Developing strategies for sustainable groundwater management in the b60d quaternary subcatchment of the Olifants water management area

Abstract

Water supply in rural areas has changed dramatically over the past years, especially in the northern parts of the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The role of hydrogeology and the understanding of groundwater has increased to a degree where groundwater is now prioritised over bulk water from rivers and dams. This is evident in the Leroro, Matibidi and Moremela villages in the northern areas of the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM). In the past, groundwater was considered as an emergency, short-term solution to water needs. Boreholes were usually sited and drilled in the proximity to the demand. An example is where a water reticulation system is constructed first, and then the hydrogeologist is tasked to find water near the water reticulation reservoir. This practice has resulted in low-yielding boreholes with little or no recharge, and as a result, boreholes are drying up. In this dissertation, the B60D quaternary subcatchment of the Olifants water management area has been studied as a paradigmatic case of a catchment area with human pressure on its groundwater resources, as well as a region with a failing water supply system. The hydrogeological system of the Olifants basin was described using hydrological, geophysical and hydrogeochemical characterisations of the geological formations taken from the different field surveys. The objective for these techniques was to show the effects of groundwater exploitation on the hydrodynamics of the system and also on consumers. In addition, this study highlighted the principal water-related problems such as identifying existing water shortages using SWOT analysis. The study further developed strategies such as the monitoring of groundwater level, water quality and maintenance of groundwater facilities and other management strategies for a sustainable utilisation of the water. In conclusion, this dissertation described the monitoring and management system for the infrastructure of the B60D subcatchment groundwater system. From a broader point of view, this explication highlights the value of having monitoring strategies to alleviate the excessive pumping of groundwater resources and mismanagement of groundwater infrastructure.