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Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Towards a GIS Platform for monitoring the water quality of the Jukskei river catchment: defining a sampling network
    (2019) Malatji, Reneilwe
    To obtain an understanding of issues relating to water quality monitoring in the Jukskei River Catchment a users’ needs assessment is performed, through the use of literature review, interviews, and site visits. These are evaluated and used to develop a conceptual model giving a representation of a system that can address water quality concerns. The designed conceptual model for this research incorporates hydrological features, drainage systems, DEM extraction and thematic layers needed for the monitoring of water quality. The development of appropriate sampling locations is an essential step in the valuation, restoration, and protection of river water quality. Previous studies have focused on mathematical aspects and physical attributes of monitoring the quality of river water, however, human activities surrounding the river are often not considered in detail. In this study, an advanced water quality monitoring procedure is implemented using a combination of River Mixing Length (RML), information about human activities, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to identify representative sampling locations, with the purpose of optimizing the current locations of sampling points. The implementation of a new Potential Pollution Score (PPS) model of land use is used to prioritize the importance of each sampling point prior to selecting the most appropriate site for the entire catchment. Residential areas, mining and agriculture are amongst the 6 non-point sources integrated to develop representative sampling locations. Out of an optimal number of 11 242 sampling points, this research has identified 40 sites to propose. This number of sites is chosen because it is closer to the number of sampling points currently used (32) by the EISD for water quality monitoring of the Jukskei river catchment and thus does not stretch their funds.
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    A study of silcrete raw material acquisition in the Howiesons Poort at Klasies River using GIS catchment analysis techniques
    (2019) Mosweu, Kuni Jeanette
    Klasies River Main (KRM) site contains Middle Stone Age archaeological material from the Howiesons Poort (HP) techno-complex that demonstrates a marked expression of complexity. The complexity is also apparent in the lithic technology of the HP that is characterised by an increase of different types of silcrete raw material. Although changing mobility patterns have been related to the increase in silcrete in the HP at KRM, no studies have investigated this aspect in detail. Therefore, the mobility patterns involved in the procurement of silcrete has been investigated through GIS modelling methods. GIS Least Cost Path (LCP) algorithms have been used to model silcrete raw material acquisition in the HP at KRM, using the currently recorded sources of this material in the south Eastern Cape. The results demonstrate that GIS LCP algorithms produce differing output results. The Tripcevich Tobler Hiking Function (TTHF) and ArcGIS Default Built-in Cost (DBC) algorithms modelled paths that favoured flat terrain whereas the White Tobler Hiking Function algorithm modelled paths that favoured steep terrain. The two time-based algorithms models produced different travel time ranges. The TTHF algorithm produced travel time that are more comparable with Google maps and the White Tobler Hiking Function (WTHF) produced slightly larger travel times. The travel times of TTHF implied that HP groups at KRM followed a daily foraging strategy, while the WTHF travel times imply that the groups followed a logistical foraging strategy. The nearest silcrete source from KRM is located 28.3 kilometres from the site and can be reached in 4 hours according to the TTHF. The possibility of interaction between groups from KRM, Pinnacle Point (PP) and Nelson Bay Cave (NBC) was investigated by calculating LCP’s from these sites to the silcrete sources. The results demonstrated that there was a high possibility of interaction between groups from the three sites, if they sourced silcretes in the Uitenhage and Grahamstown areas. Mapping procurement patterns of silcrete raw material and modelling predictive paths that the HP groups from KRM may have followed bring new perspectives regarding the complexity of human behaviour within this period and add to studies of silcrete raw material use in the South African Middle Stone Age.
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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 effect of water scarcity on health and development: the case of Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages in Ngaka Modiri Molema district, North West
    (2017) Lolwana, Nonkululeko Felicia
    Water is one of the key and most fundamental and indispensable natural resource. Without it nothing on the universe will function. Water scarcity is a global reality threatening economic and societal development. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of community members in Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District about water scarcity and its effect on health and development. A qualitative research approach and a case study design were employed during the study. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. The study comprised of thirteen participants: ten community members (five participants from each village; both male and female), the municipality manager (particularly from water and sanitation sector) and two ward councilors (one per ward: Lomanyaneng ward 5 and Majemantsho ward 21). A semi structured interview schedule was used during the in-depth interviews with the municipality manager and two ward councilors, and a focus group guide was used to facilitate the focus group discussions with participants from the two villages. The interviews and the two focus groups were voice recorded during the process of data collection. The collected data was transcribed and analyzed through thematic content analysis. Key findings revealed that water scarcity have detrimental effects on the health and development of the communities in Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages. The Ngaka Modiri Molema District water service delivery was perceived as very poor and is attributed to poor planning, poor water supply, and poor water infrastructure. Recommendations made were the need; to increase communal taps, need for drainage system to recycle water, needs assessment for identification of needs, proper planning and outreach programmes to disseminate knowledge on how to conserve and use water, and constant monitoring of Jojo tanks and inspection of drinking water.
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    A spatial analysis of the threats to water quality of freshwater ecosystem priority areas in the upper crocodile catchment
    (2018) Enoch, Candace
    Freshwater ecosystems are under increasing pressure to sustain their functions on both a global and local scale. In light of growing concern regarding the pollution of South African rivers, this study focused on identifying potential threats to water quality of freshwater ecosystem priority areas (FEPAs) within the Upper Crocodile catchment. Nine sample sites located within five river FEPAs were selected for investigation and included the Skeerpoort, Sterkstroom, Buffelsfontein, Magalies and Brandvlei rivers. In situ measurements were taken of temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen and pH using a YSI multi-parameter instrument. Water samples were collected at each site for the chemical analysis of nitrate, chloride, sulphate and phosphate. Biological samples were collected at four of the nine sites using SASS version 5 methodologies for biomonitoring. Through the integration of water quality and land use data, key land use predictors of water quality within rivers FEPAs were identified. Principle component analysis revealed anthropogenic pollution sources including urban, agricultural, industrial, domestic and mining land use activities within the study area. The application of multiple linear regression showed that percentage improved grassland statistically significantly predicted autumn nitrate, winter chloride, autumn phosphate and summer dissolved oxygen across all FEPAs. Percentage urban land use was found to significantly predict autumn electrical conductivity and autumn phosphate levels within sample catchments. Percentage mines was the key predictor of sulphate concentrations. Forest plantations, cultivated and degraded thicket land use classes were not significant predictors of water quality within the study area. The research concluded that improved grassland, urban and mining land use activities were the key predictors of water quality and represent potential threats to water quality of FEPAs within the Upper Crocodile catchment. It is recommended that water resource practitioners integrate FEPA maps and guidelines into planning processes in order to ensure sound management of freshwater ecosystems. Furthermore, the inclusion of FEPA sites into national water quality monitoring programmes and water resource management efforts will allow for river FEPAs to remain in good ecological condition.
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    Water conservation and water demand management pilot project: the case of Newcastle Municipality
    (2017) Dube, Sandile Bonga
    The Newcastle Local Municipality (NLM) has been experiencing water supply interruptions since 2010 due to high demand. Between June 2011 to December 2011, water losses ranged from 49% to 62% (about 23 to 30 megalitres per day) in Madadeni and Osizweni townships (Newcastle East). The suburban areas (i.e. Newcastle West) also experienced water interruptions due to collapsing and/or aging infrastructure. About a thousand households in Madadeni were involved in this study to find the cause of the high water losses. Awareness campaigns, repairing household leaks, installation of intelligent meters and the increase of free basic water in indigent households from 6kℓ to 12kℓ per month reduced water losses from about 246 kℓ to 177kℓ per month. If similar Water Conservation (WC) and Water Demand Management (WDM) could be rolled out to the 35 000 households in the NLM and similar results to those in Madadeni are attained, conservative water saving of about 21Mℓ per day could be achieved. This would reduce the demand on the Ngagane Water Treatment Works (WTW) by 20%.
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    Towards an integrated and sustainable water resource monitoring framework in South Africa
    (2017) Chabalala, Simphiwe
    Water resource monitoring plays a pivotal role in a number of sectors such as determining sustainable abstraction and use of water, determining the feasibility of development projects in relation to water, and developing systematic strategies for efficient overall management of the water resources. It has been observed by a number of scholars and policy makers that through periodic monitoring of water resources, valuable data can be collected which can then provide information sufficient to determine trends and develop predictive models. It is only when sound and reliable data is available that informed decisions about sustainable and efficient use of water resources can be made. Despite the importance of water resource monitoring, many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in South Africa, are not effectively and adequately monitoring the quantity and quality of water resources. Part of the reason for this state of affairs has been the absence of clearly defined roles, policies, strategies and responsibilities and a combination of these factors have resulted in significant fragmentations in the institutional structures mandated to manage water resources. Using expert sampling, interviews with key informants and other purposively chosen participants, revealed the challenges in the changing political landscape of South African water resource monitoring many of which were further reiterated in the focus group discussions. The identified challenges served as entry points that would improve water resources monitoring and enable decision makers to make sustainable management decisions. It is suggested that water resource monitoring programmes could be used as a tool for sustainable water resource monitoring in South Africa. However, climate change and urbanization bring about a certain level of complexity, uncertainty and conflict as the water landscape of water resources changes continuously. The impact of the above phenomena cannot be measured as current monitoring systems are not functioning optimally. Furthermore, monitoring programmes are not being used to their full potential due to governance challenges. This is due to conflicting roles that the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) plays in the water sector i.e. policy developer, supporter and regulator, which in turn confound the roles and responsibilities of its employees. Moreover, it was found that five major challenges impede the formation of a comprehensive water resources management system namely; lack of financial resources, lack of skilled human resources, poor governance structure, ineffective stakeholder engagement – ‘working in silos’ and inefficient data management. More importantly, it was found that sustainability of monitoring programmes relies on human and economic investment. The main recommendations made include institutional reform and enabling legislation which form the basis upon which any development efforts can be pursued to achieve sustainable water resource monitoring. In addition, capacity building and strengthening is recommended as another way to help build sustainable resource management institutions which include skills and institutional memory transfer from the experienced players to the younger and newer employees. The creation and/or optimization of water resource monitoring databases is one of the viable ways for sustainable water resource management to be realized. Furthermore, research can be conducted to assess the challenges in water resource monitoring and provide sustainable solutions; with the aim of quantifying the impact of policy reforms in the water sector. And finally, research can be done on how effective regulation and co-operative governance for water sector can be achieved in South Africa through participatory processes that are aimed at developing priority water research questions. Keywords: water resource monitoring, institutional framework, integrated water resource management, water governance.
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    Collaboration: a theory of governance grounded in deconstructing South Africa's sanitation policy
    (2016) Rawhani, Carmel
    Objective: In this study I deconstruct South Africa’s sanitation policy in order to understand why demand-driven service delivery (i.e. service delivery based on collective action) has failed as a tool for public policy management. The overall objective was to locate both case-specific as well as generalizable answers in the data. Method: Guided by deconstructivism and Grounded Theory Methodology this paper mapped out the South African policy landscape and proceeded to code the data collected in that exercise through three rounds of coding. Once these elements of the planning which went into the study were explained and demonstrated, the results were shared. Thereafter the details of theory-building were explained before moving on to provide a literature review to position the study. Lastly, the emergent theory was applied to the South African sanitation case as a test of usefulness. Results: The emergent codes indicated a general consensus around the idea that public policy governance is largely the responsibility of government which is seen as powerful, while individual citizens are seen as marginalized and disempowered in the course of hoping to realize their rights. Deeper analysis revealed that individual citizens are the true holders of power as they have outsourced their responsibility to participate in collective action to government, leaving government alone in the process of service delivery. Conclusion: Demand-driven service delivery fails as a tool of public policy governance where there is a misunderstanding of public policy which prevents collective action. A quasi-theory of governance as collaboration emerged as the necessary solution to this problem.