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

occasionally monitor the quality of water in local boreholes as part of its national ground water monitoring
system. In addition, the Vinetia Diamond Mine is required to submit regular returns to the Department showing
the quantity and quality of water abstracted from the bed of the Limpopo River and the results of seepage
control monitoring.
4.19.5 Water quality data
No specific water quality data for the Setoka-Soutsloot sub-catchment could be obtained in time for this report.
4.19.6 Implications for water quality and quantity management
The available evidence suggests that the very limited mining activities in this sub-catchment are unlikely to have
had any significant impact on either the local water resources or on water quality in the area. Any impact would
be likely to consist of a minor increase in suspended solids concentrations during periods of high flow.
4.20 Mining operations in the Sand sub-catchment
4.20.1 General description
4.20.1.1 Hydrology
This sub-catchment consists of the area drained by the Sand River and its tributary streams, notably the Brak,
Hout, Dwars and Dorp rivers in the upper and middle reaches. As the names of some tributaries imply, they
usually contain little or no water. This river system flows northwards from the area around the town of
Pietersburg and joins the Limpopo River close to the town of Messina (Figure 4.2). The flow pattern in this
river is highly variable as a result of the prevailing low and unpredictable rainfalls (average 480-500 mm) and
the river is not normally perennial. During drought periods, the Sand River may remain without surface water
for periods of several consecutive months. Summer rainfalls cause a dramatic increase in the flows of this river,
though most of the tributary streams are highly seasonal.
The Sand sub-catchment contains over 700 small farm dams that are used to supply water mainly for livestock
watering purposes (Boroto & Görgens, 1999). These farm dams are responsible for most of the reduced and
episodic flows that now characterize the Sand River and its tributaries.
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has completed the feasibility studies aimed at transferring water
to the Sand sub-catchment from the middle reaches of the Olifants River to the southeast, and from the upper
reaches of the Levuvhu River located to the east of the Sand River (Figure 4.2).
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