Wilna Kloppers

DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS AND FORESTRY - WESTERN CAPE REGION

wilna@dwaf.gov.za

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