Keywords

IWRM; WQSAM; water quality modelling; Crocodile River; IUCMA

Start Date

26-6-2018 2:00 PM

End Date

26-6-2018 3:20 PM

Abstract

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is firmly entrenched in legislation for water resources management in South Africa. As such, the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) recognises that the needs of all relevant stakeholders in a catchment, including the environment, need to be considered to achieve full integration, allocation equity and sustainable water use. Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs), which work at a river basin level, have been established to implement IWRM in South Africa. The implementation of IWRM has been hampered by a lack of data or knowledge of important natural processes. In particular, while models exist to investigate the consequences of management actions on river flow, no models have yet become established within management to investigate the relationship between flow and water quality. It was within this context that the Water Quality Systems Assessment Model (WQSAM) was developed. WQSAM links to routinely-used hydrological and systems models to simulate water quality at a catchment level for long-term water quality management, and the strength of the model lies in its ability to translate the management of flow to likely water quality consequences. The model could therefore guide in the management of licencing of water users especially compliance monitoring. The Inkomati Usuthu CMA, which administers the Crocodile River Catchment in Mpumalanga, South Africa, decided this year to operationalise the WQSAM model within the agency. This study examines the challenges encountered, with reflection on the usefulness of the model for water resources management in the catchment, and general recommendations for model considerations for achieving IWRM.

Stream and Session

C2: Application of Decision Support Tools for Integrated Water Resources Management

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Jun 26th, 2:00 PM Jun 26th, 3:20 PM

Application of the Water Quality Systems Assessment Model (WQSAM) to the Crocodile River Catchment in Mpumalanga, South Africa for integrated management of water quality

Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is firmly entrenched in legislation for water resources management in South Africa. As such, the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) recognises that the needs of all relevant stakeholders in a catchment, including the environment, need to be considered to achieve full integration, allocation equity and sustainable water use. Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs), which work at a river basin level, have been established to implement IWRM in South Africa. The implementation of IWRM has been hampered by a lack of data or knowledge of important natural processes. In particular, while models exist to investigate the consequences of management actions on river flow, no models have yet become established within management to investigate the relationship between flow and water quality. It was within this context that the Water Quality Systems Assessment Model (WQSAM) was developed. WQSAM links to routinely-used hydrological and systems models to simulate water quality at a catchment level for long-term water quality management, and the strength of the model lies in its ability to translate the management of flow to likely water quality consequences. The model could therefore guide in the management of licencing of water users especially compliance monitoring. The Inkomati Usuthu CMA, which administers the Crocodile River Catchment in Mpumalanga, South Africa, decided this year to operationalise the WQSAM model within the agency. This study examines the challenges encountered, with reflection on the usefulness of the model for water resources management in the catchment, and general recommendations for model considerations for achieving IWRM.