The main aim of this research was to gain a better understanding of the surface and groundwater systems in order to sustainably manage the resource for both current and future generations. Three aquifers are present within the Hinds Rangitata Plain. Aquifer one extends from near surface to approximately 40 - 50 m, aquifer two occurs from approximately 40 - 90 m, and aquifer three occurs from approximately 90 - 150 m. Aquifer one is shown to occur as a series of permeable, iron stained, poorly connected and laterally discontinuous lenses, within and often separated by less permeable sandy or tight claybound gravels. Lenses range from a few centimeters to 20 m wide and from a few centimeters to 1 m thick. These permeable layers are known to be the dominant sources of groundwater from aquifer one. In all three aquifers depth to groundwater and water seasonal water level fluctuations increase with increasing distance inland from the coast. Aquifer one gains and loses groundwater along different sections of the Hinds and Rangitata Rivers. The Hinds Rangitata Plain can be broken into seven distinct zones based on differences in the dominant source (s) of groundwater recharge within each zone. The boundaries for each zone were determined by comparing the short-term seasonal water level fluctuations observed over the course of this study and the long-term water level records, with rainfall, river flows and Mayfield-Hinds Scheme recharge. The majority of the zones also have distinctly different groundwater chemistry and oxygen-18 (d18O) values. Flows in drains and the Hinds River were highly influenced by groundwater levels. Drains and springs within the Mayfield-Hinds Irrigation Scheme were highly influenced by irrigation recharge where as those closer to the coast were more influenced by rainfall. A regional water balance of the Hinds Rangitata Plain was carried out for a one period, between September 2005 and August 2006. During this period, total recharge was 375 m3 x 106, total discharge was 227 m3 x 106, and the outflow was 148 m3 x 106. Data collected during the course of this study showed that rainfall recharge was dominant, accounting for 67 % of the total recharge. The Mayfield-Hinds Irrigation Scheme accounted for 30 % of the total recharge, with a relatively small contribution each from the Rangitata Diversion Race and Hinds River. In terms of discharge, the combined discharge from the drains and Rangitata River terrace springs, accounted for 62 % of the total discharge, with the remaining discharge from coming from groundwater abstraction. There are no overall losses to groundwater from either the Rangitata River or from stockwater race.

Master of Science / Geology / Saugata Datta / The province (upazila) of Matlab in SE Bangladesh is highly affected with elevated concentrations of dissolved As content and widespread fecal contamination in untreated drinking waters. The study area is sedimentologically composed of thick floodplain deposits of Holocene age overlying Plio-Pleistocene grey fine to coarse sands with considerable clays (consisting of Dupi Tila formation). The goal of the current study is to understand the possible impact of co-occurrence of dissolved organic carbon (along with As release) and fecal indicator bacteria (e.g., E.coli) in aquifers from shallow to deep groundwater quality in this area. Nineteen groundwater (spanning a depth range of 14 to 240 m) samples and nine surface water samples (eight ponds and one canal in proximity to the piezometer nests) were collected from four different piezometric nests within north and south Matlab Upazila in Bangladesh during the monsoonal season (Jun-Jul 2014). The analyses of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and its fluorescence properties indicate that the chemical character of DOC from shallow to intermediate groundwaters (<150 m) and surface water is dominated by more aromatic and humic materials than deeper groundwaters. Both groundwaters and surface waters may receive humic substances leached from soil and/or from the cellular constituents and exudates of indigenous aquatic organisms. Dissolved organic carbons in groundwater and surface waters are composed of predominantly UVA and UVC-humic like along with tryptophan like components. Only 15% of total C is modern carbon at shallowest depths (<30 m) in groundwaters. The recharge source of groundwaters is from local precipitation, with or without some evaporation before infiltration as depicted by the δ2H and δ¹⁸O variations and the water is infiltrating through mostly terrestrially derived weathered sediments into the aquifers. The type of water in the study area is Ca-Na-HCO₃⁻ type. More toxic and soluble As (III) is present in shallow groundwaters (<30 m). High concentrations of As (V) and As[subscript (t)] are observed high in shallow and intermediate depth wells (<150 m). The most probable number based on the Colilert test and qPCR result for E.coli suggest that unprotected surface waters are harbingers for high microbial population compared to hand pumped wells. However, the very low observed concentrations of cultured E. coli (<1-10 MPN/100 mL) and E. coli DNA (<40 Copies/100 mL) in the wells indicates that the abundance of E.coli cells decrease rapidly with residence time in oligotrophic aquifers. Thus, it may be suggested that more humic DOC in shallow and intermediate groundwaters may be involved in complexation or other biogeochemical reactions that may mobilize As in groundwater. The non-indigenous bacteria can be the primary producers of DOC in the aquifers which can be utilizing surface derived DOC.

Submitted by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2017-03-18T13:08:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Régis Knechtel.pdf: 3190530 bytes, checksum: 1a53fffb95e0f9867a330ff74d0ee9b8 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Jordan (jordanbiblio@gmail.com) on 2017-03-18T15:11:40Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Régis Knechtel.pdf: 3190530 bytes, checksum: 1a53fffb95e0f9867a330ff74d0ee9b8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-18T15:11:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISS_2015_Régis Knechtel.pdf: 3190530 bytes, checksum: 1a53fffb95e0f9867a330ff74d0ee9b8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-28 / As águas subterrâneas têm se tornado um recurso cada vez mais explorado no mundo todo e Sinop-MT não é exceção. Com abastecimento público e privado exclusivamente subterrâneo, a cidade pode ser considerada um local de alta vulnerabilidade à contaminação, devido à sua localização sobre os aquíferos do Grupo Parecis, que possuem alta condutividade hidráulica e nível freático muito próximo à superfície. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo tem por objetivo principal estudar a qualidade das águas subterrâneas da área urbana de Sinop-MT através da determinação dos seus parâmetros físicos e químicos, de forma a subsidiar a conservação desse recurso, bem como possibilitar a validação de mapas de vulnerabilidade em estudos futuros. Devido à composição essencialmente quartzo-feldspática do Grupo Parecis, as águas da região apresentam baixa concentração de todos os íons analisados, pouca salinidade, pH com tendência ácida e alcalinidade e dureza baixas. Também foi detectada uma possível contaminação em um dos poços da cidade, podendo ser causada por problemas construtivos. Apesar disso, as águas apresentaram boa qualidade física e química e, com a adequação dos despejos de efluentes domésticos e industriais da cidade e maior controle no uso de defensivos agrícolas, é possível garantir a conservação do Sistema Aquífero Parecis. / Groundwater has become an increasingly exploited resource worldwide, and Sinop-MT is no exception. With public and private supply exclusively underground, the city can be considered as a high vulnerability site to contamination due to its location on the Parecis Group aquifers, which has a high hydraulic conductivity and water table very close to the surface. In this context, the main objective of this work is to study the groundwater quality of Sinop-MT urban area by determining their physical and chemical parameters, in order to support the conservation of this resource and to enable the validation of vulnerability maps in forthcoming studies. Due to its essentially quartz-feldspar composition, the Parecis Group groundwaters have low concentration of all the analyzed ions, low salinity, pH trending to acidic and low alkalinity. A possible contamination was also detected in one of the city wells, which may be caused by constructive problems. Nevertheless, the waters have good physical and chemical quality and, with the adequacy of domestic and industrial waste dumps of the city and greater control over the use of pesticides, it is possible to ensure the conservation of the Parecis Aquifer System.

Orientador: Solange Terezinha de Lima Guimarães / Banca: Bernadete Aparecida Caprioglio de Castro Oliveira / Banca: Suíse Monteiro Leon Bordest / Banca: Valdir Schalch / Banca: Frederico Fábio Mauad / Resumo: O estudo proposto avalia a influência da percepção ambiental na qualidade ambiental e de vida dos moradores urbanos, em relação às diferentes realidades ambientais, vivenciadas na cidade de Anastácio, Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brasil. Foram considerados os aspectos socioeconômicos, de saneamento básico, de qualidade das águas subterrâneas e a identificação das implicações da percepção ambiental dos moradores quanto ao aspecto sanitário domiciliar, nas condições gerais de infraestrutura urbana, ambiental e de saúde, visando subsidiar ações, de modo efetivo, para a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos seus moradores. A linha da pesquisa participante foi adotada como proposta metodológica para alcance dos objetivos, utilizando-se abordagens quanti-qualitativas, com a interpretação das diferentes variáveis a partir da visão sistêmica. Os resultados confirmam a influência da percepção ambiental dos moradores nas diversas variáveis que comprometem a qualidade ambiental e de vida dos habitantes da cidade, e a carência de medidas de planejamento ambiental-urbano / Abstract: The proposed study evaluates the influence of environmental perception of the urban population in their environmental and life quality related to distinct environmental realities experienced in the city of Anastácio, in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. Under consideration in this study were the socioeconomic aspects of basic sanitation, the underground water quality and the identification of the implications from urban inhabitants' environmental perception considering basic sanitation in their urban housing conditions and the general conditions of their urban, environmental and health infrastructure; intending to subsidize actions in an efficient manner to improve their life quality. The participative research method was adopted as the methodological proposal to reach research goals using an approach which is both quantitative and qualitative, with the interpretation of different variables from a systemic viewpoint. Results confirm the influence of the environmental perception from the inhabitants in the variables which endogener their environmental and life quality and also the lack of actions in the urban environmental planning level / Doutor

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The increasing population in search for better social and economic development in coastal areas puts groundwater resources under pressure because of the high fresh water demand for domestic and agriculture use. Seawater intrusion is widely recognised as major concern in coastal aquifers across the globe and is influenced by multiple factors, being climate variation which is projected to adjust recharge of groundwater because of decreased precipitation patterns and to increase sea level variations and over-abstraction due to high freshwater demand as a result of increased population and agricultural practices, thereby inducing salinization in groundwater. The coastal aquifer in Heuningnes Catchment is not exempted from these issues and salinization is a major concern in the area affecting groundwater quality. In Heuningnes Catchment and South Africa in general there is limited knowledge on the application of integrated approach for assessing groundwater quality especially salinization mechanism in coastal aquifers. The main goal of this research is to test and demonstrate the viability of using joint interpretation approach of geophysics, geochemical and geological information to investigate groundwater quality in coastal aquifers thus improving on the understanding of using such approach. This work offers the initial thorough assessment of groundwater quality and understanding of the salinity sources and hydro-geochemical processes governing the chemical composition of groundwater in the region. Thus provide advice on the fitness of this water for consumption and irrigation purposes. Thirty-two groundwater samples were collected and analysed for (Mg2+), (Ca2+), (Na+), (K+), (Cl-), (SO42), (HCO3-), (pH, TDS and EC). To estimate fitness of groundwater quality for consumption purposes WHO (2011) and SANS241 guideline were used and for irrigation utilization the water quality indices (EC), (Na+%), (SAR), (RSC), (KR) and (MR) were used. Statistics approaches were employed to ascertain the primary geochemical processes governing the chemical composition of groundwater in the research region. Lastly, the spatial distribution maps were created by means of ArcGIS. Electrical resistivity method was used to map the extent of saline distribution within the subsurface. The findings of this study revealed that groundwater in the region is alkaline type and TDS, EC, Na+, Cl- exceeded WHO and SANS241 guidelines for consumption water. The geophysical investigation revealed that the sandy clay/clayey sand, fine sand and fractured sandstone units make up the coastal aquifer systems within the area. Further, revealed that these aquifers were saturated with fresh, saline or brackish water depending on the subsurface layer. The presence of saline and brackish was confirmed by the chemical results which indicated a Na+-Cl- type as a dominant water type. Also classifying groundwater based on EC and TDS supports these findings. The foremost hydro-geochemical processes that controls the salinity and quality of groundwater in the study region as indicated by Gibbs plot are water-rock interaction followed by evaporation process. Furthermore, analysis of hydrochemical data also proposes that weathering of silicate minerals, ion-exchange and dissolution of carbonate minerals amended ion concentration in groundwater thus influencing salinisation in certain parts of the study region. Also assessment of ionic-ratios displays influences of marine sprays as well as seawater, on the chemical structure of groundwater within the Heuningnes Catchment aquifer. Valuation of groundwater quality and its fitness for ingestion and irrigation purposes, the results indicated that shallow groundwater in the area is not suitable for any use; however, groundwater from deeper boreholes was found fresh and appropriate for irrigation and household purposes. Findings of this study indicated that salinity is the major groundwater quality issue for this area and that monitoring of groundwater quality in Heuningnes Catchment is limited. The absence of consistent monitoring program on groundwater quality makes it difficult to ascertain long term trends on groundwater quality parameters. Therefore, this study emphasizes the need for regular groundwater quality monitoring to assess the trends of these parameters in order to make an informed decision as to what can be done for mitigation purposes.

<p>The time bound agenda of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG&rsquo / s) aims at reducing poverty, extending gender equality and advancing opportunities for health and education by addressing current and future water resource and sanitation needs. In many rural areas of South Africa, the cost implication of routing surface water supplies and providing water borne sewerage may far exceed the budgets of local water service authorities. This has resulted in a major thrust in service provision via localised sources, mainly boreholes and springs as well as on site sanitation options. Whilst the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) mandates the South African government to provide potable water to all citizens in an equitable manner, this needs to be balanced against the preservation of the country&rsquo / s water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively to ensure sustainability. It is imperative that this fine balance between protection and effecting societal demands and economic development through large-scale water provision be maintained, as successful strategising will be resultant of integrated social, economic and environmental issues especially in economically developing countries. In order to fulfil the mandate of the NWA, policies and strategies for effective protection and use of groundwater resources have been drawn up and are in the process of being drawn up by the national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). The major scope of research in this thesis stems from feasibility studies commissioned by the DWAF for the implementation of a groundwater protection zoning policy for the management and protection of groundwater resource quality. The research work focuses on specifically the microbiological zone of protection and attempts to determine the fate of various pathogens that emanate from on site sanitation facilities as they move through the subsurface. The research was predominantly proposed as a desktop collation and analysis of existing published data however / it was later decided to include a local case study site.</p>

Groundwater is a major and sometimes lone source of drinking water worldwide. The chemical composition of groundwater is a combined product of the composition of water that enters the aquifer and its reaction with various minerals present in the soil and rock mass, which alter the water composition with time and space. Some important factors influencing groundwater quality are (1) physiochemical characteristics o the rocks through which the water circulates; (2) geology of the location; (3) climate of the area; (4) role of microorganisms, which includes oxidative and reductive biodegradation of organic matter; (5)chemical, physical, and mineralogical characteristics of the overburden soils through which the rainwater percolates; and (6) human intrusion affecting the hydrological cycle and degradation in water quality through utilization of water for agricultural and industrial activities. By far the most serious naturally occurring groundwater-quality problem in India derives from high fluoride, arsenic and iron concentrations which are dissolved from the bedrocks by geochemical processes. Presence of excess fluoride in groundwater is identified as a naturally occurring health hazard by the World Health Organization (WHO). Prolonged ingestion of fluoride beyond certain permissible limit leads to ffluorosis, one of the common water-related diseases recognized by the WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Endemic fluorosis is now known to be global in scope, occurring on all continents and affecting many millions of people. According to estimates made in the early 1980s, around 260 million people in 30 countries worldwide were drinking water with more than 1 ppm of fluoride. The ultimate source of fluoride in water, soil or biosphere is associated with its distribution in rocks and its dispersion in groundwater. The three most important minerals of fluoride are fluorite (CaF2), cryolite (Na3AlF6) and fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F); cryolite is a rare mineral where as by far the largest amount of fluorine in the earth's crust is in the form of fluorapatite (about 3.5% by weight of fluorine) which is processed almost exclusively for its phosphate content. Fluoride substitutes readily in hydroxyl positions in late-formed minerals in igneous rocks, and in primary minerals especially micas (such as biotites) and amphiboles (such as hornblende). The most important controlling factors influencing fluoride presence in groundwater include: distribution of easily weathered fluoride-bearing minerals, the accessibility of circulating water to these minerals, pH of the percolating water, calcium content of the leaching water, temperature of the percolating water and the soil, exchangeable ions in the percolating water, extent of fresh water exchange in an aquifer, evaporation and evapotranspiration, complexing of fluoride ions with other ions, presence of CO2 and other chemicals in draining water and residence time of the percolating water in soil. High fluoride levels are observed in the groundwater in 19 states of the country. Fluorite, apatite, rock phosphate, phosphorites, phosphatic nodules and topaz are major fluoride bearing minerals in India with varying levels of fluoride content. There are three major fluoride bearing areas in India :1) Gujarat-Rajasthan in the north-west and 2) Chandidongri-Raipur in central India 3) Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh in the south; besides other areas in Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab and in the North-west Himalayas. The total mineral reserves of fluorite, rock phosphate and apatite in the country are estimated at 11.6, 71 and 2.82 million tonnes respectively. The distribution of areas with excess fluoride in groundwater concurs with that of fluorine-bearing minerals. Further high fluoride concentrations are observed from arid and semi arid regions of the country and the areas with advanced stage of groundwater development. An estimated 62 million people, including 6 million children suffer from fluorosis in India because of consuming fluoride-contaminated water. Endemic fluorosis is found to practically exist only in the villages due to lack of piped water supply. The Indian Drinking Water Standard specifies the desirable and permissible limits for fluoride in drinking water as 1.0 and 1.5ppm respectively. De-fluoridation of groundwater is the only alternative to prevent fluorosis in the absence of alternate water source especially for immediate and/or interim relief. De-fluoridation of drinking water in India is usually achieved by the Nalgonda technique or activated alumina process. The Nalgonda method involves addition of aluminum salts (aluminium sulphate and/or aluminium chloride), lime and bleaching powder to water, followed by rapid mixing, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. Only aluminum salt is responsible for removal of fluoride from water .Fluoride removal is achieved in a combination of complexation with polyhydroxy aluminium species and adsorption on polymeric alumino hydroxides (floc). Activated alumina(Al2O3) was proposed for de-fluoridation of water for domestic use in 1930’s and since then it has become one of the most advocated de-fluoridation methods. Activated alumina is a semi crystalline porous inorganic adsorbent and an excellent medium for fluoride removal. When the source water passes through the packed column of activated alumina, fluoride (and other components in the water) is removed via exchange reaction with surface hydroxides on alumina; this mechanism is generally called adsorption although ligand exchange is a more appropriate term for the highly specific surface reactions involved. The fluoride removal capacity of alumina is highly sensitive to pH, the optimum being about pH5.5-6. Significant reduction in fluoride removal by activated alumina is also observed in presence of sulfate and silicate ions. The column needs periodic regeneration once break point(where the effluent concentration is, for example, 2ppm at normal saturation) is reached. For regeneration, the medium is backwashed for 5-10 min and then subjected to two step regeneration with base (NaOH) followed by acid(H2SO4). A major cause for concern with the Nalgonda method is the possibility of formation of residual aluminum and soluble aluminum fluoride complexes in the treated water and a potential breach of the 0.2ppm Indian drinking water standard for aluminium. Concerns with the activated alumina filter method are that the process is pH dependent, with an optimum (pH) working range of 5-6. Further, the activated alumina column requires periodic recharge using caustic soda and acid solutions to rejuvenate the fluoride retention capacity of the column. After 3-4 regenerations the medium has to be replaced. If the pH is not readjusted to normal following the regeneration process, there is a possibility that the aluminum concentration in the treated water may exceed the 0.2ppm standard. Due to the aforementioned drawbacks of the currentde-fluoridation technologies in India that chiefly rely on aluminum based compounds, magnesia(magnesium oxide, MgO) is selected to develop an alternate sustainable de-fluoridation method. The potential of MgO for de-fluoridation has been examined owing to its very limited solubility(6.2mg/L), non-toxicity and excellent fluoride retention capacity. A review of the previous studies on fluoride removal using MgO reveals that the relevant information is essentially scattered. Though studies demonstrated the fluoride removing ability of MgO and brought into focus certain aspects of the fluoride removal mechanism and change in water quality upon MgO addition, vital issues necessary for efficient design and successful field implementation of the de-fluoridation processusing MgO were not addressed. The significant limitations in the earlier works include: influence of process variables(such as MgO dosage, initial fluoride concentration, contact time, temperature, initial solution pH, presence of co-ions and ionic strength) on fluoride retention characteristics (such as removal rate, equilibrium time, capacity) of MgO were not systematically determined, optimum operating parameters/conditions (such as MgO dosage, stirring and settling time) for effective de-fluoridation process applicable to a wide range of groundwater chemical composition and fluoride concentrations were not defined, mechanism of fluoride retention by MgO was not fully understood, issue of lowering the pH of MgO treated water within potable water limits was not comprehensively addressed, safe disposal methods of fluoride bearing sludge were not explored. Failure to address the above issues has impeded the adoption of the MgO treatment method for fluoride removal from water. Scope of the study Present study aims to develop a new sustainable de-fluoridation method, applicable to a wide range of groundwater chemical compositions and fluoride concentrations, based on co-precipitation/precipitation-sedimentation-filtration processes using light MgO. Efforts are made to implement the method at domestic level in a rural area with incidence of high fluoride concentration in groundwater and to understand the status and geochemistry of fluoride contamination in the area. The main objectives of the study include: To determine the fluoride retention characteristics of MgO viz.,rate, equilibrium time and capacity of fluoride retention. To examine the influence of process variables on fluoride retention characteristics of MgO and to determine the optimum operating parameters for effective de-fluoridation process. To understand the mechanism and rate limiting step of MgO de-fluoridation process. To propose methods and specifications to lower the pH of MgO treated water within permissible limits to ensure its potability. To design a simple to use, single-stage domestic de-fluoridation unit. To propose procedures for implementation of the new de-fluoridation method in field. To evaluate the efficiency of the new de-fluoridation method as a useful remedial measure in the fluoride affected areas. To understand the geochemical factors governing the quality of the fluoride rich groundwater and to ascertain the status and geochemistry of fluoride contamination in the area where felid implementation of de-fluoridation method is planned. To characterize the fluoride bearing sludge and propose methods for safe disposal and reuse of fluoride bearing sludge. Organization of the thesis Chapter1 presents an overview of the various aspects of excess fluoride presence in groundwater, remedial measures, and emphasizes the need for a new sustainable de-fluoridation method and defines the scope of present study. Chapter 2 performs a detailed investigation to determine the fluoride retention characteristics of MgO under the influence of various process variables at transient and equilibrium conditions using batch studies. The process variables that have been considered are, contact time, initial fluoride concentration, dosage of MgO, temperature, initial pH, presence of co-ions and ionic strength. Studies to determine the optimum operating parameters for efficient de-fluoridation and to understand some basics of reaction mechanisms involved are also part of this chapter. Chapter 3 examines the true nature of the reaction mechanism between fluoride ions and MgO in aqueous media and the rate-limiting step of the de-fluoridation process by investigating the hydration process of MgO and its influence/relation on fluoride removal. Chapter 4 addresses issues that will assist applying the MgO treatment method for fluoride removal in field such as 1)methods and specifications for lowering the pH of the MgO treated water within permissible limits, 2)design of a simple to use, single-stage de-fluoridation unit, and 3)characterization of the resultant fluoride bearing sludge. Chapter 5 performs a detailed investigation to evaluate the efficiency of the new de-fluoridation method in laboratory and field, and to understand the origin and the geochemicall mechanisms driving the groundwater fluorine enrichment in the area where field implementation of the de-fluoridation unit was planned. Chapter 6 explores an environmentally safe route for the disposal and re-use of fluoride bearing sludge in soil based building materials such as, stabilized soil blocks (produced by cement stabilization of densely compacted soil mass) which are alternative to burnt bricks. Chapter 7 summarizes the major results, observations and contributions from the study.

<p>The time bound agenda of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG&rsquo / s) aims at reducing poverty, extending gender equality and advancing opportunities for health and education by addressing current and future water resource and sanitation needs. In many rural areas of South Africa, the cost implication of routing surface water supplies and providing water borne sewerage may far exceed the budgets of local water service authorities. This has resulted in a major thrust in service provision via localised sources, mainly boreholes and springs as well as on site sanitation options. Whilst the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) mandates the South African government to provide potable water to all citizens in an equitable manner, this needs to be balanced against the preservation of the country&rsquo / s water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively to ensure sustainability. It is imperative that this fine balance between protection and effecting societal demands and economic development through large-scale water provision be maintained, as successful strategising will be resultant of integrated social, economic and environmental issues especially in economically developing countries. In order to fulfil the mandate of the NWA, policies and strategies for effective protection and use of groundwater resources have been drawn up and are in the process of being drawn up by the national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). The major scope of research in this thesis stems from feasibility studies commissioned by the DWAF for the implementation of a groundwater protection zoning policy for the management and protection of groundwater resource quality. The research work focuses on specifically the microbiological zone of protection and attempts to determine the fate of various pathogens that emanate from on site sanitation facilities as they move through the subsurface. The research was predominantly proposed as a desktop collation and analysis of existing published data however / it was later decided to include a local case study site.</p>

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The time bound agenda of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) aims at reducing poverty, extending gender equality and advancing opportunities for health and education by addressing current and future water resource and sanitation needs. In many rural areas of South Africa, the cost implication of routing surface water supplies and providing water borne sewerage may far exceed the budgets of local water service authorities. This has resulted in a major thrust in service provision via localised sources, mainly boreholes and springs as well as on site sanitation options. Whilst the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) mandates the South African government to provide potable water to all citizens in an equitable manner, this needs to be balanced against the preservation of the country&rsquo;s water resources both quantitatively and qualitatively to ensure sustainability. It is imperative that this fine balance between protection and effecting societal demands and economic development through large-scale water provision be maintained, as successful strategising will be resultant of integrated social, economic and environmental issues especially in economically developing countries. In order to fulfil the mandate of the NWA, policies and strategies for effective protection and use of groundwater resources have been drawn up and are in the process of being drawn up by the national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF). The major scope of research in this thesis stems from feasibility studies commissioned by the DWAF for the implementation of a groundwater protection zoning policy for the management and protection of groundwater resource quality. The research work focuses on specifically the microbiological zone of protection and attempts to determine the fate of various pathogens that emanate from on site sanitation facilities as they move through the subsurface. The research was predominantly proposed as a desktop collation and analysis of existing published data however; it was later decided to include a local case study site. / South Africa

MENVM / Department of Ecology and Resource Management / See the attached abstract below