Progressive Deterioration of Water Quality Within South Africa

Abstract

This chapter focusses on discussing the continued water degradation within South Africa. The primary water quality challenges, as discussed in Chap. 3, are expanded upon, and critically evaluated to provide a clear picture of South Africa’s continued water degradation. The chapter ultimately aims to highlight the gravity of South Africa’s water quality challenges, which has reached crisis levels in some parts of the country. The chapter consequently makes use of real-world examples to illustrate the scale and magnitude of the country’s major water quality challenges. The following case studies are included namely, the develo** water quality crisis within the Upper Vaal catchment, with specific focus on the Vaal Barrage catchment; continued acid mine drainage (AMD) within the Witwatersrand/Johannesburg region, with specific focus on the Eastern basin; and lastly, the continued sewage pollution and chemical spills in river systems and the ocean within the eThekwini metropolitan municipality (Durban metropolitan) which have led to human health risks, economic costs as well as overall environmental degradation and fish deaths on a large-scale.