GROUNDWATER AS A COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLY SOURCE

Presentation to Parliamentary Portfolio Committee, 14 September 2005

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GROUNDWATER AS A COMMUNITY WATER

SUPPLY SOURCE

MR BONIFACE ALEOBUA

DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY

[email protected]


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Groundwater in South Africa provides a vital source of water in many rural communities and towns through springs, wells or boreholes for drinking and for irrigation.

Groundwater is often the most cost effective way to supply good quality water to isolated and small areas.

It is stored in Aquifers (spaces between rocks etc), often the greatest volume of water stored in a catchment, and therefore critical sources for the dry season and drought periods.

Aquifers may occur many meters below the surface of the ground. This position often protects the water from contamination by man.


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\and cost – effective implementation of

groundwater and other small scale appropriate technologies

• Mobilizing the whole groundwater industry towards the common

objective

• Broadening the skills base of groundwater practitioner

• Securing sustainable financing, including for groundwater monitoring

as a management support

Su• Securing sustainable financing, including for groundwater monitoring

as a management support


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Groundwater in South Africa has moved from being a Cinderella resource, to one of Strategic resource. Reason- classed as private water in 1956 Water Act#54 (no need to worry), and then as Public Water Source in the 1998 Water Act#96 (must be managed for public good).

This has had implications for the way the resource was managed, as well as the public perception about the resource. A lot of catching up still to be done regarding the management of the resource.


7Source: DWAF, Groundwater Resources Assessments-II, 2005

Increases in Rural use of groundwater since RDP projects came about


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Good management of groundwater use and the control of activities in vulnerable areas ensures that groundwater remains a usable resource.

If too much is pumped or if the quality deteriorates as a result of pollution, it will no longer be available as a cost effective source of water for drinking, stock watering or irrigation.

The cost of polluted water treatment is usually higher than the cost of preventing pollution through informed management.


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Groundwater at risk of being polluted by toilet contents, and surface run off into this ‘sinkhole”


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Groundwater at risk from pollution at surface (stagnant water)


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Problem caused by blockage of the drains leading to possible pollution of groundwater


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Schematic of how borehole water can also be contaminated


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What should be done?


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GROUDWATER MANAGEMENT FOR MUNICIPALITIES

A Framework for Groudwater Management of community water supplyImplementing a Rural Groundwater Management SystemGroundwater Monitoring for Pump Operators


17Maps and brochures produced by DWAF


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Good management practice for groundwater (measurements)


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Source: Braune and Mutheiwana, 2005.

Documents

GROUNDWATER AS A COMMUNITY WATER SUPPLY SOURCE