Water quality management

1
Water quality management in the Steelpoort river
basin
F. Ardorino Workshop CEEPA-CIRAD 1-4 October 2002
2
General context

• NWA
• sustainable development
• fufilment of basic human needs
• fulfilment of environmental requirements

The water required to meet the basic human needs
and the needs of the environment shall be
identified as the Reserve and shall enjoy
priority of use by right. The use of water for
all other purposes shall be subject to
authorization.   Responsibility for water
management shall be delegated to a catchment or
regional level in such a manner as to enable
interested parties to participate (Principles
of New Water Act, DWAF, 1997)
3
Objectives of the study
How is water quality managed ? - currently -
future needs linked to Reserve implementation Wha
t are the different points of views ?
4
Method
Bibliographic study - Legal texts,
Implementation policies - Technical reports like
Olifants River basin study report (DWAF,
1991) Prefeasibility Study on Bulk Water supply
in Steelpoort River area (DWAF, 1999) Proposal
of the establishment of CMA for Olifants Water
management area (DWAF, 2000) Interviews -
DWAF, research institutes, WRC, RAU - Farmers
commercial, small scale farmers - Villagers -
Kruger National park - Consultants -
Municipalities Mapping
5
Main water users
6
Future developments
7
Preliminary results
Tensions about water resource - upstream /
downstream users - lack of drinkable water in
former homelands - development of mining sector
need for water authorizations Tensions about
land resource - increase of population in
settlements - land claims - mining companies
looking for land around Steelpoort Ecological
requirements water resource is defined as an
ecosystem which includes physical and structural
habitats, water, aquatic biota, processes
linking habitats, water and biota. In-stream
Flow Requirements Water quality objectives
8
Preliminary results Water pollution

• Data seem to be disparate
• Physico-chemical data
• Global ecological indicators
• Specific research about heavy metals
• Lack of integrated data analysis
• Need for more information

9
Pollution problems appearing in technical reports
TDS, Silt
Sodium Chloride
10
Pollution problems according to interviews
Steelpoort
Burgersfort
Vantech
TDS, Silt
Nutrients Ammonium Nitrates Phosphate Fecal
Choliforms
Roossenekal Quarries
Sulfate
Lydenburg sewage plant
Wapadkloef
Metals
Accidental pollutions from mines
Belfast quarries
Acidic conditions (coal mines)
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Discussion
How will In-stream Flow Requirements be ensured ?
What will be the relevant water quality
indicators ? (applicable, characteristic of the
ecosystem protection level) Reserve effective
implementation ? What kind of negotiation places
? with producer forums risks to see lobbies
take the lead ?