Winter (1999) succinctly, made a profound statement to the effect that understanding the
basic principles of the interaction between surface water and groundwater is needed for
effective management of water resources. Hence, the research investigation was aimed at
identifying appropriate methodologies for assessment of surface water â groundwater
interaction, thus enhancing the understanding thereof. The methodology used entailed a
review of national and international literature on related previous and current models,
systems and methods used in assessment and quantification of water exchange between
groundwater and surface water. This was then followed by relevant case study analyses
where distinct areas where chosen based on availability of relevant data and information by
previous investigators. The findings were that various methods and classification systems
are widely available but the applicability thereof under the South African conditions
depends on the conceptual understanding of the area or system under investigation,
availability of data and the basic assumptions associated with the particular model or
method. The surface water â groundwater interaction cannot easily be quantified with
confidence without requisite data available. The other finding is that use of multiple
techniques to reduce uncertainties and to confirm or verify the existence or nonâexistence
of the interaction is essential. Preferably, at least one method should be utilised to trace
flow or qualitatively establish the water exchange while the alternative method is used for
quantitative estimation of the interaction between surface water and groundwater. Some
of the products emerging from this research investigation include decision tables for
choosing applicable analytical method, applicable numerical method and the framework for
guiding the selection of appropriate methodologies for assessing or quantifying the
interaction between surface water and groundwater. Knowledge generated is applicable
to water resource management, resource protection, water allocation and monitoring.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ufs/oai:etd.uovs.ac.za:etd-07172013-155048 |
| Date | 17 July 2013 |
| Creators | Moseki, Motlole Christopher |
| Contributors | Prof I Dennis, Dr PD Vermeulen |
| Publisher | University of the Free State |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en-uk |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.uovs.ac.za//theses/available/etd-07172013-155048/restricted/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to University Free State or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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