Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
INSTITUTE FOR WATER STUDIES WATER RESEARCH GROUPS 1. Environmental and Nano Sciences Group Effects of disposal of mining and industrial wastewater on water quality. Neutralization of acid mine drainage with fly ash (Eskom/Coaltech/ WRC) Treatment of circumneutral mine water (Eskom) Applications of Ash (ESKOM) –Ashwalling and backfill Sustainable salt sinks (ESKOM/Sasol) Characteristics of high halide waste streams (Coaltech) Brine stabilization, treatment and disposal (Coaltech/NRF) CO2 sequestration (ESKOM) Group Members Dr L. Petrik, Dept of Chemistry 2. Biodiversity and Conservation Biology Group Use of plants as monitors of water quality in the Berg River catchment. Uptake of heavy metals, both Cu, (Fe) & Zn as essential nutrients, and Cd and Pb. Water relations of Brabejum, as an indicator of water availability. The distribution of Restionaceae in the South Western Cape and the relationship with fluctuating depth to the water table. The relative importance of fog and rain to some west coast plant species. Landscape change and prediction of surface water and wetlands in southern Africa. (Modelling of landscape changes and surface water in the Sandveld (an area of high potato production) has indicated that even without predicted climate change the current landuse practices are un-sustainable. Using climate change scenarios it becomes unsustainable in a shorter period. In the Klein Karoo area there is a prominent breakdown of the Winter rainfall regimes based on time series analysis of satellite imagery since 1985. This research is to be expanded to the Hopefield area) Impact of the Giant Reed Arundo donax on ecosystem services. (Past research on this freshwater invasive species suggests that it will become increasingly aggressive as an ecosystem transformer threatening present and future water resources in semiarid regions of South Africa.) Use of indigenous fish for validation of Climate Change models of ephemeral water bodies. (Proposed project area is to use ephemeral species of fish with known diapauses (eggs undergo a compulsory dry dormancy) to assess species response at both phases of fish development as a method of validation of climate change predictions relating to temporary freshwater habitats). Community interventions (action research) for river and catchment management. (Community based research projects in the Western Cape and Namaqualand that emphasise monitoring of interventions aimed at restoring ecosystem services which are sustainable under climate change scenarios). Group Members i) Prof L. Raitt ii) Dr R. Knight 3. Medical Biosciences Developing rapid in vitro biomarker assays to monitor aquatic pollutants that can impact human and animal health. Endocrine disrupting chemicals occurring in the environment and their effects on specific physiological systems and biochemical pathways. Impacts of formal vs informal settlements, agriculture, industries and sewage treatment plants on water quality. Analysis of water for toxins affecting cell function (cytotoxins) and emerging pollutants such as endocrine disruptors (estrogens, androgens and thyroid actives), carcinogens, genotoxins, immunotoxins, neurotoxins. Group Members Prof E. Pool, Dept of Medical Biosciences 5 x MSc and 3 x PhD students work on the above projects. I have 2 more PhD students working on food toxicology/medicinal chemistry that have the expertise to help with water quality analysis. 4. Surface Water Effects of potential water development projects on flow regimes of the Okavango River. Application of a river basin management approach to ephemeral catchments. Change detection in rainfall and runoff time series. Effects of veld fires on soil erosion and water flows to rivers Effects of land use change on sediment loads of surface runoff. Hydrological effects of land use change. Measuring throughflow on various soil types in the Kuils River catchment Prediction of river flow characteristics in ungauged river basins. The effects of water transfer from Swakoppoort and Omatako Dams on water quality of the recipient Von Bach Dam, Namibia. Group Members i) Prof D. Mazvimavi, Dept of Earth Sciences ii) A.C.T. Scheepers, Dept of Earth Sciences 5. Groundwater Ash disposal sites and their sustainability as inland salt sinks. Groundwater flow patterns within ash dumps. Groundwater contamination from urban runoff. Development of guidelines for protection zoning of groundwater used for domestic water supply. The fate and transport of microbes in groundwater. Surface water – groundwater interactions along streams. Occurrence and flow of groundwater in fractured aquifer systems Groundwater storage, flow and recharge in the Table Mountain Group aquifers.. Groundwater recharge and pollution in the Cape Flats Modelling contaminants in the unsaturated zone. Groundwater vulnerability assessment. Group Members i) Prof Y. Xu, Dept of Earth Sciences ii) J. Nel, Dept of Earth Sciences 6. Water Economics Willingness to pay for water supply and sanitation by low income communities. Group Members Dr E. Makaudze, Dept of Economics 7. Water and Human Development Construct indices for measuring the adequacy of water management institutions Develop poverty and development framework appropriate for water and development Promote dialogue through tools such as the Knowledge Café, that levels the playing fields between stakeholders involved in water issues Design, collect, manage and analyse socio-economic data Integrate social and technical aspects of rain water harvesting Create dynamic learning spaces to mitigate for vulnerability and promote resilience to external stressors Design research that builds on cultural diversity and integrates ‘indigenous’ knowledge Integrate Social and Natural Systems through enhancing environmental sustainability in the Middle Zambezi Valley (Ecohydro-Zambezi) Triangulation, integration, coordination and capacity building for the CGIAR Challenge Programme for Water and Food Phase 2 Research seminar series to nurture inter-disciplinary dialogue between social scientists and engineers in the SADC region and beyond Group Members i) Prof Jaqui Goldin and Villeen Beerwinkel, IWRM Programme ii) Masters Students (7): Laudika Halueendo, Manqoba Dlamini, Germaine Owen, Park Muhondo, Patrick Mulengera, Bulelwa Ngwexana, Boniswa Mkhayiswa iii) PhD Student (1): Noma Neseni 8. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) IWRM – from theory to practice The utility of IWRM as an approach to water management and the circumstances that contributed to IWRM moving from ‘panacea’ to ‘villain’ in water resources management. Group Members L. Jonker, IWRM Programme M. Carollisen, Dept of Geography