Evaluating public perceptions, attitudes and participation in water resource management: The case of an urban township in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-731
Author(s):  
T. P. Mashazi ◽  
M. S. Morole ◽  
L. S. Modley
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Resource Sustainability ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Social

Abstract Public participation in water resource management is crucial for community development and resource sustainability. Many studies on water resource management have been done on urban river systems, focusing on water quality, and concentrating mainly on the physical, chemical and biological parameters, while neglecting the social impacts. An example of this is seen in the Kaalspruit, a highly polluted river in the township of Tembisa. After the confluence with the Olifantspruit River, the Kaalspruit runs through the residential and highly industrialised areas of Clayville, Tembisa and Ivory Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. The aim of the study is to evaluate public perception, participation and attitudes towards water resource management in the Kaalspruit River, and to aid with a related community management plan. This was achieved by purposive and random sampling of relevant stakeholders and the public. Community knowledge was used to increase water quality awareness. The study revealed that those surveyed are discontented with the river's current state but are interested in rehabilitating it. Their participation highlighted the need for a community-based management plan for the river.

scholarly journals Analyzing the Effectiveness of a Multi-Purpose Dam Using a System Dynamics Model

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sleemin Lee ◽  
Doosun Kang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
System Dynamics ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Target Area ◽  
System Dynamics Model ◽  
Dynamics Model ◽  
The Social

The increasing frequency of extreme droughts and flash floods in recent years due to climate change has increased the interest in sustainable water use and efficient water resource management. Because the water resource sector is closely related to human activities and affected by interactions between the humanities and social sciences, there is a need for interdisciplinary research that can consider various elements, such as society and the economy. This study elucidates relationships within the social and hydrological systems and quantitatively analyzes the effects of a multi-purpose dam on the target society using a system dynamics model. A causal loop was used to identify causal relationships between the social and hydrological components of the target area, and a simulation model was constructed using the system dynamics technique. Additionally, climate change and socio-economic scenarios were applied to analyze the future effects of the multi-purpose dam on population change, the regional economy, water use, and flood damage prevention in the target area. The model proved reliable in predicting socio-economic changes in the target area and can be used to make decisions about efficient water resource management and water-resource-related facility planning.

SOUTH AFRICA'S RESERVE: CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICIES

2006 ◽  
Vol 08 (01) ◽  
pp. 61-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALISON BODURTHA QUA-ENOO ◽  
KATE SCHENDEL ◽  
NEVIL QUINN
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Key Issues

South Africa introduced a visionary policy for water resource management in 1998. The South African National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) contains several innovative mechanisms with the potential to transform water resource management within the country and abroad. The Reserve is one of these innovations, guaranteeing a basic water requirement for both human needs and ecosystem health. This article discusses the process of Reserve determination and implementation in South Africa and identifies challenges and opportunities for successful implementation. Based on the perceptions of 28 water managers, consultants, and researchers, the key issues and recommendations for improving implementation are presented. The major findings indicate that political support, the capacity of the implementing organization, supporting policies, strong linkages between policy actors and effective monitoring programs are key issues in the successful implementation of sustainable development policy mechanisms.

scholarly journals Perspectives on integrated water resource management and its relevance in understanding the water-energy-climate change nexus in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Matome Mathetsa ◽  
Mulala Danny Simatele ◽  
Isaac T. Rampedi ◽  
Gerhard Gericke
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Integrated Water Resource Management ◽  
Development Goals

It is increasingly acknowledged that the water-energy-climate change (WECC) nexus is one of the synergies that pose a significant risk to achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), specifically numbers six, seven and thirteen. There are suggestions that climate change outcomes such as increased temperature and drought episodes have implications for water availability, which in turn affects energy production in countries dependent on hydropower, pump-storage or coal-generated electricity, including South Africa. This development therefore calls for improved understanding of how to effectively manage the challenges that arise from this nexus, to mitigate the impacts it may have on achieving the associated SDGs. This study, which is based on an in-depth appraisal of existing developments, assessed the potential of the integrated water resource management framework in understanding the WECC nexus and its implications for South Africa’s sustainable development endeavours, particularly in the context of water resource management and utilisation. The study revealed South Africa’s lack of integrated, effective, and efficient institutions and policy framework to comprehensively manage the challenges emanating from this nexus. It identified an urgent need to develop systems and processes through which South Africa can handle the challenges as well as capture the benefits that may be obtained from this nexus.

An Integrated Water Resource Management Plan for Indo-Gangetic Basin Area

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 83-84
Author(s):  
Nikita Gupta ◽  
◽  
Anil Kumar Misra ◽  
Anupriya Gupta ◽  
Manav Wadhwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Integrated Water Resource Management ◽  
Basin Area

Water harvesting and better cropping systems for the benefit of small farmers in watersheds of the East India Plateau

2012 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Croke ◽  
P. Cornish ◽  
K. Choudhry ◽  
D. Kharmakar ◽  
A. Chakraborty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Action Learning ◽  
Rural Livelihoods ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
The Social ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
The Village

This paper discusses an integrated approach for water resource management to improve rural livelihoods in the East India Plateau. This has involved linking hydrological, agronomic and social aspects to increase access to water, improve water use efficiency and develop capacity within the villages for better decision making regarding use of the available resources. To this end, the research adopted a participatory, action-learning approach, with villagers joining in developing research questions, executing experiments, collecting data and sharing in their interpretation, as well as planning intervention work designed to improve access to water, particularly in the early dry season. The focus of this paper is on the integration of the different aspects of water resource management, with particular emphasis on the social issues. This included working with women's self-help groups and village watershed committees, and specific efforts to engage women in research and related development activities. The result has been an improved capacity within the village for managing water resources, including improved self-perceptions as farmers (especially women), better understanding of the potential resources and any constraints (e.g. soil fertility) and knowledge of how to manage the constraints (e.g. fertilisers), as well as a better understanding of the social capacities within the village.

scholarly journals Dynamic simulation of water resource management focused on water allocation and water reclamation in Chinese mining cities

Water Policy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 844-861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenlan Ke ◽  
Yalin Lei ◽  
Jinghua Sha ◽  
Guofeng Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Control ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Resource Management ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Water Resource ◽  
Water Allocation ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Water Reclamation ◽  
Water Quality Control

Mining cities have undergone the process of extensive exploitation, which always results in a series of water issues. Integrated water resource management is necessary in improving water supply, allocation and quality without damaging economic development. This article constructs a linear optimization model including a ‘Top-Down’ socio-economic mode, and ‘Bottom-Up’ water quality control and water supply–demand modes with integrated water resource management focused on water allocation and water reclamation. Based on computer simulation, the model can propose a water resource management under the constraints of water supply–demand and water quality control, and the model can precisely predict the influences of water resource management on economic development, water utilization and water quality. Taking Ordos, a Chinese national resource city, as a case study, this model addresses a detailed water resource management, including a water allocation plan among industries and water reclamation plan with technologies, selection, arrangement and subsidies. The implementation of water resource management can fulfill multiple objectives on water quantity, water quality and sustainable economic development. This study indicates that water resource management with a comprehensive dynamic model can be a maneuverable approach to realize the sustainable development of economic growth and water resource utilization, as well as formulate the regional development plan.

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