The microbiological, physicochemical and elemental quality of the dams of South Africa is important.

What is it about?

The measured physicochemical parameters were within the national and/or international guidelines for irrigation water even if some of the parameters may have a negative impact on selected crops. The concentrations of the water-soluble anions (except phosphate and at some sites nitrate) in samples were within their respective South African and/or WHO guidelines for irrigation water. However, the levels of phosphate in this study make the dam hypertrophic. The average concentration of potentially toxic elements in the sediments of the dam was found to be moderately to heavily polluted by Cr and Ni, non-polluted to moderately polluted by Cu and non-polluted by Pb and Zn. The bacterial levels in the dam were low and can hence not be considered a problem.

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Why is it important?

Water resources are scarce in the world in general and in South Africa in particular. So the country is using man-made reservoirs (dams) for urban, industrial and irrigation purposes. Hence, the quality of the water in these dams is important.

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