 | Groundwater resource directed measures for Maloney's eye catchment |
| Expanded Title: | The Steenkoppies DC is located in the upper reaches of the Magalies River catchment (A21F) which comprises a total drainage area of approximately 1 000 km2. The Maloney’s Eye catchment (the Steenkoppies DC) comprises an area of approximately 332 km2 and is underlain by the Malmani dolomite formations of the Chuniespoort Group. It is within this Group that karst formation has occurred. Dykes that form boundaries to groundwater flow cross the dolomites, creating isolated hydrogeological compartments.
In view of the very high water use / demand for agricultural irrigation in the Steenkoppies Dolomite Compartment, a sub-portion of the quaternary catchment A21F and currently with reduced flows discharging from the Maloney’s Eye, there is a need to carry out an intermediate / comprehensive level of the groundwater Reserve. The latter will depend on the geohydrological data available.
Increasing quantities of effluent return flow from urban and industrial areas offer considerable potential for re-use, but at the same time a major concern of pollution in some areas. Return flows also originate from irrigation, estimated at 10% of annual water use.
A regional groundwater model has been developed for the Steenkoppies DC and the Lower Magalies River. The model can be utilized to simulate the effect of different operational and management scenarios and their impact on the flow of the Maloney’s Eye. The presented model can be used as a tool to determine the optimal abstraction rate while giving cognizance to the sustainability of the resource. With minimal further customization the model can be expanded to a mass transport model to simulate water quality impacts across the entire quaternary catchment
Groundwater protection zones have been developed and proposed for the Maloney’s Eye. By placing some form of regulatory control on activities taking place on land which falls within the various zones, their impact on the quantity (and quality) of the Eye can be minimised. The concept can be applied to currently utilized groundwater resources as well as to aquifers (boreholes) that might be utilised at some time in the future. |
| Date Published: | 01/10/2013 |
| Document Type: | Research Report |
| Document Subjects: | Water Resource Management/IWRM - Catchment Management, Water Resource Management/IWRM - Hydrogeology, Water Resource Management/IWRM - Water Governance |
| Document Keywords: | Environment, Governance, Ground Water, Hydrology, Water Quality |
| Document Format: | Report |
| Document File Type: | pdf |
| Research Report Type: | Consultant |
| WRC Report No: | KV 319/13 |
| ISBN No: | 978-1-4312-0473-1 |
| Authors: | Wiegmans FE; Holland M; Janse van Rensburg H |
| Project No: | K8/970 |
| Originator: | WRC |
| Organizations: | Golder Associates (Africa) Pty Ltd |
| Document Size: | 14 910 KB |
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