This research report is a completed Catchment Diagnostic Framework (CDF) for the Klip River catchment (Johannesburg) for the period October 1998 to September 1999. The framework consists of a catchment description and a diagnostic index which provide a simple and representative view of the catchment and its characteristics and assist in identifying problem areas. GIS maps, graphs and tables are used to provide a background of the catchment. The Diagnostic Index is based on a set of Indicators that are calculated and then scored according to a rating system allowing for the calculation of an overall value for the catchment. The indicators and description cover resource conditions, socioeconomics, water quantity, water quality and management. Using this CDF it was found that the Klip River catchment is highly altered due to mining, urban, industrial and agricultural development. All of these have impacts on the beneficial use of the Klip River itself and on the downstream users of the Vaal Barrage. / AC 2016

M.Ing. / The modelling of water quality in distribution systems is a relatively new field. It has become necessary to attend to the problem of water quality at the consumer's tap because water quality after treatment is not a guarantee for the water that reaches the consumer. It is increasingly important to design and manage distribution systems carefully to ensure safe drinking water up to the consumer's tap. This report gives the results and a discussion thereof on the chlorine decay in laboratory batch tests as well as on pipeline systems. Significant contributions were made to the different objectives of the study. Standardised test procedures for both free chlorine and monochloramine were developed. It was found that the n th-order, 1 parameter model described the decay of chlorine significantly better than did the generally assumed first order mathematical model. It was also found that the reaction orders are different for different water sources, and even different for the same water source at different times. It was also clear that the rate constants are dependent on temperature - the higher the temperature, the higher the decay rate constants. The reaction order for free chlorine varied from 0.36 to 1.22 with no apparent underlying pattern. For monochloramine, the reaction order fell into two distinctively different categories. For monochloramine decay up to 24 hours, the reaction order varied from 0.02 to 0.05. For monochloramine decay from 24 hours onwards, the reaction order varied from 0.92 to 0.95. As was expected, the free chlorine decay rates obtained in pipelines were higher than in parallel bulk decay rate tests. On the assumption that the bulk decay reaction order is equal to one, the mass transfer coefficient between the bulk flow and the pipe wall varied between 0.0065 m/h and 0.0457 m/h. Further research is highly recommended on the effect of secondary and tertiary chlorination as well as on more direct methods of estimating pipe wall-related chlorine reaction constants.

M.Sc. (Geography) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

M.Sc. (Aquatic Health) / The increased supply of water to areas targeted for development and the concomitant increase in land use and waste disposal activities has lead to the deterioration in the quality of water in South Africa‟s freshwater systems (DWA, 2011a). In order to manage this, the South African Department of Water Affairs (DWA) has developed numerous water quality policies and management approaches. One such approach is the determination and use of Resource Water Quality Objectives (RWQOs) (DWAF, 2006a). Resource Water Quality Objectives are a set of instream water quality objectives that aim to ensure that water that is fit for use is supplied to downstream users through the management and control of upstream impacts (DWAF, 2006b). In this study, site specific RWQOs were determined for the Modder and Riet Rivers as a means of providing a basis for reporting on instream water quality. As with many of the freshwater catchments in South Africa, the Modder-Riet catchment, located in the Free State and Northern Cape Provinces, is a water limited catchment (Slabbert, 2007). Historically most of the Modder and Riet Rivers would typically have had low water yields, with dry periods and pools forming in large endorheic areas (Grobler and Davies, 1981). As the need to supply water for crop production and domestic use grew, various transfer schemes and reservoirs were developed between the Caledon, Orange and Modder-Riet River systems (DWAF, 2006a). In order to distribute this water, various canal systems and operating rules for the storage dams were developed to transport water to the predominantly agricultural and domestic water users in the various parts of the catchment. Much of the water that is used in the Modder-Riet catchment therefore originates from reservoirs and from outside the catchment, completely transforming it from its natural state. This change in land-use and hydrology of the Modder-Riet catchment resulted in a concomitant change in the water quality. Salinisation, microbial contamination and eutrophication have, in particular, been recorded as the most significant problems affecting the fitness for use of the water in the Modder-Riet catchment. In order to manage these water quality problems and the effects on downstream users, a Catchment Management Strategy (CMS) for the Modder-Riet catchment was developed in 2006 which identified the users in the catchment and put forth a set of catchment-wide RWQOs (DWAF, 2006a). Further studies in the area have also subsequently highlighted that, given the current growth in water use, the associated negative water balance and the potential for serious deleterious effects of increased return flows on the water users, the need for improved efficiency of water use and the management of water quality in this catchment (as well as in those catchments which support the Modder and Riet Rivers) will become ever increasingly important (DWA, 2006a; DWA, 2012a; DWA, 2013a). The aim of this study was to: 1) determine whether catchment characteristics, water quality and user requirements across the catchment differed enough to warrant the separation of the catchment into different Management Units (MUs) for which site specific instead of generic RWQOs should be set, 2) to set low confidence level 3 RWQOs for various sites which represent each MU and 3) to determine the implications for the future management of the water quality in the Modder-Riet catchment. Fourteen Level 3 RWQOs for the main constituents of concern, namely phosphate (PO4), ammonia (NH3), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate and nitrite (NO3 + NO2-N), Escherichia coliform (E. coli), Electrical Conductivity (EC), chloride (Cl), sodium (Na), the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), aluminium (Al) and fluoride (F), were determined at strategic sites within six water quality MUs. These MUs were roughly the same as those determined in the Modder-Riet CMS, with a few exceptions:  the Upper and Middle Riet MUs from the CMS were not found to be different enough in terms of land use and water quality to warrant their separation and in this study were lumped together to form the Upper Riet MU, and  the Lower Riet MU from the CMS did not take account of the operation of the Kalkfontein and Orange-Riet transfer schemes which, in this study, resulted in the delineation of the Middle Riet River MU from Kalkfontein Dam to the outlet of Kalkfontein Canal and the Lower Riet MU from below the Kalkfontein Canal end point on the Riet River and the transfer site on the Modder River (at Scholzburg Weir) to just above the zone of influence from the Vaal River on the lower Riet River below Soutpansdrift. As with the delineation of the MUs, the location of the RWQO sites were determined in consultation with the Modder-Riet Catchment Management Forum (CMF) and were based on 1) their ability to exercise control over the quality of water entering a MU (resulting from upstream water uses) and 2) the need to provide water that is fit for use for the downstream users in areas of similar land uses. Within each MU, additional sites were added that would ensure fitness for use at specific strategic points. Since the RWQOs that were set at these sites were based predominantly on the current state of the water quality in the Modder and Riet Rivers they varied widely, with the strictest RWQOs being set for the transfers from the Caledon River via Novo Transfer Scheme, at Mazelspoort Weir on the Modder River and within the Kalkfontein Canal at the outlet of Kalkfontein Dam on the Riet River. Whether the status quo should be maintained, improved or allowed to deteriorate was determined by considering the water quality management vision and goals for the catchment, the water quality needs of the downstream users and the potential impact on the upstream uses. Although the RWQOs in almost all cases were more stringent than those set for Modder and Riet Rivers in the. CMS, of greater significance was the variation between the RWQOs set at each of the sites. By using the current state of water quality as a reflection of fluvial processes (such as assimilation, deposition and dilution), the RWQOs in this study took account of the differences in the effects of the various land uses and allowed for the determination of objectives which were tailored to specific areas of the catchment. They therefore more accurately represented the user requirements and the need for interventions. The RWQOs set by the CMS on the other hand were applied at catchment scale (i.e. there was one set of RWQOs for the entire catchment) and as such may have been too lenient in some areas and too strict in others. Thus although broad scale objectives set by the CMS may be useful for water quality assessments in the Modder-Riet catchment, the need to account for differences in local factors which influence water quality across the catchment (such as the presence of multiple transfer systems and large dams, and variations in land and water use) would warrant the determination of level 3 RWQOs. Based on an assessment of the compliance to the RWQOs over the past three to five years, PO4, NH3, EC, E.coli and Al were identified as the major water quality variables which have the potential to impact on the downstream users and for which Source Management Objectives (SMOs) and water quality allocation, management and implementation plans for the urban and agricultural sectors will be required. This is especially evident in the middle Modder and lower Riet catchments as well as below the numerous small urban areas which occur throughout the catchment. Key factors which have been highlighted for consideration in the future management of water quality in these catchments include inter alia: the consideration of appropriate water quality models, the development and implementation of agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs) and the improved management of Sewerage Treatment Works (STWs). In addition, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and metals such as Al, chromium and manganese have been identified as potential variables which may affect users and for which further investigations are required. In conclusion, the hypothesis that that “the characteristics of the Modder-Riet catchment were different enough to warrant the determination of level 3 RWQOs, where in the more impacted portions of the catchment, water quality stress would be evident and would require a number of source directed interventions” could be accepted. It was however also found that interventions to improve instream water quality should not only be based on Source Directed Controls (SDCs) in their strictest sense, but should also incorporate aspects of good governance and effective regulation. This includes improved co-ordination of water quality monitoring and data management and reporting, effective and sustained capacity building and community learning and the establishment of functional, multi-scale feedback mechanisms. The application of the principles of Strategic Adaptive Management (SAM) was also identified a key element in the future management of water quality in this catchment.

<p>The Eerste River is a river system which has, over the years, been subjected to human interference. The purpose of this study was to investigatge temporal and spatial trends in the water quality of the Eerste River between 1990 and 2005. The study results revealed that the major trends in the water quality of the Eerste River are more spatial than temporal.</p>

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering an the built environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. Johannesburg, October 2016. / The study investigates the effectiveness of Rand Water’s Scientific Services’ skills development strategy for the assurance of quality drinking water as prescribed by the SANS 0241 National Drinking Water Quality Standard. The aim is to establish whether: 1) the present skills are adequate to provide the scientific data required for affirming drinking water quality and 2) the skills development taking place in the Scientific Services division is adequate for the level and quantity of scientific skills required for the future. There is also some discussion to understand the motivation for maintaining and increasing skills within the Scientific Services division for Rand Water. Assuring drinking water quality within Rand Water is the sole responsibility of the Scientific Services division. The division provides regular routine and non-routine drinking water quality monitoring, testing, data collection, analyses and reporting on the organisation’s performance against the SANS 0241 Drinking Water Quality Standards (SANS, 2006).The focus of the analysis is Scientific Services Division in Rand Water, although the discussion in view of the topic is not limited to the division. Production of drinking water encompasses two key aspects that must be investigated they are quality and quantity, however the close up analyses could only be successful completed for quality in the context of the quantity produced. Skills development planning within Scientific Services has always been based on the division’s feeder pipelines to be able to recruit from and retain scientific skills within the organisation. The division concentrates on Graduate, Bursar and Experiential Learner development ensuring a sustainable, trained and readily available pipeline of skills from which to recruit. Employees currently within the division both permanent and temporary form the type of scientific skills required for water quality monitoring and drinking water standard production and assurance. Employees have been placed within the functional scientific streams of the division and further by their levels of appointment and qualifications. The data analysis has also been done for the increasing of skills using the same framework. Age and gender was also included to show performance of the division in respect to transformation and equity. Equity in relation to growth is currently a global matter that is under scrutiny. The World Economic Forum has put equity in the spotlight to ensure countries look at their performance. The significance is that it has an impact on how the water resources in a country are distributed and managed. The Water Reforms in most developing countries have sparked large scale discussions around provisioning of water for all. Human Development and Water Resource Management are agendas that countries need to handle collectively with the ultimate outcome being achieving equity for all (UNDP, 2013). Rand Water’s Scientific Service skills data indicates that it has adequate scientific capacity to meet its present mandate of providing drinking water quality assurance for the organisation. There is some concern that the aging workforce is concentrated at management and specialists levels, therefore developing these skills for the next 5 to 10 years requires immediate attention. Transfer of skills and retention of skills requires careful strategic planning in order to attract a younger transformed workforce. The study shows that in as much as routine quality assurance is core, it is also equally critical to have employees who can troubleshoot within the context of the new environmental pressures and diverse operational conditions. The demand for quality drinking water over the last 110 years has increased throughout the country. The mandatory expansion of the organisation translates into sharing of human resources with other parts of the country to produce quality drinking water. Rand Water has been entrusted to take on the responsibility of other water utilities in the country and ensure that they reach the required standard for the production of quality drinking water. The full scope of the organisation’s mandate requires that it provide skills to handle the treatment of drinking water and wastewater in the near future. Although wastewater treatment is currently managed by the local municipalities, Rand Water will be having an active role to improve services. This would mean distributing the existing capacity within the organisation over a greater area of work along with a significant increase in the demand for scientific analyses of drinking water quality. The pace at which skills development takes place in Rand Water Scientific Services division shows that it will be able to meet the present needs. There are questions raised on the sustainability of the skills for the future. Maintaining and developing skills within the division is critical to be able to sustain the nature, structure and functioning of the division in its current form. The other factor that must also be maintained is the transformational equity demands of the country. The notion that there is a lack of experienced previously disadvantages scientists must be addressed directly to meet all the future demands of the sector, region and continent in a short space of time. / MT2017

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering. August, 2017 / The foremost aim of potable water treatment is to produce water that does not pose a health risk when consumed and/or otherwise used. Nevertheless, research has established that the quality of treated water deteriorates during distribution. The nature and extent of this deterioration varies from system to system and from time to time. The aim of this research study was to monitor the parameters that are known to significantly affect biostability and biofilm formation potential in drinking water distribution systems. Biweekly water samples were collected from thirteen sites, across a section of Johannesburg Water’s network, between September 2015 and August 2016. All samples were assayed for a suite of fifteen water quality parameters using standard methods. Heightened temperature, dearth of chlorine residuals, availability of biodegradable dissolved organic carbon (BDOC), and advanced water age all engendered the loss of biostability (instability). Biostability controlling parameters varied seasonally and spatially. Samples collected during spring and summer, in general, were most likely to be characterized by instability than samples collected during winter and autumn. Samples collected from sites RW80, RW81, RW82, RW83, RW104 and RW253 were more prone to instability compared to samples from other sites. From the results, it is clear that chlorine residuals ought to be kept above 0.2 mg/l, and, BDOC below 0.3mg/l to prevent the loss of heterotrophic stability in distributed water. BDOC concentrations can be decreased by, flushing the pipes, cleaning reservoirs regularly and by further treating feed water before distributing. Booster disinfection can be relied upon to ensure that chlorine residuals are maintained throughout the network. Apart from potential health risks, biological instability and biofilm growth can result in non-compliance with regulations. / MT2018

Thesis (MTech (Environmental Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2010 / Freshwater scarcity and river pollution has become a serious challenge for governments and scientists. Worldwide, governments have a responsibility to provide their populations with enough clean water for their domestic needs. Scientists will have an enormous task to find a way to purify polluted water, because of its vital role in human lives and an increasing demand for water consumption due to population growth. Although the water from the Bottelary River is used on a daily basis for farming activities, its pollution level as well as spatial distribution of effluents in the catchment is unknown. In the present study, I took monthly water samples from six sampling points for laboratory analysis. The laboratory determined concentration levels of phosphorous, chloride, nitrate, and nitrate nitrogen (N03N), as well as the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solids from the samples. On the same occasion's pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity and temperature were measured in-situ using a multi-parameter reader. The results were then compared with the South African Water Quality Guidelines for Aquatic Ecosystems and for irrigation (DWAF, 1996a, 1996c). The non-point pollution source (NPS) model was used to generate predictions of the pollution level from the land-uses and use the data obtained from the field to validate the model predictions. Finally, I performed a two-factorial A One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) without replication to assess the spatial and temporal variation of the measured variables along the river. The findings of the study have shown that the concentration levels of some compounds are below the Target Water Quality Range (TWQR) set by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF, 1996a, 1996b, 1996c) while, the concentrations of chloride, total nitrogen and water quality variables such as electrical conductivity, suspended solids, are higher than the TWQR (DWAF, 1996a, 1996b, 1996c). Based on the above findings water of the Bottelary River can have negative effects on the environment and human lives because of the concentration level of these compounds. It was therefore recommended that, environmentally friendly measures and practices must be undertaken in order to decrease the pollution and avoid further pollution of the river.

<p>The Eerste River is a river system which has, over the years, been subjected to human interference. The purpose of this study was to investigatge temporal and spatial trends in the water quality of the Eerste River between 1990 and 2005. The study results revealed that the major trends in the water quality of the Eerste River are more spatial than temporal.</p>

Magister Scientiae (Integrated Water Resource Management) / The Eerste River is a river system which has, over the years, been subjected to human interference. The purpose of this study was to investigatge temporal and spatial trends in the water quality of the Eerste River between 1990 and 2005. The study results revealed that the major trends in the water quality of the Eerste River are more spatial than temporal. / South Africa