used, with modelling area of weakness. The aims of this project Report No: KV 241/10 the region’s water supply and forms a requirements taking up the majority of were to develop a conceptual model for The Karst System of the Cradle of Human- unique ecosystem housing a variety of the available time and work. Integrated Water Quality Management: kind World Heritage Site (The South African organisms. a MIndset change Karst Working Group) The Karst System Report No: 1168/1/10 of the Cradle of L Boyd This document provides a summary of Humankind World Groundwater/surface Water Relationships R tompkins Heritage Site R heath The South African the current circumstances surrounding Karst Working Group with Specific Reference to Maputaland the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage (B Kelke & Talita Germishuyse) Site and the underlying karst system. The This report attempts to describe the Cradle of Humankind site is renowned for water resources and their interaction its unparalleled collection of prehistoric at the interface between groundwater hominid and animal fossils, as well as a and surface water in an attempt to multitude of prehistoric tools. In addition overcome differences in conceptual to its palaeontological and archaeologi- models and to understand the process cal significance, the site also lies on top and methodologies that describe the KV 241/10 of a vast karst system which is vital to interaction between components of tt 450/10

To order any of these reports, contact Publications at Tel: (012) 330-0340; fax (012) 331-2565; E-mail: [email protected] or visit: www.wrc.org.za

10 The Water Wheel November/December 2010 Upfront

aligning the management of the quality explained willingness to pay for river depths. This project focused on three Water by of water resources with that of drinking inflows into South African estuaries. In species, namely Chiloglanis pretoriae, water quality in order to support the pursuing these objectives this project fol- C. swierstrai and C. paratus, all of which numbers effective management of water use in the lowed on and extended some of the find- occur in the Limpopo River system. • R125 000 – The cost to the interest of all water users. ings from a similar WRC project published The suckermouth catfishes have been City of Cape Town every year to in 2004 (Report No: 1304/1/04). extensively used in aquatic surveys as purchase 20 888 bottles of water Report No: TT 425/09 indicators of impacts from anthropogenic for council meetings, according Guidelines for the Assessment of the Report No: 1249/1/10 activities and the health of river systems. to the Times. The municipality has Compliance of South African Potable Water Evaluation and Validation of Geochemical Where these fish species occur naturally now decided to replace the ‘lux- Supply with Accepted Drinking Water Qual- Prediction Techniques for Underground in the river systems, they are used in the ury item’ with jugs of tap water. ity Standards and Norms (Volume 2) Coal Mines in the Witbank/Vryheid Regions determination of environmental flows • 70 Mℓ/day – The estimated (MNB Momba & CH Swartz) (B Zhao; BH Usher; B Yibas & W Pulles) and also as part of the fish assemblage volume of acid mine-water This report contains the guidelines and This project has involved the extensive assessment. The main aims of this project that could end up in the Vaal procedures that were developed for water application and review of the use of were to update records on the distribution River system should no action be services providers (WSPs) and water geochemical assessment tools that are of the three Chiloglanis species in the taken against rising acid mine supply authorities (WSAs) to assist them available for making predictions of future Limpopo and associated river systems; drainage levels in Johannes­ with assessment with the compliance of water quality impacts from mining sites. assessing within and between Chiloglanis burg. A team of specialists their drinking water supply systems with The tools that were evaluated in this species variation based on morphologi- appointed by the former Minister accepted drinking water quality standards research project represent the full range cal and genetic analysis; and formulate of Water & Environmental Affairs and management norms. These guide- of tools available for assessment of this management recommendations to water is currently looking at ways lines are aimed at providing South African nature and specifically include those tools resource managers based on the results to remedy the situation. potable water providers with the required most commonly used. and analysis. • R18,9-billion – The water quality targets and a set of other amount by which municipalities operational and management norms, and Report No: 1212/1/10 Report No: TT 453/10 underspent their budgets in a tool that could be used to identify the A Model for Rapidly Assessing the Impact Ecohydraulics for South African Rivers – A the 2009/2010 financial year, reasons for non-compliance and suggest of Waste Discharge on Downstream Water Review and Guide (CS James and JM King) according to National Treasury. solutions to any problems experienced Quality (CE Herold; K le Roux; J Blight; Ecohydraulics is defined as the study of Underspending was highest in which are preventing compliance to these A Rowse and S Dladla) the linkages between physical processes the Free State and North West. guidelines and norms. Authorities require a rapid means of assess- and ecological responses in rivers, estuar- Capital budgets were underspent Guidelines for the Assessment of the ing the impact of waste load discharge ies and wetlands. Over the past 20 years Compliance of South African Potable by R8,5-billion, indicating VOLUME 2: Water Supply with Accepted Drinking Water Quality Standards and permit applications and the required in South Africa, a great deal of knowledge GUIDELINES Management Norms weaknesses in the ability of degree of change to permit conditions to on ecohydraulics, related to both research Maggy NB Momba municipalities to compile & Chris D Swartz meet water quality objectives. WQ2000 and application, has been gained through credible budgets or to manage already provides such a tool for salinity. several projects involving the WRC, the the implementation of their However, non-conservative pollutants are Department of Water Affairs and other infrastructure programmes. also of paramount importance to water institutions. This project was prompted by • 67 m – The sea level rise quality managers. This research is aimed the realisation that existing information that would occur if all the ice at improving a simple to apply evaluation and knowledge are fragmented and often in the Antarctic was to melt. tool capable of making good use of the inconsistent across various centres and • 60% – The saving in water con- new water quality data and of simulating disciplines. The objective, therefore, was sumption achieved by the Mossel the effects of both conservative and non- to provide a synthesis of existing knowl- Bay Municipality over the last TT 425/09 conservative pollutants, taking account of edge on ecohydraulics in South Africa in a year. According to the municipal- both point and diffuse inputs. logical and accessible format. ity, the saving can be ascribed to the water restrictions which Ecohydraulics for South African Rivers Report No: 1413/1/10 Report No: KV 235/10 – Rivers African South for Ecohydraulics 453/10 TT are currently in force as well as A REviEw And GuidE The Valuation of Estuary Services in South Systematics and Phylogeography of the cooperation of consumers. Editors: CS James & JM King Africa Specifically Regarding Changes to Suckermouth Species (Chiloglanis) with • 900 million tons – The Estuary Services as a Result of Reductions Emphasis on the Limpopo River System estimated rainfall that the planet to Fresh Water Inflows – Main Report and Implications for Water Management receives every minute of the day. (SG Hosking) Practices (MJ Matlala; IR Bills; CJ Kleynhans • 9 000 ℓ – The volume of water

The two main research objectives of this and P Bloomer) wasted per year by a tap that leaks

A R A

project set out to achieve were to gener- The genus Chiloglanis includes 45 species E E

vi one drop of water per second. w w

ate information that would be useful in of which eight are described from south- A nd Guid nd • 1 mm/year – The average guiding the efficient allocation of river ern Africa. These so-called suckermouths

E rainfall of the driest place on water to South African estuaries and to are typically found in fast-flowing waters Earth, Arica, in northern Chile. test selected hypotheses on factors that but over varied substrates and water

TT 453/10

The Water Wheel November/December 2010 11 Project in progress

Better water supply at the click of a mouse

he Water Research Commis- and the land surrounding their water back and highlight the areas with the Tsion (WRC) has teamed up with source, as well as mapping all the real highest risks, so that organisations Emanti Management, developers and potential threats to water quality. know what to prioritise in order to of the international award-winning This is key to ensuring the delivery of complete a water safety plan. Electronic Water Quality Manage- clean, safe and reliable drinking water. According to WRC Research Man- ment System (eWQMS) to incorpo- A Web-based reporting program ager Dr Jo Burgess, the eWQMS was rate water safe plan guidelines into that distributes a complete water the obvious vehicle for water safety this system. quality management system over the plans as so many water companies and The WRC published its guidelines Internet, the eWQMS has been suc- water service authorities are already for the development of a generic cessfully rolled out nationally, and is making use of the system. “The system water safety plan last year (Report already assisting many municipalities makes it possible for people to input No: TT 415/09). This step-by-step around the country to manage their relatively simple pieces of information assessment and risk management tool water quality. which the programme then correlates deals with all aspects of risk, from The system provides municipali- into a matrix which feeds back a table where the water is taken from the ties with the key to successful water with the risk profiles colour coded, so catchment to where it is delivered to quality and related environmental people can focus on any items which the consumer. The guidelines assist management through the correct pop up in red. In addition, because it municipalities in developing the identification of risks and the set- is Internet based, it can be accessed planning and management aspects ting up of procedures to eliminate or anywhere in the country.” around safe and sustainable water control those risks. It is now being At present, the eWQMS is mainly supply, helping to build the neces- updated to include sections that must used for, among others, monthly sary knowledge to understand the be completed by the user by filling review of legislative compliance, general characteristics of the water in data boxes which will then report identification of areas requiring urgent attention, quarterly summary review (trend analysis, effectiveness of remedial actions etc), reporting to stakeholders and tracking and man- aging water quality and related envi- ronmental and health risks. The Department of Water Affairs’ Blue Drop/Green Drop certification process already requires a water safety plan, and the WRC is now also devel- oping a similar process nicknamed the wastewater safety plan, which will facilitate achievement of Green Drop status of wastewater treatment works. Using this tool properly will enable users to achieve Blue Drop and Green Drop certification. All water service providers have access to the eWQMS and tools that reside there. By incorporating water safety plans onto the eWQMS (via a downloadable file and Web enable- The incorporation of the WRC’s water safety ment of the application), the water plan guidelines into the safety plan would easily be available Electronic Water Quality to a wide audience. Management System The development phase is cur- is expected to help rently underway, and it is hoped that municipalities earn their Blue Drop and Green the system will become fully func- tional towards the end of next year. Drop certification. Lani Vuuren van 

12 The Water Wheel November/December 2010 Breaking news

Vaalharts scoops international award

aalharts Water User Assoca- Vtion (Vaalharts Water) Head Water Control Officer Kobus Harbron won South Africa’s third WatSave Award from the Interna- tional Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID). The award in the ‘Innovative Management’ category was pre- sented at the organisation’s 61st International Executive Council Meeting, held in Jogyakarta, Indo- nesia, in October this year. Situated at the confluence of the Harts and Vaal rivers, Vaalharts irrigation scheme was established by the government during the 1930s and, with a total scheduled area of close to 29 181 ha and around

1 900 abstraction points, remains Lani Vuuren van the largest irrigation scheme in the country. Vaalharts Water took over ways. Among others, water orders the water management of the gov- are now captured directly on com- ernment water scheme in 2003. puter, calculations are done auto- By replacing the manual admin- matically thus eliminating errors, istrative system with the digital water distribution sheets can be Water Administration System quickly recalculated in cases of (WAS) developed with funding water order changes, all water con- from the Water Research Commis- trol officers are now computer liter- sion, Vaalharts Water has managed ate, canal leaks and breakages can to decrease losses on the scheme easily be monitored, and water use from 32% to 26,7%. This 5% efficiency reports are now generated saving, which is equivalent to automatically. 3 17,5 million m , was realised in the In addition, Vaalharts Water first year after implementing the has purchased a digitising tab- WAS program at Vaalharts Water. let which is used to digitise and This is quite an achievement, import measuring station data especially considering the size from measuring stations that still of the scheme and the age of the use chart recorders. This method infrastructure. has proven so fast and accurate that Lani Vuuren van This saving is the equivalent of all the old data has been re-done an additional 1 920 ha to be irri- electronically. Volumes are now the adjacent Taung scheme are Top: Vaalharts, the largest irrigation gated or 74 farms (25,7 ha in size). quantified on a weekly basis and interlinked, the innovation will scheme in the country, The judges were impressed by the also be introduced to the Taung not monthly as done in the past. has been rewarded for organisation’s strong presentation. As the proficiency and knowl- scheme under the guidance and its water saving efforts. “[The presentation] made it credible edge of the personnel increase supervision of Harbron. that this saving is sustainable and with WAS the accuracy of supply- For more information on the Above: Vaalharts Water Head Water Control capable of further improvement and ing the correct amount of water Vaalharts scheme, see the Water Officer Kobus Harbron. expansion to another scheme,” the to the right place at the right time Wheel 8 (6) (November/December judges said. improves and more savings are 2009), and the Water Wheel The WAS system has improved expected. Due to the fact that the January/February 9 (1) (January/ operations at Vaalharts in various Vaalharts irrigation scheme and February 2010). 

The Water Wheel November/December 2010 13 Water resource management From a flood to a trickle – Water for all but only if we start saving

South Africans need not fear that their taps will run dry any time soon, but whether what comes out will be a stream or a trickle will depend on their willingness be more conservative in their use. This is one of the main messages emanating from the Department of Water Affairs’ latest water resource planning strategy report. Article by Lani van Vuuren.

14 The Water Wheel November/December 2010 Water resource management

ver the past few years the individual must adopt and imple- “Every water management institution Department of Water ment water conservation/water and every individual must adopt and Affairs (DWA) has demand management (WC/WDM) implement water conservation/water embarkedO on several reconciliation with great seriousness,” says Van studies in water systems across the Rooyen. “It is absolute essential that demand management with great country, including the Vaal River we reduce our water requirements.” seriousness.” system, Crocodile (West) system, This responsibility trickles right KwaZulu-Natal coastal metropolitan down to the local repair of leaky areas, the Western Cape water supply taps. The reconciliation studies indi- The Olifants River system, the Algoa and the Greater cate that many towns do not measure system – an area in need Bloemfontein water supply area, to their water use properly. This means ecently completed reconciliation name a few. Together the systems that municipalities generally have a studies have raised alarm bells over investigated carry more than 75% of limited knowledge of their water use, R the country’s population and gener- not to mention losses, which can be the water supply situation in the Olifants ate over 80% of the national gross as much as 50% or more. Another River system in Limpopo/Mpumalanga. domestic product. key cause of losses is ageing munici- The area is experiencing extremely The studies examined the future pal infrastructure as well as poor rapid growth and the system has been water requirements in these areas plumbing, especially in low-cost severely overused in the past. The De in terms of availability of water to housing. Hoop Dam is currently under construc- meet those requirements, the chal- The situation is exacerbated tion on the Steelpoort River (a tributary lenge being to develop interventions where water use by households is of the Olifants) and completion is timely so as to ensure demand never not metered and payment for use targeted for 2012. However, while the outstrips supply. A new document above the free basic allowance is not dam will ease the pressure in the short has emanated from these studies, enforced. This has led to a per capita term, it will not be possible to meet all namely Integrated Water Resource use of up to 300 ℓ/person/day while the requirements of the Environmental Planning for South Africa – Situation the basic allowance is set between Analysis 2010. The associated costs 25 and 50 ℓ/person/day, with sup- Reserve from this dam, and, as growth and energy requirements to extend plies planned on this basis. and requirements continue to rocket, supplies were also the main subject The reconciliation studies show additional water, or a way of accom- of a twin report, An Assessment of that most South African cities modating these severe shortages, will the Ultimate Potential and Future and towns can reduce their water have to be found. Marginal Cost of Water Resources in requirements by between 15% and A Water Resource Conciliation South Africa. 30%. Van Rooyen is encouraged Strategy Study is now underway and it DWA Director: National Water that flowing from the reconciliation is hoped that this will offer a range of Resource Planning, Johan van studies have been strategy steering options for consideration. Rooyen, explains the reasoning committees comprising local stake- behind the reports: “South Africa holders, and that WC/WDM is now has enough water only if it uses its recognised and planned for as a key resources carefully and plans to meet strategy. future water requirements well in The agricultural sector remains advance. Recognising that almost the largest user of water in South all major sources of readily available Africa (more than 60%). Even water have already been harnessed, small savings here could make large the reports set out to review the situ- volumes of water available for addi- ation and indicate how the country tional use. is to be supplied with water over the next 25 to 30 years.” Looking at the alternative We need to start will cost – to meet the requirements, saving eyond WC/WDM the situation notes Van Rooyen. Band the solutions to provid- Innovative thinking is required if hat is glaring from the docu- ing water are not uniform across South Africa is to adapt to the reali- Wments is that South Africans the country. Key to ensuring that ties of a water-scarce country. Water have historically been far too liberal we have enough water is having a resource planners are shifting focus in their use of water. “Every water realistic understanding of the situa- away from the construction of large management institution and every tion, and what it takes – and what it bulk water schemes towards the

The Water Wheel November/December 2010 15 Water resource management

What are the options?

Build more dams roof rainwater tanks for domestic use, ore than 70% of South Africa’s current which have been found to be particu- Mavailable water is received from sur- larly effective when used conjunctively face water resources (i.e. dams and direct with other water supplies. abstraction from rivers). The limits to the development of surface water sources have R eallocating water use almost been reached, and the opportunities ater may be moved from a less for the economic siting of new dams are Wefficient to a more efficient use, few and far between. There are still a few the use of this technology – has decreased traded from low value to high value use, large dam projects in the pipeline, though. greatly over the last few years. The energy or there can be a switch from a high The De Hoop and Springrove dams are cur- requirement for seawater reverse osmosis, consumptive use to a less demanding rently being constructed, with phase 2 of for example, has come down from 22 kWh requirement. This changing use can the Lesotho Highlands Water Project in the to produce a cubic metre of water in 1970 affect whole sectors (for example, planning phase, among others. to 8 kWh in 1990 and 4 kWh today. agriculture) and must be carefully considered for its consequences and M ake use of groundwater Increase water re-use planned over time to make water avail- resources he re-use of water only accounts for about able where it is more needed. t present, groundwater use around T14% of all available water at present. Athe country totals around 2 000 Increasing the percentage is an important Water conservation and million m3/year, with a potential 5 500 water reconciliation strategy, especially for water demand management million m3/year more available for use. mines and industry. The reclamation and onsidered the foremost strategy in Groundwater is a particularly attractive re-use of effluents after treatment is now Creconciling the water balance, it is option for smaller towns, villages, mines becoming financially attractive compared to believed that water use in larger systems and individual users. Aquifers can also other water resource developments. could be reduced by up to 30% through be used as a way of storing surplus water water conservation and water demand through artificial recharge. Rainwater harvesting management. Water losses of up to 50% he potential of rainwater harvesting have been recorded in smaller towns and Desalination Tas a water resource has not yet been many are still not measuring water use esalination is becoming a more attrac- quantified in South Africa, and at present properly. Addressing these issues could Dtive option, especially to meet water it is mostly applied in rural households. go a long way towards securing South requirements close to the coast. Desalina- However, it could become an important Africa’s wat