14 February 2008
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry says there is no water contamination crisis in South Africa, as has been reported in the media.
The department was responding to an article published by the Sunday Times earlier this month, which claimed that the country was facing a water crisis similar to that of electricity.
"It is important to note that South Africa's drinking water quality is rated among the best in the world," Water Affairs and Forestry Minister Lindiwe Hendricks told journalists at a briefing in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Hendricks emphasised that the country's ground water system was not under any threat from waste water from mining operations, and that future water supply was not in any way being jeopardised.
On concerns raised about Wonderfonteinspruit Catchment Area in Gauteng's West Rand, Hendricks said the Wonderfontein Action Group, including all the mines in the area, had initiated actions to address the impact of mining related activities.
"After the National Nuclear Regulator's report on the matter was published, a further investigation was conducted in order to identify the key areas of concern and to highlight the most affected areas," she said, adding that the department embarked on a process identifying appropriate clean-up scenarios.
"Due to the environmental sensitivities in the Wonderfonteinspruit, the regional office of the department also identified the need for continuous public participation that will be implemented prior to any steps taken to rectify the current situation."
The department also conducted an investigation to ascertain the extent to which local communities rely directly on the Wonderfonteinspruit for access to water. The investigation, which included a one-kilometre corridor along the river, showed that approximately 950 people are directly affected.
Hendricks said the local authority had been informed of the investigations and should therefore provide drinking water to affected community members.
Acid mine drainage
The department said that after acid mine drainage started decanting into the Tweelopiespruit and Wonderfonteinspruit in 2004, it immediately issued directives to the responsible mines to collect, contain and treat the water.
The mines were required to reach an agreement in writing with regard to the liability of each mine, with mines having to share the costs of treatment, pumping, monitoring and any further investigations relating to the short, medium and long-term management of this decanting process.
"The immediate measures that were put in place included a collection system for decanting acid mine drainage, a containment dam, as well as partly refurbishing an old industrial processing plant which is utilised as an emergency acid mine drainage treatment plant," Hendricks said.
"The mines reached an agreement in writing as was required in the directive issued by the department, for the apportionment of costs and for the long term treatment of the acid mine drainage."
Long-term treatment
She further explained that a section-21 water utility company, the Western Basin Environmental Company was established to treat and manage acid mine drainage in a financially sustainable manner over the long-term.
Current studies and investigations involve building pilot plants, designing a final treatment plant and building and implementing the final long-term treatment plant, which Hendricks said would be operational within the next three years.
Furthermore, the department initiated a dam safety rehabilitation programme in April 2005, to address the backlog resulting from lack of maintenance in the past. The National Treasury has since approved an amount of R1.25-billion for the programme over a period of five financial years, starting from April 2006.
Hendricks said that 42 projects were currently between the planning and construction phases, and that work on the other dams will be phased in later.
Source: BuaNews
