Summary of Proceedings:
Conveners and Organisers of the event:
Johan Botha/Thomas du Toit
Opening Address:
Johan Botha:
The main objective of the conference is to establish a network of expertise and to use the conference as a platform to expose water related problems experienced throughout the country.
James Harris:
Olifants/Loskop Dam catchment-area
Abandoned coal mines, Coal Tailings, underground coal fires, non-functional municipal sewerage works all contribute towards a disastrous pollution problem for the Olifants River and its tributaries.
Life expectancy for the area has reduced to 46.5 years. HIV/Aids compounded by pollutants are the main cause of the reduction in life expectancy.
The economy of the area is mainly agriculture and export driven. Pollutants in the water severely affect the crop yield and quality. The area faces an ecological disaster. Tons of fish, turtles and crocodiles have already died.
Heavy metals associated with Acid Mine Drainage is the cause of many illnesses and deaths.
A project has been initiated to address the problem. Funds for the project comes mainly from the affected parties associated and dependant on the irrigation system.
Dr Paul Oberholster.
Head of the Scientific Research Team investigating the Olifants/Loskop Pollution problem.
The cocktail of pollutants emanating from mines, industry, agriculture, households and sewerage are so complex that it is virtually impossible to draw scientific conclusions on their effects on the ecosystem.
This investigation aims to evaluate
All trophic levels and its impact on all species in the system.
Various indicators will be used in the investigation such as:
Chemical; species specific-biological; Genetics/Biological; Environmental Health and Ecosystem Health indicators, Isotope tracers to determine the pollution source.
Costs for such an evaluation can run up to R200 000 for one single sampling exercise.
Marietta Lieferlink
Activist and lobbyist for the clean up of Acid Mine Drainage in the Eastern, Central And Western Transvaal Basins.
Acid Mine Drainage has been defined as potentially the biggest ecological disaster after Global Warming. The effects are everlasting and affect all species of life.
Three distinct mined-out basins, in volume several times the size of lake Kariba are filling up with acid water with a pH of approximately 2. The Western Basin is already decanting into the Tweelopie and Wonderboom Spruits. The Tweelopiespruit is classified as a class 5 polluted stream. An unqualified volume from this source is draining towards the Wonderboom Spruit with the potential to destroy the Sterkfontein Caves.
If left unattended, the Central and Eastern Basins will start decanting within two years. The decanting areas are situated on a watershed and have the potential to ecologically destroy the Vaal & Limpopo River systems.
Sulphates, Radioactive material, Heavy Metals and the Acid Water are the contaminants with the potential to destroy all life. The Robinson Lake is an example where Acid Mine Water was allowed to flow in. The lake was changed from a pristine aquatic ecosystem to a lake devoid of any life and declared radioactive.
An Environmental Impact Assessment is currently being undertaken for a proposed project to establish a Water Treatment Facility in the Central Basin area. The objective will be to pump water from the Eastern and Western Basins into the Central Basin, using existing shafts. Water from the Central Basin will be pumped to the Treatment Facility where it will be purified and sold to Rand Water Board for domestic consumption.
Currently the mines cannot obtain closure certificates before addressing the AMD problem.
Dr Anthony Turton
Addressing the Proposed Clarification Treatment Facility for the Acid Mine Water in the Witwatersrand basins.
If left unattended, the decant from the mines has the potential to destroy the Vaal/Orange river irrigation systems as well as the systems associated with the Crocodile River to the North.
Government did not understand the problem and passed it back to the Mining Companies, as they were the creators of the problem. The mines came up with a solution to purify the Acid Water and sell it back to the consumer. The Polluter Must Pay principle has been neatly externalised.
No process can guarantee to remove 100% of the pollutants 100% of the time. Radioactive material and heavy metals will find their way into the potable water. EIA currently open for comments does not address the process, the principle or give the consumers an option. Comments can be given on the routes of the pipes and the location of the treatment facility. The potential for geophysical events is a reality and is not mentioned at all.
International Implications
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is pH driven and the composition is dependant on the specific Geology of the area. Example, the Witwatersrand AMD contains radioactive material compared to the Eastern Transvaal AMD.
Rivers crossing country borders are subject to International Treaties between Governments. In general these treaties are based on Fair and Equitable deals – invariably without defining the terms. In this regard, relationships between countries dictate the terms of such agreements. Important to note is that the appetite for confrontation between independent states are small. It is therefore unlikely to escalate South Africa’s water issues and the lack of guidance from Government to International Courts. NGO’s are probably the better route.
Events that may capture international attention are:
• Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC’s): It is a fact that children are being born bisexually in the Limpopo Province.
• Acid rain or AMD liberates Aluminium in the soil, which in turn affects maize growth and yield. The potential exists to undermine food security.
• Microcystin loads in SA dams are of the highest in the world.
The opportunity may present itself to use such occurrences in order to obtain funds for research.
Louis Meintjes
TAU’s mission is to keep the farmers on the land and to produce quality food at an affordable price
In order to achieve this mission three components are essential
• Quality and Sufficient Water
• Quality Soil
• Quality Farmers.
South Africa is an arid land – example, all the rivers in SA carries less than half of the Zambezi. Annual rainfall is 470 mm compared to 857 mm in the rest of the world. 80% of this rainfall precipitates within 5 months. SA uses 62% of water in Agriculture. The biggest part of this usage is lost due to evaporation.
Mining, especially in Mpumalanga is using quality soil for mining activities. Mining soil that has been rehabilitated gave crop yields of 1,4 t/ha compared to adjacent yields of 6,5t/ha
Water in Mpumalanga storage is no longer suitable for Escom’s power stations – this places additional demands on quality water. New power plants in Ellis Rust will derive water from the Hartebeestpoort Dam and the Crocodile River.
Dry land produced crops are no longer economically feasible. The foremost food producing agricultural component is derived from irrigation.
The pressures on good farm lands, quality and sufficient water as well as the reality of land claims and security on farms places an enormous risk on food security.
The biochemistry in soils is a complex interaction between microorganisms, chemistry, type of soil air and quality of water. Pollutants, especially heavy metals change the nature of the soil with disastrous consequences in crop yield and even total crop failure.
Many pesticides contain heavy metals, which may address one pest, but have serious impacts on other aspects in the agriculture.
Conclusion
• Environmental Impact Assessments tend to focus on an isolated area or proposed mine. Such impact studies must focus on total agricultural regions due to the sensitivity of agriculture to any form of pollution.
• Agriculture must be declared a National Security Asset.
Jim Thebaut
DVD – Running Dry.
A similar DVD on South Africa Running Dry is being considered. The project is a partnership between The Chronicles Group USA and The Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa.
Information can be obtained from:
www.runningdrysouthafrica.org.za and e-mail info@runningdrysouthafrica.co.za.
Project Office: WESSA House tel 011 4625663 fax 011 4628364.
Thomas du Toit
DVD – Cryptosporidium.
Johan Botha
The Road Ahead.
Time did not allow for a discussion and to define the Road Ahead. A meeting will be arranged in the near future for this purpose.