South Africa’s freshwater biodiversity is under increasing pressure from climate change, overexploitation, pollution, and invasive species. This can have serious adverse consequences for ecosystem services, such as the provision of food and safe drinking water. The primary purpose of the Water-for-Life initiative is to raise awareness among members and the general public on the condition of freshwater resources in South Africa.
Suid-Afrika se varswaterbiodiversiteit verkeer toenemend onder druk weens klimaatsverandering, oorbenutting, besoedeling en indringerspesies. Dit hou uiters nadelige gevolge in vir die voorsiening van kos en veilige drinkwater. Die hoofdoel van die Water-for-Life inisiatief is om bewustheid onder die algemene publiek te skep oor die gehalte van Suid-Afrika se varswaterbronne.
The primary purpose of this project is to raise awareness among members and the general public on the condition of freshwater resources in South Africa.
Die primêre doel van hierdie projek is om lede en die algemene publiek bewus te maak van die gehalte van varswaterbronne in Suid-Afrika.
South Africa’s freshwater biodiversity is under increasing pressure from climate change, over-exploitation, pollution, and invasive species. This can have serious adverse consequences for ecosystem services, such as the provision of food and safe drinking water. According to the 2019 Water and Sanitation Masterplan, 56% of the 1 150 municipal wastewater treatment works and 44% of the 962 water treatment works are in a weak or critical state, with 11% being dysfunctional. The deterioration of municipal water treatment works contributes significantly to the ongoing pollution of river systems. Inefficient town planning and poverty leads to the proliferation of informal settlements with limited or no services to reduce risks of water pollution.
Government plays an important role in regulating activities to protect our water resources but lacks the capacity to do it. It is important that the general public understand where their water comes from and the factors that affect the health and quality of our freshwater resources. Water is crucial for our own survival, for the production of food, in driving the economy, and for the ecosystem to function.
Evaluating water quality and the impact of mining activities, typically requires testing for mineral deposits, while different tests are used for sewage effluent. The cost and level of skills required to monitor systems also differ substantially between highly scientific assessments and citizen science projects.
For this project the miniSASS approach is used to monitor water quality. Members learn about freshwater ecosystems, monitor the river health within their communities, explore the possible causes of poor water quality, and find appropriate remedies to improve the quality of our water resources.
Suid-Afrika se varswater biodiversiteit is onder toenemende druk as gevolg van klimaatverandering, oorbenutting, besoedeling, en indringerspesies. Dit kan ernstige nadelige gevolge hê vir dienslewering soos die voorsiening van voedsel en veilige drinkwater. Volgens die 2019 Water en Sanitasie Meesterplan is 56% van die 1 150 munisipale afvalwaterbehandelingsaanlegte en 44% van die 962 waterbehandelingsaanlegte in ʼn swak of kritieke toestand, met 11% wat disfunksioneel is. Die agteruitgang van munisipale waterbehandelingsaanlegte dra betekenisvol by tot die voortdurende besoedeling van rivierstelsels. Onbeplande stadsbeplanning en armoede lei tot ʼn verspreiding van informele nedersettings met beperkte of geen dienste om die risiko van waterbesoedeling te verminder nie.
Die regering speel ‘n belangrike rol om aktiwiteite te reguleer om ons waterbronne te beskerm, maar het nie die kapasiteit om dit te doen nie. Dit is belangrik dat die algemene publiek verstaan waar hul water vandaan kom en bewus is van die faktore wat die gesondheid en kwaliteit van ons varswaterbronne beïnvloed. Water is noodsaaklik vir oorlewing, vir die produksie van voedsel, vir ekonomiese aktiwiteite, en vir die funksionering van die ekostelsel.
Die evaluering van watergehalte en die impak van mynbou-aktiwiteite vereis toetse vir mineraalafsettings, terwyl verskillende toetse gebruik word vir rioolafloop. Die koste en vlak van vaardighede wat nodig is om stelsels te monitor, verskil ook aansienlik tussen hoogs wetenskaplike assesserings en burgerwetenskap projekte.
Vir hierdie projek word die miniSASS-benadering gebruik om watergehalte te monitor. Lede leer oor varswater ekostelsels, monitor die gesondheid van die rivier in hul gemeenskappe, ondersoek die moontlike oorsake van swak watergehalte, en vind toepaslike oplossings om die kwaliteit van ons waterbronne te verbeter.
Anyone can learn how to collect a miniSASS sample in a river. Members can join an existing activity at their own Branch or contact the project coordinator about initiating such a project in their community.
Enigeen kan leer hoe om ‘n miniSASS-monster in ‘n rivier te versamel. Lede kan by ‘n bestaande aktiwiteit by hul eie Tak aansluit, of die projekkoördineerder kontak om so ‘n projek in hul gemeenskap te begin.
The Overberg Branch starts its Water for Life project in Stellenbosch. Students used the miniSass-method to determine the state of the water in the local river.
Die Overberg-tak begin met hul Water-vir-Lewe projek in Stellenbosch. Studente het die miniSass-metode gebruik om te bepaal hoe gesond die plaaslike rivier is.
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Tuinroete Branch and a group of children monitor the state of the river in their home town, George. They learn how ground use affect the catchment area and that certain insects are an indication of river health. This was the start of our Wate for Life project. Well done, Gerhan Archer of Tuinroete Branch for organising this outing.
Tuinroete-tak monitor die rivier saam met kinders om te bepaal hoe gesond die rivier in hul tuisdorp, George, is. Hulle leer hoe grondgebruik in die opvanggebied waterkwaliteit beïnvloed en dat sekere insekte ‘n aanduiding kan gee van riviergesondheid. Hierdie is die begin van ons Water-vir-Lewe projek. Welgedaan Gerhan Archer van Tuinroete-tak wat die dag gereël het.
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