An investigation into the pollution status of the Durban Harbour river catchments, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
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Date
2014
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Abstract
River pollution as a consequence of urbanization and industrialization has tremendously
increased over the past few decades with rapid population growth, and often with
profound negative effects on ecosystem health and functioning. The river systems of the
Durban Harbour catchments are no exception. The uMhlatuzana, uMbilo and
aManzimnyama river catchments of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, comprise three
freshwater systems which are predominantly urbanized and industrialized rivers
ultimately flowing into the Bayhead Canal of the Durban Harbour as corresponding canals
at the confluence.
This study explores the pollution status of these river catchments in relation to
seasonality and surrounding land use in an attempt to identify principal contributors
influencing pollution. To examine the impacts of land use on pollution levels, samples
collected from predetermined locations were analyzed for several physico-chemical
parameters in the water and sediment column. Additionally, benthic diatoms from these
predetermined locations were studied in assessing diatom responses to physico-chemical
water gradients and to establish overall aquatic habitat quality. This allowed for the
appraisal of the suitability of diatoms as potential biological indicators of river health in
the study area. The impacts of each river system on the Bayhead Canal of the Durban
Harbour into which they flow were assessed following further sampling that was
conducted in the Bayhead Canal and the data presented as interpolated images using
ArcGIS 9®. All data was analyzed using relevant statistical analyses techniques.
Results indicated that an intensification of anthropogenic activities and processes
operating in the catchments of the Durban Harbour, in particular industry, have caused
general deteriorations in certain water and sediment parameters on the basis of variables
that were analyzed. This has resulted in substantial spatio-temporal variability across all
sample sites. This was further substantiated by low counts of diatom taxa found across all
sites and seasons which represented deteriorations in water quality and necessitated the
need for drastic remedial measures for restoration of the catchment river systems. The
study was useful in identifying zones and contaminants of concern so as to enable water
managers and planners to correctly prioritize stressed zones for rehabilitation and for ongoing
monitoring in the attempt to restore the ecological state of the systems, whilst
saving on monitoring time and costs.
Description
M. Sc. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2014.
Keywords
Natal Bay (South Africa), Watersheds--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Water--Pollution--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Rivers--KwaZulu-Natal--Durban., Theses--Environmental science.