Water
| WESSA’s vision: … to play a major role in supporting all sectors of society to engage with issues relating to water quality and availability, from catchments to marine environments |
Theme: Water
‘Catchments to Coast’
"We forget that the water cycle and the life cycle are one."
— Jacques Cousteau
For some South Africans, water is a ubiquitous commodity which emerges, on command, from a tap. For others, it is a limited resource available only at the end of a long walk with a heavy bucket. For yet others, it carries the threat of disease and danger.
Whatever their circumstances, all South Africans are united by their need for, and rights, to a water supply which is regular, clean and safe.
| What is the ecological reserve? The South African National Water Act of 1998 provides for the protection of water resources by apportioning an agreed amount of the water available in a system to maintain the natural environment in a pre-agreed condition. This water, which is of an appropriate volume and quality, and is available at an appropriate time, is known as the ecological reserve. -- Source: CA Brown, et al, (2010) ‘Options for meeting the ecological Reserve for a raised Clanwilliam Dam’ |
Water is a fundamental life-support system, but for all its significance, it is under grave threat. In a speech published in Civil Engineering magazine in 2010, South African Institute of Civil Engineers water division chairman, Dr Chris Herold described the overall water situation in South Africa as “a national crisis of the first rank”.
Other experts concur, arguing that both the availability and the quality of our water resources – inland, ground and coastal -- are at stake. This not only has implications for humans and their social, economic and political activities, but for water-related ecosystems too.
The South African Environment Outlook (SAEO), for example, notes that “a significant proportion of our usable water resources … have been degraded” and that “in many areas, current levels of water use make no allowance for the need to sustain the ecological viability of the resource”.
WESSA believes that a holistic and integrated approach to water management is the only way to achieve systems that are able to develop and support both the water quality and quantity needs of all South Africans and the environments in which they live.
Through its ‘Catchment to Coast’ programme, WESSA aims to ensure that there is enough safe water for all living beings in South Africa.
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Broad objectives:
Specific objectives:
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Blue Flag Project
At the time of WESSA's 85 th anniversary, South Africa also celebrates 10 years of the Blue Flag programme in South Africa . Blue Flag is an international coastal management programme that accredits beaches (and marinas elsewhere in the world). Beaches must meet standards of excellence in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and information as well as safety and services. The Blue Flag programme offers many benefits: improved tourism facilities, enhanced management of coastal ecosystems, increasing awareness of the coast and capacity building of coastal municipalities.
WESSA is proud to be the organization selected by the international Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to implement FEE programmes in South Africa . It is also a “feather in our cap” that South Africa was the first country outside of Europe to implement Blue Flag, and in so doing, created opportunities for Blue Flag to become a truly global programme. In 2011, there are 42 countries participating in the programme.
The programme continues to grow sustainably with twenty-seven local beaches achieving accreditation for the current year. Challenges to maintaining Blue Flag beaches here in South Africa are land-based impacts on sea-water quality and the deteriorating capacity of local authorities to achieve these standards of excellence. For more information visit: www.blueflag.org.za
Mondi Wetlands Programme works to secure wetlands and water resources.
Water is the very essence of life on earth, and South Africa 's most precious natural resource. Wetlands play a crucial role in managing, at no cost, what little water we receive. Wetlands are therefore of a national importance for the functions they perform of water purification, storage, recharging of underground aquifers and streamflow regulation. They are of a further national importance for their control of erosion, flood attenuation and biodiversity value. It is estimated that development and poor land management have already destroyed over 50% of our freshwater wetlands. The continued destruction of our wetlands will result in the disappearance of these priceless wetland functions and values. For this reason the Mondi Wetland Programme undertakes projects that work towards catalysing and supporting voluntary social change for improved wetland management, which falls directly under WESSA's Water thematic programme of work.
These projects work towards:
1) Catalysing and supporting stewardship of key wetland ecosystems and surrounding catchments, securing stakeholder engagement for sustainable management of wetlands and associated biodiversity; and
2) Strengthening the capacity and skills of appropriate authorities, businesses and the public for efficient and wise use of wetlands. The Mondi Wetlands Programme works closely with the sugar and forestry industries, communal wetland users, commercial farmers, municipal, provincial and national government.
Canoeists, business and WESSA work together for the health of our Rivers!
The BSI/ WESSA Vaal Canoe Marathon is one of Gauteng’s prestigious canoeing events. The race is known as SA’s Toughest Marathon and covers a distance on the Vaal River of 73kms with Day 1 starting at the Dam wall and Day 1 finishing at Three Rivers! Day 2 starting at Eden Manor,below the barrage and finishing at Likkewaan Canoe Club in Parys.Why, you ask, is WESSA involved with BSI and Canoeing?
The fact of the matter is that South Africa is facing a water crisis if we don’t work collaboratively, across sectors, and across scales. It is of the utmost importance that all South Africans become aware of the state of our rivers as the life blood to a developing nation. There is no better means to achieve this end than through civil society and business working together within the realm of sport.
WESSA strives to work with all sectors of society in order to achieve its mission: public participation in caring for the Earth, and takes great delight in partnering with visionaries, like BSI Steel’s CEO Grant Mackenzie, who see the future as belonging to all – intra-and inter-generations. Without water, South Africa, like other countries of the world, won’t have a future.
In light of this, we look forward to strengthening ties with BSI Steel and CanoeingSA (with whom we have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding) to ensure wise stewardship of the surface waters in Gauteng, and across the Nation.
The event, held on 5 & 6 November, was a great success! BSI Steel sponsored prize monies to the value of R50 000 for the Vaal Canoe Marathon, which was awarded to age categories of under 16 to over 60.
As a prestigious event, the Marathon also receives tremendous SuperSport coverage (highlights will be shown from the 15th to the 23rd December 2011). WESSA thanks BSI Steel for including us as co-endorsers of the BSI/WESSA Vaal Canoe Marathon, as well as Peter Rossouw, Chairman of the Johannesburg Canoe Club, for being a proud and enthusiastic supporter of WESSA and the Vaal Canoe Marathon.
Well done to all the paddlers for completing the course! We look forward to working with you for the health of our country’s Rivers.
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Dr. Richard Lewis (WESSA: Chairman of the Board)
hands over a Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Grant Mackenzie (CEO: BSI Steel
SUPERSPORT BROADCAST SCHEDULE
| BSI STEEL VAAL CANOE MARATHON | ||||||
| SERIES | WORKING | SCHDATE | STTIME | ENTIME | CHA_SHORT_NAME | LIVEINFO |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 15-Dec-11 | 21:00 | 21:30 | SS6/SS6A | Premier |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 15-Dec-11 | 21:00 | 21:30 | CSN | Premier |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 16-Dec-11 | 08:00 | 08:30 | SS6/SS6A | Repeat |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 18-Dec-11 | 12:00 | 12:30 | SS6/SS6A | Repeat |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 20-Dec-11 | 12:30 | 13:00 | SS6/SS6A | Repeat |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 21-Dec-11 | 15:00 | 15:30 | SS6/SS6A | Repeat |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 23-Dec-11 | 09:30 | 10:00 | SS6/SS6A | Repeat |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 23-Dec-11 | 09:30 | 10:00 | CSN | Repeat |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 24-Dec-11 | 03:00 | 03:30 | CSN | Repeat |
| Bsi Steel Vaal Canoe Marathon | Highlights | 24-Dec-11 | 03:00 | 03:30 | SS2/SS2A | Repeat |