1. NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY SOUTH AFRICA’S WATER SITUATION AND STRATEGIES TO BALANCE SUPPLY AND DEMAND LOWER ORANGE WMA

2. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Rainfall and Evaporation

3. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Base Map

4. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Land Use

5. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Sectoral Water Requirements (2000)

6. Sectoral contributions to the economy (1997) Contribution Agriculture Mining Manufacturing Electricity Construction Trade Transport Finance Government Other Community 0 % 20 % 30 % 10 % National Lower Orange WMA

7. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Water Availability (2000)

8. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Water Reconciliation (2000)

9. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Population scenarios

10. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Water Reconciliation (future)

11. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Groundwater Groundwater utilisation important - constitutes only source of water over much of the WMA Mainly used for rural domestic supplies, stock watering and water supplies to inland towns in the WMA Recharge of groundwater limited - only small quantities can be abstracted on a sustainable basis Orange Tributaries sub-area: about 60% of available water supplied from groundwater Groundwater constitutes important source of water for rural water supplies Current utilisation of groundwater approximately in balance with sustainable yield No significant potential for further development exists

12. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Water quality In natural state quality of water in Orange River good, although of high turbidity during flood flows Water from the tributary streams tends to be of high salinity Both flow regime and water quality has been severely impacted upon by extensive upstream developments Salinity has increased due to transfers out of high quality water in Lesotho and Upper Orange WMA - also high salinity irrigation return flows along Orange River Much of groundwater in coastal area of poor quality

13. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Key issues Arid climate of the region and limited potential of water resources which naturally occur in the WMA Both surface and groundwater fully developed and utilised Virtual total dependence of Lower Orange WMA on water released from Upper Orange WMA and dominant influence of water utilisation in upstream WMAs on water resource management in Lower Orange WMA Concerns about water quality in Orange River as result of upstream activities (transfers and urban, industrial, mining and irrigation return flows) and possible future developments Water quality is also impacted upon by irrigation within the water management area.

14. WMA 14: Lower Orange - Key issues (2) Insufficient measurement, monitoring and control of irrigation water Irrigation water use efficiency subject to improvement Inefficient management of releases from Vanderkloof Dam and lack of control structures to facilitate it Sharing of releases from Vanderkloof Dam with Namibia Joint responsibility by South Africa with respect to management of the estuary Need for poverty relief and availability of water for settlement of emerging irrigation farmers Implementation of efficient flood management Appropriate measures to manage impacts of “soomwalle” on downstream users.

15. WMA 14: Lower Orange Water resources under control of the Minister Transfer of water (yield) from the Upper Orange WMA Water for 4 000 ha new irrigation - included in future scenarios (about 60 million m 3 /a) Abstraction of water by Namibia as well as all water related negotiations and agreements with Namibia Flood management in the Orange/Vaal catchment Authorisation of any new control infrastructure on the Orange River because of potential impacts on Namibia and the management of the Orange River mouth - along much of the lower Orange River, infrastructure across the river will also involve Namibian territory