Cover image credit : Kobus du Plessis

Information Generation Department Content Manager : Benjamin Brits Operations Manager : Chantelle van Deventer ( chantellevd @ interactmedia . co . za ) Editor : Kim Kemp ( kim @ interactmedia . co . za ) Subeditor : Elaine Enslin Layout : Mpho Ngobeni

Advertisement Sales Sales Director : Dale Macnamara ( sales @ interactmedia . co . za ) External Sales : Marcus Pearson ( mpearson @ interactmedia . co . za )

Information Database Archive & Distribution Management distribution @ interactmedia . co . za

Subscriptions Sales & Administration Subscriptions : Maxlee Marange ( mmarange @ interactmedia . co . za )

Operations and Financial Director : Sean Macnamara ( CA ) Financial Manager : Laetitia Arnott ( laetitia @ interactmedia . co . za )

Published by Interact Media Defined ( Pty ) Ltd 13A Riley Road Bedfordview , 2008 , South Africa PO Box 695 Edenvale , 1610 , South Africa Tel : + 27 ( 0 ) 11 579 4940 | Fax : + 27 ( 0 ) 11 450 1920 Email : admin @ interactmedia . co . za

Managing Director : Richard Bicker Caarten Printing : Paarl Media

ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PRINTING All paper is sourced from the Forest Stewardship Council and Chain of Custody-certified suppliers . All waste paper from the plant is recycled . All used plates are recycled . All new printing equipment is purchased for low energy-consumption levels and low volatile organic-compound emissions .

COPYRIGHT & DISCLAIMER While every reasonable precaution has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the advice and information given , neither the editor , publisher , proprietor , staff , nor any official body represented or published in this issue , will accept responsibility for any damages , loss , injuries or false claims that may arise or be made in the content . We subscribe to the Codes of Conduct of the Advertising Standards Authority and the Press Ombudsman ( refer separate explanations in this issue ). Disclaimers by individual companies are hereby overridden by this disclaimer . Reproduction of any of the content is expressly forbidden in terms of the Copyright Act of 1987 with all amendments . All requests to reproduce must be made in writing to the publisher and such confirmation must be given in writing before proceeding . A copy of where the reproduction was published must be supplied to the publisher at the above address . No reasonable request will be refused provided all conditions are met . All Publication and Exhibition titles are registered as trade marks in terms of the Trade Marks Act of 1993 and are held by Interact Media Defined ( Pty ) Ltd , Reg No 2014 / 092774 / 07 .

PRESS OMBUDSMAN : This publication has committed itself to maintain the highest standards of journalism as embodied in the Press Code of Professional Practice . If you believe we have failed to report news and comment accurately , honestly and fairly , you may lodge a complaint with the Press ombudsman either by email , fax or letter , or by telephoning the office for the procedure to be followed . Tel : + 27 ( 0 ) 11 484 3612 / 8 | Fax : + 27 ( 0 ) 11 484 3612 / 8 Email : pressombudsman @ ombudsman . org . za berylh @ ombudsman . org . za Website : www . ombudsman . org . za for the press code

This publication subscribes to the Advertising Standards Authority ( ASA ) Code of Conduct which represents truthful advertising . Should any reader feel / believe that advertising in this publication lacks substantiation , is dishonest or misleading in any way they may refer to the ASA . www . asasa . org . za

4 What ’ s on 5 News

8 Municipalities

Disconnecting municipal water

When is it illegal for a municipality to disconnect water ?

Groundwater relief for Middelpos school

A school in the drought-stricken western Karoo , Middelpos Primary School , was landed with an R18 000 water bill in February this year . A more sustainable plan had to be made .

14 Infrastructure

Down the drain

How water leakage affects us and what we can do about it .

20 Environment

Verdantly vile !

By managing the aquatic vegetation in irrigation canals , large volumes of water can be saved .

Preserving mangrove forests

Concor Infrastructure works with specialist consultants to reduce its environmental footprint on the N2 national freeway contract , north of Mtunzini in KwaZulu-Natal .

26 Debate

Catch a wake up !

Cape Town ’ s boreholes are teaching us how to avoid a commons tragedy and , in the process , possibly practise good-neighbourliness over avarice .

28 Industry

Aquifers are not bottomless

Is Cape Town gambling with the future of one of the world ’ s most unique ecosystems as it pushes ahead with drilling for groundwater from the Table Mountain Group ( TMG ) Aquifer ?

The real source of nitrates in water

SRK principal hydrogeologist Sarah Skinner ’ s paper advances tools for mines to identify nitrate sources in surface- and groundwater more efficiently .

34 Innovations 36 Contributors 38 Networking

When measurement matters

Water Sewage & Effluent March / April 2018 3