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focusing on the purification of polluted systems by building of biomimicry artificial wetlands— using the same plant species that occur in that area or country— not enough studies have been on the effects of severe droughts on wetland systems decanting into a total catchment. As this county is arid and, by world standards, a water-scarce country, more funding should be made available for further research by suitably qualified scientists to investigate severe drought on wetland systems within
How wetlands work.
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a catchment, especially where food security becomes severely threatened. For the purpose of sustainability, the funding of scientific research becomes paramount in certain economic areas, such as mining and agriculture. More so in South Africa, which can still be classed as a developing country, with a known water scarcity that is increasing by the advent of worldwide climate change.
Certain areas, such as mining, can correct water availability by decanting contaminated water into wetlands and using wetlands to change the water quality, to the extent that it can safely be released back into the catchment systems. These wetlands are specifically not subject to influence from drought, as they are surviving with enough availability of water, albeit contaminated water, on the mine properties where wetlands are not necessarily influenced by drought, but by the mining pollutants that they now contain. We have been part of a team that successfully led research into doing this for a large coal mining group in South Africa; similarly, we led a team that proved that this could also be done in the gold mining sector.
Another large source of contaminated water is available from our wastewater works. This water is highly contaminated by pollutants, which can be cleaned by using wetlands. Our droughtthreatened wetlands can therefore be replenished by wastewater works by means of redirecting wastewater through the wetland systems, which can perform a dual function of keeping the wetlands sustained, while
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Certain areas, such as mining,
can correct water availability
by decanting contaminated
water into wetlands and
using wetlands to change
the water quality, to the
extent that it can safely
be released back into the
catchment systems.
the nutrient-rich pollutants can be removed by wetland plants and reed beds. This proven science exists, and Israel is a good example where 90 % of their wastewater is reprocessed and re-used.
Corporates should become more aware of the management of water sources they may need and the water that their properties discharge back into catchment systems. The ISO 14001 standards will provide a good guide to all concerned with our environment, especially the standards concerning the management of wastewater.
It is unnecessary that our major wetlands be influenced by everincreasing droughts, by cleaning the wastewater through the wetlands and providing additional clean water to our catchment systems.
The flurry that is at present going on in Cape Town could have been avoided, as drilling into the aquifer should have started in 2002 and not only in the past six months. Wastewater treatment in Cape Town does not exist and should have been implemented years ago.
And on a last note: water sustainability goes hand-in-hand and ensures food security. u
About the author
Paul Fairall is the principal consultant for Emifula, riverine and wetland remedial consultants and associates. He has been in the field for 27 years, focusing on saving the environment( all fauna and flora) and wetlands specifically.
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