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UPFRONT 5 Help for small towns dealing Water by numbers with climate change • 1,6 million ℓ/s – The speed of the Augrabies falls, following the release of Small towns and subsistence farmers water from the overfull Gariep Dam. in the Northern Cape are thought to Usually the waterfall, known as the be most vulnerable to climate change. ‘Place of Great Noise’ by the indigenous Namas, flows at 30 000 ℓ/s. • US$500-million – The funds being mobilised by the African Development Bank until 2007 to finance clean water Photo courtesy of SA Tourism projects and a social hygiene pro- gramme to benefit rural regions in Africa. • 40% – The improvement in access to basic sanitation, according to the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry (DWAF). By March, about 3,91 million households still did not have safe toilet A new publication which can assist small towns, especially in the Northern Cape, deal with the onslaught of climate change, strategies and adaptation policies will have to be directed. “There is a need for proac- tive strategies at local and national level to facilities. • 84% – The average percent of rural households around the world that has been published by the Water Research deal with the impacts of drought and climate participate in agricultural activities, ac- Commission (WRC). change.” cording to the UN Food and Agriculture Most climate projection models suggest The authors note that emphasis should Organisation. In some areas this figure is a decrease in rainfall over the western part of be placed on demand side management. as high as 99%. southern Africa in the coming decades. The Several strategies are described in the • 30% – The black economic empower- Northern Cape, where water resources are report, including the implementation of dry ment target set by the newly signed already scarce, small towns and subsistence sanitation systems rather than flush toilets; construction charter by 1013. The farmers are thought to be most vulnerable. public information and school education charter further targets a 10% economic Most rural residents (or 30% of total programmes; as well as rising block tariffs interest in the hands of black women. population) are dependent on groundwater and water restrictions. • 2,8 billion – The number of people reserves. However, the reliability of ground- “Groundwater is likely to be most se- believed to be living in water-stressed water supplies is not adequate due to, among verely affected, with the groundwater table and water-scarce parts of the world. others, restricted resource availability, quality dropping due to reduced recharge. Strict • 83% – The percentage of bucket of water, erratic precipitation, drought and groundwater management systems should be systems that have been replaced to date water management issues. put in place, with early warning mechanisms in Gauteng. According to Premier The WRC funded study, undertaken by to report depleted groundwater reserves. Mbhazima Shilowa, all the 12 000 the University of Cape Town, investigated the Continual monitoring of the aquifer against remaining buckets will have been adaptive capacity of small towns and com- climate conditions will provide some knowl- replaced by June ahead of the 2007 munities in the Northern Cape to climate edge of the future potential under projected target. variability, specifically drought. In the past, climate conditions.” • R130-million – The funds set aside poor planning for emergencies and the lack It is also recommended that each local by DWAF and the KwaZulu-Natal Depart- of structured contingency plans have resulted authority develop a locally-based strategy, ment of Agricultural and Environmental in water shortages during times of scarce which follows the multi-criteria analysis tool Affairs for the eradication of alien planta- rainfall. An estimated 25% of the towns have, set out in the report. It is recognised that tion in the province. as a result, over-utilised their groundwater there is huge deficiencies in capacity in some • 85% – This is how full South Africa’s resources. areas, and this will have to be addressed if main dams are, compared with 65% At present, water shortages are dealt with the challenges brought on by climate change last year. According to DWAF, only the reactively, i.e. by tanking water in from other are to be overcome. Eastern Cape, Limpopo and the Western areas. However, this is not reported to be a Cape have less stored water than the sustainable long-term solution. • To order the WRC Report No 1500/1/06 same time last year. According to the authors of the WRC contact Publications at • 14% – The percentage of South Africa’s report, climate change will add an addi- Tel: (012) 330-0340 or estimated 800 wetlands which are fully tional layer of stress to which adaptive E-mail: publications@wrc.org.za protected. The Water Wheel May/June 2006
6 UPFRONT Polluted mine-water still Turning ‘Cinderella’ of threatens Gauteng water sector into princess I f the now defunct compartment adjacent to existing gold-mining operations at ERPM on the Central Rand Basin is allowed Strachan told delegates it was very difficult at this stage to predict exactly when decant would take place, since basin dy- T he Cinderella of water services, sanitation, came under the spotlight with the first ever National Sanitation Week held in South to fill up with underground water unabated, namics are not yet fully understood. Africa in March. decanting of polluted mine-water could oc- One possible solution for the ERPM situ- The theme of the week was ‘Washing cur within less than two years, with potential ation is to construct a 2,5 km shaft and siphon Hands for a Healthy Life’ with government en- disastrous consequences for the greater (about 200 m below surface) from the mine’s couraging its citizens to practice safe health Johannesburg metropolitan area. South Vertical Shaft to manage water through and hygiene habits. “Germs play a major part So reports manager of the Water Geo- controlled decant at a point southwards on in the millions of cases of diarrhoea among science Unit at the Council for Geoscience, the Elsburg Spruit near the Elsburg Dam. The children under the age of five. Almost 50% Leslie Strachan. He was speaking at a water can then be treated at the dam. of all reported cases diseases are related mine-water symposium in Johannesburg The Council of Geoscience has been to poor sanitation,” said Minister of Water earlier this year organised by the Geological undertaking an investigation into this and Affairs & Forestry Buyelwa Sonjica. Society of South Africa. other mine-water pollution issues on the At present, ERPM is pumping out about Witwatersrand on behalf of the Depart- 35 Mℓ/day of water with financial assistance ment of Minerals & Energy since 2002. R2 m. for flood victims from government to enable mining in the The project aims to, among other, prevent South Vertical Shaft. However, water in the adjacent No 3 Shaft is rising at about ingress of (clean) water into underground mine workings both from surface and under- T he North West government has donated more than R2-million to about 300 fami- lies affected by recent floods in Taung. 1,3 m a day at a level of about 800 m below ground sources and recommend solutions surface. to the State to reduce risks associated with The donation is part of the Social Relief minewater in the Witwatersrand area. of Distress programme. Only families who do It is interesting to note that the West not already receive social grants qualified for Rand Basin, near the Cradle of Humankind, assistance. Council for Meanwhile Africon Consulting Engineers is the only area included in the study where Geoscience has assessed the extent of damage caused by decanting is taking place at present. In- Manager: Water the floods on behalf of the provincial govern- vestigations are continuing in each basin, Geoscience Unit, ment. According to the National Disaster including the identification of ingress areas; Leslie Strachan Management Committee set up in the area a development of groundwater geohydrologi- cal conceptual models, and the establish- long-term plan is being formulated to ensure ment of shaft level and sampling networks. Taung is not susceptible to future floods. Diary ASSET MANAGEMENT renewable energy and desalination, and CAPACITY BUILDING MAY 17-19 economics of desalination plants, among MAY 24-26 A workshop on strategic asset management others. Enquiries: Desalination Studies & The Third International Water Association and maintenance for the public sector will Technology Centre; Alexandria University; Tel: Young Researchers Conference will be be held at the Ridgeway Hotel, Randburg. (+203) 591 1152/0096; Fax: (+203) 591 held at Nanyang International University, Enquiries: Steve Matkhutle; Tel: (011) 803- 4340/0720; E-mail: adst@frcu.eun.eg in Singapore. The conference aims to 0009; E-mail: workshops@tci-sa.co.za; provide an international forum at which Web: www.tci-sa.co.za WATER RESOURCES postgraduate researchers and young MANAGEMENT professionals working in the water sec- DESALINATION MAY 23-25 tor can present their research work and MAY 18-21 The conference on Integrated Water Resourc- network with their peers. Enquiries: Tom An international conference on desalination es Management & Challenges of Sustainable Williams; Tel: +44 (0)20 7654 5500; and desalination plant rehabilitation will be Development, to be held in Marrakech, Fax: +44 (0)20 7654 5555; E-mail: held in Sharm-El-Sheikh, in Egypt. Topics Morocco, is being organised by the Interna- YRC2006@iwahq.org.uk; to be discussed include thermal desalina- tional Association of Hydrogeologists. Web: www.yrc2006.iwa-conferences.org tion processes, brackish water desalination, E-mail: gire3d@ucam.ac.ma The Water Wheel May/June 2006
UPFRONT 7 Diarrhoea killing children in Khayalitsha D iarrhoea and gastro-enteritis have overtaken HIV/Aids as the biggest killer of children under five years in Khayalitsha, outside Cape Town. According to news agency Health-e, the child-related deaths related to these diseases have doubled over the last four years. This is mainly due to the critical lack of sanitation. Authorities have been battling to serve residents of this burgeoning settlement, with an esti- mated 48 000 new arrivals every year. At least 55% of people in Khayalitsha live below the poverty line, with half of all adults reported to be unemployed. About one in three people have no access to on-site water. Health-e reports that there is an average of 105 people per toilet in Sites B and C in Khayelitsha. In 2004, 280 of 7805 children born died at birth, with 60 children under five dying of diarrhoea in 2004. Irrigation symposium calls for papers T he South African National Committee on Irrigation & Drainage (SANCID) has called for papers for its symposium, ‘the Changing to water is being regulated through new water allocation methods; urban development and economic growth is putting additional strain technologies and innovation; irrigation management; the institutional environment; human resource development; and natural Face of Irrigation in Southern Africa’, to take on regional water resources, thereby increas- resources and environmental impacts. place from 15 to 17 November, at the ing competition for water and demanding • Abstracts for papers for the symposium Aventura Swadini Resort in Mpumalanga. water efficiency; and access to international need to be submitted to programme co- The irrigated agriculture industry is one markets requires strict control measures to be ordinator Litha Magingxa at E-mail: mag- where continuous change is a reality. Water adhered to, to name but a few. ingxal.sci@mail.uovs.ac.za by 16 June, users and their support services have in the In light of these developments, the 2006. For more information, contact Isobel last decade had to deal with new challenges SANCID symposium will be used to eva- van der Stoep at Tel: (012) 420-2174 or due to changes both in the policy and the luate the changes that have taken place. E-mail: Isobel.vanderstoep@up.ac.za or natural environment they operate in. Access Sub-themes include, inter alia, design, visit: www.sancid.org.za SLUDGE MANAGEMENT SOIL SCIENCE Jupiters Conference Centre, in Queensland, MAY 29-31 JULY 9-15 Australia. Visit: www.wceam.org The IWA Specialised Conference on Sus- The 18th World Congress of Soil Science will tainable Sludge Management: State of the be held in Philadelphia, US. Enquiries: Soil EVAPORATION Art; Challenges and Perspectives, will be Science Society of America; Tel: +1 (608) JULY-17-21 held in Moscow, Russia. 273-8095; Fax: +1 (608) 273-2021; Web: A Water Research Commission project work- Enquiries: Tel/Fax: +7 095 101 4621; www.18wcss shop on Evaporation Estimation will be held at E-mail: IWAconference@sibico.com; the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritz- Visit: http://IWAsludge.sibico.com WATER TREATMENT burg. There is a workshop aimed at students JULY 10-12 and one aimed at practitioners. Enquiries: AQUATIC RESOURCES An international conference on ‘Decentralised Bennie Hoosen; Tel: (033) 260-5510; E-mail: JUNE 19-23 Water Systems’ will be held in Australia. The hoosenb@ukzn.ac.za; Web: http://fred.csir. The Southern African Society of Aquatic conference, being organised by Murdoch co.za/extra/project/evapmon Scientists together with the Phycological University, will focus on design, operation, Society of Southern Africa are hosting a joint maintenance and management of small treat- ENVIRONMENTAL WATER conference with the theme ‘From Source to ment units and the uptake of decentralised QUALITY Sea’. The conference, to be held in Maputo, systems. Enquiries: Dr Kuruvilla Mathew; AUGUST 14-18 Mozambique, will focus on aspects related to E-mail: K.Mathew@murdoch.edu.au; The Institute for Water Research at Rhodes shared water resources and includes themes Web:” www.etc.murdoch.edu/au/confer- University will be hosting a course on the on research, conservation and management of ences/decent.html introduction to managing environmental water aquatic resources in southern Africa. Enquir- quality. The registration deadline is 24 July. ies: Dr Richard Greenfield; Tel: (011) 489- ASSET MANAGEMENT Enquiries: Dr Heather Davies-Coleman or 2444; Fax: (011) 489-2286; E-mail: rgr@na. JULY 11-14 Juanita McLean, Tel: (046) 622-2428; Fax: rau.ac.za The First World Congress in Engineering As- (046) 603-8532; E-mail: course@iwr.ru.ac. set Management will take place at the Conrad za; Web: www.ru.ac.za/institutes/iwr/ucewq The Water Wheel May/June 2006
8 UPFRONT WRC project sows success in FS M inister of Water Affairs & Forestry Buyelwa Sonjica has praised the Water Research Commission’s (WRC’s) rainwater and adding it to another part where it can be used beneficially. The rainwater harvesting technique developed through WRC-funded harvesting initiatives which are helping to research combines the advantages of water feed thousands of villagers in Thaba Nchu, in harvesting, no-till, basin tillage and mulching the Free State. on high drought-risk clay soils. The practice Speaking at Water Week Celebrations reduces total runoff to zero and evaporation in the area earlier this year she said that from the soil surface considerably, thus innovative technologies, such as rainwater increasing crop production in the semi-arid harvesting, had the potential to contribute areas with low potential clay soils. to substantially reducing food insecurity, Research has shown that, on average, poverty and unemployment. “We need to in-field rainwater harvesting technology use innovation, science and technology to increased crop yields by about a third when open new horizons for better water use.” She compared to the use of conventional tillage also argued for an increase in research into techniques. Crops such as maize, beans groundwater harvesting methods. spinach and fruit have been grown success- Water harvesting is based on the princi- fully in Thaba Nchu. The technique is now ple of depriving part of the land of its share of being taught to farmers in the Eastern Cape rain (which is usually not used productively) and KwaZulu-Natal. Maintenance crucial, says DBSA G rowth and development depend not so much on the rapid rollout of infrastructure itself, but rather on the sustainable delivery of sectors – including water and sanitation. Part II, on the other hand, examines the infrastruc- ture requirements of municipalities in general size. In 1996, a household consisted of 4,47 persons, and in 2001, it was only 3,8 per- sons. This finding is critical for planning and the services which that infrastructure makes and marginal communities in particular, and for rollout of municipal infrastructure. possible. introduces a financial model which assesses Among the other issues addressed in This is the main message from the new the financial sustainability of reducing the the report include the question of the present report published by the Development Bank country’s municipal infrastructure backlogs. realities governing decision making; a series of Southern Africa (DBSA) on the state of Interestingly, the financial modelling of complex strategies challenges, the mainte- infrastructure and service delivery in South of the rollout of municipal infrastructure (to nance of South Africa’s ageing infrastructure Africa. The Infrastruc- meet national coverage stock and dysfunctional institutional arrange- ture Barometer 2006 targets) indicates that, in ments. was published in In 1996, a house- addition to the estimated • To access the report, go to www.dbsa.org March. Commenting R140-billion in capital on the publication, hold consisted of expenditure, municipalities outgoing DBSA CEO 4,47 persons, and will also need to increase Mandla Gantsho said: income by 50% over the “The importance of in 2001, it was only same period to cover opera- appropriate and sustain- 3,8 persons. tion and maintenance of the able infrastructure as a new infrastructure. This foundation for socio- suggests that the present economic development, trend towards high levels of and particularly in improving the quality service will lead to even more serious finan- of people’s lives, is no longer a matter for cial difficulties for many municipalities when debate. The focus is on meeting the many operational costs far outstrip revenues. challenges of delivery facing South Africa and The report also shows that between 1996 other countries on the continent.” and 2001 households increased by 5,33% Part I of the report focuses on the con- against the 2,09% increase in the population. tribution of infrastructure to growth, through The reason for this increase in the number an examination of national level infrastructure of households was the change in household The Water Wheel May/June 2006
UPFRONT GLOBAL 9 Boost for water boundaries, drainage directions and ancillary data such as flow accumulations, distances and sanitation in and river topography information. Africa Data for many international river basins are patchy, and remote areas are often poorly mapped. For some regions of the world, such E fforts to provide Africa’s poor with safe water and sanitation has received a boost following the signing of a Memorandum of as the Congo Basin in Africa and part of the Amazon Basin in South America, Hydro- SHEDS will provide the first high-resolution Understanding between UN-Habitat and the digital river maps produced for these large African Development Bank (AfDB). areas. The two parties will provide grants to the • The ability to deal with climate variations Data is freely available for non- value of about US$217-million over the next and natural disasters; commercial use and can be accessed at five years. It is expected that this will lead to • Reducing the negative effects of human www.worldwildlife.org/hydrosheds or additional opportunities for follow-up activity on water resources; http://hydrosheds.cr.usgs.gov fast track loans from the bank of about • Increasing agricultural areas; and US$362-million to speed up efforts to reach • Developing security in production of the Millennium Development Goals on water energy. and sanitation. Under the terms of the memorandum, the Snippets AfDB and UN-Habitat will collaborate in Maths helping to • CSIRO, in Australia, has launched an several areas, including raising political ownership, and advocacy in specific areas save biodiversity online Water Quality Calculator to help manage irrigation water quality such as resource mobilisation in urban and M athematical formulae normally used to sustain crop production. Visit www. peri-urban pro-poor activities in water and by economists and engineers are now cotton.crc.au/CottonLOGIC/WQC/ sanitation schemes; security, gender and being applied in determining which of the • Achim Steiner has been named the new environmental activities. world’s biodiversity hotspots to save first. head of the United Nations Envi- ABC Science Online reports that ecologist ronment Programme. Steiner, who US$20-bn a year and mathematician Prof Hugh Possingham hails from Germany, was DG of the World Conservation Union. needed for Africa and team at the University of Queensland have applied mathematical tools to save • Climate change could become a to reach MDGs as many species as possible. They have major source of global conflict over the developed a method of prioritising hotspots next 30 years, with countries battling A frica needs US$20-billion a year to attain to take into account a range of features apart for control over water supplies, British the United Nations Millennium Develop- from how many species an area has. High Defense Secretary John Reid has warned. ment Goals of halving poverty by 2015. priority is given to areas where habitat is fast He said military planners have already This was revealed at the Fourth World Water disappearing, little of the area has already begun considering the consequences of Forum held in Mexico in March. disappeared, and where the cost of conserv- climate change for British forces over the To date, Africa has developed only 3,8% ing habitat is low. coming three decades. of its water resources for supply, irrigation • Botswana is still struggling to control a diarrhoea epidemic that has report- and electrical power. This situation implies the need for hefty investment in various areas. World’s rivers edly claimed the lives of more than 470 This investment must go hand-in-hand with captured in detail children. Contaminated water, unhy- changes in regional and national policy and gienic practices, poor sanitation, infant T capability that will pave the way for govern- he World Wildlife Fund has developed feeding-bottle contamination and ongo- ance and the appropriate implementation of data and created maps of the world’s ing person-to-person transmission has policies, such as integrated water resources rivers to provide researchers with information apparently all contributed to spreading management. about where streams and watersheds the disease. In a report prepared for discussion, occur on the earth’s landscape and how water • Researchers at the University of Ha- the main challenges for the continent with drains the land surface. waii have reportedly developed a new, regards to water resources development are HydroSHEDS provides hydrographic in- inexpensive filtration system that said to be: formation in a consistent and comprehensive removes not only bacteria but also heavy • The need to obtain financing to expand format for regional and global-scale applica- metals from water. The new product, access to water, sanitation, food security tions. It offers a suit of geo-referenced data dubbed MicroNose, comprises granules and the production of energy; sets, including stream networks, watershed made of clay, iron and other materials. The Water Wheel May/June 2006
10 COMPANY NEWS Millions of litres 6 000 m3 equalisation tank to remove con- tamination spikes; two moving bed biological Company shorts saved through reactors (MBBRs) and ancillaries; and opera- • Mzimkulu Msiwa, previously general Cape project tion of the existing retention basin on empty to provide 2 000 m3 additional surge control. manager: operations, has taken over as The MBBR bioreactors are the core acting CEO of Umgeni Water after T he City of Cape Town is saving about 5,7 million litres of water a day (the average daily water consumption of 38 000 components of the upgrade. The mechanism used in the MBBRs is an accelerated biodeg- the unexpected resignation of Gugu Moloi. Moloi, who took over the reigns radation process involving specially designed from Cromet Molepo in 2002, has people) following the commissioning of a sighted personal reasons for her surprise carrier media kept in suspension by blowing R30-million water recycling plant at Chevron departure, one year ahead of her contract. air through the reactor. The carrier media (previously Caltex). • South Africa’s largest steel plant Mit- provide a large surface area on to which the The plant, a joint-venture project be- tal Steel’s Vanderbijlpark mill has biological microorganisms can attach, and tween the oil refinery and water company launched its new R222-million zero- affect the acceleration breakdown of hydro- Improchem, draws treated effluent from the effluent discharge main treatment plant. carbons. nearby Potsdam Wastewater Treatment Works The plant ensures that no process water The MBBRs will overflow to two clarifier/ in Milnerton for reuse in the oil refining thickeners to remove solids from the effluent. is released beyond the boundaries of process. The water is purified to near drinking The resultant filter cake will contain about the mill. water quality using clarification, ultrafiltration 40% dry solids and be produced in quantities • CSIR has launched its new corporate and reverse osmosis after which it is supplied of about 5,2 m3/day to be stored in removable identity. With a positioning statement to the refinery as steam and cooling water. skips. The remaining treated effluent will be that reads, “our future through science”, Not only is this saving the city water, but it pumped to sea via the existing sea outfall. the organisation hopes to develop a also reduces the amount of treated effluent distinctive brand to support its recent discharged from the Potsdam works to sea via reconfiguration with a renewed focus on the ecologically sensitive Milnerton lagoon. Dam reaches science and research. It is reported that this project, initiated a few halfway mark • Construction on the Vaal River Sub-sys- years ago, has inspired Chevron to launch tem Augmentation Project (VRESAP) is well underway following the sod turn- C a new R110-million upgrade for its own onstruction on the concrete-faced rockfill wastewater treatment plant within the next Berg River Dam project is more than 50% ing ceremony in March. The R2,5-billion few months, pending approval from environ- complete, reports the Berg River Dam Project emergency project, which will supply mental authorities. Through this upgrade, the Joint Venture. water mainly to Eskom and Sasol, will be company hopes to bring the refinery in line The dam will be the highest concrete- completed by July 2007. with international best practice for wastewater faced rockfill dam in South Africa. Construc- • The ERWAT Laboratory has once treatment, while reducing public concerns tion started on the dam last year after the again been awarded the Department of with regards to odour and visual impact of the Berg River was successfully diverted through Water Affairs & Forestry tender for the Chevron effluent at sea. a temporary intake structure and conduit. supply of laboratory analysis services for At this stage it is envisioned that the At the time of writing, the contractors were Gauteng. The contract is reportedly worth upgrade will include the construction of a preparing for the first face slab construction. some R2,365-million a year. Water on the Web www.iclei-europe.org/logowater desalination technology worldwide. Apart www.yearofplanetearth.org This is the website of the LoGo Water from IDA news, the website offers features The United Nations General Assembly project, an European Union funded project information on several desalination plants has proclaimed the year 2008 to be that brings together African and European around the world. the United Nations International Year of researchers along with local governments Planet Earth. This is aimed at, among from southern Africa, to jointly contribute to www.onefish.org others, reducing risks for society caused support local governments to improve water The oneFish Community Directory is an by natural and human-induced hazards; resources management in the region. Internet portal providing access to informa- discovering new natural resources and tion on fisheries and aquatic research and making them available in a sustainable www.idadesal.org development. An open-access environment manner; determining the non-human This is the official website of the Internation- is provided whereby individual researchers, factor in climate change; and detecting al Desalination Association, which commits as well as research institutions and organi- deep and poorly accessible groundwater itself to the development and promotion sations, can publish their research output resources. of the appropriate use of desalination and directly on the Web. The Water Wheel May/June 2006
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