of its water, has had significant environmental consequences for the ecology of the recipient Great Fish River. These have been extensively documented (e.g. O’Keeffe and de Moor 1988, Rivers-Moore and others 2007), and include the introduction of a variety of alien fish species. An example is the emergence of a biting black-fly, Simulium chutteri, whose aquatic larval and pupal stages have come to dominate the invertebrate fauna of the middle reaches of the river since the inter-basin transfer.
An interesting success story in South Africa’s environmental management is the “Working for Water” programme, which was initiated by the Department of Water and Forestry in the 1990s. It aims to combat alien plant species, which not only have a highly negative effect on indigenous species, but also tend to consume a very high amount of water. By the mid 20th century, exotic trees dominated the hillsides around Grahamstown, significantly reducing the runoff to local streams. In the 1990s, the Working for Water initiative began to clear some of the local catchments, the agreement being that the programme would fund the initial and second clearances, and that the landowner (usually the Makana Municipality) had the responsibility for further clearances until the native vegetation was re-established. The programme has had its successes, notably in the Featherstone Kloof catchment and on Mountain Drive, and where the runoff to dams such as Grey Dam, which receives runoff from Mountain Drive, has increased demonstrably.
INSPIRING WATER INITIATIVES IN GRAHAMSTOWN In Makana Municipality a Blue Drop System is being implemented with the help of the Amatola Water Board, which is one of 20 water boards mandated by the South African Government to operate as a water services provider to municipal authorities. The Blue Drop System is a regulatory tool and certification system used by the Department of Water Affairs to monitor the quality of drinking water in South Africa.
Rainwater harvesting is being promoted by the project Galela Amanzi meaning “pour the water” in Xhosa, and was initiated by students in 2007. Galela Amanzi installs rainwater tanks in key locations in the disadvantaged regions of Grahamstown, providing water for irrigating community vegetable gardens, cooking and drinking purposes.
A demonstration of integrated algal ponding process to treat effluent at the Belmont Valley wastewater treatment works
has been in operation for 17 years. The plant treats about 10 per cent of the effluent received at the wastewater treatment works, and produces treated effluent which meets the national standards.
LESSONS LEARNED AND MESSAGES TO GUIDE POLICY AND PRACTICE
Since its establishment, Grahamstown has struggled to provide adequate water services to its growing population, and the city is predicted to face future crises in terms of demand for environmental resources in the face of climate change. One solution is the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach. A recent paper by Haigh and others (2010) discusses the requirements and impediments to IWRM at local government level in South Africa. They point out that many South African municipalities fail to comply with the Water Services Development Plan, and cite ignorance and lack of staff capacity; failure to manage infrastructure adequately; poorly run and inadequate wastewater treatment works; failure to clear alien vegetation from rivers; and failure to monitor water resources as the reasons for such failure. Many of these shortcomings echo the problems of Makana Municipality.
Haigh and others (2010) make several recommendations for the gradual achievement of IWRM objectives at local government level: • Create an integration forum with an integration champion; • Realign operational areas, so that all water-related activities are dealt with by one office;
• Maintain a healthy environment, by drafting and implementing an environmental management plan;
• Review the Integrated Development Plan procedures and place water requirements at the centre of each sectoral plan;
• Ensure rigorous and effective monitoring and reporting; and • Develop management strategies that include community engagement, effective communication, rehabilitation and mitigation measures, and risk assessment.
Haigh and others (2010) also recommend a number of skills and training initiatives, including electronic data management, water resource management training, technical training including water chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology, legal knowledge, and financial management. They acknowledge that such capacity building will be a long-term process.
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