Stakeholder contestations of water quality use and management in the Vaal Barrage catchment
- Odume, Oghenekaro N, Chili, Asanda, Nnadozie, Chika F, Slaughter, Andrew R
- Authors: Odume, Oghenekaro N , Chili, Asanda , Nnadozie, Chika F , Slaughter, Andrew R
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480606 , vital:78459 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-sajsci-v120-n9-a18
- Description: The water resources within the lower section of the Upper Vaal catchment, where the Vaal Barrage is situated, are highly utilised and developed, and water quality regulation has become a contested space between resource users and the regulators. The credibility and scientific defensibility of discharge standards in water-use licences (WULs), the relationship between upstream and downstream waste loads, the relationship between flows and water quality standards in WUL, and the water quality components of the resource quality objectives (RQOs) are being contested. This study explores the perceptions and motivations underlying these contestations as a contribution to scientific understanding of water quality management in a highly developed system. Perceived unrealistic RQOs, perceived lack of scientific credibility of the methods for deriving water quality standards in WUL, data inadequacy, as well as poor institutional capacity were identified as the top motivations for contesting applicable regulatory instruments in the catchment. Punitive measures, incentives, and education and awareness-raising were identified as key to accelerating compliance. Overall, this paper contributes to our general understanding of the intricacies of water quality management within a contested space.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024
- Authors: Odume, Oghenekaro N , Chili, Asanda , Nnadozie, Chika F , Slaughter, Andrew R
- Date: 2024
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/480606 , vital:78459 , https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-sajsci-v120-n9-a18
- Description: The water resources within the lower section of the Upper Vaal catchment, where the Vaal Barrage is situated, are highly utilised and developed, and water quality regulation has become a contested space between resource users and the regulators. The credibility and scientific defensibility of discharge standards in water-use licences (WULs), the relationship between upstream and downstream waste loads, the relationship between flows and water quality standards in WUL, and the water quality components of the resource quality objectives (RQOs) are being contested. This study explores the perceptions and motivations underlying these contestations as a contribution to scientific understanding of water quality management in a highly developed system. Perceived unrealistic RQOs, perceived lack of scientific credibility of the methods for deriving water quality standards in WUL, data inadequacy, as well as poor institutional capacity were identified as the top motivations for contesting applicable regulatory instruments in the catchment. Punitive measures, incentives, and education and awareness-raising were identified as key to accelerating compliance. Overall, this paper contributes to our general understanding of the intricacies of water quality management within a contested space.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2024
A critical review of environmental factors influencing the transport dynamics of microplastics in riverine systems: implications for ecological studies
- Owowenu, Enahora K, Nnadozie, Chika F, Akamagwuna, Frank C, Noundou, Xavier S, Uku, Jude E, Odume, Oghenekaro N
- Authors: Owowenu, Enahora K , Nnadozie, Chika F , Akamagwuna, Frank C , Noundou, Xavier S , Uku, Jude E , Odume, Oghenekaro N
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/484452 , vital:78907 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-023-10029-7
- Description: Microplastics (MPs) in rivers present an ecological risk. In this paper, we review hydro-geomorphological, biological, and allochthonous factors that may influence the distribution and transport of MPs in riverine systems. We also review MPs characteristics that may impact their distribution and transport. At the reach scale, hydraulic biotopes and their key features such as flow velocity, bed roughness, depth, and channel morphology are important features that shape the distribution and transport of MPs in riverine systems and should be considered in the design of MPs studies. Microbial-MPs interaction may impact MPs density, aggregation and thus transport dynamics. Instream vegetation may act as a physical trap of MPs, which may impact their horizontal transport and aggregation. Lateral transport of MPs is impacted mostly by precipitation, run-off, point and non-point discharges. The polymer density, size and shapes of MPs are critical factors that influence their transport dynamics in riverine systems. Microplastic sampling protocols should be designed to reflect hydro-geomorphological considerations. The unique interaction of MPs physical characteristics and hydraulic biotopes creates differential exposure of riverine organisms to MPs and should be used to unravel potential impacts. Biomonitoring studies should integrate the complex MPs-hydraulic interaction for ecologically meaningful investigation into organismal exposure to MPs in their preferred biotopes. Overall, our review indicates the influences of hydro-geomorphological features on the transport dynamics of MPs and their ecological significance for the study of MPs in rivers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
- Authors: Owowenu, Enahora K , Nnadozie, Chika F , Akamagwuna, Frank C , Noundou, Xavier S , Uku, Jude E , Odume, Oghenekaro N
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/484452 , vital:78907 , https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-023-10029-7
- Description: Microplastics (MPs) in rivers present an ecological risk. In this paper, we review hydro-geomorphological, biological, and allochthonous factors that may influence the distribution and transport of MPs in riverine systems. We also review MPs characteristics that may impact their distribution and transport. At the reach scale, hydraulic biotopes and their key features such as flow velocity, bed roughness, depth, and channel morphology are important features that shape the distribution and transport of MPs in riverine systems and should be considered in the design of MPs studies. Microbial-MPs interaction may impact MPs density, aggregation and thus transport dynamics. Instream vegetation may act as a physical trap of MPs, which may impact their horizontal transport and aggregation. Lateral transport of MPs is impacted mostly by precipitation, run-off, point and non-point discharges. The polymer density, size and shapes of MPs are critical factors that influence their transport dynamics in riverine systems. Microplastic sampling protocols should be designed to reflect hydro-geomorphological considerations. The unique interaction of MPs physical characteristics and hydraulic biotopes creates differential exposure of riverine organisms to MPs and should be used to unravel potential impacts. Biomonitoring studies should integrate the complex MPs-hydraulic interaction for ecologically meaningful investigation into organismal exposure to MPs in their preferred biotopes. Overall, our review indicates the influences of hydro-geomorphological features on the transport dynamics of MPs and their ecological significance for the study of MPs in rivers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
Assessment of risk of exposure to Campylobacter species and their antibiotic-resistant genes from selected rivers in the eastern cape, South Africa
- Chibwe, Mary, Odume, Oghenekaro N, Nnadozie, Chika F
- Authors: Chibwe, Mary , Odume, Oghenekaro N , Nnadozie, Chika F
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/484463 , vital:78908 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122625
- Description: Contaminated rivers play a critical role in the transmission of Campylobacter and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in many parts of the world. South Africa is a water-scarce country which relies on its freshwater systems such as rivers for recreation, irrigation, and domestic activities. This study assesses the potential human exposure to Campylobacter and its ARGs from rivers through the ingestion route in two South African rivers. The concentration of viable Campylobacter and ARGs in selected rivers was determined using quantitative PCR. The concentrations were then used to estimate the number of gene copies a person could ingest after swimming in the contaminated water for 1 h (intake burden).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
- Authors: Chibwe, Mary , Odume, Oghenekaro N , Nnadozie, Chika F
- Date: 2023
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/484463 , vital:78908 , https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122625
- Description: Contaminated rivers play a critical role in the transmission of Campylobacter and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) in many parts of the world. South Africa is a water-scarce country which relies on its freshwater systems such as rivers for recreation, irrigation, and domestic activities. This study assesses the potential human exposure to Campylobacter and its ARGs from rivers through the ingestion route in two South African rivers. The concentration of viable Campylobacter and ARGs in selected rivers was determined using quantitative PCR. The concentrations were then used to estimate the number of gene copies a person could ingest after swimming in the contaminated water for 1 h (intake burden).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023
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