Abstract
M.Sc. (Aquatic Health)
Water is considered to be an important building block to all forms of life that makes
up more than 50% of the weight of all plants and animals (Allan, 1995). Water is a
resource that is used on a daily basis in every household and is also an important
natural resource for transportation, industrialisation, agriculture and many other
activities. However, water resource management around the world is poor (Chutter,
1998). The main aim of the study was to assess the groundwater and surface water
quality of a river system which is affected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) issuing from
a gold mine on the West Rand in Gauteng, South Africa. The analysis was done
during the dry season (August to September 2015) and the wet season (January
2016).Six sampling sites on the Tweelopiespruit, Rietspruit and Bloubankspruit were
selected for groundwater and surface water analyses. The ICP-OES analyses of the
water samples were done by the Waterlab in Pretoria. The pH, sulphates and the
metal concentration in the Tweelopiespruit, Rietspruit and Bloubankspruit river
system which is affected by AMD issuing from Harmony Gold Mine were analysed.
The water quality data as per dry and rainy season and source (surface water and
groundwater) was then correlated to the Target Water Quality Range (TWQR) as
determined by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to better understand
the environmental dynamics the aquatic ecosystem experiences during the study
period. A number of remediation measures to address AMD were recommended to
mitigate the impacts on the Tweelopiespruit, Rietspruit and Bloubankspruit river
system. The study was able to acquire knowledge on the impact of gold mining
activities on groundwater and surface water quality on the dolomitic aquifer on the
West Rand.