Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Dissertation (MSc (Engineering Geology))--University of Pretoria, 2000. / Geology / unrestricted

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2016. / The drought-stricken, eastern Kalahari region of South Africa is a water stressed region that is solely dependent on groundwater for its water supply. This resource is of primary importance in supplying safe drinking water to the inhabitants of both the towns and rural areas within this region, there being no other alternative. This situation can prove precarious, as the poorly understood complexities of the nature and behaviour of groundwater in this region has often led to over utilisation of the resource in some parts. The efficient and sustainable use of groundwater is paramount to ensure the sustainable and equitable development of the region. As such, an attempt was made to contribute to the understanding of the groundwater potential of this region by examining a number of the hydrogeological factors at play. The total resource potential for the entire study area is estimated at 10,127.29 x 106 m3/a, with the Kalahari aquifer showing the greatest potential in the study area, comprising 50.67 % of the total resource. The storage capability of the Kalahari aquifer (5478.52 x 106 m3) is also impressive, estimated to be more than twice that of the dolomite (2727.99 x 106 m3). This significant storage space of the Kalahari aquifer can allow groundwater recharge to be stored for several decades or even millennia, thereby providing a vital buffer against climate variability. Despite having such great potential, the aquifer is not actively recharged and is often associated with very saline water that is not suitable for human and livestock consumption. As such, although showing the most potential for storage, exploitation of this resource is restricted. The limestones and dolomites of the Campbell Rand and Schmidtsdrif Subgroups are considered as the most prospective water bearing formations in the study area, largely owing to weathering and karstification processes that have made them prolific aquifers and have aided significantly in their resource potential estimated at approximately 1980.65 x 106 m3/a. Although this area shows potential for higher yielding boreholes (> 5 l/s), this particular aquifer does not display hydraulic continuity, with poor water exchange between compartments, resulting in variations in yield and the amount of recharge available. Unlike the Kalahari, these aquifers cannot sustain abstraction through periods of drought, there being no natural regulation to their outflow, as such, caution has to be exercised over how much of the groundwater can in fact be abstracted from this aquifer. The weathered granitic rocks of the Archaean basement within the south-central portion of the study area show favourable resource potential (1844.71 x 106 m3/a) and are typically associated with the better quality groundwater in the study area. The groundwater has moderate salinity and is not as “hard” as the water associated with the karstic and Kalahari aquifers. Unfortunately, however, it is this aquifer that is commonly exploited, particularly for intensive irrigated agriculture. Although isotopic evidence suggests the presence of recent recharge, this aquifer receives most of its recharge from the outcropping areas of the aquifer, with the remaining 70 % of the area being overlain by thick deposits (> 15 m) of Kalahari sediment, which retain a large amount of the recharge from where it is lost by evapotranspiration. As such, if this aquifer is to be utilised sustainably and its use ensured for future generations, stricter controls need to be placed on the volume of water abstracted, particularly by irrigated agriculture. Aquifers with the least potential in the study area generally comprise the fractured basement rocks of the Kraaipan - Amalia greenstone belt, with a resource potential of 26.45 x 106 m3/a, and the fractured sedimentary rocks of the Asbestos Hills Subgroup, with a resource potential of 108.33 x 106 m3/a. While these aquifers offer poor prospects of securing large volumes of groundwater, with the groundwater being primarily confined to their fracture systems, these aquifers offer some of the best recharge areas within the study area. Their isotopic signature seems to suggest that recharge is taking place from the surrounding high ground, where surface and structural controls are responsible for the regional hydraulic continuity. Under favourable conditions, these aquifers may also recharge the adjacent karstic and granitic aquifers, where local structures enable limited lateral and vertical displacement. Overall, the calculated groundwater storage and resource potential within the study area satisfies a large proportion of the water demand in the eastern Kalahari region of South Africa. If each aquifer could be sustainably utilised, a considerable volume of water could be abstracted at an assurance of supply similar to that of surface water. The emphasis, however, is placed on “sustainable exploitation”, as groundwater in this region is also vulnerable to quality degradation and over-exploitation. This often stems from the poorly understood nature of groundwater and the hydrogeological factors at play in the region. The key challenge, therefore, relates to the effective management of the resource, with all role players involved in this complex system working together to achieve the goal of maintaining the quality of the water and ensuring that it is used sustainably, protecting it for future generations. / LG2017

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study examines the history of water in two small Karoo towns. The main argument of the thesis is that the availability of and access to water has played influential roles in the development of Williston and Prince Albert. The ambitions of this thesis are three-fold: firstly, the approach is socio-environmental history and therefore it provides insight into the environmental as well as the social history of the resource in each region. It consciously reflects on the notion of power and explores the manner in which access to water was racialised by authorities in each town. Secondly, this thesis provides insight into the technological and legislative water supply and development of sanitation at both settlements, which is outlined in a broader national development to contextualise the local trajectories. Thirdly, through personal narratives it offers an ethnographic analysis of mind-sets such as fatalism and hopefulness in the face of extreme climatic conditions are examined. The experiences of the socially marginalised and underrepresented are intended to challenge the whiggish celebration of anthropogenic ascendancy over nature in the historiography. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die geskiedenis van water in twee klein Karoo dorpies. The hoof argument van die tesis is dat die beskikbaarheid van en toegang tot water bepalende rolle gespeel het in die ontwikkeling van Williston en Prins Albeit. Die doelstellings van hierdie tesis is drievoudig: eerstens, is die benadering sosio-omgewingsgeskiedenis en verskaf dit dus insig oor die omgewings- sowel as die sosiale geskiedenis van hierdie natuurlike hulpbron in elke streek. Hierdie werk weerspieel doelbewus die idee van mag en ondersoek die wyse waarop toegang tot water deur die dorpsowerhede rasbevooroordeeld was. Tweedens, verskaf hierdie tesis insig oor die water toevoer en die ontwikkeling van sanitere geriewe in beide nedersettings, waama die plaaslike ontwikkeling gesien word binne ' n breer nasionale konteks. Derdens word daar deur middel van persoonlike vertellings gekyk na die opkoms van etnografiese ingesteldhede soos fatalisme en hoop wanneer uiterste klimaatstoestande in die gesig gestaar word. Die ervannge van die sosiaal gemarginaliseerde en die onderverteenwoordigde groepe word uitgelig ten einde die liberate viering van antropogeniese dorninasie oor die natuur uit te daag.

The Grootfontein aquifer is located about 20 km south east of Mahikeng, North West Province, South Africa, and currently supplies about 20% of Mahikeng’s water. Formed in weathered Malmani Subgroup dolomites, the aquifer contains good quality groundwater that could potentially supply more of Mahikeng’s water, as well as provide a strategic reserve of water for use during droughts. Over-abstraction of groundwater from the aquifer, mainly by irrigating farmers but also by the boreholes supplying Mahikeng, has caused the natural groundwater level to drop at a rate of about 0.4 m per year since the 1970s, leading to water level declines of as much as 28 m in parts of the aquifer. Although the Grootfontein aquifer is one of the best studied aquifers in South Africa hydrogeologically, efforts to address these declines since the 1970s have largely failed. This research combines hydrogeological evidence with social research (interviews and participant-observation) and the principles of Earth Stewardship Science to argue that the aquifer functions as a hydro-social system, and that institutional characteristics are the root cause of a collective inability to restore the aquifer to its full potential as a water resource. A sub-optimal and undesirable Nash equilibrium prevails, in which major groundwater users are unable or unwilling to reduce abstraction. The situation has significant cost and risk implications for the environmental, economic and social sectors, and contributes to insecurity, pessimism, inequality and mistrust. An effective local forum with appropriate powers, supported and mandated by the Department of Water and Sanitation, is needed to begin the work of dismantling the sub-optimal equilibrium to realise the potential of the Grootfontein aquifer. Such a forum would require a shared understanding of the hydrogeological mechanisms of the aquifer as well as its social and institutional functioning, since these influence each other in complex ways.

Dissertation Submitted to the University of the Witwatersrand in the Fulfilment of the Master’s Degree in Geology (Hydrogeology) Faculty of Science University of the Witwatersrand Date: May 2017 / The state of water quality in the Swartkops River catchment in the Uitenhage area, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, continues to be degraded by anthropogenic activities, which include municipal waste water, industrial waste and agricultural runoff. The study area consists of two aquifers (Swartkops and Coega) that are separated by the fault (Coega fault). In the study area there are two main rivers, namely: Swartkops River and Coega River, which are situated in the Swartkops Aquifer and Coega Aquifer, respectively. Most of the degrading anthropogenic activities are situated in the vicinity of the Swartkops River. The focus of the study was on the pollution of the stream water and aquifer (groundwater), with particular emphasis on the groundwater management. The study objectives were to establish the relationship between groundwater levels and surface topography using Bayesian interpolation method and groundwater and surface water interaction using environmental isotope and hydrogeochemical techniques. The bacteriological assessment was also conducted to determine if hydraulic connections exist between groundwater and the polluted streams. The results of the Bayesian Interpolation Method indicated that there was a strong relationship between the groundwater level elevation and surface topography with the correlation coefficient of 0.9953. The results also indicated that the fault is permeable; hence it did not have influence on groundwater circulation; however, groundwater does not flow from Swartkops River to Coega Aquifer due to groundwater flow gradient. The environmental isotope results indicated that both Swartkops Aquifer and Swartkops River were characterised by heavy isotopes signatures, which indicated the correlation between the two water components. The results further showed that the Swartkops River was recharging the Swartkops aquifer. However, no correlation was established between Swartkops River and Coega aquifer due to flow gradient. Although the flow gradient allows the flow of groundwater from Coega Aquifer to Swartkops Aquifer, Coega aquifer is a Government Water Controlled Area, which could have a very low to none impact on the other aquifer. Piper diagram and stiff diagrams indicated one water type found in the Swartkops and Coega aquifers, which was: Na-Cl type. The water in the Coega aquifer indicated high salinity in the chemical properties, which was typical old marine water derived from deep groundwater source. It was noted that the electrical conductivity values in the Waste Water Treatment Work were closest to those of the Swartkops River and Aquifer, which was in central to those of Coega Aquifer. The bacterial analysis results indicated that during the wet season most of the bacterial counts were high as compared to dry season. It was noted; however, that during the wet season the bacterial counts appeared similar in both aquifers. It is unlikely that the similarities emanated from the interaction of the two aquifers as the analysis of the results indicated that the bacterial counts found in the Coega Aquifer emanated from the farming activities. The study concluded that the fault act as a pathway for migration of groundwater flow. It was established that the groundwater only flows from Coega Aquifer to Swartkops Aquifer due to difference in the hydraulic gradient. / MT 2017

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Cape Town metropolitan area has limited water supply due to rapid population and urban growth. In many instances, surface water is the only source in water supply schemes. There is a need for additional water supplies to supplement the existing water sources. Groundwater systems can be used as primary or supplemental water supply sources especially in areas where there is high demand for water resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate the groundwater potential within the Table Mountain Group (TMG) with the assistance of remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS). Previous hydrogeological studies have found the TMG to be the second largest hydrogeological unit in South Africa with extensively fractured and multi-porous rock. The study area is 5660 km2 with TMG covering 1336 km". In this study a Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) image was used to identify lineaments. The identified lineaments were overlaid with vegetation, drainage patterns, faults and fractures digitized from 1:250 000 geological maps and borehole yields to show areas with promising groundwater resources. The results did not show correlation between vegetation and lineaments. Most of the lineaments intersected drainage lines at some points, and a few were parallel to the drainage lines. Forty five percent of the digitized faults and fractures overlap with the Landsat lineament. The most dominating lineaments are oriented in a NW-SE direction. High yielding boreholes with average yield of about 12 lIs were found within the distance of 150m from the lineaments. The lineaments were further analysed to locate areas that could be suitable for groundwater exploration. These areas were identified using Landsat lineaments, boreholes and a Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The results showed that the most favourable lineaments and geological features were oriented in a 135-180° and 0-45° direction and areas with slopes of less than 40% were found to be suitable for drilling boreholes. The amount of available groundwater within the TMG was also investigated by looking at both volume of recharge and amount that could be held in storage. Rainfall data was used to estimate recharge. Groundwater recharge was calculated to be 5% of the total precipitation that falls on this area. Based on the average rainfall of 600mm per annum, the results show that TMG has an average recharge value of 30mm per annum. The total recharge for the area covered by TMG, which has an area of 1336km2 , is 160 million nr'. Geological profiles and cross sections were drawn to determine the storage capacity of the TMG, which was estimated to be 525 million m.3 According to a study done by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DW AF) in 1996, the anticipated water demand in the Cape Town metropolitan area will increase from 243 million m3 in 1990 to 560 million m3 in 2020. The estimated volume of water that can be stored within the TMG can meet the current demand for the next 10 years and supplement the existing surface water sources. Groundwater vulnerability of the TMG to contamination was assessed and mapped by using the DRASTIC index. The results demonstrate that the TMG area is at low risk to contamination. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Vinnig groeiende bevolking en stedelike uitbreiding plaas toenemende druk op Kaapstad se water voorraad. Addisionele waterbronne sal benodig word om bestaande bronne aan te vul. Oppervlakwater is in die meeste gevalle die enigste waterbron, maar grondwater het die potensiaal om te dien as 'n primêre of aanvullende voorsieningsbron, veral in areas waar groot water tekorte bestaan. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die grondwaterpotensiaal van gesteentes van die Tafelberg Groep (TBG) te evalueer deur van afstandswaarneming en geografiese inligtingstelsels gebruik te maak. Geohidrologiese studies het getoon dat die TBG gesteentes met sy veelvuldige nate en breuksones, die tweede grootste geohidrologiese eenheid in Suid Afrika is. Die studiegebied beslaan 5660 km", waarvan 1336 km2 deur Tafelberg Sandsteen beslaan word. Vir hierdie studie is 'n "Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+)" beeld gebruik in die identifisering van breuksones (lineamente). Verdere analises is uitgevoer om areas geskik vir grondwater ontginning te identifiseer. Geïdentifiseerde verskuiwings op Landsat beelde is met plantegroei, dreinerings patrone en bekende verskuiwings en fraktuur sones vanaf gelogiese kaarte vergelyk in 'n poging om areas met belowende grondwaterbronne uit te wys. Bekende boorgat posisies en lewerings volumes was 'n primêre databron vir die berekening van groundwater reserves. Die studie het egter geen korrelasie tussen plantegroei en die voorkoms van lineamente gevind nie. Die riviere in die studiegebied word op verskeie plekke deur verskuiwings gekruis. Slegs 'n paar van die verskuiwings lê parallel met die dreinering. Daar is gevind dat vyf-en-veertig persent van bekende verskuiwings en fraktuursones met die geïdentifiseerd op Landsat beelde oorvleuel. Die mees prominente lineamente het 'n NW-SO oriëntasie. Boorgate met lewerings van gemiddeld 12 lis is binne 'n 150m afstand van die verskuiwings gevind. Die verskuiwings is ook geanaliseer om die mees produktiewe areas vir grondwater ontginning te identifiseer. Landsat beelde, boorgate en 'n Digitale Elevasie Model (DEM) is gebruik om moontlike boorposisies te identifiseer. Die mees produktiewe verskuiwings en geologiese verskynsels het 'n N 135-180W en NO-450 oriëntasie, terwyl areas met 'n helling < 40% vir die boor van boorgate geskik is. Berekeninge oor die hoeveelheid water wat binne die TBG gesteentes beskikbaar is, is gemaak deur die hoeveelheid aanvulling en stoorkapasiteit van die TBG gesteentes te beraam. Grondwater aanvulling, soos bereken vanaf reënval data, is 5% van die totale presipitasie van 'n gegewe area. Met 'n gemiddelde jaarlikse reënval van 600mm in die studie gebied is die TBG se jaarlikse aanvulling ongeveer 30mm. Daar word beraam dat die totale aanvulling in die 1336km2 TBG area 160-miljoen m3 per jaar is. Geologiese profiele en dwarsnitte is gemaak om die stoorvermoë van die TBG te bepaal, en is beraam op 525-miljoen rrr'. 'n 1996 navorsing studie deur die Departement van Waterwese en Bosbou toon dat waterverbruik in die Kaapse Metropolitaanse gebied sal toeneem vanaf die 1990 vlak van 243-miljoen m3 tot 560 miljoen m3 teen 2020. Die berekende volume water wat binne die TBG gestoor word, kan die water aanvraag oor die volgende 10 jaar bevredig en as aanvulling dien vir oppervlak waterbronne. Die kwesbaarheid van die TBG akwifer vir besoedeling is met behulp van die DRASTIC indeks geëvalueer en gekarteer. Die resultate toon dat die TBG 'n lae risiko vir besoedeling het.

MESHWR / Department of Hydrology and Water Resources

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to assess groundwater characteristics of geologically different fracture rock aquifers, at different depths, by means of chemical, isotope and 14C-dating results and to test for a "deeper seated aquifer", with different characteristics. Jurassic dolerite dykes and sills, Cretaceous kimberlite fissures and pipes, as well as EW trending sinusoidal megafolds, comprise the structural domains of the study area. Fluvial sandstone and mudstone of the Beaufort Group are the dominant lithology of the study area. The main water type found in the area is a water type not dominated by any anions or cations in particular. The second is a water type in which Na-S04 is dominant, followed by a Na-HC03 dominated water and to a lesser extend a Ca-S04 type water. The main cause of groundwater salinity is the infiltration of evaporated water to the subsurface, suggested by the isotopic enrichment of 0180 and 02H, indicating very slow recharge from ponded water during excessive rainfall events. There is a fair difference in isotopic values between surface measurements and measurements taken at depth, enforcing the possibility of a "second deeper seated aquifer". The water with the lower 180 values, for samples at depth suggest that this water has a source further inland, from rainfall on the range to the NE, the Hex River Mountain or Pramberge, which has greatly depleted 180 values relative to SMOW. Most of the groundwater samples taken at depth indicated a 14C~dating of century age (±200 years), although in an evolutionary sequence the water is not such an old (evolved) water type, lending support to the theory about the migration of deeper seated water and thus a "second deeper seated aquifer system". The chemical character of the groundwater is predominantly controlled by the infiltration of evaporated surface and subsurface water, the topographical nature of the catchments, geological influences (i.e. the process of dissolution, precipitation and ion exchange) and the influence of man. Variability in water quality is caused by differences in rainfall, recharge, evaporation, topography, soil type and thickness, vegetation cover and antropogenic activities. Micro-scale differences occur due to the nature of groundwater flow in Karoo rocks, namely the resulting variations within matrix and fracture components of the groundwater flux. The residence times are often different for these two main components and give rise to the differences in mineralization and solute proportion in passing groundwater. This project should be seen as a basis of continuing study to provide the concrete answers needed to manage groundwater projects in the fractured rock aquifers of the Karoo. Enslin (1950) expresses the classical hydrological conceptualisation of Karoo dolerite dykes - lithe effect of induration and crushing of the sedimentary rock is that the permeability has been increased and the contact zone has been changed into an aquifer lying between the solid dyke and the saturated, low permeability country rock". / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie was onderneem met die doel. om grondwater eienskappe te ondersoek in geologies verskillende gekraakte / genate aquifere en by verskillende dieptes met die hulp van chemiese, isotopiese en 14C-datering resultate, om sodoende te toets vir 'n "tweede dieper liggende aqulfeer", met verskillende eienskappe. Doleriet gange en plate (Jura), kimberliet gange en pype (Kryt), sowel as OW lopende sinusvormige mega-verskuiwings en monoklienes van die Kaapse Plooi Gordel, Vorm die strukturele omgewings in die studie gebied. Die dominante litologie in die studie gebied is fluviaal gedeponeerde sandsteen en moddersteen van die Beaufort Groep. Die opvallendste water-tipe wat in die studie gebied waargeneem word is 'n grondwater wat geen dominante katione of anione toon nie, tweedens is daar 'n Na-S04 tipe grondwater wat gevolg word deur 'n Na-HC03 tipe water en daarna 'n Ca-S04 grondwater tipe. Die hoof oorsaak van saliniteit in the grondwater is die infiltrering van verdampte water na die grondwater-tafel, deur die verryking in 01BOen 02H, wat stadige infiltrasie van water na hewige reënval episodes voorstel. Die verskil van isotoop waardes by vlak en diepper watervlakke, steun die moontlikheid van die aanwesigheid van 'n "tweede dieper liggende aquifeer". Water met die lae 1BO-waardes (met diepte) dui op 'n opvangsgebied meer na die noordoostelike binneland, soos byvoorbeeld die Hex Rivier Berge en die Pramberge. Meeste van die grondwater monsters wat geneem is by 'n redelike diepte toon 'n 14C-datering waarde van ongeveer 200 jaar, alhoewel die water uit 'n evolutionere oogpunt nie so oud is nie en sodoende ondersteuning bied aan die teorie van die beweging van dieper liggende water en die bestaan van 'n "tweede dieper liggende aquifeer". Die chemiese karakter van grondwater word hoofsaaklik beheer deur die infiltrering van verdampte oppervlak water na die grondwater-tafel, die topografiese geaardheid van die opvangsgebied, geologiese invloede (soos die prosesse van presipitering, oplossing en ioon uitruiling), sowel as die infloed van die mens. Wisselvalligheid in die kwaliteit van grondwater word veroorsaak deur verskille in reënval, infiltrasie, evaporasie, topografie, grond tipe en diepte, plantegroei en die aktiwiteite van die mens. Verskille op mikro-vlak word veroorsaak deur die aard van die grondwater vloei deur die Karoo gesteentes, volgens die verskil in hidroliese geleiding tussen vloei in die matriks en vloei in die krake / nate. Daar is ook 'n verskil in die tydsbestek wat grondwater in die twee hoofstrukturele komponente deurbring en so die verskil in mineralisasie en saliniteit in die dinamiese grondwater veroorsaak. Die projek moet gesien word as die basis vir voortdurende studie om konkrete antwoorde te verseker vir die gebruik in grondwater bestuur projekte van die gekraakte / genate rots aquifere in die Karoo. Enslin (1950) konseptualiseer Karoo doleriet gange as volg: "die effek van indringing en verbrokkeling van sedimentêre gesteentes is dat die deurlaatbaarheid verhoog word en dat die kontak sone verander is na 'n aquifeer wat lê tussen die soliede gang en die versadigde, lae deurlaatbare wand-gesteentes".

M.Sc. (Geology) / Most rural communities in developing countries rely on borehole water as their only source of water. Since borehole water comes from underground, it is often considered pure and clean, but this is frequently not the case. Groundwater contains certain amounts of trace elements that may become deleterious to human health. The objectives of this investigation were to assess the concentration levels of Potential Harmful Trace Elements (PHTEs) and their spatial distribution patterns in borehole water in the Greater Giyani area of Limpopo, South Africa, and the potential human health risks associated with this. The method of research comprised two phases: (I) In the first phase, I assessed the occurrence and distribution patterns of PHTEs in the boreholes of the Giyani area. A total of 29 water samples were collected from boreholes (including 15 community boreholes and 14 primary school boreholes) in the Greater Giyani area during the dry season (July/August 2012), and for comparison another 27 samples (including 15 community boreholes and 12 schools boreholes) from the same localities during the wet season (March 2013). The samples were analysed for the trace elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), selenium (Se) and lead (Pb) using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass-Spectrometry (ICPMS) technique. In order to assess the groundwater quality, PHTEs concentrations were compared with the South African National Standard of Drinking water (SANS 241-1:2011). (II) In the second phase, I evaluated the geographic variation between PHTEs and associated human health effects. This involved acquisition of data on a total of 100 cancer cases recorded during the period 2011-2014 at Nkhensani Hospital. ArcGIS Spatial analyst tool was used to create thematic maps illustrating spatial distribution of clinical data and arsenic concentrations in boreholes.

Dayspring Children’s Village, which is located about 66 km northwest of Johannesburg, has been experiencing a chronic shortage of water for over 30 years. Five out of seven boreholes that are scattered within the school property are dry and there is evidence of contamination in one of the two wells that are producing water at two depths. The presence of bluegum (Eucalyptus globulus) trees is suspected to be the principal cause for the depletion of the aquifer(s) because of their documented high rate of transpiration. The purpose of this project is to determine the complex interaction between the plants and structural elements of the various aquifers, site wells for clean water, and assist with explaining the existing contamination. This study involved parallel studies by other students. My focus was the use time-lapse DC resistivity to map preferential pathways of groundwater so that the impact of the bluegum trees could be determined. Other geophysical studies included time-domain electromagnetics, gravity and magnetics. These methods were used to map geological contacts, lithologies, geological structures, and the distribution of groundwater. Hydrogeology results from a parallel study have shown that there at least two aquifer system at Dayspring School. Time-lapse resistivity and gravity measurements were collected towards the end of rainy season and towards the end of dry season. The results show that groundwater at Dayspring School is largely structurally controlled. The impact of the bluegum trees is not obvious, but it was concluded that the trees are not the cause of apparent groundwater depletion because their root lengths do not reach the mapped geologic structures.