Zululand Chamber of Business and Industry Reconciliation Study Programme Background 8 March 2012 Niel J van Wyk Chief Engineer: National Water Resource Planning RSA Department of Water Affairs

Structure of presentation Broad situation Broad situation Key demand centre reconciliation overview Key demand centre reconciliation overview All Town overview All Town overview Regional water availability Regional water availability Key demand centre example Key demand centre example Key reconciliation findings Key reconciliation findings 2

3 Water reconciliation

Sources of Water Water resources planning recognises the source of water:   Water conservation and demand management   Surface water (runoff, surface dams)   Groundwater   Return flows/discharges   Reclamation/re-use/desalination   Rainwater harvesting   Catchment rehabilitation and management   Water trading 4

NSDP: Key demand centres

6 Reconciliation Strategy Studies Develop future water requirement scenarios in consultation with users Investigate all possible water resources and other interventions Investigate all possible methods for reconciling the requirements with the available resources Make recommendations for development and implementation of interventions

7 Assumptions and principles Planning based on high future requirement scenarios – Final implementation could be delayed if necessary – Very difficult to bring forward Availability determined taking account of normal fluctuations in climate, but also climate change Monitoring and adjustment is crucial

Reconciliation Strategies for large systems and metros Completed – Western Cape – Amatole system – Vaal River – Crocodile West (finalising Stage 2 strategy) – KZN Coastal Metropolitan areas – Algoa Current – Bloemfontein – Olifants system Next – Mbombela – Richards Bay

11 Electronic copies Search for Other: Integrated Water Resource Planning – National Documents Reports listed alphabetically

Next level – all other towns Studies started in 2009 Three year programme to cover all towns and villages Priority to towns with largest growth potential and biggest water resource problems Some was already covered by metro studies Mechanisms are being put in place to maintain strategies after completion of first level studies

Strategy Web-Portal Available Strategies Portal allows for searching on a Provincial, District and Local municipality level Interactive map allows for the selection of a specific area Statistics and links to all available strategies are displayed for the selected area

Water availability in area (1) Mhlatuze River Probably most studied river in South Africa Probably most studied river in South Africa Over allocated but underutilized Over allocated but underutilized Water Allocation Reform in progress Water Allocation Reform in progress More water can still be transferred in from Thukela More water can still be transferred in from Thukela Water re-use can be extended Water re-use can be extended Umfolozi River can be developed Umfolozi River can be developed Desalination of sea water within reach Desalination of sea water within reach 14

Water availability in area (2) Thukela River Major river system Major river system Many water transfers to neighbouring catchments Many water transfers to neighbouring catchments Substantial water allocated to Mhlatuze not yet utilised Substantial water allocated to Mhlatuze not yet utilised Last surplus water in Thukela will be allocated soon Last surplus water in Thukela will be allocated soon Storage development can make substantial quantities of water available still Storage development can make substantial quantities of water available still 15

Water availability in area (3) Umfolozi River Little surplus water at present Little surplus water at present Largely undeveloped – storage development can make substantial quantities of water available still Largely undeveloped – storage development can make substantial quantities of water available still Large storage required to counter sediment problem Large storage required to counter sediment problem 16

Reconciliation example Reconciliation example 17

KZN Coastal Metropolitan Area Mgeni Supply Area Mdloti Supply Area Mvoti Supply Area Lower Thukela Supply Area

Water Balance – Mgeni System 19 Water Requirements / Yield (million m 3 / annum) Spring Grove Dam Re-use of Treated Effluent Mkomazi River Development (Smithfield Dam) Deficits November 2010 Water Requirements Scenario Pipeline from Spring Grove Dam

KZN Strategies Build Spring Grove Dam and transfer scheme Prepare for water restrictions Implement WC/WDM Feasibility study and implement re-use scheme Feasibility study on desalination Feasibility study on Mkomazi development

2010 Reference Scenario (lowest URV) INTERVENTION SELECTIONYEARYIELD 1Voëlvlei Phase Lourens Cape Flats Aquifer DWAF:ASR: West Coast TMG Scheme Raise Lower Steenbras Re-use Generic Re-use Generic

Scenario 3: Climate Change and WC/WDM 50% Successful INTERVENTION SELECTIONYEARYIELD 1Voëlvlei Phase TMG Scheme Re-use Generic Raise Lower Steenbras Cape Flats Aquifer Re-use Generic Desalination Water Required by 2015

Key strategic messages (1) Water management is complex Solutions entail much more than just addition of dams WC/WDM extremely important in all areas – SA can not afford to waste water, anywhere, anytime Groundwater important, currently under-valued and under-used Huge potential for increase in re-use, at coast but also in inland systems i.e. Vaal River system

Key strategic messages (2) Limited opportunity for more dams Dams and interbasin transfers inevitable in certain areas – very expensive Desalination – Small scale seawater desalination already being done – Mine water desalination important – Large scale seawater desalination imminent Possible to make more water available anywhere in the country in the future, but at steeply rising costs Zambezi water too costly

Key strategic messages (3) Water for increase in irrigation in SA very limited Moving some water from irrigation to other use must already be considered in certain areas Food could be grown by SADC countries and traded to SA – regional perspective important Catchment rehabilitation, clearing of invasive alien plants and rainwater harvesting can be undertaken to optimise rainfall (both at catchment and household level)

Key messages from All Town Studies Improved management will solve largest portion of immediate problems – No metering – WSAs have no idea how much water is used or wasted – Large wastage of water evident – Per capita use much too high – Free water provided far above indigent level obligations – Poor cost recovery – Consider implementation of “Purple Drop” certification for efficient water use – Lack of proper maintenance and skilled operators – Technical competency low Groundwater a very important resource for towns

In summary Water management is complex Is SA going to run out of water? If we use water more efficiently we can go a long way with the current developed water resources (water services infrastructure roll-out remains a challenge) We can also make more water available as needed, but it must be accepted that it is going to cost more and more as we go into the future Therefore, to meet the future, it is critical that plans to reconcile water supply and demand are developed and timeously implemented. This means coordinated action at all levels of the water sector.

Thank you

Contact Details Niel J van Wyk (Pr. Eng.) Chief Engineer National Water Resource Planning (east) Department of Water Affairs Private Bag X313 Pretoria 0001 Landline Cell