The country’s first mine-water atlas is currently being developed.

The project, funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) andled by consulting firm Golder Associates, will provide water managers with a comprehensive reference on the extent of mine-influenced water in the country, both on the surface and underground. Once completed, the South African Mine Water Atlas will be the most comprehensive document of its kind in South Africa.

“The Atlas will be a significant and timely contribution that can inform the implementation of commitments made in the past two years. Decision-makers will also be able to look to the atlas for background information and tools to assist in fulfilling commitments made in other recent events and declarations,” says WRC Research Manager Dr Jo Burgess.

Covered in the Atlas

The Atlas will look at mine-water and its geological, hydrological and legal context as well as the geographical foundations of water quantity, quality and distribution across South Africa. The challenges and opportunities facing South Africa will be examined and water availability and withdrawals as well as water use by the mining sector will be looked at province-by-province.

The Atlas will illustrate South Africa’s hydrological characteristics by charting and mapping water resources at the provincial scale.