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

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.