The Water Research Commission (WRC) is funding and developing a South African Mine Water Atlas to provide a comprehensive reference on the extent of mine-influenced surface and underground water in South Africa.
The WRC said in a statement on Thursday that the project, which was being led by consulting firm Golder Associates, aimed to deliver the “most comprehensive document of its kind in South Africa” by the time of its completion in 2016.
The atlas would introduce mine water and its geological, hydrological and legal context, while examining the geographical foundations of water quantity, quality and distribution, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing South Africa as it strived to improve the quantity, quality and protection and use of its water resources.
“Decision-makers will be able to look to the atlas for background information and tools to assist in fulfilling commitments made in other recent events and declarations,” explained WRC research manager Dr Jo Burgess on Thursday.
“The atlas will use various measures to illustrate South Africa’s hydrological characteristics by charting and mapping water resources [on a] provincial scale,” she added.
Further, each mining-affected province and the challenges, situations, constraints and opportunities each face would be discussed.