 |
|||||
| DWAF home | Olifant home | documents | locality map | project overview | comments |
|
Water resource development a priority in the Olifants and Mogalakwena/Sand Catchments In order to meet the social and economic development needs of the region, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is currently assessing the feasibility of various water resource development options in the Olifants and Mogalakwena/Sand Catchments of the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces.The project is driven by the social and economic circumstances of these areas, the urgent need for socio-economic upliftment and development, and planned mining expansion. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has made considerable progress with a process to supply water to these catchments. As a first phase, construction will soon begin on raising the wall of the Flag Boshielo Dam on the Olifants River near Marble Hall by 5 metres to increase the water yield of the dam. The Department is currently assessing various further options to make more water available, for technical, financial, environmental and social feasibility. These options include improving efficiency of water use, one or two possible new dams at Rooipoort on the Olifants River or at De Hoop on the Steelpoort River, water transfer schemes, development of groundwater, recycling of treated sewage effluent for industrial use and re-allocation of water from other uses through trading. Options that are obviously not feasible will not be studied further, while implementation of the most suitable options will need to be fast-tracked to meet the rapidly increasing demands. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the feasible options, including a socio-economic impact assessment and consultation with stakeholders, will start in April 2004. Authorisations will need to be obtained for the proposed project under the relevant environmental legislation. |
|||||
|
|
|||||