NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY SOUTH AFRICA’S WATER SITUATION AND STRATEGIES TO BALANCE SUPPLY AND DEMAND THUKELA WMA

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

2. WMA 7: Thukela - Rainfall and Evaporation

3. WMA 7: Thukela - Base Map

4. WMA 7: Thukela - Land Use

5. WMA 7: Thukela - Sectoral Water Requirements (2000)

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

7. WMA 7: Thukela - Water Availability (2000)

8. WMA 7: Thukela - Water Reconciliation (2000)

9. WMA 7: Thukela - Population scenarios

10. WMA 7: Thukela - Water Reconciliation (future)

11. WMA 7: ThukelaGroundwater • Significant quantities of water could be abstracted from groundwater in WMA - actual utilisation small • Mainly attributable to the generally well-watered nature of WMA and wide occurrence of perennial surface steamswhich reduces the need for groundwater • Significant proportion of base flow in surface streams contributed from groundwater

12. WMA 7: Thukela Water quality • In natural state quality of surface water of high standard • Wash-off from areas with insufficient sanitation infrastructure and services causes unacceptable bacteriological pollution • Land degradation contributes to high sediment loads • Quality of groundwater generally of very high standard • Localised cases of pollution of groundwater occur at some of the abandoned coal mines - no other pollution of groundwater has been recorded • Water quality management plan together with appropriate license conditionsneeds to be developed

13. WMA 7: Thukela Key issues • Resources of Thukela River predominantly used to support requirements for water in other parts of country • Large transfers of water to three neighbouring WMAs • Upper Vaal WMA • Usutu to Mhlatuze WMA • Mvoti to Umzimkulu WMA • Strong needs exist for increased and additional transfers in future

14. WMA 7: Thukela Key issues (2) • Implementation of Reserve can have a dramatic impact on the water balances in WMA • provisional estimates of Reserve indicate that serious shortages are likely to result • compensatory measures will have to be taken • Significant potential for further development of surface water resources exists in WMA • important that optimal long term benefits be derived from development of these resources • important that both national and local interests be appropriately addressed

15. WMA 7: Thukela Water resources under control of the Minister • Transfersout • from Upper Thukela River to Upper Vaal WMA • from Buffalo sub-area (Slang River) to Upper Vaal WMA • from Mooi River to Mvoti to Umzimkulu WMA (Mgeni River) - may be increased in future with addition of new infrastructure • from the Lower Tugela sub-area to Usutu to Mhlatuze WMA - may be increased in future • Development of large new water resources infrastructure (with exception of Mooi-Mgeni transfer) to be reserved for transfers to Upper Vaal WMA