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KCC Useful Links
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Conservation Organizations
Learn what strategies this world famous conservation organisation is putting in place.
How can you help them attain their goals? Join their Take Action campaign and get involved in urgent
conservation issues around the world.
IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature,
helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development
challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and
brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and
local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.
On March 22, World Water Day is held to highlight the importance of freshwater and
how to manage water sustainably. In 2009, under the theme "Shared Water - Shared Opportunities ",
transboundary water is in focus. Managing water across borders could promote trust and understanding,
leading to a more peaceful and secure world, enabling sustainable economic growth. Lead agencies for
World Water Day 2009 are the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). There is a wealth of
information on this site covering issues such as scarcity, sanitation, pollution, gender issues,
why Africa is a region for priority action. Thus an excellent site for learners doing water
based projects.
It would be wonderful if every school in Grahamstown would join this global
awareness water monitoring day.
World Water Monitoring Day is an international education and outreach program that builds public
awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by engaging citizens to
conduct basic monitoring of their local water bodies.
Celebrate with us on September 18, or host your World Water Monitoring Day anytime from March 22
until December 31!
Envirokids
WESSA publishes EnviroKids (Kids caring for the Earth). They
frequently publish very good issues on water. The February
2009 issue is entitled WATER FOR ALL. It has such interesting
sections as:
- What is your water footprint? (A good family and/or school project)
- We all live downstream
- Fascinating floodplains
- Exploring our rivers
- Fun water science
- Children of all ages can join EnviroKids by visiting the WESSA website
Databases
An invasive species database. Learn about invasive species on this database.
Look at the top 100 worst invaders around the world. Do you know any of these?
The SA Alien Invasive Plants Database. This site includes distribution maps of
these problem species.
Galela Amanzi is a project aimed at conservation of water and improving access to water within the historically disadvantaged communities of
Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, where water shortages and cut-offs are a daily problem. The project installs rainwater
tanks in key, water scarce locations, providing water for irrigating community vegetable gardens, and for cooking
and drinking purposes.
Water Research
The Institute for Water Research is based at Rhodes University.
The objectives of the IWR are to contribute to the knowledge of and promote the understanding and wise use of natural water resources in southern Africa.
These objectives are achieved in a number of ways:
- Research into the structure, function and components of natural water systems
- Contract projects aimed at solving specific water-related problems
- Teaching at all levels within Rhodes University
- Dissemination of information by written articles and public lectures
- Service on research and management committees outside Rhodes University
- Capacity building and community education for the water sector .
The goal of the The River Health Program is to serve as a source of information
regarding the ecological state of river ecosystems in South Africa, in order to support the rational
management of these natural resources.
Southern African Water Resources Network
The Southern African Water Resource Network (SA Water network) is one of five networks that has received funding through the Carnegie-IAS Regional Initiative in Science and Education (RISE: see http://sites.ias.edu/sig/rise) for the initial period of 2008-2010. The objective of the network is to develop academic capacity in sub-Saharan Africa in the field of water resource science. This network will build upon existing networks related to the same scientific field, including the UNESCO Southern Africa FRIEND (Flow Regimes from International Experimental and Network Data) programme and WATERNET. The FRIEND programme is largely a research network, but it has an emphasis on post-graduate student development and links to the national water management agencies in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). WATERNET is a regional (southern and east Africa) network of 52 university departments and research and training institutes, with the objectives to build regional institutional and human capacity in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). WATERNET has very similar objectives to RISE and one of its main activities is the regional course-work MSc in water resources. Further information can be found about these two programmes through the following links:
The Water Research Commission (WRC) operates in terms of the Water Research Act (Act 34 of 1971) and
its mandate is to support water research and development as well as the building of a sustainable water
research capacity in South Africa. The WRC serves as the country's water-centred knowledge 'hub'
leading the creation, dissemination and application of water-centred knowledge, focusing on water
resource management, water-linked ecosystems, water use and waste management and water utilisation
in agriculture.
Water Institute of Southern Africa is about building expertise, sharing knowledge and improving the quality of life. Read their online newsletters on this site.
Government Sites
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is the custodian of South Africa's water and forestry resources. It is primarily responsible for the formulation and implementation of policy governing these two sectors. It also has override responsibility for water services provided by local government.
While striving to ensure that all South Africans gain access to clean water and safe sanitation, the water sector also promotes effective and efficient water resources management to ensure sustainable economic and social development.
The forestry programme promotes the sustainable management of the country's natural forest resources and commercial forestry for the lasting benefit of the nation.
The fight against invasive alien plants is spearheaded by the Working for Water (WfW) programme, launched in 1995 and administered through the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. This programme works in partnership with local communities, to whom it provides jobs, and also with Government departments including the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Agriculture, and Trade and Industry, provincial departments of agriculture, conservation and environment, research foundations and private companies.
Invasive alien plants (IAPs) pose a direct threat not only to South Africa's biological diversity, but also to water security, the ecological functioning of natural systems and the productive use of land.
South Africa has had the rare opportunity to completely reform its water law since the first democratic elections were held in 1994. This resulted in the enactment of the Water Services Act (Act 108 - of 1997) and the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998). The legislation is "framework legislation" with most of the detail being incorporated in regulations. Since the enactment of the legislation which contains many unique features, the South African Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has engaged in a complex program of implementation. This is beginning to produce a number of very interesting documents which are of interest beyond the particular circumstances of South Africa. These will be mounted on this page as they become available.
The official website of the Makana Municipality. Learn what is happening in your municipality.
South Africa has had the rare opportunity to completely reform its water
law since the first democratic elections were held in 1994. This resulted
in the enactment of the Water Services Act (Act 108 - of 1997) and the
National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998).
Water Related Companies
Since 1903, Rand Water has been a bulk water supplier to the Gauteng area. In recent years, they have responded to social and political change by choosing to operate beyond their traditional role as a bulk supplier.
Their message to consumers is that water is precious and scarce. If we all work together in the spirit of 'Izandla ziyagezana' ('One hand washes the other'), to pay for water and use it wisely, we can all contribute to the task of managing water for the future. We could also follows this in the Makana Municipality.
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