Business Case forthe Pongola-Umzimkulu Catchment Management ...

Business Case for the Pongola-Umzimkulu Catchment Management Agency
industrial account for 8% of the water requirement, especially in the Mhlatuze which
supports the Richards Bay industrial complex.
Table 2: Water requirements by sector
2.5.3 Water Requirements vs. Availability
While the WMA has high overall water yield, and over the whole WMA has a positive water
balance, nine of the fourteen areas have the requirements outstrip the yield. This indicates
that areas are water stressed. The greatest deficit is in the Mgeni area, which is largely due
to the expansion of Durban as an urban area and industrial hub.
Table 3: Water balance in the WMA
2.6 Key Water Challenges
2.6.1 Water Quality
The water quality within the WMA is declining. This is especially true for the 400 000km of
river frontage exposed to various contaminants from industrial effluent to pathogens. Point
source pollution such as the discharge of inadequately treated wastewater effluent from
wastewater treatment works (WWTWs), and irrigation with treated, partial and/or
untreated, dairy farming, piggery, pulp production and other industrial effluent are further
concerns that have an impact of the water quality in the Mgeni River. In the developed
urban areas, particularly the more densely populated towns, man-made interventions result
in problems commonly associated with urban water use. These include discharge of water
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