ETD Collection

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Has files: YesSubject: search.filters.subject.Water utilities--South Africa

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Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    The mediating role of trade-offs in the relationship between operations strategy and sustainability of water utility in South Africa
    (2019) Lushozi, M F
    A number of studies on operations strategy and on trade-offs have been commissioned in the past years, however these studies have failed to address the gap on studying operations strategy and trade-offs specifically on the South African water utilities sustainability. To bridge this gap this study investigates whether it is a prudent for the South African water utilities to focus on all five generic operations strategy performance objectives or to trade-off some of them. Quantitative research is conducted where questionnaires were used to collected data from South African water utilities The study aimed at developing an operations strategy trade-offs model to be used specifically on South African water utilities which may also have aspects that are extendable to water utilities elsewhere in Africa or the world. The results for study indicate that water quality, cost and speed were ranked at top three main performance objectives which suggest that not all five operations strategy performance objectives should be focus area where resources are scarce. Furthermore, the results did not support the hypothesis that trade-offs provide a mediating effect on the relationship between operations strategy and sustainability of the water utility. However, as a main outcome the model without trade-offs was supported by the study and this model can now be used by water utilities to test it.
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    Groundwater assessment in relation to climatic variation: case study of the Lightenburg Karst Aquifer
    (2018) Lalumbe, Lindelani
    Monitoring and assessment of groundwater resources in the karst belt in South Africa has been conducted by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) for several years as a special monitoring program as it was considered as a vulnerable aquifer. This was done to determine the groundwater potential for bulk water supply and also the impact of climatic variation and over abstraction on the availability of groundwater in the area. The impact of climatic variation on the Lichtenburg dolomitic aquifer was assessed based on the declining water table from 2013 to 2017. The study analysed previous studies conducted in relation to past drought events in Southern Africa. The study established that climatic variation alone did not result in the decline of groundwater table. Over abstraction was also contributed to the decline of the water table owing to high demand in water use. The standardized precipitation index (SPI) calculated in 2015 corresponds with the declining groundwater table. The groundwater quality of the aquifer was not impacted by climatic variation. The 20 years groundwater quality data indicated that there was no major difference in water quality over different climatic conditions beside slightly elevated sodium in the September 2016 results. The main water facies was represented by Ca-Mg-HCO3 type water. The stable isotope results indicated the possibility of mixing with deep circulating karstic springs and also that evaporation took place before infiltration in some part of this aquifer. The conceptual model indicates quantitative values and findings determined by the study.
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    The quantification of water usage in a South African Platinum refinery using various water accounting methods
    (2018) Dheda, Dhruti
    South Africa is the darling of the platinum world with majority of the global platinum reserves being located in its backyard. Despite boasting extensive platinum mining activity, South Africa contrastingly has limited water resources. Additional pressure is placed on existing water resources due to climate change, poor water infrastructure and greater urbanisation. Hence water management in the mining sector, particularly the platinum mining sector is of great significance. Platinum precious metal refineries are often neglected in terms of water related studies as they are comparatively smaller than other components involved in platinum production, such as platinum mines, hence the significance of this study as a means to increase awareness about platinum PMRs. Accurate accounting of water usage in mining operations is necessary if water is to be effectively managed and minimised. Two water accounting methods were employed to evaluate water usage in a South African platinum precious metal refinery, namely the Water Accounting Framework and Water Footprint Network method. Flowrates and rainfall data were provided by the refinery, whilst evaporation data was obtained from the South African Department of Water and Sanitation. This information along with the appropriate assumptions was used to generate a comprehensive water account for the refinery. The Water Accounting Framework found the volume of the total water inputs into the refinery to be 48.51 ML/year and the total volume of water outputs from the refinery is about 0.99 of the volume of the total inputs. The Water Footprint Network method found the total water footprint to be 49086.07 m3 /year or 49.09 ML /year, comparable to the results of the Water Accounting Framework. The total water footprint was equivalent to the blue water footprint. The total product water footprint of the refinery being valued at 1.20 m3/kg PGM was found to be greater than that of base metal refineries. After viable recommendations were taken into consideration the total product water footprint was reduced by 25%.
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    A framework for an optimized capital structure for state-owned natural monopolies
    (2017) Nxumalo, Khulekani Sydwell
    This study empirically examines whether the capital structure for natural monopolies (parastatals) dynamically responds to macroeconomic conditions. It further examines whether the balance sheet channel theory holds for this industry sample. The study adopts a double sampling approach from the population of water boards in South Africa (SA), which raise their capital in open financial markets. A quantitative research approach is adopted with a descriptive design to achieve relevant deductions. Panel techniques are used in the descriptive design for the regressions. The study finds that leverage partly dynamically responds to macroeconomic conditions. Furthermore, the evidence shows that inflation is an exception that has no significant relationship with leverage. The balance sheet channel theory is found to hold for water boards that access capital in open financial markets. Specifically, empirical evidence shows that changes in the interest rate have a delayed impact on the companies’ characteristics, including capital structure. Overall, our evidence suggests that water boards in SA need to consider the benefits of linking financial policies to the business cycle and that their policies should consider the delayed effect of interest rate changes.