NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY

SOUTH AFRICA’S WATER SITUATION AND

STRATEGIES TO BALANCE SUPPLY AND

DEMAND

USUTU TO MHLATUZE WMA

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Rainfall and Evaporation

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Base Map

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Land Use

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Sectoral Water Requirements (2000)

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Usutu toMhlatuze WMA

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Water Availability (2000)

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Water Reconciliation (2000)

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Population scenarios

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Water Reconciliation (future)

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Groundwater

• Significant quantities of groundwater available in WMA

• Actual utilisation is relatively small

• Mainly attributable to generally well-watered nature of the WMA and wide occurrence of perennial surface streams, which reduces the need for groundwater

• Strong inter-dependence between surface water and groundwater

• Large abstractions of groundwater will directly impact on the surface water flows and wetlands

• Specific sensitivities exist with respect to Lake St Lucia: abstraction of groundwater reduces subterranean inflow of fresh water to the lake

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Water quality

• In the natural state the quality of surface water in the WMA is of a high standard

• Wash-off from areas with insufficient sanitation infrastructure and services causes unacceptable bacteriological pollution, particularly at rural villages and dense settlements

• Sufficient quantities of water of appropriate quality are required to ensure the continued biological health of various conservation areas in the WMA

• Groundwater quality is generally of a very high standard

• No pollutions of groundwater have been recorded

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Key issues

• Water resource in the Upper Usutu River catchment already highly developed and utilised (also transferred to other WMAs mainly for power generation

• Serious deficits expected when ecological component of the Reserve is implemented - significant remedial measures will be required

• Large surplus in the Pongola River downstream of Pongolapoort Dam

• Water resources in Mhlatuze River catchment are fully developed and utilised and are being augmented by transfers from the Thukela River (Thukela WMA)

• Continued urban and industrial growth in Richards Bay area will result in increased requirements for water

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze - Key issues (2)

• Water use allowances for irrigation in Mhlatuze sub-area need to be re-assessed and rationalised

• Inherent growth in water requirements and strong needs for socio-economic development within the WMA

• Need also exists for additional transfers to the Upper Vaal and Olifants WMAs

• Water resources in WMA sufficient to meet basic human needs

• Severe lack of infrastructure for providing assured and safe potable water to a proportion of rural population

• Commitments and obligations to Mozambique with respect to Usutu and Pongola (Maputo) Rivers

WMA 17: Usutu to Mhlatuze

Water resources under control of the Minister

• Existing transfers from Upper Usutu sub-area to other WMAs

• Current transfers from the Tugela River into the Mhlatuze sub-area and provisional planning for possible future increase of transfers - would require additional storage be provided in the Thukela River

• Construction of new dams in Pongola River catchment as well as developments in the Upper Usutu catchment, which may rule out further transfers to Upper Vaal WMA and beyond

• Water resource developments which may impact on neighbouring countries will be subject to national authorisation