Page 26 - Landscape-Issue149

FEATURE

ALBERTS FARM SPRING

Alberts Farm Park, also known as the Alberts Farm Conservancy, is a 74 ha open
space alongside the suburb of Greymont, north-western Johannesburg. The park
lies on the southern slope of the Northcliff ridge, and is the second largest green
lung in the city after Delta Park. It is an ecologically significant area, with a high

diversity of indigenous and exotic grasses, shrubs, trees and small fauna.

Alberts Park lies against the Northcliff ridge and is an ecologically significant area

t is also hydrologically important as orifice, which is typical of springs found in with unconfined flow, further adding to the
water from the ridge drains through the hard rock formations. confusion.
Ipark into the spruit, which feeds into the The question stems from numerous These varied interpretations have led
Braamfontein spruit, a tributary of the Jukskei articles online that have reported the Alberts to ambiguity in hydrogeological texts and
River. Farm spring as being the only artesian spring scientific discourse. Xiao et al (2020) argue
The Alberts Farm spring is a natural in Johannesburg. To accept or reject that it that because of its inconsistent usage and
feature that plays a vital role in sustaining is artesian would be to accept that there are the multiple meanings ascribed to it, the
the ecological health of its surrounding springs that can be classified as artesian. term ‘artesian’ should be discontinued in
environment. It serves a variety of purposes In the literature (for example, Bryan groundwater science as it has very little
including religious, cultural and domestic, 1919; Meizer 1927; Kresic 2010), springs are meaning or perhaps no clear meaning at all.
and holds significant spiritual and historical generally classified as gravity springs, also Despite the continued use of the term
value. It also supports a year-round wetland known as descending springs, and artesian ‘artesian’, there is no evidence to suggest that
that hosts diverse plant species and attracts springs, also known as rising springs. This the aquifer at Alberts Farm spring is deep or
numerous birds, making it a popular site for classification is based on the nature of the that water rises due to confining pressure.
bird watchers. hydraulic head in the underlying aquifer at Discharge variability reported by Leketa
With the growing water scarcity in the point of discharge. Gravity springs occur (2019) indicates that the spring is likely fed
Johannesburg, springs like Alberts Farm offer where the water table intersects the land by an unconfined aquifer. The hydrogeology
valuable insights into the fractured aquifer surface, while artesian springs are said to of springs is often complex, and accurate
dynamics of the Northcliff ridge, which can emerge due to pressure in a confined aquifer. characterisation of the Alberts Farm spring
contribute to urban water resilience. Their However, the continued use of the term will require detailed hydrogeological
protection provides ecological, cultural, and ‘artesian’ is problematic due to its inconsistent mapping, as well as consistent monitoring
hydrological benefits at relatively low cost. definition and interpretation in scientific of discharge, temperature and water quality.
literature. These elements can form the basis for proper
Is the Alberts Farm spring an Historically, the term ‘artesian’ originates classification.
artesian spring? from Artois, an ancient province in northern It is also important to note that several
For some time, much debate has taken place France, where wells drilled in 1126 reportedly methods for spring classification have
as to whether the spring at Alberts Farm flowed spontaneously at the surface (Norton been proposed, often based on discharge
can be considered ‘artesian’, with different 1897; Fuller 1906). These flowing wells rate, geological structure, rock type,
views coming to the fore. This matter was became known as artesian wells, and the geomorphology, temperature and water
discussed on site with Khuliso Masindi of Wits term gained popularity in France, Britain and quality. As our understanding of groundwater
University, Colleen Rood and Godfrey Giles of the United States during the 19th century flow improves, spring classification systems
Friends of Alberts Farm Conservancy, and (Garnier 1822; de Thury 1830; Arago 1835; continue to evolve. Therefore, accurate
Landscape SA. Storrow 1835). classification of springs must be informed
Khuliso Masindi, a hydrogeologist from Despite its historical roots, ‘artesian’ by hydrogeological investigation and
the School of Geosciences, University of has come to mean different things to understanding of the underlying aquifer
the Witwatersrand, explains that a spring different authors. Some define it strictly as system.
is a location where groundwater naturally groundwater under pressure in a confined
discharges either into a sub-aqueous or sub- aquifer with a hydraulic head above ground So, if Alberts Farm is not an ‘artesian
aerial environment. The visible point where level. Others apply it to any flowing well, spring’, what is it?
water emerges is known as the spring orifice. regardless of whether the aquifer is confined At the Alberts Farm spring, one can observe
The Alberts Farm spring has a well-defined or unconfined. Still others associate the term blocky, massive rocks with visible cracks.

24 Landscape SA • Issue 149 2025 Check us out www.salandscape.co.za