Cape Town’s water shortage The City of Cape Town (CCT) experienced a severe water shortage between 2017 and 2018 (Figure 1) because of an extreme, once in 300-year meteorological drought that occurred between 2015-2017. This resulted in a lack of rainfall, specifically in the catchment areas of the major dams that supply the CCT, causing…
Why is groundwater monitoring important? Groundwater is a vital water resource that is more frequently being used to meet domestic, agricultural, industrial, and environmental water demands. There are numerous objectives when monitoring groundwater, some of which include: characterising the groundwater system to understand seasonal responses, estimating potential for groundwater development, evaluating or mitigating impacts of…
Umvoto’s role in Integrated Water Resource Management Umvoto is geared towards promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) by considering the three principles: social equity, economic efficiency, and environmental sustainability – the “Holistic Approach” – in finding solutions for clients. In addition, Umvoto also follows the “Monitor-Model-Manage Approach” in terms of groundwater management. These approaches have…
What is International Mountain Day about? The United Nations (UN) theme for International Mountain Day is “Women move mountains”, referring to the prominent role women play in their communities towards environmental protection, while incorporating both the social and economic development of their societies. Rural communities in particular are often forgotten or overlooked in terms of…
The United Nations’ World Soil Day is held annually on the 5th of December and emphasises the importance of sustainable soil management. World Soil Day 2022 and its campaign “Soils: Where food begins” aims to focus attention on the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil…
Groundwater myths Climate extremes across the globe have shined a spotlight on groundwater and its potential for building resilience to the effects of climate change. However, development and sustainable use of this unseen resource remains clouded in myth and misconception.In South Africa, all of its residents have a constitutional right to basic water supply and…
Why monitor-model-manage? The monitor-model-manage approach forms the basis for wellfield management practiced at Umvoto. The approach involves the collection, analysis and interpretation of relevant hydroclimatological, geological, hydrogeological data and information, which is used to develop a conceptual and numerical model of a study area. The model is used to run various predictive scenarios with the…
Umvoto were winners and finalists for the 2021 The Dewatering Institute (TDI) awards categories of Wells/Drilling Project of the Year and Sustainability Excellence Company of the Year, respectively. Zandri Rademan and Luke Towers are set to present the two case studies that we submitted in a free webinar, hosted by the TDI, on 27th July…
Within the wide scope of work that Umvoto undertakes, water quality monitoring and contamination assessments are a key part of water resource development and management. Over the last two years, Umvoto has undertaken sampling for contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in the Cape Flats and Atlantis Aquifers in the Western Cape, with the aim of…
Environmental contamination has been an increasing concern over the past few decades as it poses a risk to both human health and the environment. Two major categories of environmental contamination are Water and Soil pollutants, which are often derived from anthropogenic sources such as household waste, manufacturing and agricultural wastes, fertilizers used by farmers, seepage…
