Discussion Document
Limpopo Environmental Outlook Report
2016
1st 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
2016. 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 9th December, 2015.
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Discussion Document
Table of Contents
List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................. 3
1.
Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 4
2.
Drivers, Pressures and State ................................................................................................................. 4
3.
Impacts and Trends ............................................................................................................................. 10
4.
Global Change Aspects ........................................................................................................................ 16
5.
Responses............................................................................................................................................ 16
6.
Identifying Scenarios ........................................................................................................................... 18
7.
Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................................... 19
8.
References ........................................................................................................................................... 20
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). ........................................................................... 6
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. .................................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 5: Decreasing trend in discharge of the Limpopo River downstream of the Limpopo Province
(LBPTC 2010) .................................................................................................................................. 11
Figure 6: Levels of risk for use of water contaminated with E. coli (DWS 2014). ......................................... 13
Figure 7: Electrical conductivity of water resources in South Africa (DWS 2014) ........................................ 14
Figure 8: Artificial sand channels divert the flow of the Limpopo River towards the South African
border (S. van Staden, 2015). ......................................................................................................... 15
List of Tables
Table 1: Key indicators to inform present and future management of water resources in Limpopo
Province. ............................................................................................................................................ 9
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). .............................................................................................................................. 12
Table 3: Future scenarios pertaining to management of water resources in Limpopo Province. ................ 18
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List of Acronyms
REC
Recommended Ecological Category
EC
Electrical Conductivity
GDP
Gross Domestic Product
PES
Present Ecological State
RHP
River Health Program
WMA
Water Management Area
WWTW
Waste Water Treatment Works
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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;
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

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.
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Discussion Document
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.
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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.
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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 401 – 600 mm.m-2 per annum. A relatively limited extent of the western and eastern
portion of the Province receives between 801 – 1000 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.
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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 2025. 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
1. Water resources per
capita
2.
Water supply and demand
3.
Comparison of natural
versus current river flows
(surface water quantity)
Water quantity and
quality - Groundwater
Water quantity and
quality– Surface water
Health of the rivers (e.g.
SASS; IHAS; RVI & Fish)
4.
5.
6.
7.
Number and locality of
pollution disaster events
8.
Capacity and water
quality of dams in
Limpopo (trophic status of
dams)
Description and Comment
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.
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.
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.
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, 1998.
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.
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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 1952. Refer to Figure 5 below of the Chokwe
metering station, Mozambique.
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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 2 020 million m3/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
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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 oligotrophic1, and therefore eutrophic2 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
Summer (2014-10-01 to 2015-03-31)
Eutrophication potential
Trophic status
Winter (2015-04-01 to 2015-09-30)
Mokolo Dam
Glen Alpine Dam
Luphephe Dam
Nzhelele Dam
Nwanedi (Nwanedzi) Dam
Vondo Dam
Tzaneen Dam
Magoebaskloof Dam
Middle Letaba Dam
Modjadji Dam
Nsami Dam
Negligible
Moderate
Moderate
Negligible
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Negligible
Significant
Negligible
Serious
Serious
Negligible
Negligible
Negligible
N/A
N/A
Negligible
N/A
Negligible
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
Oligotrophic
N/A
N/A
Oligotrophic
N/A
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.
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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
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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).
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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
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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 InterBasin 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, 2014.
5. 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
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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:
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Discussion Document




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
a)
Nothing
significant
changes
b) Increased
mining
activity and
industrial
water use
Description
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.
Actions Required
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.
Relevant
Implementer
The Limpopo
Department of
Economic
Development and
Tourism (LEDET)
LEDET
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Discussion Document
Scenario
c)
Impacts from
climate
change
Description
Climate change has the
potential to lead to reduced
surface and groundwater
recharge leading to reduced
availability of water in the
Province
Actions Required
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.
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.
Relevant
Implementer
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:
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Discussion Document








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.
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Discussion Document
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