The Upper Vaal Water Management Area (Upper Vaal WMA) lies in the eastern interior of South Africa. This WMA includes the Vaal, Klip, Wilge, Liebenbergsvlei and Mooi Rivers and extends to the confluence of the Mooi and Vaal Rivers. It also includes major dams such as the Vaal Dam, Grootdraai Dam and Sterkfontein Dam. The southern half of the WMA extends over the Free State province; the north-east mainly falls within Mpumalanga and the northern and western parts in Gauteng and North West provinces respectively (DWAF 2004). Several wastewater treatment works (WWTW) located in this area do not meet the standard set by the present legislation that addresses proper treatment of water. This results in number of problems that affect the quality of water in this catchment. It was noted by the WRC (2006b) that with the challenges of implementation in an environment of shared responsibility, it is increasingly recognised that public/government institutions must foster institutional cooperation and interaction for efficient provision of public services, both at the policy-strategy level and the operational-implementation level. According to WRC (2006b), poor cooperation between institutions in the implementation of their interrelated mandates has resulted in inefficient utilization of scarce resources and/or endless disputes. In order to address this shortcoming, a study that investigated the effects of cooperative governance in the Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) in the Upper Vaal Water Management Area was initiated. The results of the research indicate a lack of cooperation between the three spheres of governance that participate in the sustainable management of water treatment in this area. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

The Upper Vaal Water Management Area (Upper Vaal WMA) lies in the eastern interior of South Africa. This WMA includes the Vaal, Klip, Wilge, Liebenbergsvlei and Mooi Rivers and extends to the confluence of the Mooi and Vaal Rivers. It also includes major dams such as the Vaal Dam, Grootdraai Dam and Sterkfontein Dam. The southern half of the WMA extends over the Free State province; the north-east mainly falls within Mpumalanga and the northern and western parts in Gauteng and North West provinces respectively (DWAF 2004). Several wastewater treatment works (WWTW) located in this area do not meet the standard set by the present legislation that addresses proper treatment of water. This results in number of problems that affect the quality of water in this catchment. It was noted by the WRC (2006b) that with the challenges of implementation in an environment of shared responsibility, it is increasingly recognised that public/government institutions must foster institutional cooperation and interaction for efficient provision of public services, both at the policy-strategy level and the operational-implementation level. According to WRC (2006b), poor cooperation between institutions in the implementation of their interrelated mandates has resulted in inefficient utilization of scarce resources and/or endless disputes. In order to address this shortcoming, a study that investigated the effects of cooperative governance in the Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) in the Upper Vaal Water Management Area was initiated. The results of the research indicate a lack of cooperation between the three spheres of governance that participate in the sustainable management of water treatment in this area. / Thesis (M. Environmental Management)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Masters of Science / The Bottelary River area is located in a Mediterranean climate region, where the agricultural sector plays an important role. During the dry summer season, there is not enough precipitation to meet the agricultural irrigation requirements. Some farmers extract river water which is practically the final treated effluent from the Scottsdene Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) to irrigate crops. This research investigates the use of treated effluent for agricultural irrigation in this area, particularly focuses on the effluent quality, farmers' perception, and the potential extent. The Bottelary River area is located in a Mediterranean climate region, where the agricultural sector plays an important role. During the dry summer season, there is not enough precipitation to meet the agricultural irrigation requirements. Some farmers extract river water which is practically the final treated effluent from the Scottsdene Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) to irrigate crops. This research investigates the use of treated effluent for agricultural irrigation in this area, particularly focuses on the effluent quality, farmers' perception, and the potential extent. The methods used in this research included the statistical analysis of the effluent quality and questionnaire analysis of the collected data. In addition, the research employed the SAPWAT model to calculate the irrigation requirements and the potential area that could be irrigated by treated effluent. The research indicated that the effluent quality variables in general complied with the regulation of requirements for the purification of wastewater or effluent (known as 1984 general standard), which controlled the wastewater treatment works discharging final effluent to the watercourses. The only exception was faecal coliform concentration, which exceeded the general standard in certain periods. According to the South African water quality guideline on irrigation water use, the treated effluent should be used with caution, in order to minimize the potential risks, protect the public health, crops, soil and surface waters and groundwaters. The research found that although the farmers' attitudes were various, their most important concerns were on the effluent quality. The farmers cared for the impact of this unconventional water sources to human beings' health, crops and soil. Thus, eliminating the concerns amongst the farmers and solving the problems met during the practice would contribute to the use of treated effluent in agricultural irrigation in this area. The research indicated that during the normal dry summer season, treated effluent could act as an additional water resource to meet irrigation demand. During the normal wet winter season, the treated effluent was surplus compare to the irrigation requirements due to the ample precipitation. The treated effluent needs to be stored in dams to fulfill the summer peak demand. In order to promote the use of treated effluent as an additional water resource in agricultural irrigation, improved technologies, comprehensive monitoring systems and an extended public participation need to be established.

Freshwater resources and supplies in South Africa are experiencing severe stress from rising population growth, drought and high urbanization. The stress factors have also exerted pressure on wastewater treatment works leading to the release of partially treated effluent. The study assessed and compared the impact of the two wastewater treatment works effluent discharged into the Roodeplaat Dam. Selected physical parameters (pH, conductivity), chemical parameters (total oxidised nitrogen, phosphate, chemical oxygen demand, chloride, sulphate, sodium) and microbiological parameter (Escherichia coli) were evaluated and compared with South African standards. Secondary data (from January 2012 to December 2017) was used to identify parameters that were above or below regulatory standards. The t-test (p < 0.05) was used to compare changes between 2012 and 2018 over the same months.The results indicated that aquatic ecosystem quality has not improved, degradation continues as well as a lack of intervention from authorities. The leading parameters in causing stress to Roodeplaat water quality in descending order were Escherichia coli (E. coli), Phosphate (PO43-), Total Oxidized Nitrogen (TON), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Chlorophyll a (Chl a), Ammonia (NH3), Electrical Conductivity (EC) and Sodium (Na). One of the main reasons why poor effluent was released is limited financial investment to upgrade the treatment facilities. This research provided highlights on the need to enforce extra measures to guarantee compliance of treated effluent quality to the existing guidelines. Moreover it highlights the need for concerned department’s authorities to invest in water by allocating enough budget to address the challenge of wastewater treatment works upgrades. / Environmental Sciences / M. Sc. (Environmental Sciences)