Establishing effective, appropriate and applicable technologies in treating contaminated surface water as part of a rehabilitation strategy for the Princess Dump in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg
Date
2009-09-02T11:35:00Z
Authors
Ngigi, Samuel M.
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Abstract
This study aimed to identify an effective, appropriate and applicable technology for the treatment of
contaminated surface water from the Princess Dump. Princess Dump is an old abandoned and
unrehabilitated gold tailings storage facility situated in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg. It falls
within the Upper Klip River subcatchment, which forms part of the Klip River catchment.
Undoubtedly, abandoned gold tailings storage facilities have caused varying degrees of environmental
damage especially those that have been abandoned and left unrehabilitated. Water pollution that results
from these facilities does not only influence the local environment but also other receptors downstream
of the source. In order to assess the extent of water pollution attributed to the abandoned Princess
Dump, sampling was done on specific points around the study site. Other physical and chemical water
quality sampling data was obtained from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). The
chemical analysis was performed on the data to determine whether the water quality parameter
concentration was within the Target Water Quality Range (TWQR) as stipulated by DWAF for various
uses, while correlation analysis determined the relationship between the various water quality
parameters at the time of sampling. These analyses gave an indication of the potential liability of the
abandoned Princess Dump as far as the degradation of the local surface water quality.
The study identified that pollution resulting from the Princess Dump is seriously impacting on the
water quality environment around the site. Different surface water treatment systems, active and
passive, were reviewed and analysed on the basis of their efficiency and applicability to the site and
their ability to remediate the contaminated surface water around the site. This was done in comparison
between the various identified systems and their ability to treat the contaminated water that is being
released from the abandoned site.
A preferred water treatment system was identified based on its projected efficiency in treating the
water quality from the site while considering the worst case scenario of the pollution. Other potential
point and non point sources of pollution around the study site were also identified and elaborated on
and recommendations made to improve the water quality around the site. It was concluded that the
local surface water quality has been degraded and that a passive surface water treatment technology
can adequately improve the water quality before it is released into the environment.