New Sol Plaatje University in the Northern Cape
Brief assessment to use non-potable water for irrigation on and
around the new campus.
1.
Purpose
This document provides some direction in the future use of non-potable water on and around
the new campus for irrigation of sport fields and recreation open areas in Sol Plaatje to
relieve problems that the Sol Plaatje experiences with excess treated effluent and nonpotable water in the Kamfer Dam, north of the City.
2.
Context
The Sol Plaatje new university will be established in the Inner City of Sol Plaatje. A large
portion of the area earmarked for the university will comprise sport fields and open green
areas. The high cost of potable water that is distributed in Sol Plaatje result in high cost to
irrigate these green areas. This is evident from discussions that took place with schools that
experience the same problem with high costs to irrigate their sport fields.
An existing non-potable water supply system exists in Kimberley transferring excess nonpotable water from the northern located Kamfer Dam into different areas in Sol Plaatje. The
excess water originates from treated effluent from the Homevale Waste Water Treatment
Works (WWTW), from storm water and from mine dewatering. The high built-up of water in
the Kamfer Dam poses a threat to a railway line passing the dam site. The municipality is as
a result investigating options to address this excess water problem and to supply this water
into different “green belt” nodes in Kimberley and as such complement the proposed green
belt throughout the city which has been identified and described in their Comprehensive
Urban Planning Report.
3.
Findings from previous studies
A previous study that was completed in 1999 recommended that the excess water problems
at the Homevale WWTW be managed by extending the existing irrigation system into areas
which require water for irrigation. At that stage Kimberley was divided into 8 nodes or
irrigation zones, each comprising parks, sport fields and school premises. An assessment
was made of irrigation water requirements for each node. The university was obviously not
included in this study and will from the layout drawing fall within Node 7. The latest
assessment figures for the water demand for Node 7 is included in the report below
From the previous study it was found that the water demand varies greatly between summer
and winter peak demand (winter irrigation demand tends to be about 20% of the summer
demand). This is fortunately during a period where storm water runoff towards the Kamfer
Dam is also much lower.
4.
The current system
Based on information from a report in 1999, the new university and irrigable areas around
the new university are located inside the Node 7 area. This node forms part of 8 nodes
identified throughout the city. The current system for Node 7 comprises the following:
a) A pump system from the Homevale WWTW delivers water to a 712 Kl reservoir
through a 250mm dia 3,2km pipeline to Eddie Williams (EW),
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b)
c)
d)
e)
A pump system boosts water from the EW Reservoir through a 3,8km 200mm dia
pipeline to a 440 Kl reservoir at Queens Park.
A pump at Queens Park pumps the non-potable water through a 200mm dia
1,17km pipeline to the Civic Centre and the Oppenheimer Gardens,
Meters are reading the flow of water, however irregular readings exist, and
Water is also supplied to De Beers, the Golf Club and the Parks Department. De
Beers had a MoA with the Municipality (in 1999) for the use of water from the
WWTW.
The information should be verified, however.
5.
Potential Stakeholders/beneficiaries
From the Node 7 layout the following users will be beneficiaries or potential users of nonpotable water:
a) The new university including
i.
Oppenheimer memorial park on the north campus,
ii.
Sport fields on the central campus, and
iii.
Sport fields on the South Campus (existing Hoffe park)
b) Kimberley Boys High sport fields
c) GWK rugby club at Hoffe park
d) Diamand Field School
e) Vooruitsig school premises
f) Others – list to be extended
Important stakeholders that need to be consulted and that will play a role in this venture
include:
a) The Sol Plaatje Municipality as the Water Services Authority and manager of the
non-potable water system,
b) De Beers as a potential user and contributor to the future yield of the non-potable
water,
c) DWA as custodian and regulator of water use,
d) Potential funders such as the Sol Plaatje University, others
e) Others?
A concerted effort will be undertaken to approach these stakeholders and users to partake in
the sharing of the non-potable water supply. A water services/supply agreement will have to
document all roles and responsibilities of the different roleplayers concerning the supply and
use of non-potable water.
6.
Availability of water
Previous studies have shown that in excess of 16Ml/day of water is flowing into the Kamfer
Dam, comprising water from the WWTW, storm water and mine dewatering. A large volume
of this water in the dam evaporates from the dam’s surface area of 540ha. These volumes
should be verified, and in particular the future firm yield that can be harvested from this nonpotable water source for irrigation.
7.
Water quality
The quality of the water in the Kamfer Dam should be tested and verified whether it is
suitable for the use of irrigation water. These tests must reveal historic trends of quality of
water to ensure that the quality of water historically complied to the requirements set for
irrigation water.
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8.
Legislation
Current policies encourage the re-use of treated effluent such as for irrigation of sport fields.
Return flow water from WWTW’s and the re-use of treated effluent (also for irrigation) are
controlled by the National Water Act, Act 36 of 1998 (NWA) and the Water Services Act, Act
108 of 1997, (WSA). The re-use and management of return flow water from the Homevale
WWTW is determined in the water use license issued by the Department of Water Affairs.
The NWA control the use of water for irrigation using waste or water containing waste from
certain sources (regarded as a controlled activity ito Regulation 37) and is therefore
controlled through the issuing of a water use license.
Where non-potable water or effluent is used and supplied through a tap which can be
accessed by the general public, it must be clearly marked with a waterproof notice that
effluent or non-drinking water is supplied through this point. The notice should be in more
than the official language and the sign should comply with SANS regulations, Code 1186:
symbolic safety signs.
9.
Proposed changes
Due to possible increase in water demands for the use of no-potable water and to ensure
that the peak summer demand could be supplied to potential users, the existing system as
discussed in Section 4 must be upgraded. The following upgrading of Node 7 is envisaged
(to be verified):
a) Increase the capacity of the pumps at the Homevale WWTW to deliver the new
demand for non-potable water to the Eddie Williams reservoir,
b) Increase the capacity of the pumps at the Eddie Williams reservoir to deliver the new
demand to the Queens park area,
c) Increase the capacity of the booster pumps at the Queens park to deliver the new
demand for non-potable water to Oppenheimer Park,
d) Install a new non-potable water supply system (or secondary supply system) to
connect all new potential users (as identified in Section 5 to the existing system at
the Oppenheimer Park area. A layout of this proposed water supply system is
included in the Annexure xx
e) Install a booster pump at the Oppenheimer park to be able to supply the demand at
required pressure, and
f) Install a telemetry system to co-ordinate and optimise functioning of these different
pump systems.
10.
Water Services Agreement
Where non-potable water is supplied by the Municipality to consumers, the following should
be stated in a water services agreement with the consumer:
a) The consumer must formally apply for the use of non-potable water from the
municipality,
b) The municipality may on application agree to supply potable water subject to terms
and conditions as the municipality may impose,
c) Any such water which in the opinion of the municipality may impose a health risk
shall not be used for domestic or other purposes,
d) No warranty expressed or imply shall apply to the purity of any non-potable water
supplied by the municipality or its suitability for the purpose for which the supply was
granted, and
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e) The supply of the non-potable water shall be entirely at the risk of the consumer who
shall be liable for any consequential damage or loss arising from the use of the
water.
11.
Proposed Actions and Way Forward
With respect to the above brief summary report, a service provider will have to be appointed
to attend to the following actions:
11.1 Stakeholders and potential beneficiaries – identify and consult all stakeholders and
potential beneficiaries that will benefit from the supply of non-potable water in the
specific node (node 7) in Kimberley,
11.2 Determine the water demands for these beneficiaries for irrigation water, considering
summer peaks,
11.3 Assess the yield of the non-potable water source considering the seasonal runoff of
water both from treated effluent return flows and from the storm water system. The
location of this source is important to locate the future position of abstraction.
11.4 Water quality – evaluate the historic water quality results from this source and the
appropriateness for use as irrigation water for sport fields and parks areas,
11.5 Legislation – ensure that the use of non-potable water complies to existing
legislation,
11.6 Determine the capital cost and operating costs expressed at a rate/kl,
11.7 A water services/supply agreement will be compiled to document all roles and
responsibilities concerning the supply and use of non-potable water, and
11.8 Develop an implementation plan for the non-potable water system in Node 7 for
approval by the different stakeholders such as Sol Plaatje, DWA and potential
funders such as the DHET/ NU Interim Council.
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Annexure A
Layout map of the Transnet Property
Location of existing non-potable water supply system in Kimberley
To be completed
New Proposed Non-potable water supply system
To be determined
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