M.A. / The management of the stormwater flow and other related environmental issues within the catchment of the Fourways Spruit have been investigated against the background of accepted management practices in other countries throughout the world. The local conditions and aspects that had an influence on the stormwater flow patterns and an impact on the environment along the Fourways Spruit have been taken into account in the study. The research problem has been divided into three main categories, namely the stormwater flow in the Fourways Spruit and the management of it, the related urban environmental problems, and the social problems related to the urban development and stormwater flow in the Spruit. Each category has been divided further into sub-categories in order to obtain indepth information on every aspect and to conduct a proper evaluation of the main problem. The existing situation as well as the problems that can be expected in the catchment was analysed in order to confirm the exact nature of the problem. Apart from the general problems associated with urbanisation and an increase in stormwater flow patterns, a number of specific problems were identified for each category. It became evident that the increase in the stormwater flow patterns in the catchment area of the Fourways Spruit was not managed in terms of accepted stormwater management practices. Certain sections of the streambed has degraded to such an extent as a result of the erosion that took place over years, that serious rehabilitation and maintenance work will be necessary in an attempt to restore the functionality of the Spruit and also to manage the stormwater flow to a certain extent. In addition, a number of new attenuation structures and measures will have to be introduced to manage the anticipated stormwater flow volumes in the future. The degrading of the stream and the natural vegetated areas along it has resulted in an accumulation of problems, also affecting the environmental and social aspects. Natural floral and faunal habitats were destroyed as a result of the erosion of the streambed and the removal of natural vegetation by replacing it with cut lawns and landscaped gardens. The large commercial component in the catchment further contributed to the environmental and aesthetic problems due to the abnormally large areas of paved surfaces resulting in the inflow of high volumes of polluted water and litter into the Fourways Spruit. The Fourways Spruit has the qualities and capabilities to function as a drainage system where the stormwater flow can be attenuated to acceptable levels. The areas along the Spruit can also function as an open space system for formal and informal recreational purposes. Suitable areas should be demarcated where the natural and safe habitats can be preserved or restored to improve the abundance and diversity of bird and animal life. A number of proposals and recommendations have been made which will improve the current condition of the Fourways Spruit. In essence, it is recommended that all the various plans, proposals, and initiatives be integrated into one workable document, namely, a Stormwater Management Plan. The recommendations and proposals regarding the necessary rehabilitation and maintenance to the streambed will improve the physical condition of the Fourways Spruit and will have in immediate positive visual impact. As the majority of problems that have been identified can be related to environmental management, the impact of the recommendations on the surrounding environment and the effectiveness of the proposed management structures and control measures will only be visible over a longer term. Should a Stormwater Management Plan, as recommended, not be prepared and implemented, it will have a serious negative impact on the Fourways Spruit, the surrounding environment, and the community living in the area.

This treatise provides a record of the stratigraphy and structure in the southernmost extension of the Witwatersrand System and is based on the results obtained from bore-hole cores and from detailed mapping underground. Several disconformities encountered in these sediments are interpreted as marginal disconformities of a geosynclinal basin. It is contended that the bankets were formed in neritic and littoral environments closely associated with profiles of equilibrium., such as disconformities, where conditions favour the concentration of heavy minerals, including gold and uraninite. The composite radiometric log of the area south of the Sand river, drawn up by Dr. D.J. Simpson in 1951, is revised by including into it the portion of the log of bore-hole K.A.2 in which the Intermediate Reefs occur. Chloritoid is confined to the Lower Footwall beds, the Khaki Shale Marker and the Upper Shale Marker. The variation of the optical properties of chloritic minerals indicate that a wide range of these minerals exist in the sediments. Pyritic stringers appear to be natural concentrations of such heavy minerals as pyrite, ilmenite, chromite and zircon. Heavy mineral investigations, to be of correlative value, in the case of the Witwatersrand System would require considerable basic research. Intrusive rocks have been classified under the following types ranging from the youngest to the oldest:- dolerite, epidiorite, uralite diabase, pyroxene diabase, chlorite diabase and Ventersdorp diabase. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 1957. / Geology / unrestricted

M.Sc. (Zoology) / An investigation was made into the water chemistry, bacteriology and macroinvertebrate fauna of the Elsburg Spruit and its major tributaries within the municipal boundaries of the City of Germiston. From the results obtained it is clear that the main stream and most of its tributaries are seriously affected by a combination of pollutants. Three types of pollution could largely be distinguished namely fecal bacterial contamination of parts of the stream system which may be related to the possible discharge in the stream of domestic sewage. This in turn may be a major source of organic enrichment of the water of the stream at some places. Acid pollution associated with high mineral loads and heavy metal concentrations which in the latter case could be traced to mining regions and industrial areas in the catchment area of the system. Despite the serious disturbance of stream conditions in the upper region of the Elsburg Spruit some recovery does in fact take place in the lower lying regions of the Elsburg Spruit where the stream flows for several kilometers through a natural vlei area. Certain recommendations are made concerning the location and possible elimination of the major sources of pollution.

M.Tech. / South Africa is a water scarce country. The characteristic water pollution problems associated with both developing and developed economies are evident. Indicator organisms have been enumerated from samples collected from the Blesbok Spruit (Gauteng Province) over one year. Standard membrane filtration techniques were used followed by cultivation of E. coli and enterococcus on selective agars. Rainfall data was collected to enable a determination of differences, between “wet” and “dry” sampling runs. Descriptive statistics applied to the data include the calculation of the geometric mean for each sampling run and the geometric mean per sampling site in both wet and dry conditions. The Mann- Whitney Rank Sum Test and Kruskal-Wallis One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used to compare data sets. The capacity of the Blesbok Spruit, containing wetland areas, to assimilate the microbiological load was more effective than that of the Renoster Spruit (Free State Province) which does not contain distinctive wetland areas. The risk of infection has been determined by comparing the levels of E. coli and enterococcus to a set of site-specific guidelines. The water is not suitable for drinking or domestic purposes and full contact recreation will pose a risk of infection to users. The lower Blesbok Spruit has the poorest water quality and this water is unsuitable for livestock watering being only suitable for the irrigation of crops. The effects of diffuse pollution on the health related microbiological water quality need to be considered in the management of this sub-catchment.

Despite the pollution control provisions provided in national and local legislation that explicitly or implicitly give effect to the polluter pays principle (PPP), certain rivers continue to suffer from persistent industrial pollution. This research focuses on one such river, the Bayne's Spruit, as a case study. The Bayne's Spruit is a small river that is located within an urban catchment, and which has been subjected to wet industrial pollution for over a decade. Much of this pollution is associated with the Pietermaritzburg edible oil industry. This pollution impacts negatively on a downstream community that uses the river for irrigation of subsistence crops, for recreation and for subsistence fish harvesting. The pollution has also severely degraded the riverine ecosystem. This research commenced with a literature review of the PPP in its international, national and local context. It was noted that the current legislative framework for implementation of the PPP with regard to pollution of rivers in South Africa comprises primarily of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA), the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, and the Pietermaritzburg-Msunduzi industrial effluent bylaws of November 1998. The case study was approached using a largely qualitative methodology, although quantitative data was also relied upon where feasible. The historical context of the case study was provided by conducting a review of newspaper reports, a review of. government inspection records, and a review of water quality data (including biomonitoring and chemical data). The current status of the Bayne's Spruit was then explored by conducting in-depth historical interviews with community members, and by conducting direct observation of the environmental status of the Bayne's Spruit. This data was supplemented by an analysis of the test results of sampled industrial effluent, and by information obtained from representatives of two edible oil companies. In-depth, purposively selected interviews were conducted with various role players. (local government, regional government and industry) to identify what factors are preventing the successful implementation of the PPP in the case study area. Factors identified include a lack of environmental ethic within the edible oil industry, with some of these companies free riding on the Bayne's Spruit to maximize their profits. At a local level, factors preventing implementation of the PPP include deficiencies in the local industrial effluent bylaws, failures to administer and implement provisions contained in the bylaws, capacity restrictions and institutional paralysis. National legislation is not being successfully implemented because the government agency empowered under the NWA is deferring primary responsibility for dealing with pollution to the local authority. Factors also include difficulties associated with monitoring of rivers, including lack of capacity to engage in monitoring, and confusion over the functions of the various spheres of government. Finally, enforcement complexities are a major factor preventing successful implementation of the PPP. These problems relate to inadequate penalties, enforcement arrangements, capacity problems, separation of authority to operate the municipal sewer works and to enforce the industrial effluent bylaws, difficulties in identifying the offending polluter (causation), problems with access to company premises, the open access character of the storm water drainage system, previous failed prosecutions and reliance on the criminal justice system. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 2002.

M.Sc (Aquatic Health) / There has been a recent onslaught of water quality problems in South Africa, with many believing that South Africa is nearing a water crisis in the not so distant future. A Regional Scale Risk Assessment was conducted on the Koekemoer Spruit in order to validate the use of such a risk assessment in the management of small catchments. During the study the use of Artificial Mussels (AMs) in the bio-monitoring of metals were also validated. The Regional Scale Risk Assessment methodology created by Landis (2005) was used during the study. Various lines of evidence were used during the risk assessment process: water quality analysis, invertebrate assessments, diatom assessment and AM and snail assessments. It was found that the Koekemoer Spruit has an impact on the Vaal River with regards to some water quality aspects, especially with regards to an increase in nitrates. It was found that a significant (p<0.05) correlation exists between AMs and Melanoides turbiculata with regards to As, U, Se and Co accumulations. Gold mining was identified as a major stressor source within the system. Other notable sources of stressors within the system included agricultural activities and a golf course. The environment was found to be the endpoint that is at highest risk from the various sources within the system. The in-stream habitat was found to have the highest risk compared to the other identified habitats.