Chapter 3: Water Resources for Limpopo Province, South Africa

Transcription

1 Limpopo Environmental Outlook Report st DRAFT Chapter 3: Water Resources for Limpopo Province, South Africa This document is an ongoing outcome of a consultative process that underpins the Limpopo Environmental Outlook (LEO) Report It can be quoted only with the explicit and written permission of LEDET. It has been reviewed by specialists in the field, as well as members of the provincial Steering Committee for the LEO Project. All LEO Reports are distributed as widely as possible, for inputs and comments. This document was prepared by EcoAfrica under the aegis of Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), for stakeholders to engage with the environmental assessment and reporting. Its date of release is the 9 th December,

2 Table of Contents List of Acronyms Introduction Drivers, Pressures and State Impacts and Trends Global Change Aspects Responses Identifying Scenarios Conclusions and Recommendations References List of Figures Figure 1: Key water users and water use areas in the Limpopo Province (DWS 2012)... 5 Figure 2: Water Management Areas in the Limpopo Province according to the 2011 Fresh Water Ecosystem Priority Areas database (SANBI 2015) Figure 3: Registered water use per WMA (DWS 2014)... 7 Figure 4: Available and future supply and demand of water in Limpopo Province (DWS 2012) presentation Figure 5: Decreasing trend in discharge of the Limpopo River downstream of the Limpopo Province (LBPTC 2010) Figure 6: Levels of risk for use of water contaminated with E. coli (DWS 2014) Figure 7: Electrical conductivity of water resources in South Africa (DWS 2014) Figure 8: Artificial sand channels divert the flow of the Limpopo River towards the South African border (S. van Staden, 2015) List of Tables Table 1: Key indicators to inform present and future management of water resources in Limpopo Province Table 2: The eutrophication and trophic status of reservoirs in the Limpopo Province as reported between the summer and winter periods of 2014/2015 (National Eutrophication Monitoring Program 2015b) Table 3: Future scenarios pertaining to management of water resources in Limpopo Province

3 List of Acronyms REC EC GDP PES RHP WMA WWTW Recommended Ecological Category Electrical Conductivity Gross Domestic Product Present Ecological State River Health Program Water Management Area Waste Water Treatment Works 3

4 1. Introduction The presence of good quality freshwater resources and functioning wetland and aquatic ecosystems is vital for the functioning of the Earth. At a base layer, water is important in geomorphological processes. It plays an essential role in the physiological process of all living organisms and defines the distribution of vegetation types, ecosystems and faunal and floral communities. Water resources also play a role in the distribution of human settlement since humans too rely on water for drinking and other domestic use. Water also plays a role in the distribution of industries which rely on a steady supply of water; in Limpopo Province this is particularly applicable to the mining and agricultural sectors. Some of the qualities of aquatic ecosystems are becoming more appreciated in relation to the goods and services they provide. This includes, amongst others, the ability of wetlands to purify water, buffer and attenuate flooding, regulate streamflow, as well as controlling geomorphological processes (such as erosion and sedimentation). For example a significant contributor to the damage caused in Limpopo Province by the 2000 floods, was attributed to poor wetland management (WRC 2000). In addition there is increasing recognition of the potential to generate electrical energy through hydroelectric schemes. The ground- and surface water environments of most water courses are intrinsically linked, as the sources for several rivers within the Limpopo Province originate from subterranean sources. The quality and quantity of groundwater resources has a direct bearing on the quality and quantity of most surface water resources, and vice versa. The Limpopo Province is home to some key growth nodes in the country, however the Province faces significant challenges to its resources. For instance the National State of Water Resources (DWS 2014) indicated that nationally the risks to health from consumption of contaminated drinking water were highest in Limpopo Province. Additionally, the State of Dams Monitoring Program (DWS 2015a) indicates that between October 2014 and 2015 the volume of water stored in the Province has decreased by 13%. This chapter aims to describe the drivers and pressures affecting the key attributes of water resources, the resulting impacts, and trends associated with water availability and quality, and the integrity of aquatic ecosystems that are being experienced over time within the Province. This includes the use of indicators to describe water availability and the water quality of surface and groundwater resources, as well the functional status and importance and sensitivity of aquatic ecosystems. In addition this chapter considers the needs and consumption patterns of human settlements and industry within the Province which rely on and impact on the water resources in the catchment. 2. Drivers, Pressures and State Aquatic ecosystems are dynamic and over time develop self-sustaining ecosystems that provide a number of important ecological goods and services including the filtration of toxicants from water, habitats for aquatic organisms (such as fish), and providing harvestable goods, as well as buffering and mitigating flood events. However there must be a sustainable balance between the supply and use of the ecological goods and services provided in order to ensure that future human and the ecological reserve needs are provided for. The demand and use of water is placed under pressure with population growth, growing demand for water for sanitation, water services, agriculture, and mining activities, as well as increased urbanisation and land transformation (WRC 2011). This places additional constraints on the river ecosystems and other water resources (such as groundwater) and can result in the following impacts: Increased abstraction of water (from both ground and surface sources) beyond the ecological reserve. This can lead to conflict and competition for water resources, as well as deterioration of the ecological integrity of ecosystems beyond the critical threshold, cumulatively reducing the quality and quantity of ecosystem goods and services; 4

5 The construction of infrastructure and modification of river channels leading to a direct loss of habitat and degradation of aquatic ecosystems; and Contamination of the quality of water in the watercourse, leading to unfit use and impacts upon ecological functions and service provision (such as eutrophication). This in turn can also lead to a lack of access to clean water. Pressures that cause the abovementioned impacts are driven by the interactions between humans and the environment, as well as changes in climate. The figure below presents the water users in the Province (DWS 2012). Figure 1: Key water users and water use areas in the Limpopo Province (DWS 2012) Pre-emptive management and governance of the pressures impacting upon natural resources in Limpopo Province will allow for sustainable use of the water resources in conjunction with growth of the population. In order to manage pressures more effectively, Water Management Areas (WMAs) in the Province were developed and facilitate appropriate situational management of water resources. A WMA is defined as an area established as a management unit in the National Water Resource Strategy within which a catchment management agency conducts the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of water resources (DWAF 1999). Four WMAs occur within Limpopo Province (Figure 2), namely: The Limpopo WMA; The Luvuvhu and Letaba WMA; The Crocodile (West) and Marico WMA; and The Olifants WMA. 5

6 Figure 2: Water Management Areas in the Limpopo Province according to the 2011 Fresh Water Ecosystem Priority Areas database (SANBI 2015). Collectively the registered use of water in the Limpopo Province is 17% of the total registered use in South Africa (NSWR 2014). The Olifants WMA uses the greatest amount of water in the Province (7%), followed by the Crocodile West - Marico WMA (5%), the Limpopo WMA (4%), and the Luvuvhu and Letaba WMA (3%) (Figure 3). In 2014, the dominant pressure upon water resources in the Province was agricultural irrigation which accounted for 63%, 66%, and 71% of registered use in the Luvuvhu-Letaba, Crocodile (West) and Marico, and Limpopo WMAs respectively. Furthermore the WMAs with the greatest registered use allocated for mining activities (more than 5%) across South Africa included the Crocodile West - Marico WMA and the Olifants WMA where respectively 5% and 23% of registered use in the WMAs was allocated for mining activities. 6

7 Figure 3: Registered water use per WMA (DWS 2014) Pressure and restrictions of the use of water in these sectors is likely to increase as the available and renewable supply of water in Limpopo is unlikely to meet demand in the future (Figure 4). The current available water supply is almost fully allocated, which will necessitate the supplementation of sources, by means of interbasin transfers, in the near future since the only other alternative resource to surface water is ground water, but low recharge rates limit the viability of the resource. Unsustainable use and/or any impairment to the quality of groundwater resources, will have severe consequences to human welfare where people are directly dependent on groundwater (such as in dispersed rural communities), as well as aquatic ecosystems with significant hydrological linkages to the groundwater environment. 7

8 Figure 4: Available and future supply and demand of water in Limpopo Province (DWS 2012) presentation. The pressures placed on the water supply will have impacts upon the state of the environment, as well as economic growth. For example, the high volume of water used for irrigation and mining in the Province will likely place additional pressures on water resources and lead to conflict between the growth of these two sectors in the future. Therefore the allocation of water to these two sectors will likely be subject to tradeoffs that might be determined by provincial GDP allocations and socio-economic opportunities. For instance, while mining and quarrying contributes to 26% of the GDP of the Province, and agriculture, forestry and fishing only contributes 2.2% (Statistics South Africa 2015), agriculture is sustainable, supports significantly more numbers of employees and is key to livelihoods in many rural areas. Additionally, when considering tradeoffs between the supply of water to different sectors, other deciding factors, such as impacts upon water quality from each industry, should be considered, as well in order to holistically manage water resources in the Province. Four key factors determine the availability of water in the Province, namely climate, population numbers (and their associated water use), the nature of the economic activities taking place, and upstream impoundments outside of the Province or country leading to loss of yield in the Province. The rainfall pattern within the Province is varied, with the northern portion classified as arid and only receiving between 201 to 400mm.m -2 per annum. Apart from this, the majority of the Province is semi-arid, receiving between mm.m -2 per annum. A relatively limited extent of the western and eastern portion of the Province receives between mm.m -2 per annum, while a smaller portion in the east receives over 1000 mm.m -2 per annum. These zones are respectively classified as dry-subhumid, and humid (FAOUN 2005). Overall this relatively low rainfall creates a naturally water stressed region. 8

9 In 2000, 1220 cubic metres was allocated per person per annum and is estimated to decrease to 1077 cubic metres per person per annum by At these levels the Limpopo River catchment can be considered water stressed, indicating that frequent seasonal water supply and quality problems can occur, accentuated by occasional droughts (Alemaw 2008, SADC 1999). A steady increase in the population, coupled with significant potential growth in the mining and industrial sector and significant water use by the agricultural sector will result in the need for increased abstraction of water and the need to upgrade water supply and wastewater related infrastructure. In water stressed areas, groundwater resources are relied on to alleviate some of the pressure on the surface water resources. This creates the potential for an imbalance between the rate of utilisation and the maintenance of sustainable yields. The pollution of resources from both natural and anthropogenic sources such as mining, industry, agricultural return flows and domestic waste water is also a cause for concern. Furthermore, as the sources for many rivers within this Province such as the Crocodile River and Olifants River, as well as the major tributaries feeding them are located in other Provinces or neighbouring countries, cross border cooperation in pollution control is considered essential. To assess the present and future state of water resources in Limpopo Province, a key set of indicators were developed which will aid in monitoring and informing management going forward. The indicators are presented in the table below and further detailed as appendices of this document. Table 1: Key indicators informing the management of water resources in Limpopo Province. Indicators Considered Description and Comment 1. Water resources per capita Volume of water available per person per year as an estimate of the total present and future population and the availability of water. Analysis of trends in of the allocation of water resources to human capital can identify present and future needs of populations and how this relates to water stress. 2. Water supply and demand The difference in supply and demand (including the demand for ecosystem maintenance) will indicate if there is a surplus or deficit in the water resources. 3. Comparison of natural versus current river flows (surface water quantity) Alterations in the flows of rivers resulting from anthropogenic and climate driven factors can inform / identify focus locations and future investment in management strategies and allocations of the water resource. 4. Water quantity and quality - Groundwater 5. Water quantity and quality Surface water 6. Health of the rivers (e.g. SASS; IHAS; RVI & Fish) 7. Number and locality of pollution disaster events 8. Capacity and water quality of dams in Limpopo (trophic status of dams) If water quality parameters exceed the guidelines for use it is indicative of an impact upon the resource which makes it unfit for use and requires attention. Quantification of surface water can be used to indicate if there is a surplus or deficit in the surface water resources, and trends can inform management of demand. Localised impacts on rivers allow for informed decision making on the pressures being placed on the rivers within each catchment and can assist in identifying specific polluters and sources of impact. A database of water quality information on regions that are most prone to pollution incidents. This will aid in the identification of point sources of pollution and aid in legal case development against polluters, applying the Polluter Pays principle as promulgated in the National Water Act, Differences in the volume of water present in the reservoirs over time and space will indicate usage patterns, available abstraction volumes and potential shortfalls. If water quality parameters exceed the guidelines recommended for ecosystems in the reservoirs it is indicative of an impact on the resource which makes it unfit for use and requires attention. 9

10 3. Impacts and Trends Water resources play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems, are integral in supporting population growth and economic development, as well as the health and wellbeing of individuals. Key water resource concerns in the Province include (LEDET 2013): Disproportionate distribution of water resources. The agricultural sector consumes 62% of the total water resource; Inter-basin water transfers are expensive - cost recovery of water services serve as a barrier to access to safe water by poverty stricken people; Ageing water infrastructure and limited access costly to maintain infrastructure; Lack of access to clean water; Inadequate supply of good quality water; Conflict and competition arising from water scarcity; Insufficient water resources available for new developments; Contamination of water resources arising from malfunctioning and over-capacitated WWTWs as a result of inadequate maintenance and investment in waste-water treatment. The 2011 Green Drop Report Revealed that inadequately treated sewage is being discharged into the environment by approximately 96% of WWTW (WRC 2011). The impacts from domestic use, agricultural use, mining use, urbanisation, and other industries upon water resources that are the basis of the key water concerns in the Province can be grouped into the following categories: Over abstraction of water resources; Contamination of water resources; Degradation of aquatic ecosystems; Interrelated and cumulative impacts. Over abstraction of water resources The storage of water comprises of three resources: rivers, dams, and groundwater all of which are subject to impacts from over abstraction. The demand for water in Limpopo Province has drastically increased over the last decade alone placing pressures on the resources available. The Limpopo River lies in the most downstream portion of the catchment and therefore indicates catchment wide changes in abstraction. Decreases in the average monthly discharge of the Limpopo River over time indicate that approximately 25% more water is being utilised from the catchment than in Refer to Figure 5 below of the Chokwe metering station, Mozambique. 10

11 Figure 5: Decreasing trend in discharge of the Limpopo River downstream of the Limpopo Province (LBPTC 2010) Additionally the State of Dams Monitoring Program (DWS 2015a) indicates that between October 2014 and October 2015 the volume of water stored in dams in Limpopo Province has decreased by 13%. Specifically, the storage of water in the Limpopo and Luvuvhu and Letaba WMAs has decreased by approximately 20%, and by 11% in the Olifants and Crocodile (West) and Marico WMAs. These data show the impacts of a drought/extended dry season (BD live 2015), and highlight that under future drought conditions the available water supply in Luvuvhu and Letaba WMA will be the most vulnerable. The most recent scientific estimates (DWA 2010) that an estimated million m 3 /a of utilisable groundwater exploitation potential (UGEP) is available to the Limpopo Province based on the WMAs located within the Province. This constitutes 19.5% of the country s renewable and available groundwater. Throughout all of the Limpopo WMAs the dominant use of groundwater is irrigation, with rural and municipal (domestic) use being secondary (DWA 2010). In 2014 the Limpopo Region reported that in general 67% of groundwater levels monitored are currently higher compared to the same period in the previous year, and in comparison to historical levels the current groundwater levels are well above the level of concern despite increasing demands of water (DWS 2014). Therefore it can be seen that quantity of available and renewable groundwater in the Province is not currently a constraint, although surface water quantity may be. This data implies that although over-utilisation of surface water is taking place in the Province, groundwater resources may be a viable alternative resource to enable further economic growth (if abstracted sustainability), and that consideration should be given to utilising groundwater resources to reduce the impacts on surface water throughout the Province and in the Limpopo WMA in particular. Contamination (microbial and toxicant) of water resources Surface water quality is an issue in the Province due to both point-source and diffuse pollution. Point sources include mining, domestic and industrial effluents, whereas non-point sources include agriculture 11

12 and stormwater runoff. The National State of Water Resources (NSWR) (DWS 2014) indicates that the major water quality problems facing the country are 1) eutrophication, 2) faecal pollution, and 3) salinisation. Excessive inputs of nitrates and phosphates into water bodies and watercourses contaminate the drinking water for both humans and animals, and also lead to a general deterioration of the state of the water body through eutrophication. This is especially problematic where people do not have access to piped potable water and are reliant on water from boreholes and watercourses. While population growth is a driver of eutrophication, the dominant pressure of population growth that results in eutrophication of water bodies is primarily the overuse of fertilisers in the agricultural industry, the contamination of water resources with polluted urban runoff, and the discharge of ineffectively treated sewage effluent from over capacitated or malfunctioning Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTWs). Little data is available on the eutrophication potential or trophic status of watercourses within the Province, and reporting largely focuses on dams. The trophic status of all of the reservoirs in the Province reported by the National Eutrophication Monitoring Program (DWS 2015b) were oligotrophic 1, and therefore eutrophic 2 conditions at these dams are unlikely to be impairing the water stored therein and sufficient dilution of agricultural return flows is considered to have taken place. Table 2: The eutrophication and trophic status of reservoirs in the Limpopo Province as reported between the summer and winter periods of 2014/2015 (National Eutrophication Monitoring Program 2015b). Designation Eutrophication potential Trophic status Eutrophication potential Trophic status Summer ( to ) Winter ( to ) Mokolo Dam Negligible Oligotrophic Negligible Oligotrophic Glen Alpine Dam Moderate Oligotrophic Serious Oligotrophic Luphephe Dam Moderate Oligotrophic Serious Oligotrophic Nzhelele Dam Negligible Oligotrophic Negligible Oligotrophic Nwanedi (Nwanedzi) Dam Moderate Oligotrophic Negligible Oligotrophic Vondo Dam Moderate Oligotrophic Negligible Oligotrophic Tzaneen Dam Moderate Oligotrophic N/A N/A Magoebaskloof Dam Moderate Oligotrophic N/A N/A Middle Letaba Dam Moderate Oligotrophic Negligible Oligotrophic Modjadji Dam Negligible Oligotrophic N/A N/A Nsami Dam Significant Oligotrophic Negligible Oligotrophic The malfunctioning and overloading of WWTWs (WRC 2011), and the use of pit latrines (which is common in rural areas) can introduce faecal pollution in the river system in addition to other water quality impacts. According to the NSWR (DWS 2014), all of the Water Management Areas (WMA) in Limpopo Province, with the exception of the Olifants WMA, experienced poor or unacceptable faecal contamination. The Crocodile West and Marico WMA reported the greatest number of points of unacceptable E. coli counts, which were largely concentrated on the provincial Gauteng border where the water quality at Kwaguqa was considered 1 Oligotrophic ecosystems are characterised by moderate species diversity, low productivity, rapid nutrient cycling and no nuisance growth of aquatic plants or the presence of blue-green algal blooms (DWAF 1996). Oligotrophic systems are considered to have good, largely anthropogenically unimpaired, water qualities. 2 Eutrophic ecosystems are characterised by low species diversity, high productivity, a prevalence of nuisance growth of aquatic plants, and algal blooms may include species which are toxic to man, livestock, and wildlife (DWAF 1996). Although eutrophication can occur naturally, anthropogenic impairment or contamination of watercourses is frequently a key driver. 12

13 to be seriously impacted by E. coli. Furthermore the number of monitoring points is not congruent with the number of surface water resources, therefore the impacts from faecal contamination upon water resources in the Province may be a significant underestimate. It was reported that nationally the risks from consumption of contaminated drinking water were highest in Limpopo Province, and within the Crocodile West and Marico WMA (DWS 2014). This was attributed to the number of untreated water sources that were reported. Therefore impacts upon water resources from faecal coliform should be considered a management priority. Figure 6: Levels of risk for use of water contaminated with E. coli (DWS 2014). Agricultural runoff, rich in nutrients and water pollution from mining activities significantly increases salinity in surface water courses (where salinity is indicated by Electrical Conductivity (EC) measurements). Elevated salinity poses a hazard for the environment including biota. It can also destroy the structure of soils and those affected soils may reduce crop yields. Exposure to high salinity frequently results in depletion of biotic reservoirs by reducing the fecundity of aquatic organisms. The EC of surface water points monitored by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DWS 2014) indicates that all WMAs in Limpopo showed ideal or good water quality conditions, with the highest salinity occurring at monitoring points in the Crocodile (West) and Marico WMA (Figure 7). However, the number of monitoring points in the Province is not congruent with the number of water resources, therefore the water quality of some resources (specifically rivers of low stream order that are most sensitive to contaminants) were likely not reported. Therefore the impact of EC upon the water resources of the Province can largely be considered to be of least concern. However, future 13

14 water scarcity in the Province, as well as an increase in economic and mining activity, poses a significant threat to the current state of the surface water resources. Figure 7: Electrical conductivity of water resources in South Africa (DWS 2014) Degradation of aquatic ecosystems Over-utilisation of water and the contamination of water have resulted in the degradation of the physical extent and ecological integrity of watercourses within Limpopo Province. Additionally, the creation of dams and diversion of water has also resulted in a shift in many river systems from perennial to seasonal to ephemeral. Most rivers have lost parts of their flow regime that are essential for maintaining unmodified and natural conditions (WRC 2011), and the water that remains in ecosystems has been under increasing strain from pollution as well. The impacts upon aquatic ecosystems include a loss of species abundance and diversity, including sensitive and protected species, and a reduction in toxicant assimilation and flood remediation as well as the transferral of species, which may become pests, into other ecosystems beyond their natural occurrence. Rivers in Limpopo have also become highly incised and eroded as a result of changes in flows, sand mining, artificial diversion (Figure 8), urbanisation and overgrazing (WRC 2001). 14

15 Figure 8: Artificial sand channels divert the flow of the Limpopo River towards the South African border (S. van Staden, 2015). The greatest impact upon water resources in the region are within the Crocodile West and Marico WMA where the river is in a largely modified condition (DWS 2014). Rivers in the Limpopo and Olifants WMAs are also in a moderately modified condition, and only rivers in the Luvuvhu-Letaba WMA are in a largely natural condition. In addition to the abovementioned impacts, invasive and alien fish and vegetation have contributed to the impairment of these river ecosystems. Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) proves to be the greatest threat to the indigenous fish stocks and encroaches on systems linked to the Limpopo River. This is also aided by illegal introductions of this species as it is targeted by anglers. Oreochromis niloticus both displaces and hybridizes with the indigenous Oreochromis mossambicus and the gene pool of the indigenous fish is threatened (WRC 2001). The significant problem alien plants in Limpopo include Eucalyptus spp., Lantana camara, Morus alba, Chromolaena odorata, Senna didmobotrya, Populus spp. Sesbania punicea, and Melia azedarach. Interrelated and cumulative impacts Cumulative impacts upon water resources can result from a combination of physical, biological and chemical pressures, and therefore the impacts from pressures should be considered interrelated and not assessed and managed in an isolated way. For instance, the over abstraction of water can lower the amount of available water in river ecosystems which not only compounds the impacts of contaminants (as a result 15

16 of a reduced dilution potential), but can also result in a degradation of wetland ecosystems which lead to less toxicant assimilation as well. This can then lead to a lack of access to clean water. 4. Global Change Aspects Climate change The Global Circulation Model indicates that impact of future climate change in Limpopo will result in an increase in temperatures, a decrease in rainfall, as well as fewer but more intense rainfall events (Regional Climate Change Program 2012). Under a hotter and slightly drier climate scenario, nationally the impacts of climate change will affect the primary determinants of water resource quality and availability, increasing the incidence of water-borne diseases, affecting aquatic species, concentrating salts and nutrients in water and soils as soils dry out, increasing the risk of flooding and the incidence of drought (DEA, 2015). Regionally, climate change is likely to have the following impacts upon water resources in the Province (CSIR 2010, DEA 2015): Decreased availability of water in rivers as a result of increased temperatures and evaporation, combined with shifts in the timing and amount of rainfall; Temporal changes in high and low flows due to changes in rainfall patterns; Greater flood incidents as heavy rainfall events increase; Increased risks to the quality of water in rivers and their ecological state arising from increased inputs of nutrients, sediments, and dissolved organic carbon and the promotion of algal blooms caused by increases in scouring and erosion from high rainfall events and increased temperatures; Greater rainfall intensity in this region is also expected to increase sedimentation in dams, which has implications for water treatment and supply infrastructure (SANBI 2011, DEA 2015). Nationally, 98% of water resources are in use therefore additional future water use in the will be very limited (WWF, 2014) until at least 2020 when the next major source of water, the Lesotho Highlands Inter- Basin Transfer Phase 2 is planned to be completed. The country, and the Limpopo Province, will have to function on the currently available water in the interim period. However, incidences of drought will have compounding impacts upon a water supply that is already near its limit. For this reason water strategies have to shift focus to take into account natural variation in climate and focus upon water conservation and re-use strategies, as well as the utilisation of groundwater resources as these are known to be more resilient to drought (DWA, Responses The sustainable use of water resources is dependent upon informed decision making and management. The key pillar of this is the extent, efficacy, and integration of water resource monitoring programs. One of the major current monitoring programs in the Province is the River Health Program (RHP). The RHP categorises the integrity of a particular point or section of a river within the greater catchment and is relatively site specific, enabling the assessor to identify local and area specific impacts. The results of applying the biological and habitat indices during a river survey provide the context for determining the degree of ecological modification at the monitoring site. The degree of modification observed at a particular site translates into the Present Ecological State (PES). In order to put the PES in context, it is important to have an idea of what is desirable and what is not. An understanding of what the ecological state of a river should be could provide resource managers with directions for making decisions and implementing management actions. If localised impacts on rivers within in the Limpopo Province are identified, a realistic Recommended Ecological Category (REC) for each river section can be allocated. This will aid in the decision 16

17 making process on a higher level where decisions allowing impacts on a particular river are identified and it will allow for informed decisions on the pressures being placed on the rivers within each catchment in the Limpopo Province. Should a decline in PES be observed at a particular monitoring point, specific polluters and sources of impact will become evident and suitable mitigation measures can be put in place. Outcomes of the RHP in Limpopo Province indicated that the priority responses needed for the Limpopo WMAs include: Wetland protection and rehabilitation in the areas of the headwaters of these rivers; Control of alien plants especially in riparian zones, in all catchments; Control of effluent and mining related seepage in the upper reaches of the Olifants catchment; and Release from storage dams should be based on ecological flow requirements, especially in the Olifants Catchment. The use of water in the major economic sectors of Limpopo, namely mining and agriculture, highlights the importance of implementing management responses to ensure the availability of water resources of a good quality in the future. The Overview of Water Resources Availability and Utilisation in Limpopo (DWAF 2003) and the Limpopo Green Economy Plan (LEDET 2015) identified that the focus of future management in the catchments should directed towards the more efficient, beneficial and equitable use of the water resources currently available and that mechanisms and ways to manage water resources sustainably for the future in Limpopo include: Water conservation and demand management, especially in terms of limiting losses and improving usage efficiency; A review of irrigation water budgets, water allocation mechanisms and water pricing; Water recycling and reuse, especially for mining operations, but also for non-potable urban use; Rainwater harvesting; Identifying and improving the treatment efficacy of poorly performing WWTWs; The replacement of aging infrastructure, such as water mains, to reduce the loss of available water to the groundwater environment; Strict enforcement of compliance with authorised abstraction allocations, and the quality of water discharged in each sector; Strengthening sectoral co-operation; Strengthen institutional and regulatory capacity; Addressing service backlogs- assess persistent backlogs and devise strategy for service delivery; Changing water use behaviour - effect change in behaviour by regulation, self-regulate, use of market-based instruments and awareness and education, and; Improving reticulation systems. Given the presented gaps in information on water quality, it is further recommended that an increased number of rivers within the Province, particularly those near dense urban areas, mining operations, and agricultural regions be monitored for water quality including electrical conductivity and Escherichia coli (E.coli). Climate change represents a significant challenge given the critical nature of water resources to human and economic wellbeing. The Limpopo Climate Change Adaptation Strategy Report (LEDET 2015) identified adaptation responses or approaches that are recognised widely as being integral to building resilience in the water sector and combating climate change including: 17

18 The creation of a cross-sectoral, inter-departmental governance framework to help integrate and mainstream climate change adaptation into all water related operations. Limpopo should establish a governance framework or mechanism incorporating decision makers across all relevant sectors, with a mandate of integrating climate change adaptation into various existing water related processes, policies, instruments, and programs to ensure sectoral alignment; Ensuring the integration of climate change resilience into the planning and designs of future water related infrastructure projects with the development of an adaptation plan addressing how Limpopo intends to safeguard and maintain its water infrastructure in the face of climatic stressors like droughts, heavy rains, and floods; Raising performance and efficiency of water service delivery for domestic use, with aggressive quantitative targets. Limpopo should set or strengthen targets for provision of universal and quantitative, measurable metrics for performance and efficiency (such as the reduction of conveyance losses from leaks). These should be annually evaluated and recalibrated based on progress made; Existing Catchment Management efforts should be strengthened. Specifically, efforts should be made to stem and reduce deforestation in catchment areas (as well as degradation). Attention should also be given to the removal of alien invasive species in catchments. 6. Identifying Scenarios Water resources within Limpopo Province are likely to be subject to three primary impacts: An increase in the abstraction and use of water resources (including those that are currently overutilised); A decrease in the renewable reservoir of water as a result of climate change; and A deterioration in the quality of water in the Province as a result of increased sanitation needs and mining activities (especially in the Soutpansberg and Waterberg regions), compounded by increased water scarcity. The character and sustainability of water resources in the Province is critically dependent upon appropriate, informed, and proactive management this is illustrated in the table below. Table 3: Future scenarios pertaining to management of water resources in Limpopo Province. Scenario Description Actions Required Relevant Implementer a) Nothing significant changes b) Increased mining activity and industrial water use Current trends in abstraction and water use continue with economic and population growth Increased mining activity, especially in the Waterberg and Soutpansberg areas along with other uses such as agriculture and industrial minerals processing. As the living standard of the population increases and as the population numbers increase in the Province more water will be required. Additional storage will be required and improved efficiency of use will be required. Furthermore alternative sources of water such as sustainable groundwater abstraction need to be investigated further. Additional storage will be required and improved efficiency of use will be required. Furthermore alternative sources of water such as sustainable groundwater abstraction need to be investigated further. The Limpopo Department of Economic Development and Tourism (LEDET) LEDET 18

19 Scenario Description Actions Required Relevant Implementer Efficient use of water will need to be actively promoted and enforced on industry which utilises large volumes of water Over capacitated or malfunctioning. WWTWs are repaired or upgraded. The polluter pays principle is enforced during water use audits. Increased need for interbasin transfer schemes may be required with cooperation from neighbouring Provinces and potentially neighbouring countries Surface water monitoring programs are expanded. c) Impacts from climate change Climate change has the potential to lead to reduced surface and groundwater recharge leading to reduced availability of water in the Province Environmental Water Requirements will need to be determined for each river system Additional storage will be required and improved efficiency of use will be required. Furthermore alternative sources of water such as sustainable groundwater abstraction need to be investigated further. Efficient use of water will need to be actively promoted and enforced on industry which utilises large volumes of water Over capacitated or malfunctioning. WWTWs are repaired or upgraded. The polluter pays principle is enforced during water use audits. Increased need for interbasin transfer schemes may be required with cooperation from neighbouring Provinces and potentially neighbouring countries Surface water monitoring programs are expanded. LEDET 7. Conclusions and Recommendations Water is a key limiting factor for growth and development in Limpopo Province. An assured supply of water of a good quality is paramount to the progression of the Province. The state of water availability, the quality of water available and the ecosystem goods and services supplied by aquatic ecosystems is found to be in decline due to limits to available sources, over utilisation (beyond the ecological reserve) and increases in pollution. Furthermore the current supply of available and renewable water in the Province will not meet future demand, which will result in conflict between sectors and limitations on socio-economic development. From the outcome of the response formulation the following key recommendations are highlighted: 19

20 Mainstreaming water - it is critical that water is put at the forefront of planning, not an afterthought; Strengthen institutional and regulatory capacity, with specific mention of monitoring program management and increasing the availability and capacity of decision making tools; Changing water use behaviour - effect change in behaviour by regulation, self-regulate, use of market-based instruments and awareness and education; The implementation of water conservation and water demand management measures including: o Recycling of water from sewage farms; o Improved Reticulation systems; o Reduce water in agricultural consumption and mining; The enforcement and regulation of water abstraction, use and return; Determining viable alternate methods of acquiring water from the groundwater reserve as there are encouraging signs that groundwater resources may be sufficient water support the demands of the future; The water quality status within the Province seems to be acceptable both in terms of surface and groundwater resources, with the exception of faecal pollution. Therefore the maintenance and upgrade of over capacitated, old and aging infrastructure should be prioritised, and; The provision for long term water stress and the adaptation to climate change in all future infrastructure, land use and development planning. 8. References Alemaw, B. F Literature on Work Package 2 Water Availability and Access, submitted to CPWF as Milestone 5. Business Day Live (BDLive) High chance of extended drought in South Africa. Published on the 27 October Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Climate Change Handbook for Northeastern South Africa. Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) (2015). Climate Support Programme (CSP) Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Limpopo Province. Department of Water Affairs (DWA) National Groundwater Strategy Water Resources Planning Systems, Pretoria. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) South African Water Quality Guidelines Volume 7: Aquatic Ecosystems. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) The Water Management Areas of South Africa. Catchment Management Report. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) National Water Resource Strategy: Limpopo Water Management Area, Overview of Water Resources Availability and Utilisation. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) National Water Resource Strategy. Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Limpopo Province Water Resource Perspective: Water Management Areas and Catchments, presentation. 20

21 Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) The National State of Water Resources Quarterly Report July to September Department of Water and Sanitation, Pretoria. Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). 2015a. Limpopo Province State of Dams ( accessed 4 Nov 2015) Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). 2015b. National Eutrophication Monitoring Program ( Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAOUN) Fertilizer use by crop, South Africa. Land and Plant Nutrition Management Service, Land and Water Development Division. Regional Climate Change Programme Research Brief 13: Rainfall and temperature projections for southern Africa. SADC-HDR Regional strategic action plan for integration water resources development and management in the SADC countries ( ). Water Sector Coordinating Unit. Lilongwe, Malawi. South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and Department of Environmental Affairs National Climate Change Response White Paper. Statistics South Africa Gross domestic product: Annual Estimates , Regional Estimates , Third Quarter Limpopo Basin Permanent Technical Committee LBPTC Joint Limpopo River Basin Study: Scoping Phase: Final Report; January The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism (LEDET) Limpopo Green Economy Plan including provincial climate change response. Prepared by Dr. A. Letsoalo, Manager Environmental Research and Planning. Evridiki Towers, Polokwane. The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism Limpopo Green Economy Plan Including Provincial Climate Change Response. Evridiki Towers, Polokwane. The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment & Tourism Climate Support Programme (CSP) Climate Change Adapation Strategies. Adaptation Strategies for Limpopo Province. Evridiki Towers, Polokwane. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) Biodiversity GIS (BGIS). Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas, Water Management Areas created in 2011 [online]. URL: Water Research Commission (WRC) Nylsvley, Executive Summary. ( 06_EXECUTIVE%20SUMMARY.pdf) Water Research Commission (WRC) The State of Rivers Report Letaba and Luvuvhu River Systems. Water Research Commission Sustainable Use of South Africa s Inland Waters. Water Research Commission, Gezina, Pretoria. The World Wildlife Fund The Food Energy Water Nexus: understanding South Africa s most urgent sustainability challenge. 21