A conceptual theoretical framework to integrally assess the possible impacts of climate change on domestic irrigation water use

Makwiza, Chikondi; Fuamba, Musandji; Houssa, Fadoua; Jacobs, Heinz Erasmus

doi:10.4314/wsa.v41i5.01

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 42 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…The Blesbokspruit Wetland was first recognised as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1986 because of the important wildlife, especially waterfowl, it supported during its accreditation period (De Wet et al, 1990;Dini, 1999;Birdlife South Africa, 1998;South African Wetlands Conservation Programme, 1999;AngloGold Ashanti, 2004). The Blesbokspruit Wetland became severely degraded when mine-water discharges were permitted, starting in 1995, to prevent flooding of the underground East Rand hydrological compartment, linking several operating and decommissioned gold mines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A reduction in mining and industrial effluents in the Blesbokspruit Ramsar wetland, South Africa: Has the quality of the surface water in the wetland improved?

Ambani

Annegarn

2016

WSA

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The Blesbokspruit Wetland, 40 km southeast of Johannesburg, South Africa, was listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1986. Following discharges of mine-waters in the mid-1990s, the wetland no longer complied with the Ramsar criteria. This paper reports on historical trends in surface water quality of the Blesbokspruit, as a step towards restoration to Ramsar status. Monthly water quality data (SO 4 , Na, Cl and Mg concentrations, pH and EC values), from January 2000 to December 2011, were obtained from Rand Water for sites at: the stream inflow, just after the discharge point of pumped underground mine-water from Grootvlei mine, and the stream outflow point. The major ions were grouped into two distinct time-variation patterns (SO 4 -Mg) and (Na-Cl). Despite extensive reports that the wetland had an acid mine drainage problem, the pH values over an 11-year period were constrained within a range of 6.7 to 8.8. In 2011, following the cessation of underground mine-water pumping operations, mineralisation of the Blesbokspruit showed a large stepwise reduction, in contrast to a slowly decreasing trend over the previous 10 years, in both the SO 4 -Mg and Na-Cl groups, and EC. The stepwise reduction suggests that the pulping plant within the paper mill, a major source of Na-Cl rich effluent, had ceased operations coincidentally with the cessation of underground water discharges. This contradicts previous findings that underground mine-water discharge was the principal contributor to contamination of the Blesbokspruit Wetland. So, while the Blesbokspruit may have had a high mineralisation problem, this was not simply an acid mine drainage problem, but a combination of the effects of mining and industry.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A reduction in mining and industrial effluents in the Blesbokspruit Ramsar wetland, South Africa: Has the quality of the surface water in the wetland improved?

Ambani

Annegarn

2016

WSA

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Assessing and measuring adaptive capacity: the experiences of African countries in developing meaningful metrics for water management

Nkhata

Breen

2016

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

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Analysis of water use by gated communities in South Africa

Plessis

Jacobs

2018

WSA

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Gated communities (hereafter GCs) are popular in many countries, including South Africa, because added security and lifestyle improvements are offered relative to homes built on freestanding properties. One of the key factors for the popularity of GCs is the availability of amenities to support the demands of the residents, such as gymnasia, walkways, golf courses, play parks and polo fields. Further benefits include the improved management of infrastructure such as telecommunication services, roads, water, sewer, electrical and stormwater assets. GCs are often governed by trustees or homeowners' associations, responsible for the operation and the maintenance functions of the infrastructure, as well as implementing and adhering to legislation that pertains to the GC. As part of this study, the monthly water-use records of 2 888 GCs in 3 different South African cities were analysed. Water use was evaluated for each GC as a whole, and also per household in each case. The average number of homes per GC was 33 households/GC, with the smallest GC in the study sample containing 3 houses and the largest 524 houses. One of the study sites was in the winter rainfall region, while 2 sites were in the summer rainfall region. The average annual water use of individual households in each GC was plotted against current guidelines and was found to be relatively low. The average annual daily demands of all properties in the winter rainfall region was 0.63 kL/d, compared to 0.66 kL/d and 0.49 kL/d for the two study sites in the summer rainfall region. The results highlighted peculiarities in the water use of GCs that have not been reported on before, in particular the relatively low water use and the differences between GC homes' water use in the various rainfall regions.

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A conceptual theoretical framework to integrally assess the possible impacts of climate change on domestic irrigation water use

Cited by 3 publications

References 42 publications

A reduction in mining and industrial effluents in the Blesbokspruit Ramsar wetland, South Africa: Has the quality of the surface water in the wetland improved?

A reduction in mining and industrial effluents in the Blesbokspruit Ramsar wetland, South Africa: Has the quality of the surface water in the wetland improved?

Assessing and measuring adaptive capacity: the experiences of African countries in developing meaningful metrics for water management

Analysis of water use by gated communities in South Africa

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