Aspects of this PresentationAspects of this Presentation
Global perspective Climate change Water and the Economy and Services Water Quality Millenium Development Goals IWRM and the National Water Act River Health Programme Local Context
Water on EarthWater on Earth
Total volume of 534 million km3
97% oceans, only 3% fresh water Of the fresh water: 79% ice caps &
glaciers, 20% groundwater, 1% accessible surface water
Of surface water: 52% lakes, 38% soil moisture, 8% atmospheric vapour, 1% rivers and 1% water in living organisms
The Water CycleThe Water Cycle
Water CycleWater Cycle
Crucial to life and for the ecological balance of our planet
BUT
Excessive consumption of fresh water together with careless disposal of waste water and interfering with natural ecosystems threatens the viability of the water cycle and in turn every living thing on the planet!
Water CycleWater Cycle
On a global average most freshwater withdrawals are used for agriculture (69%) followed by industry (23%) and municipal use (8%)
In SA 59% of water is used for irrigation, 25% for urban use, 4% for rural use, 6% for mining and industrial, 2% for power generation and 4% for afforestation
Climate changeClimate change
SA average annual rainfall 450mm compared to world average of 860mm
Global climate change is a reality and serious threat to sustainable development
Impacts on water availability as well as water quality
Estimated that agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa could fall 33% in next 50-60 years
Coastal fishery output, especially along West Coast could drastically decrease due to warmer currents
Managing Climate ChangeManaging Climate Change
IWRM helps to protect water resource, secures future food supply & avoids potential regional conflict
Provides food security by facilitating agricultural production
Manage use to maintain water cycle – preserve resource & biodiversity
Minimise damage caused by flooding to infrastructure, homes & informal settlements
Minimise insect- and waterborne diseases
Water and HealthWater and Health
Water-borne diseases develop more readily in instances of reduced flow
In developing countries 80% of all illnesses are caused by water-borne diseases with Diarrhoea the leading cause of childhood death
Malaria kills more than a million people every year and costs Africa more than R84 billion in lost GDP
Water and the EconomyWater and the Economy
Water is critical to all sectors of the economy: agriculture, forestry, mining, power generation, bulk storage, recreation & provision of urban and rural water services
Economic value of water is measured by the number & value of jobs created by the water use or the amount of revenue generated
Also provide other services that are often not included in economic valuation.
Water Resource ServicesWater Resource Services
Services and benefits provided by aquatic ecosystems:
Supply of good quality water Transport and/or purification of
biodegradable wastes Recreation and aesthetic opportunities Food production Flood attenuation and regulation Water-based transport
GroundwaterGroundwater
Strategically valuable resource Less affected by droughts Recharge cycle on a much longer time-scale More protected storage than surface water Value linked to dependency – high
dependency means no alternative resource
EstuariesEstuaries
SA has 255 estuaries (river mouths) along 3100km of coastline
Contribute to recreational and subsistence fisheries
Act as nursery areas for numerous species of fish
Impacted by urban development and domestic and industrial use
WetlandsWetlands
Areas that are seasonally or permanently inundated or saturated with water
Protect water resources through flood control, water storage, stream-flow regulation, drought relief, soil erosion protection and wildlife protection
Impacted by inappropriate urban and agricultural development and pollution
Availability and Water QualityAvailability and Water Quality
SA is an arid country with only 8,6% of rainfall available as surface water
Water availability will become a restriction on future socio-economic development
Therefore, good quality of critical importance Water quality influenced by natural
processes as well as human activities such as farming, urban and industrial development, mining and recreation
Water Quality ProblemsWater Quality Problems
Salinisation – excess salt from natural (geological) causes & human activities
Eutrophication – enrichment with nutrients N and P from fertilisers and sewage effluent and causes algal and weed growth
Micro-pollutants – mostly metals and pesticides from industrial & mining activities
Microbiological - contamination with faecal material
Erosion and sedimentation – loss of fertile agricultural soil, loss of reservoir storage etc.
Significantly increases treatment costs
Unhealthy conditions as a result of inadequate services
The UN Millenium Development GoalsThe UN Millenium Development Goals
1.1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hungerEradicate extreme poverty and hunger2.2. Achieve universal primary educationAchieve universal primary education3.3. Promote gender equality & empower Promote gender equality & empower
womenwomen4.4. Reduce child mortalityReduce child mortality5.5. Improve maternal healthImprove maternal health6.6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other
diseasesdiseases7.7. Ensure Environmental SustainabilityEnsure Environmental Sustainability8.8. Develop a global partnership for Develop a global partnership for
developmentdevelopment
Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental Sustainability
Natural water systems can experience severe floods and droughts and still recover to their original state
If over-used (over abstraction, pollution, physical destruction) this resilience is lost and the capacity to meet human demands is reduced or lost
Aim to balance water use with protection in such a way that water resources are not degraded beyond recovery
For both current and future generations
What is IWRMWhat is IWRM
““IWRM is a IWRM is a processprocess that promotes the that promotes the co-co-ordinatedordinated developmentdevelopment and and managementmanagement of of water, land and related resourceswater, land and related resources, in order to , in order to maximise the resultant maximise the resultant economiceconomic and and socialsocial welfare in an welfare in an equitableequitable manner without manner without compromising the compromising the sustainabilitysustainability of vital of vital ecosystemsecosystems.” .”
(Global Water Partnership, 2000).(Global Water Partnership, 2000).
National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998)National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998)
The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the nation’s water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled,
in accordance with the National Water Resource Strategy
IWRM and the National Water ActIWRM and the National Water Act
Resource Protection – reserve (basic human needs + ecological), classification & RQO
Establish Water Management Strategies and Water Management Institutions
Authorising water use Implementing a National Pricing Strategy
including Waste Discharge Charges Establishing a National Monitoring System
and a National Information System
Riparian vegetation
Macro-invertebrates
Fish
Purpose: to gather information on the ecological state of rivers in South AfricaMethod: use indicators to measure current ecological statusIndicators provide holistic and integrated measure of integrity and health of the river
River Health ProgrammeRiver Health Programme
RIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME CONCEPTSRIVER HEALTH PROGRAMME CONCEPTS
South AfricanScoring System
(SASS)
Fish CommunitiesAquatic invertebrates
Fish Assemblage Integrity Index
(FAII)
Riparian vegetation
Riparian vegetationindex (RVI)
Natural No measurable modification Good Biodiversity largely unmodified Fair Sensitive species lost or less abundant Poor Population dynamics disruptedPoor Population dynamics disrupted
River Health River Health Programme – Programme – Example of Example of River River AssessmentsAssessments
Olifants-Doring Olifants-Doring WMAWMA
Olifants
Knersvlakte
Doring
Kouebokkeveld
Sandveld
Major ImpactsMajor Impacts
Over-abstraction of surface and groundwater Modified flow (impoundments) Farming activities Alien invasive plant infestation Invasive alien fish species threaten
indigenous fish species Nutrient enrichment from fertilizers and
return flows Overgrazing Erosion & sedimentation of river banks
Examples of land-use activitiesExamples of land-use activities
Management ActionsManagement Actions
Reduce cumulative effect of small farm dams Investigate environmental flow releases from
water supply scheme Improve regulation of abstraction – surface &
groundwater Clearing of alien vegetation Improve condition of riparian zones Manage sanctuaries for indigenous fish Re-instate wetlands Limit mining & infrastructural development in
riparian zone Manage water quality
We all live downstreamWe all live downstream
Project proposals address the issuesProject proposals address the issues
Olifants River Wetland and Environmental awareness
Clearing Alien Invasive Plants Olifants River Health and Conservation Waste Recycling River and Environment Clean-up Groundwater Protection and Climate Change
Monitoring
Water is life – Water is lifeWater is life – Water is life
Water is life – Water is lifeWater is life – Water is life
Water is life – Water is lifeWater is life – Water is life
Water is life – Water is lifeWater is life – Water is life
Water is life – Water is lifeWater is life – Water is life
Water is life – Water is lifeWater is life – Water is life
Water is life – Water is Water is life – Water is lifelife
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements
G McConkey
T Nyamande