Application of local groundwater scheme, as an innovative approach to augment water supply system to improve urban water security, City of Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

With the increasing demand for water supply in urban areas due to increasing population growth, economic activities, and declining surface water sources due to climate change impact, there is a need to implement innovative approaches to augment the declining water supply sources to manage the urban water demand. The proposed study aims at demonstrating the use of local groundwater schemes as an innovative way of improving urban water security using the City of Cape Town as a case study. Specific objectives of the study are: 1] To assess spatiotemporal locations of local groundwater schemes; 2] To determine the volume of groundwater abstracted from subsurface via boreholes located at these schemes (volumetric discharge assessment) and 3] Describe the hydrogeological conditions/settings that receive, store and discharge groundwater to local groundwater schemes. Modern and common methods were used to achieve the set objectives. One of method used was data collection that came from the Groundwater Programme and has been provided by the Groundwater Programme's managers with permission from the DTPW. The data consists of records, information, reports, and plans. The data was analysed and used to create GIS maps. It is concluded, once resolved, the crisis may be seen as fortunate because it not only gave Cape Town the motivation to modify its water supply, better utilizing its groundwater resources, but it also serves as an example to support future investments in water security, both for Cape Town and for other cities.The purpose to showcase how local groundwater schemes can improve urban water security in an ever-changing environment. The argument is that groundwater resources have the potential to improve urban water security when strategically harnessed to augment the urban water supply system. The novelty of the work and its approach will be demonstrated through the publication of one paper in a peer-review journal as a case study.