Page 14 - Landscape-Issue139

RAND WATER EDITORIAL

VAAL RIVER BARRAGE:

UPDATE ON THE WAR AGAINST WATER LETTUCE

The current coverage of the Vaal

River Barrage Reservoir by invasive
plant species, namely water lettuce
(Pistia stratiotes) and water hyacinth

(Pontederia crassipes), has dropped
considerably from 395 ha in April 2024

to 100 ha currently. The community has
rallied together and worked with Rand
Water and the authorities, using their

own resources and funding to assist in
removing the alien invasive species. To

date they have spent approximately
R10 million on the project. In addition,
Omnia has donated funds for the

removal of over 7km of these aquatic
alien invasive weeds.

Impact of alien invasive plants on the water quality

Curtaining erected to entrap alien invasive plants for extraction Curtaining to divide working areas before extraction

he Department of Water and establishment of an anti-pollution forum Water Use Compliance at the Dept of
Sanitation (DWS) has appointed for the Vaal catchment was announced. Water and Sanitation Mrs Anet Muir, Prof
TRand Water as the official The Department is also finalising its Julie Coetzee and Dr Kelby English from
implementing agent for three years, to criteria for the publication of a polluters Rhodes University, Afriforum, Omnia and
control and eradicate the alien invasive list, whilst continuing with enforcement Save the Vaal Environment (SAVE).
weeds in the Vaal River Barrage Reservoir. action against polluters, including Evidence of water lettuce in the Vaal
In collaboration with the Department municipal wastewater treatment works. River dates back to 2021, although the
of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Since early this year, the reduction in floods of 2021 and 2022 discouraged the
the DWS’s focus is not only on the the invasive plant species has been due aquatic invasive species from settling.
invasive species but more importantly, to a close working relationship between However, with lower rainfall in the
the water quality and pollution of this the Vaal River community, Dr Leslie summer of 2023 and the continued high
critical water resource. In April 2024, the Hoy from Rand Water, Chief Director of levels of nutrients in the river mainly

12 Landscape SA • Issue 139 2024 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za