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This Study for the Implementation and Maintenance of the Water Reconciliation Strategy
for Richards Bay and Surrounding Towns will be carried out in fourteen tasks.
Activities undertaken in the previous studies are the basis for the development
of tasks during this Study.
TASK 1: Inception (can be viewed under Reports and Documents)
The objective of this task is to collate and review information that has become available from the previous study and to confirm the Study Scope and Programme through the following activities:
- Finalisation and DWS approval of the study tasks scope, work processes and programme.
- Finalise the composition of the Technical Support Group (TSG) and the StraSC.
- Agree on a training structure and training events.
- Review previous study reports and other available information documented since the previous study - focus on aspects that influence study tasks and strategy actions.
TASK 2: Demographic and Socio-Economics Analyses (can be viewed under Reports and Documents)
This task will focus on updating, refining and reviewing the population and growth modelling previously undertaken. The demographics analysis will focus on the City of uMhlathuze Local Municipality. The identification, sourcing and reviewing of background information and base data will be undertaken to compile a practical and up-to-date quantitative and qualitative profile of the study area at the required detailed level. Economic and demographic modelling will follow and will be undertaken at the lowest geographical level to facilitate later grouping of settlements. Public service organisations will be consulted to augment information on current social and economic trends relevant to the study. Economic growth modelling will consider the potential of each of the areas, the spatial development framework and economic sector growth estimates to determine possible future economic growth by sector and possible spatial representation.
TASK 3: Water Requirements and Return Flows (can be viewed under Reports and Documents)
The current and future water requirements for the different water use sectors will be determined as part of this task. These sectors include urban and industrial, irrigation and afforestation, invasive alien plants and the ecological water requirements (Reserve). The water requirements and return flows of each sector will be updated and / or available information from the 2015 Reconciliation Strategy will be confirmed. The information gathered as part of this task will inform the Water Resource Analysis (Task 7) which in turn will assist in the development of a Decision Support System.
TASK 4: Water Conservation and Water Demand Management (WC/WDM)
The objective of this task is to review the status quo of WC/WDM in the respective water supply systems. The review will include the update of each system’s water resource and water loss balance diagram, assess the progress made with the implementation of existing WC/WDM strategies and business plans and review the savings achieved to date. The water supply systems in the City of uMhathuze Local Municipalities will be covered. An updated WC/WDM plan will be delivered from this task.
TASK 5: Groundwater
This task will entail a Groundwater Assessment focusing on the groundwater and surface water interaction around the Coastal Lakes. The combined operations of the system will be assessed and recommendations made from a water resources perspective. The environmental requirements at the Lakes will also be taken into account. The Task will be undertaken in parallel with the Water Resource Analysis (Task 7).
TASK 6: Water Quality
The objective of this relatively small task is to carry out a water quality assessment to determine the current status quo and trends of water quality. Potential problem areas will be highlighted. Existing information and data will be sourced, and no primary sampling will be carried out.
TASK 7: Water Resource Analysis
The water resources of the catchments in the study area have been assessed in detail as part of Mhlathuze Water
Availability Assessment Study, the Modelling Support for Licensing Scenarios Study 2014 and the Annual Operating
Analysis for the Mhlathuze WSS. The purpose of this task is to use the information and Decision Support Systems
of past investigations as the starting point for the water resource analysis required for the continuous updating
and improvement of the Reconciliation Strategy based on updated available information. New information produced
as part of this study, e.g. updated water requirements together with the existing information will be combined into the DWS standardized decision support system which consists of the Water Resources Yield Model (WRYM) and Water Resources Planning Model (WRPM). The updated and consolidated Decision Support System will then be applied to analyse scenarios which will inform decisions required for the updating of the Reconciliation Strategy process as part of Task 9. Scenarios will be developed to meet water requirements for current and future use, including optimisation of local resources, improved water services and water resource management.
TASK 8: Infrastructure and Cost Assessment
The cost of all proposed interventions, infrastructure works and developments will be calculated and updated. The cost of implementing other options such as institutional restructuring, removal of alien vegetation and the implementation of WC/WDM interventions will also be calculated and updated if and where required. The updating of costs will allow for capital as well as operational costs. The main four interventions (Thukela Middledrift Scheme or the Lower Thukela Coastal Pipeline, Dam Development on Lower Mfolozi, Desalination of Sea Water and Reuse of Water) will be focused on.
TASK 9 & 10: Updated Reconciliation Strategy & Executive Summary
The updated information and outcomes of the study tasks will be used to formulate alternative reconciliation
scenarios which will consist of a sequence of interventions that can be implemented to reconcile
the water requirements with the water resources up to 2045. An updated 2020 Reconciliation
Strategy for the study area will be the main deliverable of this task.
TASK 11: Ad Hoc Support
The objective of this task is to provide technical support to any additional ad hoc investigations that
may be required during the study in support of the updating of the Reconciliation Strategy.
TASK 12: Training and Capacity Building
The focus of the training and capacity building activities will be to capacitate DWS staff (focusing on Graduate Trainees)
in the operations and use of the systems models used to produce elements of the Reconciliation
Strategies; to capacitate team members in specialist aspects specifically
relating to the catchment area and to transfer knowledge and background information
to Stakeholders such that they can better understand the approach to determining the
Water Reconciliation Strategy.
TASK 13: Stakeholder Engagement
The purpose of this task is to provide stakeholders with meaningful information to assist them
in providing useful contributions to the updating of the Reconciliation Strategy
and its implementation. Activities will include:
- Announcement of this study and revival of the StraSC
- Prepare an updated stakeholder database
- Prepare newsletters and media releases
- Assist with web access arrangements
- Preparation and arrangement of six StraSC meetings which will be held on a six-monthly basis during the study.
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