Abstract
The Roodeplaat Dam (RD) is located in Pretoria, South Africa, and has three major tributaries (Pienaars, Edendalespruit and Hartbeesspruit Rivers) flowing into the dam. The Catchment Area of the RD has a variety of land uses and recreational activities. The eutrophication levels of the RD have been a cause for concern since the early 1980s as its level of eutrophication has increased due to cyanobacteria, algae and water hyacinths. The water quality of the three rivers flowing into the RD contribute to the eutrophication within the dam. In order to manage this eutrophication, an integrated approach, involving local communities in the management of water resources is necessary. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to understand community perspectives of the function and management of the RD and its tributaries. The communities perspectives showed that highly educated people tend to qualify the quality of water as very bad and their perceptions on the potential effects of poor water quality were correlated to gender. People’s satisfaction level of the current management plan was negatively correlated to employment status. Surprisingly, the communities involvement in the management and use of water resources in the Roodeplaat Catchment Area were correlated to their ethnicity. On the basis of these findings, a few recommendations were proposed towards the effective management of the RD and its inflowing rivers.
M.Sc. (Geography)