I. Water Issues Overview Africa Situation RSA Situation RSA - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

• I. Water Issues Overview

Africa Situation

RSA Situation

South Africa is a water stressed country and as our country grows and the economy develops, there is an increasing demand for water. The Gouritz WMA Catchments are no different!!! Unfortunately the amount of water will not increase and the gap between how much water is available and how much water we need, will grow. The DWS together with the BGCMA must therefore manage

• ur water resources to achieve the most beneficial use of

water in the interests of the all citizens in the country as a whole

RSA Situation

The National Water Act (NWA) No. 36 of 1998 recognises that water is a scarce and unevenly distributed resource requiring careful management in the best interest of all South Africans. It makes Government (through the BGCMA in your area) responsible for protecting and managing water resources. But they cannot do this alone – your support is needed!!!

The Legislative Backdrop

The Broader South African Water Context

The current crisis .....

Recognising that … The issue of water is always CONTENTIOUS – it always evokes strong emotions whenever and wherever it is discussed!!!

… its availability, pollution / contamination, scarcity, entitlements to its use, water use charges & payments, management, control, protection, etc., etc., etc.

A Contentious Resource …..

Recognising that … Water is a very COMPLEX natural resource to manage. There are complexities in the number and the nature of issues and it is necessary to PRIORITISE these for attention.

It is not possible to address all issues at once; however, if certain actions can resolve several problems – these would be the options of choice.

Complex, Extensive & Intensive …..

Recognising that … There are PROBLEMS – historical and current! Finger-pointing and blame apportioning is not going to make these go away.

Collaborate to remedy the problem!!!

Problems - Past and Present ….

Recognising that … There is “no perfect time” to act. We need to plan and act as necessary and appropriate – guided by the best available resources, information and knowledge at the time – but PLAN and ACT!!!

New information and knowledge are generated every day.

How and When to act …..

Acknowledge that water matters have … a contentious and problematic nature, are complex, and there is a need to plan and act!

As a community, work towards a shared understanding of your common issues

THEN

Work together to prioritise and resolve the most important and urgent of these issues

What do we do?

Water Management Areas and Main Water Transfers

International Rivers Shared by South Africa

Is there enough where we need it?

National Water Reconciliation Scenarios 2000

WMA 16: Gouritz - Rainfall and Evaporation

WMA 16: Gouritz - Base Map

Sectoral Water Requirements (2000)

Water Availability (2000)

Water Reconciliation (2000)

Water Reconciliation (Future)

• Groundwater of major importance in Gouritz WMA
• Primary source of water for rural domestic supplies and stock watering, as

well as for several towns in WMA

• Most groundwater, however, is used for irrigation
• Oudtshoorn geological fault may discharge large quantities of water

to the ocean – this may be abstracted for inland utilisation

• Significant quantities of water may be abstractable Table Mountain Group

geological formations - further investigations required

• Little (if any) potential for further exploitation of ground-water resources

without impacting on surface water

Groundwater

• Water quality in inland (Karoo) rivers generally poor due to natural high

salinity of the water

• Water quality in upper reaches of rivers generally of high standard -

becomes mineralised downstream as result of geology and evaporation from rivers

• Water in lower reaches of Gouritz River is unacceptable for most uses due

to high salinity

• Water quality in the coastal rivers is generally good - impacts of human

activities evident in some rivers

• Quality of groundwater in general appropriate for use - brackish water

commonly in drier areas

• No contamination of groundwater as result of human activity - risk thereof is

insignificant in Gouritz WMA

Water Quality

• Current developed water resources fully utilised - some inland towns

experience insufficient reliability of supply

• Serious deficits may result from implementation of the Reserve in the

Coastal sub-area

• Most irrigation opportunistic or supplementary
• Strong connectivity between groundwater and surface water in Olifants

and Coastal sub-areas

• Water in middle and lower reaches of Gouritz River and its tributaries of

high salinity - also applies to groundwater in some areas

• Special attention to prevent salinisation of soils and manage the impact of

return flows on salinity levels

Key Issues

• Efficiency of irrigation very low at some schemes
• Future economic and population growth along the coast with

accompanying increases in requirements

• Under high scenario: additional requirements for water may be in excess
• f undeveloped resource potential
• Substantial potential for further development of surface water resources in

Coastal sub-area

• environmentally very important and sensitive area
• feasibility strongly influenced by requirements for Reserve
• Potential for additional afforestation and utilisation of groundwater from

Table Mountain Group aquifers

Key Issues (2)

• Continued transfer of water of about 0,7 million m3/a to the Breede WMA

Water Resources under control of the Minister

The results of this project will update the currently available information on water uses, users and water resources

Other projects to which there are linkages include:

• Catchment Management Agency Establishment
• Irrigation Board Transformation & Water User Association Establishment
• Water Availability Assessment & Planning Studies
• Reserve Determinations
• Operating Rules for Dams and Systems
• Socio-Economic Implications of Water Restrictions
• Water Revenue and Billing Systems Optimisation

WUV Project Linkages

Be Involved!

Finally …. Project benefits include the following:

(1) Unlawful users will be identified and unlawful uses stopped (2) Water Use Charges will be more accurate and collection more efficient (3) Water Management becomes more effective:

• Users will have greater water security
• Restrictions will be better managed
• The availability of water for local and regional socio-economic development will

be clearer

• Future needs can be better catered for

WUV Project Benefits