OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

detrimental effects. However, with increasing quantities of effluent and declining river flows due to escalating
demands for water, water quality problems are occurring more frequently. In some sub-catchments (e.g. the
Crocodile-Pienaars in South Africa), it is estimated that treated effluent comprises more than 60% of all flows in
this river system. The water quality problems caused effluent discharge become more acute further
downstream, as more and more towns contribute their effluent to the total river flow and evaporative
concentration accentuates the effects of rising salinity and increasing eutrophication.
In addition to water abstracted for domestic use, large volumes of water are also withdrawn for irrigation; for
example: the extensive irrigation areas along all of the tributary rivers and along parts of the Limpopo River.
Most small-scale farmers have to rely either on red-fed agriculture or on water drawn from shallow wells or
nearby watercourses. Overall, the competition for the limited water resources available is likely to become more
intense in future.
Within each of the four basin states, the Limpopo catchment has been divided into a series of sub-catchments
for the purposes of this study; these sub-catchments are shown in Figures 3.3 and 4.2.
4.1.5 Water management systems and institutions
Each of the basin states has their own water management systems and segments their respective territories
into Water Management Units or Water Management Areas. These divisions are normally in the form of subcatchments,
though some of the larger sub-catchments may be further sub-divided. The formal constitution of
catchment councils or catchment management agencies has only taken place in Zimbabwe. In the other basin
states, water management is undertaken by central Government or is delegated to Provincial Departments. In
South Africa, the process of setting up formal Catchment Management Agencies for the nineteen Water
Management Areas in the country has started. At this time, the preparatory work for one such agency, the
Crocodile West-Marico Catchment Management Agency is now nearing completion. This agency will become
the first South African catchment management agency to deal with water resource management in a part of the
Limpopo basin.
The SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems is an important legislative instrument that promotes
regional co-operation and collaboration amongst all SADC states. However, unequal institutional and
professional capacity within the four member states hampers full expression of this protocol. The four basin
states comprising the Limpopo basin have jointly formed a Joint Permanent Technical Commission (JPTC) to
deal with matters of common interest relating to the Limpopo River and its tributaries. This Commission deals
with matters such as joint flow gauging exercises and inter-basin transfers, as well as dealing with proposed
new water development projects by each of the member states.
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