NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY

1
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY SOUTH AFRICAS
WATER SITUATION AND STRATEGIES TO BALANCE SUPPLY
AND DEMAND OLIFANTS WMA
2
WMA 4 Olifants - Rainfall and Evaporation
3
WMA 4 Olifants - Base Map
4
WMA 4 Olifants - Land Use
5
WMA 4 Olifants - Sectoral Water Requirements
(2000)
6
Sectoral contributions to the economy (1997)
30
National
Olifants WMA
20
Contribution
10
0
Other
Trade
Mining
Finance
Transport
Electricity
Agriculture
Community
Government
Construction
Manufacturing
7
WMA 4 Olifants - Water Availability (2000)
8
WMA 4 Olifants - Water Reconciliation (2000)
9
WMA 4 Olifants - Population scenarios
10
WMA 4 Olifants - Water Reconciliation (future)
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WMA 4 OlifantsGroundwater

• Large quantities of groundwater abstracted for
  rural water supplies throughout the WMA
• Large quantities abstracted for irrigation in the
  Springbok Flats area
• Substantial potential for increased groundwater
  utilisation on the Nebo Plateau
• Dolomitic formations extend along the Blyde River
  valley
• Strong inter-connectivity between groundwater in
  the dolomitic aquifers and surface flow - further
  exploitation expected to directly impact on
  surface water flows

12
WMA 4 Olifants Water quality

• In the natural state, the quality of surface
  water is high
• Water quality highly impacted upon by coal mining
• Water quality problems experienced due to the
  discharge of mine effluent in the Phalaborwa area
  
• Quality of groundwater naturally of high standard
  - high iron and fluoride concentrations found in
  some areas
• In the Kwa-Ndebele areagroundwater quality is
  poor
• Concern about the pollution of groundwater with
  acidic mine leachate in the coal mining areas
  (Upper Olifants)
• Discharge of mine effluent into the Selati River
  near Phalaborwa poses water quality problems
  downstream in the Kruger National Park

13
WMA 4 Olifants Key issues

• Full utilisation (and in some areas
  over-commitment) of water resources as currently
  developed and available
• Substantial deficits will result from the
  implementation of the ecological component of the
  Reserve
• Strong growth expected in the mining sector along
  the Bushveld Igneous Complex
• Continued urban and industrial growth at Witbank,
  Middleburg and Phalaborwa
• Need for increased transfer of water into the WMA
  for power generation

14
WMA 4 Olifants Key issues (2)

• Water quality management in the Upper Olifants in
  particular, as well as related to mining
  activities elsewhere in the WMA
• Ensuring adequate availability of water of
  appropriate quality with respect to the
  ecological requirements in the Kruger National
  Park
• Improved measurement and monitoring of irrigation
  abstractions and return flows
• Possible impacts of water resource management in
  the Olifants WMA on Mozambique and honouring of
  all obligations with respect to Mozambique

15
WMA 4 Olifants Water resources under control of
the Minister

• Transfers into WMA
• Transfers out of WMA
• Development of dam at Rooipoort
• Currently no quantitative agreement with respect
  to releases to Mozambique
• no future water resource development or
  management options, which could have negative
  impacts on Mozambique, should be implemented
  without prior agreement between SA and Mozambique
  at national level