3,483 research outputs found
Alignment of water use licenses with strategic water management objectives for the uMkhanyakude District area, Kwazulu-Natal
No full textMSc (Environmental Management with Ecological Water Requirements), North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusIn South Africa, water is a scarce resource and the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) makes provision for water resources to be used, controlled, protected, managed and developed to ensure sustainable use for all. The study was undertaken in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality (UKDM), situated in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province. The motivation for this research study is the on-going water shortages and droughts experienced in the Republic of South Africa (RSA), especially the UKDM. With the focus on the understanding by the members of the uSuthu to Mhlathuze Catchment Management Forum (CMF) regarding water governance in the area, a questionnaire was developed to capture the views and perspective of water users within the uSuthu to Mhlathuze Catchment Management Area (CMA). The idea was to gain an understanding of the knowledge of participants related to their authority regarding water governance and water management within the area. Of significance to the study was to incorporate the involvement of those within the CMF and their knowledge on water governance and its implementation. The collected data identified constraints and limitations experienced at catchment level and enabled the making of recommendations to address the issues currently faced by the catchment.
A concern is that water uses to some extent of the RSA, especially country areas, are not regulated in an effective and efficient manner. This raises concerns about how water use is unaccounted for in some areas. The National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS) makes provision for instruments, such as Resource-directed Measures (RDM) and Source-directed Measures (SDM) to affirm that the nation’s water resources are shared equitably in order to ensure sustainability and the efficient use thereof and to ensure that water is not over-allocated or used and that the quality thereof is not compromised. Chapter 4, Part 1 of the NWA (1998) requires that water uses, as defined in section 21 of the Act, must be authorised. Thus, this raises a question to determine whether authorised water quantities are aligned with the predetermined water quantities of the uSuthu to Mhlathuze CMA. A literature review and secondary data from the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS) Water use Authorisation and Registration Management System (WARMS) was used to determine whether issued water use authorisations of the uSuthu to Mhlathuze CMA are in line with strategic objectives of the area. The information gathered regarding water uses within the study area revealed allocations, different uses and users per sector. However, current information regarding the volume within the catchment could not be provided.Master
Critical review of the quality of Water Service Development Plans : a case study of South Africa
No full textMSc (Environmental Management with Ecological Water Requirements), North-West University, Potchefstroom CampusThe provision of adequate water supply and sanitation services remains a challenge in both developed and emerging economies. This challenge is fuelled by deteriorating water services emanating from insufficient and aging infrastructure, pollution of water sources and deteriorating water quality, lack of financial resources, lack of skilled workforce, changing climatic conditions and droughts. In an attempt to reduce the gap between water demand and water supply in South Africa, initiatives such as water conservation and water demand management have been adopted, but their success have been shrouded by a lack of planning, resources and law enforcement. For this reason, the gap between water demand and supply continues to widen across the country. To address the water resources related concerns such as planning, managing, coordinating water resources, and water demand across the country, municipalities are required to develop Water Service Development Plans (WSDPs). Sections 12 and 13 of the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997) require municipalities to develop a draft WSDP for their areas of jurisdiction and a summary of that plan. A WSDP is a living and strategic document, and a primary instrument that aids municipalities in water service planning. The WSDP provides an overarching framework for water service provision, water demand management, wastewater treatment, and provides information on the gaps and challenges encountered in water service delivery. Additionally, municipalities are required to develop the WSDP as part of their Integrated Development Plan (IDP), a requirement of the Municipal Systems Act (No. 32 of 2000) to guide municipalities on sustainable use of water resources.
WSDPs are critical in the water service sector. However, a knowledge gaps exists on the quality of such plans and the extent to which WSDPs facilitate sustainable water service delivery. This knowledge gap forms the impetus for the study and the aim of the study is to critically review the quality of WSDPs of selected metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. For this purpose, the research objectives are to develop criteria that can be used to evaluate the quality of WSDP of municipalities in South Africa, and to apply the developed criteria to selected WSDPs. A Review Package designed from three sources, namely, Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997), National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) and the IDP Guidelines Analysis Framework developed by Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) extracted from Module 1 of 2015 form part of the criteria. The criteria is integrated with the Lee and Colley Review Package to review WSDPs obtained from the websites of eight selected metropolitan municipalities.
The results from the review of WSDPs reveals that the overall quality of the selected WSDPs are satisfactory, with certain areas needing to be addressed to ensure ongoing quality of the WSDPs. The study recommends municipalities to diligently adhere to the legal requirements and guidance provided, develop funding mechanisms to reduce overreliance on loans and address the identified shortcomings in the planning for sanitation services.Master
Exploring the challenges and opportunities for the management of shared watercourses: The case of the Orange - Senqu River Commission
No full textNorth-West University, Master of Environmental Management with
Ecological Water Requirements, Potchefstroom CampusThe term “shared watercourses”, also referred to as transboundary watercourses, refers to watercourses that extend across multiple countries. As noted by Petersen-Pelman et al. (2017), approximately 60% of the world’s freshwater resources are situated in these shared watercourses. Consequently, the responsible management of these shared watercourses is imperative to maintain their well-being, ensure benefits for all member states, and prevent conflicts among them. Numerous countries sharing water resources have endeavoured to establish legal frameworks for the governance of these watercourses. The primary instruments for managing shared watercourses on a global scale are the 1997 UN International Watercourses Convention and the Helsinki rules (1966). Within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Region, the Protocol for Shared Watercourses in the SADC region serves as a key tool for managing such resources. This protocol has led to the creation of various water commissions, including the Limpopo River Commission (LIMCOM), Zambezi River Commission (ZAMCOM), and Orange Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM). The research explores the challenges and opportunities for the management of shared watercourses within the Orange Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM). The study followed a qualitative research methodology with semi-structured interviews as the instrument for soliciting data. Purposive sampling was implemented to determine the research participants who were the ORASECOM task team members. The challenges for implementing the ORASECOM Agreement range from legal and regulatory challenges, political and diplomatic challenges, technical and infrastructural challenges, environmental and legal challenges, economic and financial challenges, capacity building challenges and monitoring and evaluation challenges. The research went on to explore the opportunities or potential benefits that can be reaped out of successful implementation of the ORASECOM Agreement. The research findings and literature revealed the strategies on how to overcome the challenges for implementation of the ORASECOM Agreement. These strategies include numerous dimensions, beginning with the critical role of financial and economic approaches. Securing international funding, diversifying funding sources, and mobilizing resources emerge as pivotal strategies to ensure the agreement’s financial sustainability. Capacity building and institutional strengthening, both in terms of technical proficiency and community engagement, are underscored as essential components. Recommendations and future research areas were suggested based on the research findings. Recommendations include improving on community participation and involvement, securing financial resources for the implementation of the ORASECOM Agreement as well as learning from successful environmental management reforms practices in other shared watercourses. Moreover diplomacy, well-organized action plans, adaptability, and consistent communication, harmonizing the laws can be used to increase solidarity in shared water resources management. Use of financial tools and investments necessary for infrastructure development making educational and training investments in task team members, increased research, delineation of aquifers, monitoring evaluation of ground water, as well as data sharing among member states regarding ground water information should be considered. These recommendations also form a basis for future research areas.-Water Research Commission (WRC
Investigating climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in integrated water and waste management plans: The case of coal mines in Mpumalanga
No full textThesis (MSc. Environmental Management)) -- North-West University, 2024Despite initial disagreements on climate change, there is now a widely accepted consensus that the phenomenon exists. Owing to escalating greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that the world's temperature will rise above preindustrial levels, which will lead to variation in rainfall patterns, increased intensity of floods and droughts and the alteration of hydrological cycles, which will harm human and natural systems. The mining industry will suffer severe consequences from climate change, especially the coal mining industry in South Africa. Given the country’s heavy dependence on coal for electricity generation, this situation could have adverse socio-economic consequences. It is, therefore, crucial for the mining industry to integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies into its business approaches. Integrated water resource management (IWRM)—the basis for Integrated Water and Waste Management Plans (IWWMPs), is a promising instrument for mainstreaming climate change mitigation and adaption measures into water management. Considering this background, this research investigated whether climate change mitigation and adaptation measures are considered in IWWMPs for coal mines in Mpumalanga. A case study approach with document analysis was implemented for the research. Seven case studies were selected based on predetermined selection criteria. Two key performance areas (KPAs) with 21 associated key performance indicators (KPIs) were developed based on relevant policies, legislation, and guideline documents related to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The content of each IWWMP was evaluated against the developed KPIs and allocated a score namely, A - adequately, B – partially, and C - inadequately considered. Based on the evaluation, the primary study findings indicate that climate change mitigation and adaptation measures are disregarded in the IWWMPs for the selected cases in Mpumalanga. It is, therefore, recommended that coal mines in Mpumalanga incorporate climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in IWWMPs to manage climate risk. Furthermore, interviews should be conducted with the three significant participants involved in the drafting and approval of IWWMPs to establish the reasons why climate change mitigation and adaptation measures are omitted in IWWMPs as required by policies, legislation, and guidelines
Duinafslag bij steile vooroevers: Oriënterend onderzoek naar de effecten van een diepe geul op de mate van duinafslag
No full textBij de zuidwestkust van Walcheren ligt de getijgeul pal onder de kust. Naar aanleiding van problemen welke zich in deze situatie voordoen bij strikte toepassing van de "Leidraad voor de beoordeling van duinen als waterkering" heeft in Werkgroep 5 van de Technische Adviescommissie voor de Waterkeringen (TAW-5) overleg plaatsgevonden over de duinafslag onder stormvloedomstandigheden ter plaatse van steile vooroevers. Uitgaande van een als lokaal te beschouwen probleem is in eerste instantie besloten om, buiten het TAW-5-budget om, enkele oriënterende berekeningen naar de mogelijke transportcapaciteit uit te voeren voor de Direktie Zeeland van Rijkswaterstaat
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