Hobbs, P., CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, Pretoria, South Africa; Oelofse, S.H.H., CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, Pretoria, South Africa; Rascher, J., CSIR Natural Resources and the Environment, Pretoria, South Africa
Effective water resource governance in a water scarce environment such as South Africa is a strategic issue in national sustainable development priorities. Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the largest liabilities of the mining industry due to its inherent threat to water resources, human health and the environment. Against the background of evolving water governance in South Africa, three examples are explored to reflect the management of AMD in the upper Olifants River catchment. The Brugspruit Water Pollution Control Works shows the scale of historic liabilities faced by the state, as well as the challenge of effectively addressing AMD within a resource-poor environment. The Controlled Discharge Scheme takes advantage of the natural assimilative capacity of the upper Olifants River system during high flow conditions to effect the controlled discharge of AMD. The Emalahleni Water Reclamation Plant exemplifies the successful initiative by large and well-resourced mining houses to achieve engineered sustainable mine water management.
Agricultural engineering; Catchments; Crushed stone plants; Discharge (fluid mechanics); Drainage; Environmental engineering; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Fluid mechanics; Groundwater; Health risks; Management; Mining; Mining engineering; Offshore oil well production; Oil spills; Planning; Plant management; Pollution; Rivers; Runoff; Strategic planning; Wastewater reclamation; Wastewater treatment; Water management; Water pollution; Acid-mine drainage (AMD); Assimilative capacity; Coal-mining; High flow conditions; Human health; Mine water (MW); mining industries; river catchments; river systems; South Africa (SA); TO effect; Water governance; Water reclamation plant (WRP); Water scarce; Water pollution control; acid mine drainage; catchment; coal mining; environmental impact; mining industry; river management; river system; sustainable development; water planning; Africa; Olifants River; South Africa; Southern Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa