Background :
This manual was the primary deliverable of a Water Research Commission project to design and develop an implementation plan
for a National Eutrophication Monitoring Programme (NEMP) for South Africa's water resources. Much eutrophication-related
monitoring has been done in South Africa over the past three decades. However, there does not exist a coordinated effort that
allows reporting on the nationwide status and trends of eutrophication. This manual describes the standardised
implementation of eutrophication monitoring that addresses this shortcoming. The manual is primarily aimed at DWAF officials
(and agents appointed by them) who will initialise, execute and sustain the NEMP at national, regional and local levels.
Responsibility philosophy :
A clear understanding of who has primary responsibility for the NEMP is critical for a good understanding of how this manual should be used.
The National Water Act, No. 36 of 1998, specifically requires that national monitoring systems be established.
DWAF has the primary responsibility for this. For a national monitoring system to be successful, it is necessary that
individual local monitoring programmes be implemented. A local programme can refer to a single impoundment, river reach or canal.
Regional programmes (covering Water Management Areas) may also be created. Importantly, this manual defines the minimum design requirements
(in respect of sampling variables, sampling frequency, choice of sampling sites, etc.)
that DWAF must satisfy to meet the national objectives of the NEMP (defined below). DWAF has the primary responsibility for this.
Local implementation :
This manual not only provides a national implementation process but one for regional and local implementation as well.
Furthermore, it provides monitoring frameworks for addressing the following six local objectives for impoundments and rivers
(except for establishing trophic status).
- Establishing trophic status (impoundments only)
- Early warning system - water treatment
- Early warning system - blooms
- Early warning system - invasive macrophytes
- Early warning system - long term impacts
- Nutrient balance
Download :
The complete Implementation Manual (PDF 3Mb).
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