PrøvGOLD- Free

Joburg's water leaks problem

The Citizen|December 14, 2024
HOW BAD IS IT? NO MONEY IS RECOVERED FOR 46% OF SUPPLY IN THE CITY'S SYSTEM
- Sean Christie
Joburg's water leaks problem
  • Lot of flow in rivers is from the city's sanitation system.

In the dry season in Johannesburg, there is more leaked water running in the Jukskei River than naturally occurring river water, a study has found.

This raises troubling questions about the state of Johannesburg's water reticulation.

The river's identity crisis was revealed by hydrologist Simon Lorentz, who started analysing water samples from the Jukskei's daylight point (the point at which the water emerges above ground for the first time) in 2018.

Lorentz subjected the samples to isotope analysis, a process that investigates the ratio of oxygen and hydrogen isotopes in order to determine, among other things, where the water comes from.

Lorenz found that the "isotopic signature" of those water samples was consistent with water from Johannesburg's water pipes.

Here's the technical description in the report:

"The source of water sampled from the Jukskei main channel discharge is either a reticulated water or sewage water leak.

"Characteristic of reticulated water isotope signals, those sampled from the taps in the upper Jukskei catchment reflect an evaporated state, being positioned to the right of the local meteoric water line (LMWL Pretoria).

"This verifies the evaporation process in the supply dams and reservoirs of the reticulated water. The water sampled from the Jukskei main channel has the same evaporated signature."

Another way researchers can tell that a lot of the water flowing in the Jukskei comes from unnatural sources is to look at the amount of water entering Hartbeespoort Dam downstream. Water management specialist Stuart Dunsmore, who has been working on a catchment management plan for the Upper Jukskei, has done just this.

According to Dunsmore, the Jukskei covers 19% of the Hartbeespoort Dam's supply catchment, yet it contributes almost 40% of its annual inflow.

Denne historien er fra December 14, 2024-utgaven av The Citizen.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 14, 2024-utgaven av The Citizen.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9500+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE CITIZENSe alt
Signings Impress Pep
The Citizen

Signings Impress Pep

Man City: Manager Happy As English Giants Start With A Victory

time-read
2 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Good betting prospects
The Citizen

Good betting prospects

OPPORTUNITIES: 11-RACE CAPE MEET COMPRISES 2 BIPOTS AND 3 JACKPOTS

time-read
3 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Fullback Fassi knows he will be a huge target now
The Citizen

Fullback Fassi knows he will be a huge target now

Rising Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi (right) said he is well aware that international teams will be doing more analysis on him since his breakout season last year, but that only drives him to keep developing his game and even change his style where needed.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 20, 2025
De Sa finds some positives in draw
The Citizen

De Sa finds some positives in draw

PLAY-OFFS: THINGS GET HEATED AGAINST CASRIC STARS

time-read
1 min  |
June 20, 2025
England's Best Ignored by Club
The Citizen

England's Best Ignored by Club

County Snub: Young Bashir Focusing on India But Isn't in the Running at Somerset

time-read
2 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Warhol, Stern Are Headliners
The Citizen

Warhol, Stern Are Headliners

Strauss & Co Auction: 70-Lot Sale Brings Together Established and Emerging Voices → Cover lot is Vesuvius, which is estimated will sell for R1.2 to R1.5 million, depicting the volcano.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Shadow Of Light to add shine
The Citizen

Shadow Of Light to add shine

Shadow Of Light could prove a worthy favourite as he drops back to 1200m for the Commonwealth Cup on today's penultimate day of Royal Ascot.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 20, 2025
Pair grab braces as Juve cruise
The Citizen

Pair grab braces as Juve cruise

Randal Kolo Muani (right) and Francisco Conceicao both bagged braces as Juventus hammered Al Ain 5-0 yesterday in their Club World Cup opener following a trip to the White House.

time-read
1 min  |
June 20, 2025
Massive Auction in Free State
The Citizen

Massive Auction in Free State

PVA: WIDE ARRAY OF PROPERTIES FOR SALE

time-read
1 min  |
June 20, 2025
Labubu doll fetches big bucks
The Citizen

Labubu doll fetches big bucks

A Beijing auction house has sold a nearly 1.2m tall sculpture of a viral plush toy character for more than $150,000 (R2.7 million), as global demand for the Chinese-designed Labubu dolls reaches fever pitch.

time-read
1 min  |
June 20, 2025

Vi bruker informasjonskapsler for å tilby og forbedre tjenestene våre. Ved å bruke nettstedet vårt samtykker du til informasjonskapsler. Finn ut mer