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1
Van, Wyk Frederick C. (Frederick Christoffel). "Die Saldanhabaai Watergehalte Forum Trust : 'n instrument vir beplande, geintegreerde monitering en bestuur van watergehalte." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/52226.
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Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Saldanha-Langebaan coastal zone is an important natural resource and serves as habitat for several endangered bird and fish species. Development in this coastal zone holds a constant threat for the natural environment and has a negative impact on the water quality of the bay. It is therefore essential to manage the water quality to ensure fitness for use for all the beneficial users in this coastal zone. This study focuses on the utilization and management of the Saldanha-Langebaan coastal zone. The beneficial users have different water quality requirements. It is therefore important to identify all the different water uses and to determine the occurrence of pollution and the dispersion thereof in the bay. The biophysical characteristics of the natural resource are described as part of the objective determining phase of the integrated water quality management process. The thesis also focuses on the inauguration and functioning of an integrated water quality management organization and the development and implementation of a long term monitoring program, with special emphasis on the sediment en health monitoring results. The result of this research study is a functional management instrument for integrated water quality monitoring and management in the Saldanha-Langebaan coastal zone.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Saldanha-Langebaan kussone is 'n belangrike natuurlike hulpbron en dien as habitat vir verskeie bedreigde voel- en visspesies. Hierdie kussone is egter ook onder konstante ontwikkelingsdruk wat 'n negatiewe impak op die watergehalte van die baai het. Dit is dus noodsaaklik dat die watergehalte so bestuur word dat dit geskik bly vir al die gemeenskaplike watergebruikers in hierdie kussone. In hierdie studie is die benutting en bestuur van die Saldanha-Langebaan kussone ondersoek. Verskillende watergebruikers het uiteenlopende watergehaltebehoeftes en dit is noodsaaklik om die verskillende watergebruikers, sowel as die voorkoms en verspreiding van besoedeling in hierdie gebied te identifiseer. Die biofisiese eienskappe van die natuurlike kusopvanggebied is beskryf as deel van die aanvanklike doelwitbepalingsfase van geïntegreerde watergehaltebestuur. Die tesis fokus ook op die stigting en werkswyse van 'n geïntegreerde watergehaltebestuursliggaam, asook die ontwerp en implementering van 'n langtermyn moniteringsprogram. Daar is veral gelet op die resultate van die . sediment- en bakteriologiese moniteringsprogram. Die resultaat van die navorsingsproses is die totstandkoming van 'n funksionele bestuursliggaam wat as instrument dien vir geïntegreerde monitering en bestuur van die watergehalte in die Saldanha-Langebaan kussone.
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Venter, Ansie. "Water quality modelling of eutrophied reservoirs in South Africa." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9469.
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Includes bibliography.Governmental agencies in South Africa became concerned about the increase in eutrophication-related water quality problems during the early 1970's. The first step taken to control eutrophication was introduction of an effluent phosphate standard that limited the phosphorus concentration in effluents being discharged in certain sensitive catchments to a maximum of 1 mg P04-P 1-1. This standard applied only to point sources, because of an initial belief that the contribution from non-point sources was relatively minor, and the absence of practical economic measures to control phosphorus discharges from non-point sources. Subsequent to introduction of the 1 mg P Standard several modelling studies were undertaken, as there was a need to describe the response of eutrophic reservoirs to altered phosphate inputs. Most of the work was done on the hypertrophic Hartbeespoort Dam reservoir. The models utilised were empirical, zero-dimensional models that treated the reservoir as a completely mixed reactor. Usually these models considered only the steady state, or at most, annual changes. The models simulated annual mean phosphate-P concentrations with varying degrees of success, but a significant relationship between observed and simulated chlorophylla concentrations could not be obtained, i.e. these models could not be used to predict the response of eutrophic reservoirs to different management strategies aimed at alleviating eutrophication-related water quality problems. Consequently, a further study was initiated by the Water Research Commission to test the applicability of more sophisticated hydrodynamic and water quality models, developed in the USA and Australia, to stratified reservoirs under South African climatic conditions. Several models of varying complexity were available. From these four models were selected for study. The models that were tested were the one-dimensional models DYRESM (developed in Australia), and MINLAKE (developed in the USA) , and the two-dimensional models CE-QUAL and WASP (developed in the USA). The DYRESM model can simulate hydrodynamic behaviour only, whereas MINLAKE, CE-QUAL and WASP can simulate both hydrodynamic and water quality behaviour. This report covers the extensive study that conducted on the MINLAKE model. The study is justified in view of the potential of the MINLAKE model to evaluate different treatment options: of the four models selected, it is the only model that can simulate more than one algal class. Thus it is an ideal tool to assess the effect of a chosen treatment option on, for example, algal succession.
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Osmond, Christopher John. "A sustainable water quality framework for South Africa towards 2050." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3255.
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There are a wide range of issues that stem from inadequate access to, and the unsustainable management of water resources, which can lead to ecological and human crises (Gleik, 1998: 571). With the increasing demand for clean water for drinking and sanitation, coupled with population growth, aging infrastructure, and climate change, many countries face a complex set of threats when dealing with their water resources and the management thereof (Environmental Protection Agency, 2012: 4). South Africa‟s challenges are no different, if current trends in water management continue and government does not intervene with what has been an unequal society even in terms of the division of water, it will continue to lose ground in its development and sustaining of water resources (Ukwandu, 2009: 24 - 30). “The objective of managing the quantity, quality and reliability of the nation‟s water resources is to achieve optimum, long-term, environmentally sustainable social and economic benefit for society from their use.” (Principle 7 of the National Water Policy, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 1997: 20). The primary objective of this research is to develop a framework for water management and sustainable development by utilising a Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) to develop strategies for innovation in South Africa towards 2050. New rules and regulations have been adopted by local municipal divisions in South Africa to promote sustainable, environmentally friendly buildings and methods. It is therefore the aim of the research to establish ways in which water can be harvested and saved in a simple and innovative yet sustainable manner. The complexity of erecting structures has also increased with some sustainable measures in water management taking place, however the water issues in South Africa continue to grow and cause concern. Government therefore plays a pivotal role in ensuring that water is managed sustainably at not only harvesting and infrastructure level but also re-cycling level, where simple innovative strategies can be adopted. This paper further seeks to highlight the positive and negative impacts of implementing water management methods and strategies that can be adopted.
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Mensah, Paul Kojo. "Environmental water quality management of glyphosate-based herbicides in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001987.
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Although the use of pesticides is necessary to meet the socio-economic needs of many developing countries, especially in Africa, side effects of these bio-active chemicals have contributed to contaminating aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Environmental water quality degradation by pesticides interferes with ecosystem health and poses numerous risks to aquatic life. In South Africa, glyphosate-based herbicides are frequently used to control weeds and invading alien plants, but ultimately end up in freshwater ecosystems. However, there are no South African-based environmental water quality management strategies to regulate these bio-active chemicals. Therefore, this study sought to provide a sound scientific background for the environmental water quality management of glyphosate-based herbicides in South Africa, by conducting both laboratory and field investigations. In the laboratory investigations, aquatic ecotoxicological methods were used to evaluate responses of the freshwater aquatic shrimp Caridina nilotica exposed to Roundup® at different biological system scales, and the responses of multiple South African aquatic species exposed to Roundup® through species sensitivity distribution (SSD). In the field investigations, the effect of Kilo Max WSG on the physicochemical and biological conditions of three selected sites in the Swartkops River before and after a spray episode by Working for Water were evaluated through biomonitoring, using the South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5) as a sampling protocol. Both Roundup® and Kilo Max WSG are glyphosate-based herbicides. All the data were subjected to relevant statistical analyses. Findings of this study revealed that Roundup® elicited responses at different biological system scales in C. nilotica, while SSD estimates were used to derive proposed water quality guidelines for glyphosate-based herbicides in South Africa. The biomonitoring revealed that using glyphosate-based herbicides to control water hyacinth within the Swartkops River had a negligible impact on the physicochemical and biological conditions. Based on these findings, a conceptual framework that can be used for the integrated environmental water quality management of glyphosate-based herbicides in South Africa was developed as part of integrated water resource management (IWRM). The combined data sets contribute to a sound scientific basis for the environmental water quality management of glyphosate-based herbicides in South Africa.
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Ngwenya, Faith. "Water quality trends in the Eerste River, Western Cape, 1990 - 2005." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2006. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_2843_1189582559.
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The Eerste River is a river system which has, over the years, been subjected to human interference. The purpose of this study was to investigatge temporal and spatial trends in the water quality of the Eerste River between 1990 and 2005. The study results revealed that the major trends in the water quality of the Eerste River are more spatial than temporal.
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Slaughter, Andrew Robert. "Modelling the relationship between flow and water quality in South African rivers." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006196.
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The National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) provides for an ecological Reserve as the quantity (flow) and quality of water needed to protect aquatic ecosystems. While there are methods available to quantify the ecological Reserve in terms of flow, methods of linking flow to water quality are lacking. Therefore, the research presented in this thesis investigated various modelling techniques to estimate the effect of flow on water quality. The aims of the research presented in this thesis were: Aim 1: Can the relationship between flow and water quality be accurately represented by simple statistical models? Aim 2: Can relatively simple models accurately represent the relationship between flow and water quality? Aim 3: Can the effect of diffuse sources be omitted from a water quality model and still obtain realistic simulations, and if so under what conditions? Aim 4: Can models that solely use historical monitoring data, accurately represent the relationships between flow and water quality? In Chapter 3, simple Q-C regressions of flow and water quality were investigated using Department of Water Affairs (DWA) historical monitoring data. It was found that while flow versus salinity regressions gave good regression fits in many cases, the Q-C regression approach is limited. A mechanistic/statistical model that attempted to estimate the point and diffuse signatures of nutrients in response to flow was developed in Chapter 4 using DWA historical monitoring data. The model was verified as accurate in certain case studies using observed point loading information. In Chapter 5, statistical models that link land cover information to diffuse nutrient signatures in response to flow using DWA historical data were developed. While the model estimations are uncertain due to a lack of data, they do provide an estimation of the diffuse signature within catchments where there is flow and land cover information available. Chapter 6 investigates the extension of an existing mass-balance salinity model to estimate the effect of saline irrigation return flow on in-stream salinity. The model gave accurate salinity estimates for a low order stream with little or no irrigation within its catchment, and for a permanently flowing river within a catchment used extensively for irrigation. Chapter 7 investigated a modelling method to estimate the reaction coefficients involved in nitrification using only DWA historical monitoring data. Here, the model used flow information to estimate the residence time of nutrients within the studied river reaches. While the model obtained good estimations of nitrification for the data it was applied to, very few DWA data sets were suitable for the model. Chapter 8 investigated the ability of the in-stream model QUAL2K to estimate nutrient concentrations downstream of point and diffuse inputs of nutrients. It was found that the QUAL2K model can give accurate results in cases where point sources dominate the total nutrient inputs into a river. However, the QUAL2K simulations are too uncertain in cases where there are large diffuse source inputs of nutrients as the load of the diffuse inputs is difficult to measure in the field. This research highlights the problem of data scarcity in terms of temporal resolution as well as the range of constituents measured within DWA historical monitoring data for water quality. This thesis in addition argues that the approach of applying a number of models is preferable to applying one model to investigate the research aims, as particular models would be suited to particular circumstances, and the development of new models allowed the research aims of this thesis to be explored more thoroughly. It is also argued that simpler models that simulate a few key processes that explain the variation in observed data, are more suitable for implementing Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) than large comprehensive water quality models. From this research, it is clear that simple statistical models are not adequate for modelling the relationship between flow and water quality, however, relatively simple mechanistic models that simulate a limited number of processes and water quality variables, can provide accurate representations of this relationship. Under conditions where diffuse sources are not a major factor within a catchment, models that omit diffuse sources can obtain realistic simulations of the relationship between flow and water quality. Most of the models investigated in this thesis demonstrate that accurate simulations of the relationships between flow and water quality can be obtained using solely historical monitoring data.
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Itoba, Tombo Elie Fereche. "Land-use on water quality of the Bottelary River in Cape Town, Western Cape." Thesis, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11838/812.
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Thesis (MTech (Environmental Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010Freshwater scarcity and river pollution has become a serious challenge for governments and scientists. Worldwide, governments have a responsibility to provide their populations with enough clean water for their domestic needs. Scientists will have an enormous task to find a way to purify polluted water, because of its vital role in human lives and an increasing demand for water consumption due to population growth. Although the water from the Bottelary River is used on a daily basis for farming activities, its pollution level as well as spatial distribution of effluents in the catchment is unknown. In the present study, I took monthly water samples from six sampling points for laboratory analysis. The laboratory determined concentration levels of phosphorous, chloride, nitrate, and nitrate nitrogen (N03N), as well as the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids from the samples. On the same occasion's pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and temperature were measured in-situ using a multi-parameter reader. The results were then compared with the South African Water Quality Guidelines for Aquatic Ecosystems and for irrigation (DWAF, 1996a, 1996c). The non-point pollution source (NPS) model was used to generate predictions of the pollution level from the land-uses and use the data obtained from the field to validate the model predictions. Finally, I performed a two-factorial A One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) without replication to assess the spatial and temporal variation of the measured variables along the river. The findings of the study have shown that the concentration levels of some compounds are below the Target Water Quality Range (TWQR) set by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF, 1996a, 1996b, 1996c) while, the concentrations of chloride, total nitrogen and water quality variables such as electrical conductivity, suspended solids, are higher than the TWQR (DWAF, 1996a, 1996b, 1996c). Based on the above findings water of the Bottelary River can have negative effects on the environment and human lives because of the concentration level of these compounds. It was therefore recommended that, environmentally friendly measures and practices must be undertaken in order to decrease the pollution and avoid further pollution of the river.
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Pretorius, Liaan Marié. "Spatial and temporal variability in water quality characteristics of the Swartkops Estuary." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/4176.
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Water quality characteristics of the heavily urbanised and industrialised Swartkops River catchment in the Eastern Cape has been the focus of several studies since the 1970s. Overloaded and poorly maintained wastewater treatment works (WWTW), polluted stormwater runoff and solid waste have had a negative impact on the water quality status of the Swartkops River and estuary. Past studies have revealed that a distinct relationship exists between land use activities and the water quality of the Swartkops Estuary, which in turn has raised concerns pertaining to the ecological, economic, recreational, and cultural value of the estuaryThe Swartkops Estuary has a Present Ecological State (PES) of Category D(1) and a Recommended Ecological Category (REC)(2) of a C (Van Niekerk et al., 2014). It is known that effective management of anthropogenic impacts on coastal systems requires a thorough understanding of the system’s biological responses to wastewater discharges and to hydrologic changes. For this reason, the objective of this study was to determine the current water quality status of the Swartkops Estuary, and to gain greater insight into factors controlling eutrophication. This was important as outdated water quality information was used in the Swartkops Integrated Environmental Management Plan (Enviro-Fish Africa, 2011) due to a lack of current data. To determine the current water quality status of the Swartkops Estuary the present study investigated spatial and temporal variability in physico-chemical parameters, nutrients, phytoplankton biomass and community composition, faecal bacteria, and “where possible” related this to historical water quality data. In general, points of entry into the estuary were investigated for their impact on nutrient enrichment and the bacteriological status of the estuary. Water quality surveys were completed in September 2012, November 2012, February 2013, May 2013 and August 2013The present study found evidence to suggest that water is not flushed as efficiently from the estuary as was previously the case, and that the natural hydrology of the estuary has been modified. These changes appear to be the effect of large volumes of wastewater discharges from the wastewater treatment works (WWTW), which has led to the additional stresses of increased vertical stratification and reduced vertical mixing. A build-up of dissolved inorganic nutrients has given rise to persistent eutrophic conditions and phytoplankton blooms occurring from the middle reaches to the tidal limit of the estuary. These findings were associated with a generally well oxygenated estuary; however, bottom water hypoxic conditions were recorded in the upper reaches of the estuary on two occasions and were generally associated with bloom.forming flagellates. Elevated concentrations of inorganic nutrients stimulated phytoplankton to attain high biomass ranging from 0 to 248 g l-1 (31.8 6.56 g l-1). All nutrients displayed positive linear gradients from the mouth to the tidal limit, showed significant (p < 0.05) temporal and spatial variability, and were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with phytoplankton biomass. Phytoplankton blooms (> 10 000 cells ml-1) of several different groups were recorded from the middle reaches of the estuary to the tidal limit. Diatoms were the dominant group during increased freshwater inflow (at mean daily flow rate of 2.14 m3 s-1) and low DIP levels, whereas flagellates were generally the dominant group during reduced flow and under higher nutrient levels. Although the different tidal stages had no effect on phytoplankton biomass per se, it did support co-existance between phytoplankton groups. This was noted during the spring ebb tide in September 2012 (i.e. flagellates, diatoms and dinoflagellate) and in February 2013 (i.e. dinoflagellates, diatoms and chlorophytes). Phytoplankton blooms have become persistent in the middle to upper reaches of the estuary where chlorophyll-a was > 20 µg l-1 and cell density exceeded 10 000 cells ml-1; a situation not reported in previous studies. The Motherwell Canal was and still is the main source of nitrogen (generally in the form of ammonium) to the estuary, whereas the Swartkops River is still the primary source of phosphorus to the estuary. Since the stormwater canal services the large residential area of Motherwell where leaks in the sewer system, the dumping of night soil buckets, and faulty pumps are often reported, polluted discharges from the Motherwell Canal can enter the canal at any given point. In contrast to the canal, DIP loading from the Swartkops River to the estuary generally occurred under conditions of low flow, whereas nitrogen showed no apparent relationship. Faecal bacteria originating from the Motherwell Canal had the most profound effect on the bacteriological status in the middle reaches of the estuary, whereas the Swartkops River had an intermediate effect due to bacteria die-offs occurring between the point of release from the WWTW to the riverine reaches and the tidal limit of the estuary. Nevertheless, Escherichia coli and enterococci levels are still high, especially in the summer months rendering the estuary unsafe for recreation during this season. Historical data on trace metals in the water column were limited and thus observations from the present study could not be concluded with much confidence. However, preliminary data suggest that levels of copper, zinc, iron and cadmium have increased by at least 90% in the estuary, at the tidal limit of the estuary and in the Markman and Motherwell canals. High inputs of nutrients, trace metals and faecal bacteria to the estuary from land-use activities indicate the necessity for remedial actions with the main objective being to conserve and protect the estuary’s recreational, ecological and economic functions.
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Manona, Wellman Wela. "Impact of health, water and sanitation services on improving the quality of life of poor communities." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49987.
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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Good health is a major imperative for social, economic and personal development, thus an important dimension of quality of life. Quality of life, in turn, is significantly influenced by access to the goods and services provided by the State. Access to infrastructure and services such as water and sanitation, has direct effects on health. Thus, the delivery of health, water and sanitation services should ensure improved access to basic needs, enhance the health profile of poor communities and their access to employment opportunities. Safe clean water supplies and adequate sanitation services therefore are among the major determinants of health. Health-related services such as water and sanitation should ensure a certain average life expectancy and eliminate mass disease and ill health. Mindful of the fact that there are many factors that determine the quality of life, the aim of the study was to investigate the impact of health, water and sanitation services in improving the quality of life among poor communities. To do this, this study adopted a comparative qualitative analysis approach between poorly serviced and adequately serviced areas. Subsequent to the findings, this study espouses constructive suggestions and recommendations that could act as guidance to community development agencies' strategies in amelioration of the quality of life among poverty-stricken communities. The research was based on a narrow model of services (health, water and sanitation services) that have impact on improving the quality of life among poor communities. The empirical findings of this study indicate these services to be insufficient to draw conclusive findings in other aspects of the survey. The research was conducted in a sample of 573 households in 6 communities in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces in South Africa. The sample comprised 3 communities in the category classified as poorly serviced with health, water and sanitation services, and 3 communities that were regarded as adequately provided with these services. The data was gathered by means of structured questionnaires, administered by the researcher with the assistance of a trained field worker. Additional, the data was gathered by means of a semi-structured, open-ended interview with a Sister-in-Charge of a clinic in the rural villages. The interaction between variables on the improvement of the quality of life were explored by means of basic statistics, which made it possible to assess the effects of independent and dependent variables. The results of data analysis provided support for the proposition contained in the premise of the study that although the provision of health, safe clean water and adequate sanitation services lead to improvement in the standard of living, their impact alone does not incorporate all the attributes that enhance quality of life as suggested by mainstream schools of thought in the health sector. Poverty-related factors also have to be taken into account. As such, the findings of this study have shown that poverty, combined with poor public health conditions, inadequate nutrition, overcrowded poor quality housing, lack of accessible drinking water and sanitation, renders communities vulnerable to ill health. Given the poor socio-economic conditions prevalent in the communities under investigation, it was not surprising that tuberculosis was most prevalent in all areas. In line with the premise of this study, there were instances that povertyrelated factors such as income, housing and nutrition had significant influences with regard to improvement in the quality of life. It became evident therefore that in certain instances, health, water, and sanitation services alone are not sufficient to make conclusive findings. Thus, the impact of povertyrelated factors such as income, housing and nutrition necessitate expansion of factors that impact on the quality of life to include their influence.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Goeie gesondheid is 'n belangrike vereiste vir sosiale, ekonomiese en persoonlike ontwikkeling, en dus ook 'n wesenlike aspek van 'n goeie lewensgehalte. Toegang tot goedere en dienste wat deur die staat voorsien word, het ook 'n beduidende invloed op lewensgehalte. Boonop het die toegang tot infrastruktuur en dienste soos water en sanitasie 'n direkte invloed op gesondheid. Die lewering van gesondheids, water- en sanitasiedienste verseker dus die bevrediging van basiese behoeftes, onderwyl arm gemeenskappe se gesondheidsprofiel en daarmee saam hul toegang tot werksgeleenthede verbeter word. Toegang tot veilige en skoon waterbronne en voldoende sanitasiedienste is gevolglik van die belangrikste gesondheidsbepalers. Gesondheidsverwante dienste soos water en sanitasie verseker 'n sekere gemiddelde lewensverwagting, en verminder die moontlikheid van wydverspreide siektetoestande. Met inagneming van die feit dat lewensgehalte deur talle faktore beïnvloed kan word, was die doel van hierdie studie om ondersoek in te stel na die invloed van gesondheids, water- en sanitasiedienste op die verbetering van lewensgehalte in arm gemeenskappe. Gevolglik is 'n vergelykende analise tussen areas met swak dienslewering en areas met bevredigende dienslewering uitgevoer. Op grond van die bevindinge word sekere voorstelle en aanbevelings gemaak wat kan dien as riglyne vir ontwikkelingsagentskappe ter bevordering van die lewensgehalte in arm gemeenskappe. Die navorsing was gegrond op 'n beperkte model van dienste (gesondheids, water- en sanitasiedienste) wat die verbetering van lewensgehalte in arm gemeenskappe beïnvloed. Die empiriese bevindinge van die studie toon aan dat hierdie dienste onvoldoende is om as basis te dien vir beslissende uitsprake oor ander aspekte van die opname. Die studie het 'n steekproef van 573 huishoudings in 6 gemeenskappe in die provinsies van die Oos-Kaap en Wes-Kaap in Suid-Afrika ingesluit. Die steekproef het bestaan uit 3 gemeenskappe met swak gesondheids, water en sanitasiedienste, en 3 gemeenskappe waar sulke dienste op 'n bevredigende vlak voorsien word. 'n Gestruktureerde vraelys is gebruik om die navorsingsinligting in te samel, wat deur die navorser en 'n opgeleide veldwerker toegedien is. Bykomende inligting is bekom deur 'n semigestruktureerde onderhoud met die verpleeghoof van 'n kliniek in 'n landelike gemeenskap. Die invloed van die verskillende veranderlikes op lewensgehalte is deur middel van basiese statistiese analise geëvalueer. Die resultate van die data-analise verleen 'n mate van steun vir die premis van die studie dat hoewel die voorsiening van gesondheid, veilige, skoon water en voldoende sanitasie tot 'n beter lewenstandaard kan lei, die uitwerking daarvan as sodanig nie alle vereistes insluit vir 'n beter lewenstaard nie, soos voorgestaan deur hoofstroom denkskole in die gesondheidsektor. Faktore wat met armoede verband hou moet ook in ag geneem word. Die studie se bevindinge dui dus daarop dat armoede, tesame met swak openbare gesondheidstoestande, onvoldoende voeding, gebrekkige behuising en swak water- en sanitasiegeriewe gemeenskappe meer kwesbaar maak. Weens die swak sosio-ekonomiese toestande in die gemeenskappe in die steekproef, is gevind dat tuberkulose wydverspreid voorkom. Alhoewel die studie se hipotese met betrekking tot verskeie aspekte bevestig is, was daar ook gevalle waar armoede-verwante faktore soos inkomste, behuising en voeding 'n beduidende rol gespeel het. Dit het dus geblyk dat gesondheids, water- en sanitasiedienste nie in alle gevalle voldoende is om swak lewensgehalte te verklaar nie. Dus sal die faktore wat op lewens kwaliteit 'n impak maak, uitgebrei moet word om vir die invloed van armoede-verwante faktore soos inkomste, behuising en voeding voorsiening te maak.
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Luyt, Catherine Diane. "Faecal source tracking and water quality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1018242.
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Water quality is concerning as many still lack access to safe drinking water. Alternate sources such as rivers (FC up to 1600 CFUs/100 mL) and rainwater are often polluted. Rainwater tanks require maintenance to improve water quality, but could be used for non-potable purposes or irrigation. Grahamstown infrastructural failures initiate deviations from DWAF 1996 domestic water guidelines for microorganisms within the distribution system. Frequent testing can decrease risks of waterborne diseases. Limitations to this are inaccessibility of rural areas, distances from testing centres and costs. The low cost H2S strip test able to be used onsite by communities, may aid in risk assessment. H2S strip test results are not affected by sulphate (14 to 4240 mg/L) or nitrite (up to 47 mg/L). Transportation of the H2S strip tests between 10 and 32°C does not modify results significantly. Similarly to other studies: Klebsiella spp.; Enterobacter spp. and Serratia spp. were isolated from H2S strip tests. The mH2S strip test corresponds best with HPC in treated water, while in untreated river water it has approximately 90% correspondence with FCs, while survival of FC causes discrepancies with the H2S test after 22 days. A faecal coliform inactivation rate of 0.1 CFUs/ day, may be longer than many pathogens. Faecal source tracking, not currently practised in South Africa, could aid health risk assessments for disaster management, which would improve the NMMP programme. Bacterial survival times could propose the time period for which water is unsafe. Bifidobacteria and Rhodococcus are proposed to help identify the faecal pollution source. But enumeration of Rhodococcus is too lengthy (21 days). The tracking ratio of bifidobacteria (between 0.1 to 6.25) is not source definitive. The bifidobacteria survival rate, could indicator the time since faecal pollution. The bifidobacteria average survival rate is 2.3 CFUs per day for both groups. The culturability and selectivity of agar is still poor, with total bifidobacteria less selectively culturable. Enterococci overgrowth of TB was decreased by Beerens media. SUB is still useful to identify potential human faecal inputs. A single tracking method is thus not suitable alone, but requires a combination of techniques.
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Nitsche, N. C. "Assessment of a hydrodynamic water quality model, DUFLOW, for a winter rainfall river." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2000. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/51624.
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Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2000.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Berg River is one of the largest rivers in the winter rainfall area of the Western Cape and is one of the most important water supply sources of the area. The Riviersonderend-Berg system needs to be expanded in order to meet increasing water demands of the Greater Cape Town (GCT) region. The implementation of future schemes will remove additional fresh water from the Berg River main stem, which will give rise to increased nutrient levels and higher salinity in the water. A water quality information system (WQIS) has been proposed to benefit the management of water resources, the flow quantity and the quality of the water. A part of this WQIS will be a water-quality simulation model that characterizes the water quality situation and is able to predict water quality responses to future implementations, as well as simulate different scenarios that can be used for management purposes. The objective of this study is to represent the water quality situation of the Berg River in a simulation model by implementing, testing and verifying a water quality simulation model, and assembling a hydraulic and water quality database suitable to meet foregoing objectives. This study firstly examined the water quality variables of concern: pH, Total Dissolved Salts (TDS) and phosphates to develop an understanding of the water quality responses and causes of the main stem of the Berg River system. A thorough review of the available models has been undertaken in the light of certain selection criteria, before determining that DUFLOW would be an acceptable model for this study. The water quality variables that have been modelled are TDS, Phosphates as P04, Oxygen and Temperature. As no predefined module simulating temperature, TDS and COD was included; these algorithms, describing the processes of these water quality variables have been additionally coded. The coding was possible, as DUFLOW' s water quality module consists of an open structure. The predefined water quality module was simplified to only include the water quality process algorithms, for water quality variables where data was available. Unfortunately, phosphates were mainly simulated on advection, and the influence of all the additional processes could not be assessed. All data gathering and preparation for the model had to be completed before commencing the model configuration. This included information on cross-sections, historical flow records, bridges and weirs for the hydraulic component ofDUFLOW. For the water quality module, information on historical grab samples has been obtained and 'infilled' to provide daily time series. To simulate the water quality in a river as accurately as possible, the flow simulation needs to be accurate. Ungauged subcatchment runoff was added to the simulation model to improve the correspondence between the simulated and the measured flow. Calibration of the water quality part of DUFLOW was completed by adjusting the different parameters after a sensitivity analysis. The model was verified by using a different time period than for the configuration, to ensure that an independent data set has been used. After configuring, calibrating and verifying the model, the applicability of the model could be tested for different scenario runs. Three scenarios were chosen according to real situations: • a short term effluent spill, with and without water releases from an upstream source (either Skuifraam Dam or Voëlvlei Dam); • the impact on the flow and water quality situation of the river when an upstream dam is built; • a long term management control scenario, that analyses load or concentration releases into the river according to limitations upstream and downstream of the discharge location. The scenario analysis provides an opportunity to assess the applicability of DUFLOW to simulate real time management and operational issues in a river and to aid in management decisions.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Bergrivier is een van die grootste riviere in die winterreënvalgebied van die Weskaap en is een van die mees belangrike waterverskaffingsbronne in die area. Die Riviersonderend-Bergrivier-stelsel moet uitgebrei word om aan die groeiende waterbehoefte van die groter Kaapse Metropolitaanse Area te voldoen. Die implementering van toekomstige skemas sal addisionele vars water uit die hoof-loop van die Bergrivier onttrek, wat tot hoër voedingstof-vlakke en soutgehalte in die water sal lei. 'n Waterkwaliteitsinformasiestelsel (WQIS) sal van nut wees om die vloei-omvang en waterkwaliteit van waterbronne te bestuur. 'n Deel van die WQIS sal 'n waterkwaliteit-simulasiemodel wees, wat die waterkwaliteitsituasie sal kan ontleed, waterkwaliteit-reaksies op toekomstige implementerings kan voorspel, asook verskeie scenarios vir bestuursdoeleindes kan simuleer. Hierdie studie behandel spesifiek die waterkwaliteitsveranderlikes pH, totale opgeloste soute, fosfate, temperatuur en suurstof om 'n begrip te ontwikkel van die waterkwaliteitsreaksies en oorsake van die hoofloop van die Bergriviersisteem. Die doelwit van hierdie studie is om die waterkwaliteitsituasie van die Bergrivier uit te beeld deur die implementering, toets en kalibrasie van 'n waterkwaliteit-simulasie model, asook die insameling van hidrouliese- en waterkwaliteitsdata om aan bogenoemde doelwitte te voldoen. 'n Reeks beskikbare modelle is deeglik ondersoek voordat besluit is dat die DUFLOW model 'n gepaste model vir hierdie spesifieke studie is. Die keuse was gebaseer op spesifieke vereistes wat as belangrik beskou is deur potensiële bestuursgeorienteerde gebruiksgroepe. Die waterkwaliteitsveranderlikes wat gemodelleer is, is totale opgeloste soute, fosfate as P04, suurstof en temperatuur. Omdat geen voorgegewe temperatuur-, TDS- en COD modules in die model ingesluit is nie, is die algoritmes wat die prosesse van hierdie waterkwaliteitsveranderlikes beskryf, addisioneel gekodeer. Die kodering is moontlik gemaak deur die oop struktuur van DUFLOW se waterkwaliteitsmodule. Die voorgegewe waterkwaliteitsmodule is vereenvoudig om alleenlik die waterkwaliteit proses-algoritmes in ag te neem wanneer data vir waterkwaliteitsveranderlikes beskikbaar was. Ongelukkig is die fosfate hoofsaaklik op beweging gesimuleer, en die invloed van alle addisionele prosesse kon nie getoets word nie. Alle data-insameling en -voorbereidings vir die model moes voltooi word, voordat begin kon word met die opstel van die simulasie-model. Dit het inligting oor dwarssnitte, historiese vloeirekords, brik en keerwalle vir die hidrouliese komponent van DUFLOW ingesluit. Vir die waterkwaliteitsmodule is inligting van historiese bemonstering verkry en ingevulom 'n daaglikse tydreeks te verkry. Om die water-kwaliteit van 'n rivier so akkuraat as moontlik te simuleer, moet die vloei-simulasie redelik akkuraat wees. Ongemete sub-opvanggebied afloop is bygetel om die korrelasie tussen die gesimuleerde en gemete vloei te verbeter. Kalibrasie van die waterkwaliteitmodule van DUFLOW is voltooi deur die verskillende parameters te verstel na 'n sensitiwiteits-analise. Die model is geverifieer deur 'n ander tydperiode as die vir die opstel te gebruik, om sodoende te verseker dat Inonafhanklike data stel gebruik word. Na die opstel, kalibrasie en verifiering van die model, kon dit toegepass word vir verskillende bestuursscenanos. Drie scenarios is na aanleiding van werklike situasies gekies: 'n korttermyn uitvloeisel storting-situasie met en sonder loslatings van 'n stroomop bron (Of Skuifraamdam Of Voëlvleidam), die impak op die vloei- en waterkwaliteitsituasie van die rivier sou 'n dam stroomop gebou word. 'n langtermyn bestuurs-scenario waarin die lading en konsentrasies, veroorsaak deur die loslatings vanuit die dam na die rivier, ontleed word na aanleiding van beperkings stroomop en -af van die loslatingsplek. Die analise van die scenarios verskaf 'n geleentheid om die toepaslikheid van DUFLOW te ondersoek om werklike operasionele aangeleenthede te simuleer en om sodoende bestuursbesluite te vergemaklik.
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Mpange, Zolisa Bavuyise. "Water service delivery for improved quality of life in the Mbizana Local Municipal." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018891.
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This study deals with water service delivery for improved quality of life in the Mbizana Local Municipality. The study sets out to determine how the inner workings of water service delivery work in the Mbizana Local Municipality, situated in the Eastern Cape, and how this should function in terms of South African legislation. The objectives of the study are to understand the current state of water service delivery in the Mbizana Local Municipality, finding out information about South African legislation regarding the ideal state of water service delivery, and recommending development programmes to improve water service delivery. This study is about understanding trends in the body of scientific knowledge or literature, and studying (as objects) the ideas and writings of other scholars. No empirical study was conducted. The research methodology for this study is descriptive, with data sourced from available literature. The findings in this study indicate that backlogs for water service delivery remain high in the Mbizana Local Municipality. Regrettably, the situation has worsened since 2004; backlogs have shifted from 45 percent to 94 percent of households with no access to tap water. A number of normative criteria to deal with the research problem were extracted from available literature, from which conclusions were drawn and recommendations made.
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Maseti, Pumza Penelope. "Biomonitoring in two contrasting catchments." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006175.
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The introduction of instream biological monitoring to water resources management has been an increasing trend world-wide. This monitoring uses biological field assessments of instream biota such as macroinvertebrates, fish and riparian vegetation as an integrated and sensitive tool for diagnosing the condition of the ecosystems and assessing ecological impacts. Biomonitoring information has become an important component in the overall assessment of water resources and is used to drive and direct processes of decision-making and management of water resources. The River Health Programme (RHP) was initiated in South Africa to serve as a source of information regarding the ecological status of river systems, in order to support rational management of these natural resources. In this study, biomonitoring indices (SASS5 and FAII) were used to assess the present ecological status of two rivers located in contrasting catchments of the Eastern Cape. The first river is the Buffalo River located in an urban and industrialized catchment. The second river is the Inxu River draining a rural and afforested catchment. SASS5 was used successfully in both rivers and the results based on water quality and SASS5 indicated that most sites selected on the upper catchment of the Buffalo River have a fair water quality with most sites selected on the lower catchment having a poor water quality. The Inxu River sites (both upper and lower catchment) based on SASS5 and water quality results have a good to fair water quality. The majority of sites sampled on both rivers systems had very low FAII scores and fell within a critically modified water quality category. This result may be due to the fact that these rivers have low fish diversities (either low natural diversity or low diversity due to the presence of alien fish species), poor water quality or inadequate sampling methods. Observations from this study suggest that this index may not be suitable for rivers with low fish diversity. A fish index that is usable to all ecoregions of South Africa with minor adaptations to suit local conditions is still needed, as the present FAII index does not meet these requirements.
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Barnes, J. M. (Johanna Maria). "The impact of water pollution from formal and informal urban developments along the Plankenbrug River on water quality and health risk / J.M. Barnes." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53646.
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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Plankenbrug River runs past the dense settlement of Kayamandi, on the outskirts of Stellenbosch. This site was chosen to study the impact of water pollution from formal and informal urban developments on water quality and associated health factors. Aims of the study: (1) To determine some basic epidemiological characteristics of the exposed population of Kayamandi, their sanitation problems and reasons for poor hygiene; (2) To determine the microbiological and chemical pollution load patterns in the Plankenbrug River over time; (3) To investigate the spectrum of organisms present in the river (other than the indicator E. coli) and their epidemiological implications for health; (4) To establish the possible presence of organisms resistant to chlorine or to antibiotics in the river below Kayamandi as indicators of environmental hazard. Methods: During the period 5 May 1998 to 10 February 2003 microbiological and chemical analyses have been carried out every 6 weeks on water samples obtained at various points along the Plankenbrug River. Two large surveys (n=2196 persons and n=3568 persons) of the community of Kayamandi have been undertaken and door-to-door education campaigns were carried out with the aid of trained community health workers. Results: Below Kayamandi the river contains dangerously high levels of faecal contamination and it constitutes a health hazard to all persons coming into contact with the water. Up to 13 million Escherichia coli per 100 ml water was recorded (cut-off level as indicator of human safety is 1000 organisms per 100 ml water). Not all the faecal contamination originated from Kayamandi. Substantial amounts of faecal contamination sporadically entered the river at different points below Kayamandi. The pollution load resulting from these intrusions were sometimes larger than that contributed by the whole of Kayamandi. Water samples below Kayamandi were screened to ascertain what other pathogens were present. Amongst the organisms were 0 haemolytic Streptococcus Group A and B, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Staphylococcus spp, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and many others. The list of pathogens found had such serious implications that a confidential health warning was sent out to health care centres and other affected organisations in the area. |3 haemolytic Streptococcus Group A has never before been reported as isolated in viable form from free-flowing natural waters. Signs of increased resistance to chorine were found in organisms isolated from the river water. There were also organisms showing signs of resistance to commonly used antibiotics. The E. coli organisms that survived various levels of chlorine treatment also showed increased resistance to amoxycillin when compared to untreated E. coli organisms sampled from the Plankenbrug River. During the community phase of the project in Kayamandi a reduction in the pollution levels occurred over the summers of 2000 and 2001 (note that "improved" does not yet mean "safe" by any means). This can be ascribed to the multi-pronged approach of the project. Attention was given to service and repair of sanitation facilities, a strong accent on door-todoor community education about better sanitation behaviour, creation of a central reporting point for blockages and breakages, and training of artisans (plumbers, bricklayers, etc) from the community to help with upkeep. The community showed encouraging signs of wanting better sanitation education. The improvement in pollution levels is however in danger of reverting back to the previous dangerous situation if better support and co-operation cannot be obtained from the relevant authorities. There were 16.9% of households who reported one or more cases of diarrhoea during the survey period (5 weeks) - a very high prevalence seeing that the survey was carried out during a wet and cold winter period. Conclusions: Active planning and other steps to cope with the sewage intrusions into the river should be instituted without delay. The water quality of the Plankenbrug River downstream from Kayamandi is extremely poor. The water constitutes a serious health hazard and a threat to downstream economic activities. The settlement of Kayamandi demonstrated that education, when coupled with maintenance and repairs of existing toilet facilities, can bring about a reduction in pollution loads, but that this should be an ongoing process and not be reduced to sporadic attempts.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Plankenbrug Rivier vloei verby die digbewoonde nedersetting van Kayamandi aan die buitewyke van Stellenbosch. Hierdie plek is gekies as studie-area om die impak te bestudeer van waterbesoedeling wat van formele en informele dorpsontwikkeling afkomstig is, asook die geassosieerde gesondheidsfaktore. Doel van die studie: (1) Om sommige basiese epidemiologiese eienskappe van die blootgestelde populasie, hulle sanitasieprobleme en redes vir die swak higiene te bepaal; (2) Om die mikrobiologiese en chemiese besoedelingspatrone in die Plankenbrug Rivier oor tyd te bepaal; (3) Om die spektrum van organismes teenwoordig in die rivier (anders as E. coli) te bepaal asook hulle epidemiologiese implikasies op gesondheid; (4) Om vas te stel, as indikatore van omgewingsgevaar, of daar moontlik organismes teenwoordig is wat weerstandig is teen chloriene en antibiotika in die rivier onder Kayamandi. Metodes: Gedurende die afgelope vier jaar is mikrobiologiese en chemiese ontledings elke 6 weke uitgevoer van watermonsters wat van verskeie punte op die Palnkenbrug Rivier verkry is. Twee groot opnames is in die gemeenskap van Kayamandi ondemeem (n=2196 persone en n=3568 persone) en deur-tot-deur opvoedingsveldtogte is uitgevoer met die hulp van plaaslik opgeleide gemeenskapsgesondheidswerkers. Resultate: Onder Kayamandi bevat die rivier gevaarlike vlakke van fekale besoedeling en dit hou gesondheidsgevare in vir alle persone war daarmee in aanraking kom. Op tot 13 miljoen Escherichia coli per 100 ml water is genoteer (boonste grens van veiligheid vir die mens is 1000 organismes per 100 ml water). Nie al die fekale kontaminasie is afkomstig van Kayamandi nie. Substansiele hoeveelhede kontaminasie dring die rivier binne op verskillende punte ver onder Kayamandi. Hierdie besoedelingslading is soms groter as wat van die hele Kayamandi afkomstig is. Watermonsters geneem onder Kayamandi is ondersoek om vas te stel watter ander siekteveroorsakende organismes ook teenwoordig was. Onder die organismes gevind was (3 hemolitiese Streptococcus Groep A en B, Mycobacterium intracellulare, Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. en baie ander. Die lys van patogene wat gevind is, het sulke emstige implikasies dat 'n vertroulike gesondheidswaarskuwing uitgestuur is na gesondheidsdienspunte en ander geaffekteerde organisasies in die gebied. (3 hemolitiese Streptococcus Groep B is nog nie vantevore aangemeld as lewensvatbaar geisoleer uit vryvloeiende natuurlike waters nie. Tekens is gevind dat daar organismes in die rivier voorkom wat weerstandig is teen chloorbehandeling en ook teen algemeen gebruikte antibiotika. Die E. coli organisme wat verskillende konsentrasies van chloorbehandeling oorleeef het, het ook verhoogde weerstand teen amoksisilien getoon wanneer hulle vergelyk was met onbehandelde E. coli organisme wat van die Plankenbrug Rivier gemonster was. Gedurende die gemeenskapsfase van die projek is daar 'n verlaging van besoedelingsvlakke in die rivier gevind gedurende die somers van 2000 en 2001 (let op dat "verbetering" hier nog glad nie "veilig" beteken nie). Dit kan toegeskryf word aan die veelvlakkige benadering wat die projek gevolg het. Aandag is geskenk aan diens en herstel van sanitasiegeriewe met 'n sterk klem op deur-tot-deur opvoedingsveldtogte met die oog op beter sanitasiegedrag, skepping van 'n sentrale aanmeldpunt vir blokkasies en brekasies, en opleiding van ambagslui (loodgieters, messelaars, ens) uit die gemeenskap om te help met onderhoud. Die gemeenskap het bemoedigende tekens getoon dat hulle beter sanitasie opvoeding verlang. Die verbetering in die besoedelingsvlakke in die rivier loop egter gevaar om terug te val na die vorige gevaarlike vlakke as daar nie beter ondersteuning en samewerking van die onderhawige owerhede verkry kan word nie. Daar was 16.9% van huishoudings wat een of meer gevalle van diarree aangemeld het gedurende die 5 weke van die opnameperiode - 'n baie hoe prevalensie siende dat die opname uitgevoer was gedurende 'n nat en koue winterperiode. Gevolgtrekkings: Aktiewe beplanning en ander stappe om die riool-indringing in die rivier die hoof te bied is gebiedend noodsaaklik en behoort sonder versuim ingestel te word. Die waterkwaliteit van die Plankenbrug Rivier stroomaf van Kayamandi is baie swak. Die water hou emstige gesondheidsgevare in en is ook 'n bedreiging vir die ekonomiese aktiwiteite stroomaf. Die nedersetting van Kayamandi demonstreer ook dat opvoeding, wanneer gekoppel aan onderhoud en herstel van bestaande toiletgeriewe in verlaging teweeg kan bring van besoedelingsvlakke, maar dat dit 'n voortgesette program moet wees en nie net sporadiese pogings nie.
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Zuma, Bongumusa Msizi. "Microbial ecology of the Buffalo River in response to water quality changes." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006182.
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South Africa’s freshwater quality and quantity is declining and consequently impacting on the ecological health of these ecosystems, due to increased agricultural, urban and industrial developments. The River Health Programme (RHP) was designed for monitoring and assessing the ecological health of freshwater ecosystems in South Africa, in order to effectively manage these aquatic resources. The RHP utilises biological indicators such as in-stream biota as a structured and sensitive tool for assessing ecosystem health. Although the RHP has been widely implemented across South Africa, no attempts have been made to explore microbial ecology as a tool that could be included as one of the RHP indices. This study used selected microbial responses and water physico-chemical parameters to assess the current water quality status of the Buffalo River. This study showed that water quality impairments compounded in the urban regions of King William’s Town and Zwelitsha and also downstream of the Bridle Drift Dam. The results also showed that the lower and the upper catchments of the Buffalo River were not significantly different in terms of water physico-chemistry and microbiology, as indicated by low stress levels of an NMDS plot. Though similarities were recorded between impacted and reference sites, the results strongly showed that known impacted sites recorded the poorest water physico-chemistry, including the Yellowwoods River. However, the Laing Dam provided a buffer effect on contributions of the Yellowwoods River into the Buffalo River. Multivariate analysis showed that microbial cell counts were not influenced by water physico-chemical changes, whilst microbial activity from the water and biofilm habitats showed significant correlation levels to water physico-chemical changes. This study demonstrated that further investigations towards exploitation of microbial activity responses to water physico-chemical quality changes should be channelled towards the development of microbiological assessment index for inclusion in the RHP.
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Yearsley, Rowan David. "Water quality, abalone growth and the potential for integrated mariculture on a South African abalone Haliotis midae L. farm." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005180.
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Abalone Haliotis midae farming in South Africa is highly intensive, employing pump-ashore, flow-through systems. Despite the known sensitivity of abalone to water quality, there is only a rudimentary understanding of water quality dynamics on South African abalone farms and its effects on abalone production. Furthermore, the potential for reusing the relatively dilute abalone farm effluent to culture other animal species has not been investigated. This study investigated the dynamics of water quality and growth on a South African abalone farm and assessed the suitability of the effluent for the culture of silver kob Argyrosomus inodorus and bloodworm Arenicola loveni loveni. Monitoring of water quality and abalone growth in abalone tanks revealed that oxygen concentrations decreased, while H⁺ ion and free-ammonia (NH₃) concentration increased in a gradient between the inflow and outflow. Abalone growth was positively correlated with oxygen concentration and negatively correlated with free-ammonia and H⁺ ion concentration. The oxygen (O) concentration of the farm influent was dependent upon the influents’ temperature (T) and was described by the relationship O (mg L⁻¹) = 11.244 – 0.208T (r²=0.74). Linear regression analysis of data collected from abalone farm tanks revealed that the concentration of total ammonia at the outflow of abalone tanks (μg TAN L⁻¹) was dependant upon temperature (°C), flow-rate (L s⁻¹ kg⁻¹ H. midae), abalone size (g) and length of time since the tank was last cleaned (d) (n = 125, r² = 0.80). The production of total ammonia (μg TAN s⁻¹ kg⁻¹) was related to temperature, abalone size and days that the tanks remained un-cleaned (n = 125; r² = 0.81). A diurnal cycle of respiration was evident in abalone tanks with higher oxygen consumption and H+ ion production at night. The oxygen concentration of farm effluent was related to temperature, farm biomass and flow rate by means of a linear regression equation (n = 40; r² = 0.69). The results demonstrated the importance of optimising the flow-rate per unit of biomass for various temperatures and sizes of abalone. As abalone size and temperature cannot be controlled under farm conditions, the flow-rate per unit of biomass which the abalone culture system receives will determine the quality of the culture water. The specific growth rate (0.48 ± 0.01 % BW d⁻¹), mortality (1.8 ± 0.5 %), feed conversion ratio (3.0 ± 0.2) and protein efficiency ratio (1.0 ± 0.1) of silver kob kept in either abalone farm effluent or control seawater for 120 days did not differ significantly (t-test, P>0.05). A 90 day growth trial indicated that abalone farm effluent is a suitable culture medium for bloodworm. Bloodworm supplied with control seawater lost weight at 0.19 ± 0.04 % BW d-1, while those given abalone effluent grew at 0.39 ± 0.07 % BW d⁻¹. Mortality was 6 ± 3 % in effluent and 11 ± 8 % in seawater. The bloodworm were efficient at processing solid waste. Abalone farm effluent initially contained 7.7 ± 13 mg L⁻¹ more suspended solids than control seawater, which contained 3.5 ± 0.5 mg L⁻¹, but after passing through bloodworm systems the concentration in abalone effluent was reduced to only 1.4 ± 3.5 mg L⁻¹ above that in control seawater. Therefore, abalone farm effluent could be reused as a culture medium for both silver kob and bloodworm. Future work is needed to investigate aspects of the feasibility of such systems such as growth rates at different sizes and stocking densities.
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Rui, Li. "The use of treated effluent for agricultural irrigation in the Bottelary River area: Effluent quality, farmers perception and potential extent." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2005. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=init_1918_1177917293.
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The Bottelary River area is located in a Mediterranean climate region, where the agricultural sector plays an important role. During the dry summer season, there is not enough precipitation to meet the agricultural irrigation requirements. Some farmers extract river water which is practically the final treated effluent from the Scottsdene Wastewater Treatment Works to irrigate crops. This research investigated the use of treated effluent for agricultural irrigation in this area, particularly focused on the effluent quality, farmers perception, and the potential extent.
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Togo, Chamunorwa Aloius. "Development of an in-situ ß-D-Glucuronidase diagnostic moraxella-based biosensor for potential application in the monitoring of water polluted by faecal material in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004006.
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The prevention of outbreaks of waterborne diseases remains a major challenge to public health service providers globally. One of the major obstacles in this effort is the unavailability of on-line and real-time methods for rapid monitoring of faecal pollution to facilitate early warning of contamination of drinking water. The main objective of this study was to develop a β-glucuronidase (GUD)-based method that could be used for the on-line and real-time monitoring of microbial water quality. GUD is a marker enzyme for the faecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli. This enzyme breaks down the synthetic substrate p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucuronide (PNPG) to D-glucuronic acid and p-nitrophenol (PNP), which turns yellow under alkaline pH. The enzymatically produced PNP was used to detect GUD activity. In situ GUD assays were performed using running and stagnant water samples from the Bloukrans River, Grahamstown, South Africa. The physico-chemical properties of environmental GUD were determined, after which a liquid bioprobe and a microbial biosensor modified with Moraxella 1A species for the detection of the enzyme activity were developed. In order to determine the reliability and sensitivity of these methods, regression analyses for each method versus E. coli colony forming units (CFU) were performed. The storage stabilities of the bioprobe and biosensor were also investigated. The physico-chemical properties of in situ GUD were different from those of its commercially available counterpart. The temperature optimum for the former was between 35 and 40 °C while for the latter it was 45 °C. Commercial (reference) GUD had a pH optimum of 8.0 while the environmental counterpart exhibited a broad pH optimum of between pH 5.0 and 8.0. The liquid bioprobe had a limit of detection (LOD) of GUD activity equivalent to 2 CFU/100 ml and a detection time of 24 h. The method was less labour intensive and costly than the culturing method. The liquid bioprobe was stable for at least four weeks at room temperature (20 ± 2 °C). The biosensor was prepared by modifying a glassy carbon electrode with PNP degrading Moraxella 1A cells. The biosensor was 100 times more sensitive and rapid (5-20 min) than the spectrophotometric method (24 h), and was also able to detect GUD activity of viable but non-culturable cells. Thus it was more sensitive than the culturing method. Furthermore, the biosensor was selective and costeffective. The possibility of using a Pseudomonas putida JS444 biosensor was also investigated, but it was not as sensitive and selective as the Moraxella 1A biosensor. The Moraxella biosensor, therefore, offered the best option for on-line and real-time microbial water quality monitoring in South African river waters and drinking water supplies.
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Magobiane, Siyathemba Emmanuel. "Willingness to pay for water quality changes in the Swartkops Estuary." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1011505.
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South Africa, like the rest of the world, is vulnerable to the impact of climate change and loss of biodiversity. Water pollution is one of the six global threats to freshwater biodiversity. The future health status and productivity of South Africa’s estuaries is dependent on two main factors: management and quality and quantity of freshwater inputs. South Africa has around 250 functioning estuaries along its 3000 km coastline (Hosking 2004). They play an invaluable role in ecosystem functioning and biodiversity conservation. Estuaries are amongst the richest and most productive parts of the marine environment and as such call for careful management. Some of these ecosystems are focus areas for urban an industrial development. Urbanization and industrialization pose a serious threat to these sensitive systems. Increased water pollution from domestic use, industry and agriculture affect the ecology of these estuarine, river and lake systems. A large number of South African estuaries are still in excellent or good condition, but these are mainly the very small systems. The larger systems, like the Swartkops estuary, often very important in terms of conservation value, are also often compromised in some way or other. The reasons why they are compromised include habitat destruction, artificial breaching and pollution, especially those close to urban areas. This situation is aggravated by outdated and inadequate sewage treatment plant infrastructure and unskilled operators that dispose untreated waste into these systems. Pollution into estuaries can result in the partial loss of the environmental service flows supplied by them. The result of lost environmental service flows has adverse consequences, such as diminished residential and holiday recreational appeal, as well as reduced capacity to support subsistence livelihoods. Poor water quality not only limits its utilisation value, but is also places added economic burden on society, through both the primary treatment costs and the secondary impacts on the economy. Healthy estuarine ecosystems are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity and a wide range of environmental goods and services. Without a drastic improvement in water quality management approaches and treatment technologies, the continuous deterioration in water quality will decrease benefits and increase costs affiliated with use of these water resources.The market-based system of the South African economy has to a large extent failed to account for the value of the “free” goods and services provided by the natural environment. When the true value of the natural resources is unknown, there is a risk that less financial resources and capacity are made available to manage and protect these natural resources than is efficient. To ensure that these goods are properly taken into account, they must be valued and these values incorporated in social decision making. This study uses the contingent valuation method (CVM) to establish the value of the Swartkops estuary for changes to water quality. The CVM is a non-market valuation method that is widely used in cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact assessment. The CVM establishes the economic value of the good by asking the users of an environmental good to state their willingness to pay for a hypothetical scenario to prevent, or bring about, certain changes in the current condition of the environmental good. This method is subjected to some criticism. This criticism revolves around the validity and the reliability of estimated results and the effects of various biases and errors on them. The North Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Blue-Ribbon panel investigating the validity of the CVM resolved that the CVM can be used to guide social decision making, if a series of guidelines are followed. The Swartkops contingent valuation (CV) was conducted with these guidelines in mind. The results of the Swartkops CV indicate that the user population has a total willingness to pay (TWTP) of R68848 (median bid) and R203632 (mean bid) annually for the implementation of a project to improve the water quality in the Swartkops estuary. User population is an important determinant of the TWTP value. As a result, using a more broadly defined user population, TWTP per annum was calculated to be R3481987 (median bid) and R10298688 (mean bid). Management of natural resources should be informed by values that reflect efficient balances, so as to obtain the most efficient use of them (Trupie 2008). Polluted water inflows into South Africa’s estuaries are a threat to their biodiversity. Healthy estuarine ecosystems are essential for the maintenance of biodiversity and human well-being (Water Assessment Programme Report 2006: 15). As a result, this study recommends that a project be implemented by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to improve water quality in the Swartkops estuary.
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Pearce, Meryl Winsome. "Assessment of factors influencing the quality of surface and ground water in the Hout Bay river catchment." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001900.
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An investigation into the quality of surface water and ground water was conducted during 1988 in the 38,8 km² Hout Bay River catchment near Cape Town. The main objective of the study was to determine those areas and activities which constitute a pollution source and to ascertain the relative proportion which each contributes to the pollution problem and health risk of the surf zone of the beach at Hout Ba . The objective was achieved by monitoring the chemical and microbiological attributes of the Hout Bay River, its tributaries and stormdrains in wet and dry conditions on a routine basis and during storm events. Hout Bay is a rapidly developing residential area in which sewage disposal occurs by means of septic tank soakaway systems. Ground water quality was monitored to investigate the contribution to contamination by septic tank effluent. Results showed that stormdrain effluent in dry and wet conditions and surface runoff during rainfall were the main vectors of pollution. Although the pollution concentration was high during dry conditions the greatest pollution discharge to the surf zone of Hout Bay occurred during storm events. In view of the proposed residential development it is imperative that pollution control measures be undertaken so as to secure the future recreational and aesthetic value of Hout Bay
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Browne, Samantha. "The role of acute toxicity data for South African freshwater macroinvertebrates in the derivation of water quality guidelines for salinity." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2005. http://eprints.ru.ac.za/174/.
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Mackintosh, Grant S. "Considerations for a start-up SMME in the water quality management arena in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/85173.
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Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa’s efforts to ensure safe drinking-water provision to all have resulted in an admirable reduction in the backlog in drinking-water provision since 1994. However, in the non-metro areas of South Africa poor drinking-water quality is common and, combined with inadequate sanitation, results in a significant and deleterious primary health impact. Given the South African government’s commitment to co-operative government and good governance, and a willingness to both mobilize government funds and to involve the private sector in addressing poor water services delivery by local government, it can be expected that a significant opportunity exists for a “service/product” combination that assists local, provincial and national government in both, (i), the progressive realization of suitable drinking-water quality via a consultative audit, and (ii), an environmental governance function to ensure that acute and chronic issues are timeously identified and resolved. Drinking-Water Quality Management (DWQM) procedures developed and operated by the government research organization, CSIR, have been shown to be effective in achieving (i) and (ii) above. However, CSIR is not the appropriate business environment from which to roll out a commercialized service. This study assesses the prospects of a start-up Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMME) to access and develop the DWQM market in South Africa. A thorough review of the role of governance in the delivery of water services in South Africa is provided, and it is confirmed that DWQM procedures can be expected to contribute towards improvement in drinking-water quality in non-metro South Africa and satisfy government’s requirement of demonstrated good governance (co-operative and regulatory governance) and co-operative government. A situational analysis of the internal (CSIR) and external business environment confirms that a win-win opportunity exists for entrepreneurs from within CSIR to “spin-out” the DWQM services, and thereby fulfill CSIR’s mandate of supporting SMME’s and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). A summary of considerations for a start-up SMME in South Africa emphasizes the importance of some key factors. A key factor for a SMME selling services to government is the satisfaction of BEE requirements. Additional key factors include the business marketing factors of customer relationship management, delivering value and ongoing evolvement of marketing strategy. A case study involving Stellenbosch Municipality is used to demonstrate the customer centric nature of DWQM, and the positive Value Impact delivered to the client. The above are used to critically consider a Business Action Plan (which has a focus on the first year of operation) and to identify amendments required for the future and separate preparation of a full Business Plan. The short term focused Business Action Plan (BAP) confirms that market forces and opportunities combine with the skills and the background of the start-up team to provide a positive prospect for the startup SMME. Conversion of the BAP to a fully fledged Business Plan will require the development of a full business strategy, and supportive marketing strategy, as the short term focus strategies are inadequate. Importantly, adjustments to the black equity holding should be brought in line with the requirements of the Broad-Based BEE Act.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika se deurlopende pogings om veilige drinkwater te verskaf het gesorg vir ‘n benydenswaardige vermindering in die agterstand in verskaffing van drinkwater sedert 1994. In die nie-metropolitaanse areas van Suid-Afrika is swak drinkwater gehalte egter steeds algemeen en is verantwoordelik, saam met ontoereikende sanitêre infrastruktuur, vir beduidende en dodelike primêre gesondheidsrisikos. Die Suid-Afrikaanse regering is toegewyd tot samewerking met die private sektor en die toepassing van goeie besigheidsbeginsels. Dit is ook gewillig om regeringsfondse beskikbaar te stel indien die betrokkenheid van die privaat sektor kan help om swak waterdienste lewering deur die regering aan te spreek. Daar kan dus verwag word dat ‘n daadwerklike geleentheid bestaan om ‘n “diens/produk” kombinasie daar te stel wat plaaslike, provinsiale en nasionale regering sal bystaan in beide die: (i), progressiewe verwesenliking van geskikte gehalte drinkwater deur middel van ‘n konsultatiewe oudit, en (ii), ‘n omgewings oorsig funksie om te verseker dat akute en kroniese probleme tydig geidentifiseer en opgelos word. Drinkwater Gehalte Bestuur (DWGB) prosedures ontwikkel en toegepas deur die regeringsnavorsingseenheid, die WNNR, is bewys as effektief in die bereiking van (i) en (ii) soos hierbo gemeld. Die WNNR is egter nie ‘n geskikte besigheids-omgewing vir die wyer kommersiële toepassing en verskaffing van sodanige dienste nie. Hierdie studie evalueer die vooruitsigte van Klein, Medium en Mikro Ondernemings (SMME) om die DWGB mark in Suid-Afrika te betree en te ontwikkel. ‘n Deeglike oorsig van die rol van etiese bestuur in die verskaffing van waterdienste in Suid-Afrika word gedoen. Daar word bevestig dat DWGB prosedures na verwagting sal bydra tot die verbetering van drinkwater gehalte in die nie-metropolitaanse Suid-Afrika, maar ook sal voldoen aan die regering se vereistes van daadwerklike en sigbare etiese bestuur (samewerkings en regulatoriese etiese bestuur) en samewerking van die regering en derde partye. ‘n Omgewingsondersoek van die interne (WNNR) en eksterne sake omgewing bevestig dat ‘n wen-wen geleentheid bestaan vir entrepreneurs binne die WNNR om DWGB dienste af te stig, en sodoende ook vir die WNNR om sy mandaat te vervul, by name die ondersteuning van SMME’s en Swart Ekonomiese Bemagtiging (SEB). ‘n Opsomming van die saaklike kwessies vir die stigting van ‘n SMME in Suid-Afrika lei tot die identifisering van ‘n aantal sleutel suksesfaktore se belangrikheid. ‘n Sleutel suksesfaktor vir ‘n SMME, wat dienste aan die regering verkoop, is die voldoening aan SEB vereistes. Verdere sleutel suksesfaktore sluit in die sake bemarkingsfaktor van kliënte verhoudingsbestuur, die lewering van waarde en die volgehoue evolusie van bemarkingstrategie. ‘n Gevallestudie waarin Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit betrokke was word gebruik om die kliënt-gesentreerde toepassing van DWGB te demonstreer, en die positiewe waarde wat aan die kliënt gelewer is, word uitgelig. Laastens word die bogenoemde gebruik om ‘n kritiese evaluering te doen van ‘n Besigheids Aksie Plan (met ‘n fokus op die eerste jaar se bedrywighede). Veranderinge wat vereis sou word vir die voorbereiding van ‘n toekomstige en afsonderlike volledige Besigheids Plan word geidentifiseer. Die korttermyn gefokusde Besigheids Aksie Plan (BAP) bevestig dat marktendense en geleenthede tesame met die vaardighede en agtergrond van die Kleinsake-span ‘n positiewe verwagting skep vir die voornemende kleinsake-bedryf. Die omskakeling van die BAP na ‘n volledige Besigheids Plan vereis ‘n volle Sakestrategie en ‘n ondersteunende Bemarkingsplan, aangesien die korttermyn gefokusde strategieë ontoereikend is. Verdere aanpassings tot die swart aandeelhouding moet gedoen word om te voldoen aan die vereistes van die breëbasis SEB-wetgewing.
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Holland, Alexandra Jennifer. "Assessment of fluctuating asymmetry as an indicator of water quality stress in South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/430.
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South Africa’s freshwater resources are facing numerous water quality challenges and need to be protected from degradation and pollution by appropriate management strategies as they are a limited and shared resource. The South African Scoring System (SASS5), which assesses macroinvertebrate communities at family level, is used in routine monitoring of riverine ecosystems in South Africa. Assessing the condition of these ecosystems is limited as SASS5 does not allow for changes at lower levels of biological organisation to be detected. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) - small random deviations from perfect symmetry - is considered a direct measure of developmental instability. This phenotypical response results from numerous internal and external factors and has a low level of heritability. FA is based on sound scientific principles, easy to measure, biologically robust and cost-effective. It reflects synergistic interactions between stressors and provides an integrated measure of several anthropogenic stresses, which strengthens the assertion that FA is an environmental indicator of water quality stress, and can potentially be used to detect stress in populations before irreversible effects manifest. FA responses were investigated by (1) exposing freshwater shrimp to increasing concentrations of cadmium chloride in a long-term experiment and (2) comparing FA responses to water quality changes and macroinvertebrate community responses in two case studies (Kwazulu-Natal and Limpopo Province) in South Africa. Although no consistent concentration-response curve could be established, this study suggests that FA responses can be used as a sublethal endpoint in exposure experiments. Determining water quality parameters causing FA responses was not possible in field collected freshwater shrimp in either case study. Although FA did not specifically respond to any of the measured water quality parameters identified in the case studies, it has potential as a general indicator of water quality stress in freshwater shrimp. This study shows that FA responses are potentially more sensitive than macroinvertebrate community responses to pollution since it is not affected by habitat. Since FA has the potential to be a general indicator of population quality, particularly where there are natural habitat differences, it can be useful at the level of biomonitoring required for routine basic river status assessments in South Africa. However, in order for FA to become a robust tool that can be used routinely in conjunction with SASS5 more research is required.
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Claassen, Marius. "The development and application of ecological risk assessment in South African water resource management." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006177.
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The provision of goods and services by aquatic ecosystems plays an important role in socio-economic development and livelihoods in the southern African region. Water resource management in South Africa developed from an agrarian and pastoral focus up to 1956 to also supporting mining and industrial activities. This led to the introduction of the resource water quality objectives and pollution prevention approaches, which balanced the needs for development and protection. Prior to 1994, access to water resources was limited to riparian property owners and a minority of the population who controlled industrial and mining activities. The establishment of a democratic government amplified the need for accelerated socio-economic development, with equity, efficiency and sustainability being the principles of such development. New approaches were needed, which could achieve these development objectives and secure the resource base for future generations. An overview of the scientific process highlighted a risk based approach as potentially supporting the much needed balance between development and protection. The aims of this thesis is to develop a framework and process for the application of ecological risk assessment to water resource management in South Africa, to use case studies to draft guidelines for ecological risk assessment and to assess the degree to which ecological risk assessment can contribute to effective water resource management in South Africa. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines for ecological risk assessment were identified amongst international best practice as meeting the requirements for local application. A framework was drafted for ecological risk assessment in South Africa, with the main phases being to agree on objectives, formulate the analysis plan, analyse information, characterise risk and manage risk. Modifications from the Environmental Protection Agency’s process include the order of activities in the first phase, the explicit testing of hypotheses and clarification of the evaluation of existing data or collection of new data. An industrial effluent case study was used to assess the applicability of the proposed framework. The case study dealt specifically with the assessment of risks posed by current conditions and long term licence conditions. The framework was found to be useful to identify weaknesses in the established monitoring programme and to evaluate lines of evidence to assess the degree to which the stated conditions would have unacceptable consequences. The study highlighted several weaknesses in the suggested framework, of which the most critical is the interpretation of the risk hypothesis as a testable null hypothesis. It became clear that cause-effect relationships should be stated as the risk hypothesis, whereas the assessment should evaluate expressed or expected conditions against a risk profile for a given stressor to benefit fully from the risk assessment approach. Changes to the framework terminology were suggested as well as nested feedback loops to allow for iterative processes where new information becomes available. The proposed guidelines incorporate the learning from the case study application as well as feedback from a peer review process. The guidelines incorporate the suggested actions under each phase as well as notes providing the rationale for each step. Three case study outlines were provided to assist users with the interpretation of the guidelines in different applications. The proposed guidelines are applied in an ecological Reserve determination case study, which specified the ecological water quality requirements. The study found that a risk-based approach was followed in the development of the water resource management policy, but the Reserve determination method is generally hazard based, with site specific modifications of the target values being allowed on a conservative basis. The case study highlighted a lack of readiness of water resource managers to accommodate scientific results expressed as probability distributions in support of management decisions. The thesis is concluded with a discussion of the key learning points of the ecological risk assessment development process. The evaluation highlights the move from stating and testing a null hypothesis to stating the risk hypothesis and evaluating the stated conditions against a risk profile. Several implementation challenges are highlighted, with specific recommendations made for adopting the proposed guidelines.
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Retief, Daniel Christoffel Hugo. "Investigating integrated catchment management using a simple water quantity and quality model : a case study of the Crocodile River Catchment, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017875.
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Internationally, water resources are facing increasing pressure due to over-exploitation and pollution. Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) has been accepted internationally as a paradigm for integrative and sustainable management of water resources. However, in practice, the implementation and success of IWRM policies has been hampered by the lack of availability of integrative decision support tools, especially within the context of limited resources and observed data. This is true for the Crocodile River Catchment (CRC), located within the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The catchment has been experiencing a decline in water quality as a result of the point source input of a cocktail of pollutants, which are discharged from industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants, as well as diffuse source runoff and return flows from the extensive areas of irrigated agriculture and mining sites. The decline in water quality has profound implications for a range of stakeholders across the catchment including increased treatment costs and reduced crop yields. The combination of deteriorating water quality and the lack of understanding of the relationships between water quantity and quality for determining compliance/non-compliance in the CRC have resulted in collaboration between stakeholders, willing to work in a participatory and transparent manner to create an Integrated Water Quality Management Plan (IWQMP). This project aimed to model water quality, (combined water quality and quantity), to facilitate the IWQMP aiding in the understanding of the relationship between water quantity and quality in the CRC. A relatively simple water quality model (WQSAM) was used that receives inputs from established water quantity systems models, and was designed to be a water quality decision support tool for South African catchments. The model was applied to the CRC, achieving acceptable simulations of total dissolved solids (used as a surrogate for salinity) and nutrients (including orthophosphates, nitrates +nitrites and ammonium) for historical conditions. Validation results revealed that there is little consistency within the catchment, attributed to the non-stationary nature of water quality at many of the sites in the CRC. The analyses of the results using a number of representations including, seasonal load distributions, load duration curves and load flow plots, confirmed that the WQSAM model was able to capture the variability of relationships between water quantity and quality, provided that simulated hydrology was sufficiently accurate. The outputs produced by WQSAM was seen as useful for the CRC, with the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency (IUCMA) planning to operationalise the model in 2015. The ability of WQSAM to simulate water quality in data scarce catchments, with constituents that are appropriate for the needs of water resource management within South Africa, is highly beneficial.
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Zokufa, T. S. "Tolerance of selected riverine indigenous macroinvertebrates from the Sabie River (Mpumalanga), and Buffalo River (Eastern Cape) to complex saline kraft and textile effluents." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005475.
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Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) testing has been identified as one of the tools in the management of complex effluents in aquatic ecosystems. In South Africa, toxicity testing has not been required for regulatory purposes. Recently, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has adopted WET testing as a tool to evaluate the suitability of hazardous effluent for discharge into receiving environments. This has necessitated suitable procedures to be established for use in the South African situation. With the implementation of the new National Water Act (No 36 of 1998), industries have to comply with set standards to protect the aquatic environment. However, the South African Water Quality Guidelines for Aquatic Ecosystems have been set using international toxicity data, and it is not known if they are comparable with South African conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the tolerances of selected indigenous riverine invertebrates to complex saline effluents. The study investigated the effects of kraft mill effluent to Tricorythus tinctus, a tricorythid mayfly from the Sabie River, Mpumalanga, and the effects of a textile effluent to baetid mayflies of the Buffalo River, Eastern Cape. Indigenous riverine invertebrates were chosen as test organisms, as there is no toxicity data in South Africa which could be used to evaluate the level of protection afforded by the South African Water Quality Guidelines for Aquatic Ecosystems. The use of indigenous riverine invertebrates added the challenge of variability of a wild population, and the use of a complex effluent as toxicant added the variability of effluent composition. In this study, WET testing was used to determine the dilution of whole effluents required for discharge. Hazard-based guidelines were developed for the disposal of kraft and textile effluents. The level of environmental hazard posed by different effluent concentrations was ranked, and was related to the River Health Class. This indicated effluent concentrations that may be allowed to enter the aquatic environment, e.g. 3% effluent concentration guideline for both general kraft effluent and general textile effluent for the protection of a Class A river. This approach could contribute to the use of an Environmental Risk Assessment, approach for the management of complex effluents. A number of acute 96 hour toxicity tests were conducted following an unreplicated regression design, using kraft and textile effluents as toxicants, mayfly nymphs as test organisms, and river water as diluent and control. Test organisms were sampled from unimpacted, flowing-water riffle areas, and were exposed in recirculating artificial streams (or channels) to a range of effluent concentrations. Mortality was selected as end-point and observed twice daily. The experimental results showed the variability and acute toxicity of both kraft and textile mill effluents. Baetids were more sensitive (mean LC50=16% effluent concentration) to General Textile Effluent (GTE), but less sensitive to Post Irrigation Textile Effluent (PITE). Textile effluent (PITE) held in a holding dam were therefore less variable and less toxic; suggesting that stabilization of the effluent could have contributed to reduced toxicity. Effluent composition, e.g. higher calcium levels, may also have contributed to lowering toxicity. T. tinctus was sensitive to kraft effluents, but showed less variable responses to Irrigation Kraft Effluent than General Kraft Effluent. Toxicity test data indicated that GKE, IKE and GTE should not enter the aquatic environment without treatment, as they can cause adverse effects to aquatic biota. Both kraft and textile effluents must therefore be treated before discharge. Different responses to different effluent batches were probably due to effluent variability. The use of indigenous organisms, and not a standard laboratory organism, could also have contributed to variability. A hazard-based approach could be useful, as it will provide a consistent basis for deciding on the acceptability of impacts, while allowing natural site-specific differences to be taken into account.
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Lemley, Daniel Alan. "Assessing symptoms of eutrophication in estuaries." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/3427.
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Water quality and ecological integrity of estuaries reflect activities within the entire upstream catchment. Much emphasis has been placed on the response of estuaries to anthropogenic stressors through the use of monitoring programmes. Key to the success of these programmes is the use of indicators as they transform data into useful information. The ultimate aim of this study was to identify eutrophic symptoms in selected estuaries in the Gouritz Water Management Area (WMA) using a multi-metric classification method. The study sites included the permanently open Duiwenhoks, Goukou, Gouritz, and Kaaimans estuaries, as well as the temporarily open/closed Hartenbos, Klein Brak, Great Brak, Gwaing, and Goukamma estuaries. Initially, the “pressure” associated with all the estuaries in the Gouritz WMA was determined (e.g. total daily nutrient loads and changes in river inflow affecting flushing time) using long-term flow and water quality monitoring data provided by the Department of Water Affairs (DWA). Subsequently, the “state” of the selected estuaries was assessed using a variety of indicators, including: inorganic nutrients (~ N and P), phytoplankton, epiphytes and microphytobenthos. Estuaries with longer flushing time suggested greater vulnerability to eutrophication. For example, the Gwaing (281.11 kg DIN d-1; 78.85 kg DIP d-1) and Hartenbos (38.33 kg DIN d-1; 21.51 kg DIP d-1) estuaries generally received the highest daily inorganic nutrient loads. However, at the time of sampling, the Hartenbos Estuary had a longer flushing time (i.e. weeks) compared to the Gwaing Estuary (i.e. couple of days). Field data confirmed the greater vulnerability to eutrophication associated with longer flushing times, as the indicators measured in the Hartenbos Estuary exceeded all the proposed ‘thresholds’ of a eutrophic system (~ overall ‘Poor’ condition). The Great Brak Estuary (~ overall ‘Fair’ condition) provided an interesting example where eutrophic symptoms were only detected when assessing the microalgal primary producers (i.e. high biomass and low diversity). Furthermore, the need to distinguish between naturally and anthropogenically induced symptoms was highlighted. One such scenario was noted in the Kaaimans Estuary, where its natural hydro-morphological characteristics (i.e. steep banks, low river inflow, and deep/narrow channel) led to the possible exaggeration of its overall eutrophic condition, i.e. received a ‘Fair’ rather than ‘Good’ rating, arising from ‘Poor’ ratings for dissolved oxygen and benthic diatom diversity. Overall, this study demonstrated the importance of adopting a holistic approach when assessing the condition and trophic status of estuaries. Studies such as these allow for the detection of vulnerable and degraded systems, which can provide important information with regards to the identification of management priorities.
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Soviti, Malixole Knottien. "An assessment of the impact of the black village communities, their associated land-use and related practices on water quality of the Kat River in the Eastern Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1004638.
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Amongst others, the South African National Water Act No. 36 of 1998 acknowledges that access to sufficient safe and clean water is a basic right to all South Africans. However, it is well known that millions of inhabitants of rural communities in South Africa are still deprived of this right. Many rural communities in South Africa are thus consuming unsafe, untreated water everyday, thereby exposing themselves to waterborne diseases. The main reason of concern however is the fact that, nevertheless, little is known about rural water quality in South Africa as most water quality work is being undertaken in urban areas. The study's aim is twofold: first, the study examines the impact of Black rural communities' land-use and related activities on water quality and second is specifically, to study the washing practices of the rural communities in the upper Kat River area. To understand the potential impacts of the upper Kat River Black village communities and their associated land-use practices on the quality of upper Kat River catchment, prominent land-use and related activities in the area were investigated. Study area maps were studied and field surveys undertaken to observe major land-use and related activities in the area. The results of the study show that most used land in the area is being utilised for agricultural activities. Settlements and commercial forestry also occupy considerable areas of land. The literature survey suggests that such land-use could have a considerable degrading impact on the quality of both surface and groundwater. The study also investigated the impact of the in-stream use of detergents on water quality in the upper Kat River valley, Eastern Cape - South Africa. In-stream washing practices of certain communities in the upper Kat River valley were investigated and the impact of detergents on water quality was assessed. Recovery of the flow from the input of detergents was also measured. During the study, it has been ascertained that doing laundry by the stream is the common practice in the study area. Water quality analysis results show a remarkable increase on the levels of chloride, turbidity, and electrical conductivity in water as a consequence of direct input of detergents practice into the river during the washing. The recovery of the water quality at a distance of 1km from site of input was almost complete. Water quality monitoring programme was undertaken to establish a link between land-use and the quality of water. In a water quality study routine carried out for a period of 40 weeks on a twice monthly frequency, the state of the flows of the river was determined; water samples were collected at pre-determined points; and the in situ analysis of selected water quality variables (with the exception of the faecal coliforms whose analysis was carried out in the biotechnology laboratory) was carried out. Results of the study showed that the concentration of the studied water quality variables in the area varied widely with time. A clear distinction in concentration of variables such as electrical conductivity, turbidity, pH, total hardness, chloride, and nitrate was evident at the high compared to the low flow period of the study. The concentration of the studied water quality variables in the upper Kat River catchment area also seemed to vary over space. The concentration of variables such as electrical conductivity, pH, total hardness, chloride, nitrate, potassium, number of faecal coliform bacteria per 100ml was observed to be higher in most of the tributary streams than the main river. Turbidity however was orders of magnitude higher in the Kat River than the rest of the tributaries. Most importantly however, results of the study showed that there is a strong link between the quality of water and land-use and related activities in the area. The spatial results of the study showed a strong connection between some land-use and the concentrations of water quality variables. For example, areas of intense grazing were noted with high concentrations of nutrients like nitrate and a higher number of faecal coliform bacteria per 100 ml of water. It was established during the study that land-use and related activities in the upper Kat River valley are negatively impacting on the quality of water thereby rendering it less fit for use for domestic purposes. The continued use of the polluted water by the communities is thus accompanied by a danger of the outbreak of waterborne diseases like cholera. When the concerned communities met in a workshop to discuss the issue of quality of their water, they committed themselves to: • shunning water polluting activities, • at least boiling their drinking water before consuming it. The communities also requested a meeting with the Department of Water and Forestry officials to request a treated, piped supply of water.KMBT_363
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Okaiyeto, Kunle. "Evaluation of flocculating potentials and charecterization of bioflocculants produced by three bacterial isolates from Algoa Bay, South Africa." Thesis, University of Fort Hare, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10353/2633.
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Flocculation has been widely adopted as one of the most effective methods to remove colloidal particles in water or wastewater treatment. Synthetic flocculants are conventionally used because of their high flocculating efficiency and cost-effectiveness. However, they have been reported to have hazardous properties and implicated in some serious health problems including senile dementia and neuro-toxicity, as well as being recalcitrant in the environment. Consequently, efforts are being geared away from the use of synthetic flocculants in water and wastewater treatment. Hence, the need for safe and eco-friendly flocculants has become imperative. Compared with synthetic flocculants, bioflocculants have special advantages such as safety, biodegradability and harmlessness to the environment and humans; attributes which make them potential alternatives in water treatment, downstream as well as fermentation processes. In the current study, the potentials of bacterial isolates recovered from Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa for bioflocculant production were investigated. The bacterial isolates were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as belonging to the Bacillus genus. The analysis of 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) nucleotide sequence of isolate M72 showed 99 percent similarity to Bacillus toyonensis strain BCT-7112 and was deposited in the GenBank as Bacillus toyonensis strain AEMREG6 with accession number KP406731. Likewise, the 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences of isolates M69 and M67 showed 98 percent sequence similarity to Bacillus licheniformis strain W7 and Bacillus algicola strain QD43 respectively; and M67 isolate was subsequently deposited in the GenBank as Bacillus sp. AEMREG7 with accession number KF933697.1. The results of the nutritional requirements and fermentation conditions revealed that optimum inoculum size for REG-6 production was 4 percent (v/v), while 5 percent (v/v) and 3 percent (v/v) were most favourable for MBF-W7 and MBF-UFH production respectively. Glucose was the best carbon source for the production of bioflocculants (REG-6 and MBF-UFH) by Bacillus toyonensis AEMREG6 and Bacillus sp. AEMREG7 respectively, while maltose supported optimum bioflocculant (MBF-W7) production by Bacillus specie. Inorganic nitrogen (NH4NO3) was the favoured nitrogen source for both REG-6 and MBF-W7 production, while mixed nitrogen sources [yeast extract + urea + (NH4)2SO4] supported the maximum production of MBF-UFH. The initial medium pH for REG-6 was 5, while MBF-W7 and MBF-UFH were both maximally produced at the initial pH of 6. After a 96 h cultivation period under optimal culture conditions, 3.2 g of purified REG-6 with a maximum flocculating activity of 77 percent was recovered from 1 L fermented broth of Bacillus toyonensis AEMREG6. Yields of 3.8 g and 1.6 g pure bioflocculants with the respective highest flocculating activities of 94.9 percent and 83.2 percent were also obtained from 1 L, 72 h-fermented broths of Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus sp. AEMREG7 respectively. Furthermore, all the three bioflocculants (REG-6, MBF-W7 and MBF-UFH), displayed thermal stability within the temperature range of 50 to 100 oC, with strong flocculating activities of over 80 percent against kaolin suspension over a wide range of pH range (3–11) and relatively low dosage requirements of 0.1-03 mg/ml in the presence of divalent cations in the treatment of kaolin clay suspension and Thyme River waters. Chemical composition analyses of the bioflocculants showed them to be glycoproteins with a predominantly polysaccharide backbones as shown by the following carbohydrate/protein (w/w) ratios: 77.8 percent:11.5 percent (REG-6); 73.7 percent:6.2 percent (MBF-W7) and 76 percent:14 percent (MBF-UFH).
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Ndiitwani, Tovhowani Brenda. "The water quality and ecological status of the Diep river catchment, Western Cape, South Africa." University of Western Cape, 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/11394/7750.
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Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv and Cons Biol)The study illustrates the current ecological integrity of the Diep River system, based on the recent river health assessment using the South African Scoring System version 5 (2000-2003) and the water quality data (1996-2002). Some of the major land-use impacts on the river system are highlighted.
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Mgcoyi, Bulelani William. "Quality assessment of agricultural water used for fertigation in the Boland district." Thesis, [Bloemfontein?] : Central University of Technology, Free State, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/174.
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Thesis (M. Tech. (Agriculture)) -- Central University of Technology, Free state, 2011Quality assessment of agricultural water used for fertigation in the Boland district. The study was undertaken to determine the influence of seasonal changes on the water quality (chemical and microbial analyses) of five different rivers in the Boland. The data was collected in the five most important water sources that are used for irrigation purposes in the district, i.e. Berg river, Eerste river, Klapmuts River, Klippies river and Krom river. The samples were collected from all sites once every three weeks for a period of six months. The sampling was carried out during specific periods in summer (December, 2006 to February, 2007) and winter (June to August, 2007). The results of the study showed that Klapmuts river recorded the highest levels of chloride and iron, especially in summer. However, chloride levels were far below the levels set by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Results obtained from this study show the presence of pathogens in some of the rivers assessed which may have resulted from the leaching of these pathogens from nearby agricultural land, livestock watering or informal settlements in the catchment areas. The bigger rivers recorded low levels of micro-elements and this might have been affected by winter rainfall. In the Berg River, many sources of nitrate pollution seem to be present in the catchment area. The levels of iron in all the rivers assessed were far more than the levels set by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in all rivers assessed and these might be due to the pH levels and interaction between the rivers and seasons. Iron and manganese levels should be kept low as this may cause production problems by blocking irrigation drippers. The water samples tested for bacterial and fungal density showed Klapmuts and Eerste rivers were positive for Phytophthora cinnamomi during winter. Phytophthora citricola and Phytophthora cactorum were detected in the Klapmuts and Klippies rivers in summer. The Berg-, Klapmuts-, Krom- and Eerste rivers tested positive for species of the genera Pythium and Fusarium. Similar organisms were detected in the Eerste river mainly during summer on the fourth sampling date, while Krom river only tested positive for Pythium during summer. The total bacterial and algal density differed significantly between the seasons and was highest in winter. This might be due to high rain water influx and efflux and/or moist and aerobic conditions and air temperature. There is an increased need for farmers to sterilize feeding water (chlorination) due to high microbial count.
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Sahula, Asiphe. "Exploring the development of an integrated, participative, water quality management process for the Crocodile River catchment, focusing on the sugar industry." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017876.
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Water quality deterioration is reaching crisis proportions in South Africa. Many South African catchments are over-allocated, and decreasing volumes of source water mean increasing concentrations of pollutants. The Crocodile River Catchment in the Mpumalanga province in South Africa was identified through previous research, as a catchment faced with deteriorating source water quality for water users in the catchment. Poor source water quality has become a sufficiently acute concern for the stakeholders in this catchment to co-operate in developing a process that assists with compliance control of their water use and waste disposal to reduce costs, decrease industrial risks as water quality compliance increases, and improve source water quality. The sugar industry is downstream within the Crocodile River Catchment, and is affected by the activities of all upstream water users; the industry is thus dependent on the stakeholders upstream participating in the effective management of the resource. However, the sugar industry is also located just before the confluence of the Crocodile River and Komati River upstream of the Mozambique border, and thus the water quality of the sugar industry effluent will affect the quality of the water that flows into Mozambique. The sugar industry is on the opposite river bank to the Kruger National Park, which has high water resource protection goals. Therefore, the sugar industry has a national role to play in the management of water resources in the Crocodile River Catchment. This study provides a focused view of the role of the sugar industry in the development of a co-operative, integrated water quality management process (IWQMP) in the Crocodile River Catchment. In order to address the objectives of this study, this research drew from an understanding of the social processes that influence water management practices within the sugar industry as well as social processes that influence the role of the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency as the main governing institution in water resource management in the Inkomati Water Management Area. The study also drew from an understanding of scientific knowledge in terms of a water chemistry which describes the upstream and downstream water quality impacts related to the sugar industry. The water quality analysis for the Lower Crocodile River Catchment shows a decline in water quality in terms of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) loads when moving from below Mbombela to the Mozambique border. The major sources of TDS in the Lower Crocodile River are point source dominated, which may be attributed to the extensive mining, industrial and municipal activities that occur across the catchment. When observing Total Alkalinity (TAL) and pH values from below Mbombela to the furthest monitoring point, there is deterioration in the quality of the water in the Lower Crocodile River, with the Kaap River contributing a negative effect that is diluted by the Crocodile main stem. The Hectorspruit Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs) (located in the Lower Crocodile River Catchment) contributes high concentrations of TDS and TAL into the Crocodile River. Total Inorganic Nitrogen and Soluble Reactive Phosphorus concentrations decrease in the lower reaches of the Crocodile River compared with the river below Mbombela, which can be attributed to the extensive sugar cane plantations located in the Lower Crocodile River Catchment acting as an “agricultural wetland” that serves a function of bioremediation resulting in large scale absorption of nutrients. This is an interesting result as earlier assumptions were that fertiliser application would result in an overall increase in nutrient loads and concentrations. Biomonitoring data show no substantial change in aquatic health in the LowerCrocodile River Catchment. For a catchment that has an extensive agricultural land use in terms of sugarcane and citrus production, the Crocodile River is unexpectedly not in a toxic state in terms of aquatic health. This is a positive result and it suggests that pesticide use is strictly controlled in the sugar and citrus industry in the Crocodile River Catchment. For long term sustainability, it is essential for the sugar industry to maintain (and possibly improve) this pesticide management. The social component of this study aimed to provide an analysis of the management practices of the sugar mill as well as examining agricultural practices in the sugar cane fields in relation to water quality management through the use of Cultural Historical Activity System Theory (CHAT). This component showed that there are contradictions within the sugar industry activity system that are considered to be areas of “tension” that can be loosened or focused on to improve the contribution the sugar industry can make to the IWQMP. Surfacing contradictions within the sugar industry activity system and the Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency activity systems highlighted areas of potential for learning and change. While an understanding of biophysical processes through scientific knowledge is critical in water management decision making, it is evident that an understanding of other actors, institutions and networks that inform water quality management decision-making also plays a significant role. The notion of improving the role of scientific or biophysical knowledge in contributing to socio-ecologically robust knowledge co-creation, decisions and actions towards resolving water quality problems is emphasised. Specifically, moving towards improving interactions between scientists and other actors (water users in the Crocodile Catchment in this case), so that scientific practices become more orientated towards societal platforms where water quality management is tackled to enable improved water quality management practices. Therefore, linking the social and biophysical components in this study provides a holistic understanding of how the sugar industry can contribute to the development of an IWQMP for the Crocodile River catchment.
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Dube, Renias Admore. "Appropriate positioning of modelling as a decision support tool for surface water resources planning in South Africa." Thesis, Pretoria : [s.n.], 2006. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08242006-122230.
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Thesis (Ph.D) (Microbiology and Plant Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2006.Summaries in Afrikaans and English. Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.
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Ratikane, Mosepeli. "Quality of drinking water sources in the Bloemfontein area of the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality." Thesis, Bloemfontein : Central University of Technology, Free State, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/210.
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Thesis (M. Tech. (Environmental Health)) -- Central University of technology, Free State, 2013Introduction: Drinking water of poor quality can cause a variety of diseases and may even result in death. The impact of poor drinking water is a course for concern even in South Africa. Therefore, the physical, chemical and microbiological drinking water quality was investigated in the peri-urban area of Bainsvlei and the Woodlands Hills Estate in Bloemfontein, Free State. Materials and Methods: The water quality was assessed in 20 identified sampling sites for three series with ten weeks apart. These sites use treated municipal and untreated borehole water for drinking. The determinants analysed for were pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, temperature, Ca, Mg, Na, F, Cl, N, SO₄,N, Free chlorine, Al, As, CN, Fe, Mn, Pb, Hg, total coliforms and E. coli. The water samples were collected and analysed on site and in the laboratory. Both the physical and chemical determinants were measured using standard methods whereas the microbiological determinants were measured using the Defined Substrate Technology (DST) method. The measurements were first compared to the SANS 241 (2011) for compliance. The ANOVA tests were used to investigate if any seasonal variations existed in the water quality as well as to compare the levels of the determinants between borehole and municipal water. In the assessment of the overall drinking water quality of different water sampling sites the water quality index (WQI) was used. Results and Discussions: Significant effects were believed to exist if the p-values of the ANOVA and Scheffe tests were at a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05). The study results revealed that of the four physical determinants that were measured turbidity exceeded the standard in many sampling sites in the three series. Of all the chemical determinants, nitrates exceeded the standard. In the same way coliforms exceeded the standard in a number of sampling sites while E. coli was found in a few sampling sites in the first series. ANOVA tests revealed that seasonal variations existed between pH, EC, temperature, cyanide and iron at a significant level of 5% (p < 0.05) while the Post-hoc Scheffe test further revealed the series in which the effect existed. Similarly, the ANOVA tests revealed that the levels of the determinants between municipal versus borehole varied in pH, EC, Ca, Mg, Na, F, Cl, N, and SO₄ at a significant level of 5% (p < 0.05). The WQI showed that in all the series when combining the good and excellent category season 2 had the highest percentage of 80%, followed by season 3 with 79% and season 1 with 70%. Only borehole sampling sites were found in the poor, very poor and unsuitable categories. Similarly all the highest WQI values were found in borehole sampling sites. Conclusion: This study revealed that the water quality is of good quality in the Bainsvlei and Woodlands Hills Estate of the Mangaung metropolitan municipality in Bloemfontein, in the Free State, South Africa. The presence of E. coli, though found in a few sampling sites and the high levels of turbidity, nitrates and coliforms are of concern to public health.
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Samuels, Donovan. "Hydraulic properties of the vadose zone at two typical sites in the Western Cape for the assessment of groundwater vulnerability to pollution." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2007. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_6812_1216299974.
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Aquifer vulnerability assessment is increasingly becoming a very significant basis in order to fulfill the water demands in South Africa. Knowledge of soil hydraulic properties that consists of the soil water retention and hydraulic conductivity functions is a prerequisite for predicting solution transport in soils. The overall objective of the study was to develop a database of hydraulic properties for collected undisturbed samples and to test selected models by making use of this database.
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Ntili, Tseliso Paul. "Sustainable governance management systems: a practical approach for Water Boards in South Africa." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/9185.
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This research study explored the appropriate sustainable governance management systems for South African socio-economic conditions. This was achieved by investigating the current governance and management of water boards in performing their business and water services provisioning at municipal level. Municipalities are the third sphere of government in South Africa and are found at local levels of governance. They are businesses that provide running water as legislated by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Water boards are public institutions established in terms of the Water Services Act, 108 of 1997 (WSA) and listed as Schedule 3 part B: National Government Business Enterprise in terms of the Public Finance Management Act 29 of 1999. They are accountable to the national government through the Department of Water Affairs. Their responsibility is to support municipalities where water-provisioning challenges are eminent. They report annually to national parliament on their performance within a specific financial year. Water boards are currently able to perform their operations in selected jurisdictions as contracted by municipalities. They are struggling in managing and governing their water business while striving to achieve improvements in water service coverage, operating efficiency and service delivery. The aim of the research study was to investigate areas affecting the sustainability of governance management systems for water boards in relation to the improvement of service delivery in South Africa. The analysis of age and gender factors and the conditions affecting governance are explored. The research used the qualitative and quantitative methods to analyse the research questions. Prior to the commencement of the study, the researcher performed an intensive desktop study involving the use of dated and recently published material related to governance and management of the water institutions in developed and developing countries. During the desktop study, national and international accredited journals were prioritised to obtain related and relevant similar information to the water governance and management of water institutions. In addition, a case study was undertaken in Ficksburg in which water boards provided an intervention in resolving the water crisis, since the provision of water is a basic service at local government. This area experienced both water shortage and a poor quality of water. With regard to qualitative methodology, participatory forums were used to delineate the research context and premise. The study population consisted of individuals who were in the business of water boards with special reference to water management and board of directors for a population of 1 000. Of the 500 questionnaires sent out, 419 were returned. The data were analysed using the statistical software package, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results and recommendations are presented based on the identified objectives of the study. The study’s findings provide information for transformation and improvement in the performance of water boards in South Africa when striving for sustainability in management and governance. The findings reveal the need for improvements in the involvement of females in the business of the water boards. The findings confirm the outcomes of previous studies regarding the slow implementation of affirmative action and transformation processes as required by legislation. Furthermore, the results reveal that the factors and conditions affecting sustainability of the water boards need to be prioritised to improve the management and governance aspects of water boards. These include the appropriate selection of members of the boards of directors, water boards' committees that are guided by legislation in their operations and the maintenance of proper financial management (collection of revenue, implementation of appropriate financial strategies and striving for positive clean audit). Water boards are encouraged to strengthen their intergovernmental relations in order to make their mandate known across all spheres of government. Service delivery should be approached “from source to tap and tap to source” to promote high-quality provision of water. The water boards should be accountable to the municipalities for the provision of delegated operations. The Department of Water Affairs exercises an oversight role to ensure the sustainable provision of the services. However, the study concludes that without a strong management and a sustainable governance approach, water boards will not be able to carry out its water developmental mandate. The practical framework that was developed in this study provides management and governance tools for sustained provisioning of water to advance transformational and developmental needs and the application of legislations. The results in the study have a direct impact on the codes of practice and regulations on employment equity in implementing the Employment Equity Act of 1998, Intergovernmental Relations Act of 2005, Companies Act of 2008, National Water Act of 1998, and Water Services Act of 1997. Therefore, the practical implementation of this framework will enhance water as a transformational and developmental feature in addressing the social, environmental and economic services.
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Williams, Chavon R. "A National survey of Mercury levels in South Africa's water management areas." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2010. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_8674_1298356510.
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This study forms part of a broader project co-funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC), and CSIR Parliamentary Grant (PG) and Strategic Research Panel (SRP) research grants, aimed at surveying selected water resources within the 19 Water Management Areas in South Africa. Furthermore, it aims at determining the concentrations of Hg and MeHg in various environmental compartments collected from priority water resources, to identify the potential Hg hotspots, and to assess the degree of compliance with national and international guidelines. Mercury concentrations in the environment have increased globally and this has caused much anxiety in terms of the adverse effects it has on aquatic ecosystems, their organisms, and the communities they sustain. Human health risks associated with the consumption of fish elevated containing Hg concentrations have received minimal attention particularly in South Africa. It is imperative that any potential adverse impacts of Hg on aquatic ecosystems, and the subsequent impacts on human health, be investigated.
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Phiri, Charles M. "An investigation of community learning through participation in integrated water resource management practices." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003504.
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South Africa is a semi arid country in which the average rainfall of 450mm/year is well below the world average of about 860mm/year. As a result, South Africa’s water resources are scarce in global terms and limited in extent. Current predictions are that demand will outstrip water availability in the next 15 years. A coordinated approach to improve both water quality and quantity is needed and in order to achieve that, it is crucial to strengthen capacities of local community involvement in identifying the problems that affect them and strategies to solve them. This research was undertaken to develop a deeper understanding of community learning processes in integrated water resources management (IWRM) practices. The study drew on situated and social learning theory which explains that knowledge and skills are learned and embedded in the contexts in which knowledge is obtained and applied in everyday situations. Multiple data collection techniques were used within a case study design and included document analysis, interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. Data analysis was done in three phases and involved uncovering patterns and trends in the data sets. In this context I discovered, through careful observation and interviews with members of the different communities of practice, that people are learning through social learning interactions with other community members as they engage in their daily water management and food production practices. Learning interactions take place through both informal and formal processes such as meetings, training workshops, conversations and interactions with outsiders. I also discovered that people learn from ‘external groups’ or training programmes which bring new knowledge and expertise, but this needs to be contextualised in the local communities of practice. The research has also shown that there are a number of challenges that appear to exist in these learning contexts. For instance it was found that participation and social learning processes and interactions are influenced by a range of causal mechanisms that are contextual. These insights into how communities learn, as well as the tensions and difficulties that are experienced in the learning processes are important for furthering learning and participation in community-based IWRM practices, projects and programmes.
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Odume, Oghenekaro Nelson. "An evaluation of macroinvertebrate-based biomonitoring and ecotoxicological assessments of deteriorating environmental water quality in the Swartkops River, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013156.
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Freshwater resources are increasingly subject to pollution because of escalating human population growth, accompanied by urbanisation, industrialisation, and the increased demand for food. Consequently, freshwater quality, and aquatic ecosystem structure and function have been severely impaired. The Swartkops River, which drains an urbanised and industrialised catchment in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, is no exception. An integrated environmental water quality (EWQ) approach is needed to measure the impacts of deteriorating water quality on its aquatic ecosystem structure and function to sustain these vital ecosystem-attributes. In this study, an integrated EWQ approach, which included i) analysis of water physico-chemical variables; ii) macroinvertebrate-based family-level taxonomic- and traits-based community analysis; iii) Chironomidae species-level taxonomic- and traits-based community analysis; iv) Chironomidae deformity-based sub-lethal analysis; and v) experimental investigation of long-term wastewater effluent effects, using model stream ecosystems, were applied to investigate environmental water quality in the Swartkops River. One upstream reference site and three downstream sites in the Swartkops River were monitored over a period of three years (August 2009 – September 2012). The family-level taxonomic community responses based on the South African Scoring System version 5 (SASS5) and a newly developed Swartkops multimetric index indicated very poor river health conditions for the three downstream sites, compared with the good condition of the upstream site. The Chironomidae species-level responses in the three downstream sites provided evidence of differences in biotic impairments, which were not evident with the family-level taxonomic data at these sites, thus highlighting the importance of species identification in freshwater biomonitoring. The family-level traits-based approach (TBA) showed that macroinvertebrates with gills and lungs were more abundant at the upstream site, decreasing markedly at the downstream sites. The relative abundance of macroinvertebrates relying on aerial and tegument respiration increased at the downstream sites compared with the upstream sites. The results of the family-level TBA highlighted the inextricable link between the traits-based approach (TBA) and taxonomic identification, clearly showing that the TBA is additional to, and not an alternative to, taxonomic recognition because important traits, e.g. reproductive cannot be used at a coarse taxonomic identification. A novel chironomid species traits-based functional strategies approach developed in this study, based on species combining similar sets of traits, proved sensitive in diagnosing the main abiotic water physico-chemical stressors. The functional traits responded predictably to deteriorating water quality and provided an adaptive and mechanistic basis for interpreting chironomid species occurrences at the four sampling sites, providing insight into why certain chironomid species occurred at one site but not at the other. Chironomid deformities provided evidence of sub-lethal in-stream biological response to deteriorating water quality. A newly developed deformity-based extended toxic score index proved sensitive, enabling the discrimination of the sampling sites, indicating that a biomonitoring tool based on sub-lethal effects could be used to assess the effects of deteriorating water quality before it reached lethal levels. Empirical evidence based on the taxonomic, traits and sub-lethal responses suggested that the changes in macroinvertebrate community structure were caused chiefly by the discharge of wastewater effluents into the river. This was supported by the model-stream ecosystem results indicating significant effects of effluents on the macroinvertebrate community structure, similar to the observed in-stream responses. The model stream results indicated that improved physico-chemical effluent quality compliance after 50% effluent dilution did not significantly reduce the effects of the effluent on the macroinvertebrate communities, showing that ecologically-based methods rather than physico-chemical measures alone are necessary to assess effluent quality. Finally, the results of the multi-criteria approach were integrated to propose tools to manage environmental water quality in the Swartkops River, and the benefits of the study were highlighted in the context of biomonitoring in South Africa.
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Gueze, Humberto. "Stakeholder participation in the establishment of the Berg Catchment Management Agency, South Africa." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2007. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_7481_1211960632.
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Enacted in 1998, the New South African Water Act has introduced a new approach to water resource management, founded on the principle of decentralization of the management of water resources to regional and local levels and the public participation. The approach has been captured in the new National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998), which allows the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies. The overall purpose of this study was to understand the trends of public participation in the establishment of Catchment Management Agencies in South Africa, by presenting the case of the Berg Catchment Management Agency.
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Clifford-Holmes, Jai Kumar. "Fire and water : a transdisciplinary investigation of water governance in the lower Sundays River Valley, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1017870.
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The implementation of water policy and the integrated management of water face multiple challenges in South Africa (SA), despite the successes of post-apartheid government programmes in which some significant equity, sustainability and efficiency milestones have been met. This study uses a series of intervention processes into municipal water service delivery to explore the context, constraints, and real-world messiness in which local water authorities operate. The equitable provision of drinking water by local government and the collaborative management of untreated water by ‘water user associations’ are two sites of institutional conflict that have been subjected to broad ‘turnaround’ and ‘transformation’ attempts at the national level. This thesis seeks to explore and understand the use of transdisciplinary research in engaging local water authorities in a process of institutional change that increases the likelihood of equitable water supply in the Lower Sundays River Valley (LSRV). Fieldwork was conducted as part of a broader action research process involving the attempted ‘turnaround’ of the Sundays River Valley Municipality (SRVM) between 2011 and 2014. A multi-method research approach was employed, which drew on institutional, ethnographic, and systems analyses within an evolving, transdisciplinary methodology. In the single case study research design, qualitative and quantitative data were collected via participant observation, interviews and documentary sources. Analytical methods included system dynamics modelling and an adapted form of the ethnographic tool of ‘thick description’, which were linked in a governance analysis. Government interventions into the SRVM failed to take account of the systemic complexity of the municipal operating environment, the interactions of which are described in this study as the ‘modes of failure’ of local government. These modes included the perpetual ‘firefighting’ responses of municipal officials to crises, and the simultaneous underinvestment in, and over-extension of, water supply infrastructure, which is a rational approach to addressing current water shortages when funds are unavailable for maintenance, refurbishment, or the construction of new infrastructure. The over-burdening of municipalities with technocratic requirements, the presence of gaps in the institutional arrangements governing water supply in the LSRV, and the lack of coordination in government interventions are analysed in this study, with policy recommendations resulting. The primary contribution of this study is in providing a substantively-contextualised case study that illustrates the value of systemic, engaged, extended, and embedded transdisciplinary research.
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Obi, CL, MNB Momba, A. Samie, JO Igumbor, E. Green, and E. Musie. "Microbiological, physico-chemical and management parameters impinging on the efficiency of small water treatment plants in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa." Water SA, 2007. http://encore.tut.ac.za/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?sp=1000861.
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In the wake of the growing dependence on small water treatment plants (SWTPs) in providing quality water to rural areas and the global burden of water borne diseases, this study sought to examine the efficiency of 55 SWTPs located in rural or peri-urban areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces in order to gauge the safety of water supply for human consumption. The microbiological and physical parameters of raw water, treated water and water in the distribution systems were examined using standard methods. Management issues impacting on quality of water supply were determined by use of questionnaires and focus group discussions. Results obtained showed that the pH, turbidity, temperature and conductivity of the raw water in SWTPs studied in both provinces ranged between 6.46 to 9.05 pH units, 0.19 to 8.0 NTU, 15.4oC to 31.40oC and 44.40.4 μS to 108 μS respectively. Water quality compliance at point of use (treated water) according to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry of South Africa guidelines in SWTPs studied in both provinces were 85% for faecal coliforms and 69% for total coliforms. In the distribution systems, TCCs, FCCs and HPCs were within recommended limits except for few SWTPs suggesting a possibility of inadequate treatment and this may represent post-treatment contamination and possible risk of infection from these water supply sources. Physical parameters were generally within the recommended ranges . In terms of administrative issues, some plant operators did not have adequate knowledge of the functioning of the SWTPs and most were unable to calculate chlorine dosage, determine flow rates or undertake repairs of basic equipment. Poor working conditions , frequent stock depletion of chemicals , lack of maintenance culture , lack of emergency preparedness and poor communication were also cited .
The study has revealed that the microbiological quality of raw water was very poor but that water treatment was efficient in the majority of SWTPs studied in both provinces. Regular monitoring of microbial and physico-chemical parameters of water quality served by the different SWTPs to the population is recommended to gauge their safety for human consumption. Issues such as enhanced incentives and periodic training of plant operators, improved communication and conditions of service , periodic stock inventory and entrenchment of maintenance culture may be necessary to ensure sustained and efficient water distribution systems.
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Schieritz, René. "An investigation of the treatment efficacy of permeable pavements for water quality performance in South Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22884.
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Stormwater pollution has been recognised as a leading cause of ecological degradation of urban streams. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) attempt to address stormwater impacts by flow attenuation and pollutant treatment, simultaneously providing amenities such as water for use in irrigation or other suitable uses. Permeable pavements are a form of SuDS that provide on-source treatment and storage of stormwater while retaining the functionality of hardened surfaces. They have been studied extensively in the international literature but no studies in a South African context have been published. This study investigated the water quality performance of a recently constructed permeable pavement at the University of Cape Town. Effluent quality was assessed against the South African Water Quality Guidelines and an ecosystem assessment tool. The results showed that, while the pavement had been constructed with unwashed aggregate and therefore exported suspended solids, effluent still met the standards required for irrigation and some industrial uses. However, the effluent did not meet desirable nutrient standards for discharge into the aquatic ecosystem. The performance of the pavement was similar to values reported in the international literature, suggesting that the quality ranges can be extrapolated to other permeable pavements. The newly constructed pavement displayed noteworthy inter-event progression, as well as identifiable intra-event variation of pollutant concentrations. Further research into effluent toxicity, long-term impacts of unwashed aggregate and catchment-wide impacts of permeable pavements are recommended.
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Moses, Mariana. "An investigation into the negative external impact of water pollution, public policy options and coping strategies --with specific references to the Lotus River Catchment area." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2005. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&.
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Seebach, Rudi Dieter. "The application of integrated environmental management to improve storm water quality and reduce marine pollution at Jeffreys Bay (South Africa)." Thesis, Link to this resource, 2006. http://eprints.ru.ac.za/779/.
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Furumele, Musa Stefane. "Advective water quality model for urban watercourses." Thesis, 1991. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/24723.
Full textAbstract:
A project report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial
fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Science in Engineerrng,As has happened throughout the world. environmental and water quality problems related to developing urban and industrial areas and associated accumulation of waste in built-up areas were the main factors in contributing to sanitary awareness in South Africa. The dwindling water resources and persistent deterioration of water quality, more severely in urban areas, necessitates the review the current practice of storm water management in South Africa. Reliable stormwater drainage models evaluating both the water quantity and quality could be essential in confronting the prevailing pollution problems. The objective of this project was conceived to be the development of a system for the simulation of water quality in urban watercourses, A personal computer compatible model for joint transportation of hydrograph and pollutographs in open channels was developed. The model comprises an operational data handling facility, a user friendly and interactive interface. The study revealed that: Urban and Industrial development results in complication of the urban water system. • Single objectivity approaches in management of urban watercourses are outdated . .. The proposed model is capable of simultaneously routing flood and pollutant condiment waves in open channels. Understanding of aspects of the water quality in urban watercourse can be greatly enhanced by the proposed model. The following recommendations were henceforth made: • Detailed study of the nature. quantity and sources of pollutants in the urban water system. .. Sophisticated (dynamic wave. supercritical flow, complicated ..................... hydrodynamic model snould be considered, • Biological and, chemical process in the urban watercourse be incorporated. • Linking of the water quality model to the storm water drainage model,
Andrew Chakane 2018
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Du, Plessis Anja. "Relationship of Vaal Dam high water flow and water quality from 1995 to 2010." Thesis, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4679.
Full textAbstract:
M.Sc.The Vaal River is the main source of water supply to the central industrial, mining and metropolitan regions of South Africa, and is, therefore, strictly regulated by small dams and weirs. The Vaal Dam is the main regulator of water to the Vaal River and is of great importance as it supplies water for human consumption and also to the industrial powerhouse of South Africa. Situated at the confluence of its major tributaries, namely the Vaal and Wilge Rivers, and straddling the convergence of the borders of Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga provinces, the Vaal Dam is approximately 77 km south of Johannesburg. It is South Africa’s second-largest dam in terms of area, and third-largest in terms of volume, and is a key component in South Africa’s water supply infrastructure. Gauteng, as well as the surrounding provinces are reliant on it for their water supply. Water flow fluctuations are deemed to be important as they could negatively impact upon the water quality. Knowledge of the relationship between fluctuating water flows and water quality is important as strategies can then be devised on this basis to improve the freshwater situation of the country, the associated management systems, and treatment technologies. By establishing the nature of the respective relationships between high water flow and the selected water quality parameters, ways could be found of reducing the costs of water quality problems, such as eutrophication. The various relationships between high water flow and the selected water quality parameters of the Vaal Dam that were established during the course of this study are as follows: In terms of pH, the study found that in the event of a decline in the water flow, the pH value increased and the water body became more alkaline. A decrease in water flow was also found to be associated with an increase in EC. An increase in water flow was found to be associated with a decrease in pH, EC and Chlorophyll-a. An increase in water flow up to a certain level was found to be associated with an increase in nitrates, sulphates and COD.
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Gulzar, Iqra. "Remote water quality diagnostic system." Thesis, 2019. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/29432.
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A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Engineering, 2019Water is the basic necessity for all living organisms. About, five million people specifically children are dying each year due to dehydration or use of toxin infected water around the world. In South Africa approximately seventeen percent of the population do not have access to safe drinking water. Considering all of these challenges it is evident that monitoring the quality of water is important for providing safe and clean water. Several researchers have shown that the parameters related to the quality of drinking water can be monitored effectively in the field. To accurately determine the quality of water it needs to be tested for many parameters. Measuring all possible parameters can be a daunting task. It is very costly and time consuming at the same time. There is also research available in which researchers have proposed remote monitoring of water quality based on fewer parameters in a given water sample to conclude whether or not the given sample was safe for drinking. This has met with limited success. There is however very limited or no scientific evidence available to validate the effectiveness of the selected fewer parameters to determine the quality of drinking water. The research presented in this dissertation proposes a list of fewer parameters that are monitored to determine the quality of water. The effectiveness of those parameters in determining the quality of drinking water has been verified by conducting a detailed analysis on a number of water samples in a laboratory environment. The research has also proposed a system that is capable of monitoring those parameters remotely. This enables the water supplying authorities to determine the basic quality of water without testing it in the laboratory environment resulting in a decreased time and lower cost.
TL (2020)
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Moyo, Stanley. "The quality of water entering Loskop Dam, Mpumalanga, South Africa." 2013. http://encore.tut.ac.za/iii/cpro/DigitalItemViewPage.external?sp=1000747.
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D. Tech. ChemistryThe increase in industrialisation in South Africa has led to an increase in coal mining and coal utilisation in Mpumalanga. This has resulted in the deterioration in the quality of water upstream of Loskop Dam. Little or no information is available on the occurrence or fractionation of trace metals in sediments, which are reservoirs for pollutants. Furthermore, no information is available concerning the occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known for their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects, in rivers in the area. The possible impact of leaching of elements and organic compounds from South African coals has not been exhaustively researched. The general objectives of the study were to: 1) assess the impact of potentially toxic metals and organic compounds leaching from coal, on the quality of surface waters via simulated leaching experiments; 2) determine the extent of pollution by trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of the Olifants, Klein Olifants and Wilge rivers, at selected points in the upper catchment area; and 3) identify and apportion sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediment samples from the study area.
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Kruger, Welna. "Water quality in the upper Klip River, Region 5, City of Johannesburg." Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10210/2002.
Full textAbstract:
M.Sc.The main aim of this study is to determine the water quality of water sampling points situated in Region Five of The City of Johannesburg. The water quality is studied over a three-year period from July 2000 until June 2003; this includes a dry, normal and rainy year. Region Five falls within the Upper Klipriver sub-catchment, which forms part of the Klip river catchment. The physical, chemical and microbiological sampling results are obtained from Rand Water. These results are compared with the water quality guidelines as set by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry namely for domestic use, recreational use and aquatic ecosystems, as well as the guidelines set by Rand Water. These results of the variables that were selected are depicted visually in the form of graphs. A scientific approach is followed with respect to the water quality results. The significance of the data is statistically evaluated by using the Student’s t-test. The seasons are divided into two groups namely the more dry and cool season (autumn/winter) and the more rainy and hot season (spring/summer). This is done to determine if the seasons have a significant effect on the water quality results in comparison to each other. The water quality results are then discussed with respect to the different sampling sites. Sampling point K9, the stream at Durban Roodepoort Deep mine delivered the most problematic results of the different sampling points studied, and indicated that acid mine drainage was taking place during the sampling period. The other sampling points are less problematic. Point and non-point source pollution are elaborated on, and recommendations are made to improve the water quality at the sampling points selected.