Acid Mine Drainage treatment in South Africa: towards a harmonised policy framework

Abstract

Background: One of the well-known pollutants that could affect aquaculture, agriculture, the environment, and public health in general is acid mine drainage (AMD). This study report focuses on the creation of AMD, currently available therapies, and their management structure from a policy perspective. Aim: This study aimed to develop recommendations for a harmonised treatment framework for acidic water generated by mines in South Africa. Methodology: The study aimed to develop a harmonised policy framework for managing and treating acid mine drainage (AMD) in South Africa by synthesising secondary data through a three-stage iterative process. A systematic review approach was selected to gather information from the literature, with a focus on the South African context. A total of 391 articles from AJOL, ProQuest, and PubMed NCBI were sourced to evaluate various treatment options in South Africa, informing the development of a well inclusive and considerate framework for AMD treatment. The study focused on quantitative research using systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which combined data from multiple studies to provide high-quality, evidence- based conclusions. This approach ensured the use of credible, precise, and reproducible data, helping to compare various AMD treatment options and support the study's objectives. Only articles with specific keywords related to AMD in South Africa were included. Results: The study reviewed a total of 391 articles. Of these, 209 (67.6%) had titles relevant to the study, while 182 (58.9%) were not relevant. After further screening, 127 articles (41%) had abstracts deemed relevant, and 82 (27%) were found to have irrelevant abstracts. Additionally, 29 duplicate articles (9.4%) were excluded as duplicates, resulting in 98 unique articles (31.7%) that were accepted for the study analysis. Conclusion: Overall, this report has shown that a harmonised treatment policy can be the solution to prevent fragmentation between different government departments. Finally, a synergy among various treatment solutions for AMD and policies deserves more attention and in-depth exploration to address future impacts.