How to Detect and Manage Groundwater Resources

Most of South Africa’s water comes from groundwater reserves, according to Frans Putter, a geologist from Potchefstroom. Annelie Coleman spoke to him about groundwater exploration.

- Annelie Coleman

Population growth and climate change are likely to have significant financial, socio-economic and ecological consequences for already scarce water resources. Most of South Africa’s water supply comes from groundwater sources, and almost two-thirds of the population depend on it for domestic water needs, according to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS).

“Groundwater is an essential freshwater resource and forms a critical buffer during periods of drought,” says registered professional geologist, Frans Putter, owner of Putter Geological Services.

LEGISLATION

Groundwater is utilised for a range of purposes, including irrigation, household use and general agriculture.

In South Africa, water use is governed by the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998).

The purpose of the act is to ensure sustainable use of water for the benefit of all users.

No permission is needed to drill or register a bore hole. However, once a bore hole has been drilled and water found, the water use needs to be registered in terms of the act, according to Frans.

“However, the requirement to register the water use or not is based on the intended uses and limits. In terms of current SA legislation, reasonable use of groundwater taken from an aquifer on a property for, among others, domestic use, small scale gardening not earmarked for commercial purposes, and watering of animals don’t have to be registered.” Should a person use more than 10 kilolitres of groundwater / day (10 000â„“/day) for a ‘non- commercial small garden’, water use should be registered. This use nevertheless falls within the ambit of the so-called ‘general authorisation’, provided for by existing legislation, and serves as blanket permission. No licence is consequently needed, he explains.