More attention needs to be paid to the causes and responses to declining water quality and its management.
Among the impacts of climate change will be an aggravation of water quality in South Africa’s rivers and dams; this may, in turn, lead our water authorities to raise the bar for water discharged by industry and mines.
According to Amanda, partner and principal water and environmental scientist at SRK Consulting, "variable rainfall patterns occasioned by climate change are already being seen in more frequent high-intensity downpours in parts of the country." Manda further emphasised that "this means high-velocity run-off, accompanied by both increased leaching of soil nutrients and fertilizer and wash off of urban pollutants– which end up in our water impoundments."
