The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of purification processes at the Rand Water Zuikerbosch treatment plant near Vereeniging. Raw water is abstracted via a canal and gravity pipeline from the Vaal Dam (in the upper Vaal River) and purified to ensure it meets the stringent standards set for drinkable water. The first step was to determine the ecological status of the raw water and it was done by measuring chemical, physical and biological variables as well as to identify and enumerate the different algal groups that occur in the raw water. The turbidity of the raw water was low but the phosphorous and ortho–phosphate levels were high. The Cyanophyceae (blue–green bacteria) especially Anabaena species were dominant in the raw water for the duration of the study. Potential problems such as relatively high alkalinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solids (TDS) as well as potentially hazardous chemicals such as cadmium and lead were observed in the raw water. The Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant (ZWTP) is a conventional water treatment plant which involves the following stages: coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, sand filtration and chlorination. The use of pre–treatment chemicals ensures better water quality and effective removal of particles from the water. Only five of the variables (methylisoborneol (MIB); geosmin; chlorophyll–a; chlorophyll–665 and total organic carbon (TOC) were measured before filtration, after filtration and in the final water. Samples from the raw water, before and after filtration, as well as final water were collected weekly for a period of two years to measure the environmental variables as well as to do algal identification and enumeration. The purification processes at ZWTP were not able to remove MIB, geosmin, chlorophyll–a and TOC from the final water. Algal concentration was reduced but not totally removed by the purification processes. Although some variables were not totally removed by the purification processes, ZWTP produce potable water that complies with the Rand Water guidelines. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

South Africa's water resources are, in global terms, scarce and extremely limited (DWAF, 2004). Groundwater is a valuable source of potable water in South Africa. It was found that most of the health facilities in the Limpopo Province depend on groundwater as sole source of potable water. Groundwater quality is to a great extent influenced by the dominant land use in the vicinity of an aquifer. It is therefore important to carefully manage possible pollution sources of anthropogenic origin. This may be seen as pro–active water quality management that may result in significant saving on water treatment. This aim of this study is to obtain a regional view of the water quality situation at clinics and other health facilities in the Limpopo Province. It was found that the general water quality at health facilities in the Province is questionable. It is of concern to note that 56% of health facilities use water that is unacceptable for human consumption. Water quality may be managed by introducing appropriate treatment options to treat the water to ideal water quality standards. This dissertation explores some treatment options used at health facilities in the Province. The efficiency of these treatment systems is also investigated. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of purification processes at the Rand Water Zuikerbosch treatment plant near Vereeniging. Raw water is abstracted via a canal and gravity pipeline from the Vaal Dam (in the upper Vaal River) and purified to ensure it meets the stringent standards set for drinkable water. The first step was to determine the ecological status of the raw water and it was done by measuring chemical, physical and biological variables as well as to identify and enumerate the different algal groups that occur in the raw water. The turbidity of the raw water was low but the phosphorous and ortho–phosphate levels were high. The Cyanophyceae (blue–green bacteria) especially Anabaena species were dominant in the raw water for the duration of the study. Potential problems such as relatively high alkalinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solids (TDS) as well as potentially hazardous chemicals such as cadmium and lead were observed in the raw water. The Zuikerbosch Water Treatment Plant (ZWTP) is a conventional water treatment plant which involves the following stages: coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, sand filtration and chlorination. The use of pre–treatment chemicals ensures better water quality and effective removal of particles from the water. Only five of the variables (methylisoborneol (MIB); geosmin; chlorophyll–a; chlorophyll–665 and total organic carbon (TOC) were measured before filtration, after filtration and in the final water. Samples from the raw water, before and after filtration, as well as final water were collected weekly for a period of two years to measure the environmental variables as well as to do algal identification and enumeration. The purification processes at ZWTP were not able to remove MIB, geosmin, chlorophyll–a and TOC from the final water. Algal concentration was reduced but not totally removed by the purification processes. Although some variables were not totally removed by the purification processes, ZWTP produce potable water that complies with the Rand Water guidelines. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

South Africa's water resources are, in global terms, scarce and extremely limited (DWAF, 2004). Groundwater is a valuable source of potable water in South Africa. It was found that most of the health facilities in the Limpopo Province depend on groundwater as sole source of potable water. Groundwater quality is to a great extent influenced by the dominant land use in the vicinity of an aquifer. It is therefore important to carefully manage possible pollution sources of anthropogenic origin. This may be seen as pro–active water quality management that may result in significant saving on water treatment. This aim of this study is to obtain a regional view of the water quality situation at clinics and other health facilities in the Limpopo Province. It was found that the general water quality at health facilities in the Province is questionable. It is of concern to note that 56% of health facilities use water that is unacceptable for human consumption. Water quality may be managed by introducing appropriate treatment options to treat the water to ideal water quality standards. This dissertation explores some treatment options used at health facilities in the Province. The efficiency of these treatment systems is also investigated. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Geography and Environmental Studies))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.