Aquatic Ecosystems

161 Pages·2001·0.94 MB·English

S O U T H A F R I C A N
WATER QUALITY
GUIDELINES
VOLUME 7
AQUATIC
ECOSYSTEMS
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Second Edition 1996
SOUTH AFRICAN WATER QUALITY GUIDELINES
Volume 7: Aquatic Ecosystems
First Edition, 1996
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Mail reply to: Director: Water Quality Management
Department of Water Affairs & Forestry
Private Bag X313
PRETORIA
0001
SOUTH AFRICA
South African
Water Quality
Guidelines
Volume 7
Aquatic
Ecosystems
Department of Water Affairs
and Forestry
First edition
1996
Published by
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Private Bag X313
PRETORIA
0001
Republic of South Africa
Tel: [phone]
Printed and bound by
The Government Printer, Pretoria
ISBN 0-7988-5338-7 (Set)
ISBN 0-7988-5345-X (Volume 7)
Copyright reserved
No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any manner
without full acknowledgement
of the source

This report should be cited as:
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 1996. South African Water Quality
Guidelines. Volume 7: Aquatic Ecosystems.
Edited by S Holmes, CSIR Environmental Services
Produced by:
CSIR Environmental Services
P O Box 395
PRETORIA
0001
Republic of South Africa
This volume is the seventh in a series of eight volumes comprising the South African
Water Quality Guidelines.
Volume 1: South African Water Quality Guidelines -
Domestic Water Use
Volume 2: South African Water Quality Guidelines -
Recreational Water Use
Volume 3: South African Water Quality Guidelines -
Industrial Water Use
Volume 4: South African Water Quality Guidelines -
Agricultural Water Use: Irrigation
Volume 5: South African Water Quality Guidelines -
Agricultural Water Use: Livestock Watering
Volume 6: South African Water Quality Guidelines -
Agricultural Water Use: Aquaculture
Volume 7: South African Water Quality Guidelines -
Aquatic Ecosystems
Volume 8: South African Water Quality Guidelines -
Field Guide
Foreword
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry is the custodian of South Africa's water resources. Part
of its mission is to ensure that the quality of water resources remains fit for recognised water uses and
that the viability of aquatic ecosystems are maintained and protected. These goals are achieved through
complex water quality management systems which involve role players from several tiers of
government, from the private sector and from civil society.
A common basis from which to derive water quality objectives is an essential requirement that enables
all role players involved in such a complex system to act in harmony in order to achieve the
overarching goal of maintaining the fitness of water for specific uses and to protect the health of
aquatic ecosystems. For these reasons the Department initiated the development of the South African
Water Quality Guidelines, of which this is the second edition. The South African Water Quality
Guidelines serve as the primary source of information for determining the water quality requirements
of different water uses and for the protection and maintenance of the health of aquatic ecosystems.
The process that followed and the wide variety of organizations and individuals involved in the
development of these guidelines ensured the acceptance and use of these guidelines by all significant
role players, as the South African Water Quality Guidelines. These guidelines are technical documents
aimed at users with a basic level of expertise concerning water quality management. However, the role
players involved in the different water use sectors are expected to use these guidelines as a basis for
developing material to inform water users in specific sectors about water quality and to empower them
to effectively participate in processes aimed at determining and meeting their water quality
requirements.

The Department recognises that water quality guidelines are not static and will therefore update and
modify the guidelines on a regular basis, as determined by ongoing research and review of local and
international information on the effects of water quality on water uses and aquatic ecosystems. The
process of developing water quality guidelines, and the involvement of key role players, is a contining
one. The second edition is published in a loose leaf, ring binder format to facilitate the regular
updating of the guidelines. All those who want to comment on and make suggestions concerning the
South African Water Quality Guidelines are invited to do so at any time by contacting the Director:
Water Quality Management, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Private Bag X313, Pretoria
0001.
Finally I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all those who have been involved in the
development of these guidelines. I also look forward to their continued involvement in maintaining
one of the corner-stones of the water quality management system in South Africa.
Professor Kader Asmal MP
Minister Of Water Affairs and Forestry May 1996
i
Contents
Page
Introduction ......................................................................... 1
Approach to Guideline Development...................................................... 7
Aquatic Ecosystems in the Context of Water Quality Management .............................. 9
Information contained in the Guidelines .................................................. 13
Management Applications ............................................................. 15
Water Quality Constituents ............................................................ 19
Aluminium .................................................................. 19
Ammonia ................................................................... 23
Arsenic ..................................................................... 27
Atrazine .................................................................... 31
Cadmium ................................................................... 35
Chlorine .................................................................... 41
Chromium ................................................................... 45
Copper ..................................................................... 49
Cyanide ..................................................................... 55
Dissolved Oxygen............................................................. 59
Endosulfan .................................................................. 65
Fluoride .................................................................... 69
Iron ........................................................................ 73
Lead ....................................................................... 77
Manganese .................................................................. 83
Mercury .................................................................... 87
Nitrogen (Inorganic) ........................................................... 91
pH (Acidity and Alkalinity) ..................................................... 97
Phenol ..................................................................... 103
Phosphorus (Inorganic)........................................................ 107
Selenium ................................................................... 113
Temperature ................................................................ 117
Total Dissolved Salts/Solids .................................................... 123
Total Suspended Solids ....................................................... 127
Zinc....................................................................... 131
Appendices and Glossaries ........................................................... 135
APPENDIX 1 ............................................................... 135
APPENDIX 2 ............................................................... 136
APPENDIX 3 ............................................................... 147
APPENDIX 4 ............................................................... 151
Glossary of Terminology ............................................................. 152
Glossary of Abbreviations / acronyms ................................................... 157
Glossary of Units of Measure.......................................................... 159
ii
Acknowledgements
The following persons and organisations are thanked for their contributions to these guidelines.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Ms T Belcher, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dr D C Grobler, CSIR Environmental Services
Dr S Holmes, CSIR Environmental Services
Mr J L J van der Westhuizen, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dr H R van Vliet, Institute for Water Quality Studies, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
PROJECT TEAM
Dr P J Ashton, Water Quality Information Systems, Division of Water Technology, CSIR
Ms H Badenhorst, Institute for Water Quality Studies, Department of Water Affairs
Ms H F Dallas, Freshwater Research Unit, Zoology Department, University of Cape Town
Dr J Day, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town
Dr P Goetsch, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Mr S Jooste, Institute for Water Quality Studies, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dr P L Kempster, Institute for Water Quality Studies, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Dr H M MacKay, Water Quality Information Systems, Division of Water Technology, CSIR
Ms C A Moore, Water Quality Information Systems, Division of Water Technology, CSIR
Dr C G Palmer, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Mr D J Roux, Water Quality Information Systems, Division of Water Technology, CSIR
TECHNICAL REVIEWERS
Prof C M Breen, Institute of Natural Resources, University of Natal
Prof J O’Keeffe, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University
DISTRIBUTION LIST
Draft copies of the report were circulated to the following people and organisations. All comments
received were considered.
Mr A Abrahams, Palabora Mining Company
Dr M S Basson, Bruinette Kruger Stoffberg Inc.,Pretoria
Mr V Böhmer, Senior Research Officer, Sappi Fine Papers
Mr E Braune, Director: Geohydrology, Department of Water Affairs & Forestry
Dr F M Chutter, Afridev Consultants (Pty) Ltd
Mr G Cowan, Deputy Director, Department of Environmental Affairs
Mr J Cowan Steffen, Robinson & Kirsten Inc.
Prof B R Davies, University of Cape Town
Dr A R Deacon, Kruger National Park
Mr T de Jager, Western Areas Gold Mine
Dr F C de Moor, Albany Museum, Grahamstown
Mr H M du Plessis, Research Manager, Water Research Commission
Prof H H du Preez, Department of Zoology, Rand Afrikaans University
iii
Dr J S Engelbrecht, Provincial Fishery Institute, Lydenburg
Ms C A Fedorsky, Generation Environmental Manager, Generation Group: ESKOM
Mr W D R Fourie, Deputy Director, Department of Environmental Affairs
Mr J Fourie, Gold & Uranium Division, JCI Ltd, Randfontein
Mr L Furstenburg, Watermeyer, Legge Piesold & Uhlmann
Mr S A Gerber, Deputy Director, Department of Environmental Affairs
Dr W P D Gertenbach, Kruger National Park
Mr D Gibson, Chief Civil Engineer, Richards Bay Minerals
Mr T Glück, Process Development Engineer, Manganese Metal Co.
Prof A Görgens, Ninham Shand Inc., Consulting Engineers
Prof J U Grobbelaar, University of Orange Free State, Department of Botany
Mr P Grobler, Phalaborwa Water Board
Dr K C D Hamman, Stellenbosch
Mr R Hattingh, Environmental Geochemist, Richards Bay Minerals
Dr C E Herold, Stewart Scott Incorporated
Prof D Hughes, Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University
Dr A Jarvis, SASTECH, Sasolburg
Mr A W J Jooste, Superintendent: Environmental Control, Palabora Mining Company Limited
Mr N Jory, R & D Manager, Sappi Fine Papers
Dr P L Kempster, Institute for Water Quality Studies, Department of Water Affairs & Forestry
Mr D Kerdachi, Manager: Process Services Umgeni Water
Dr J M King, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town
Mr M J King, Manager: Exploration, Richards Bay Minerals
Dr C J Kleynhans, Institute for Water Quality Studies, Department of Water Affairs & Forestry
Mrs M Kruger, Western Transvaal Regional Water Co., Stilfontein
Mr D Lindley, Wildlife Society
Mr P Merensky, Technical Service Manager, SAPPI Ngodwana Mill
Mr B J Middleton, Steffen, Robertson & Kirsten Inc.
Dr S A Mitchell, Research Manager, Water Research Commission
Prof J O'Keeffe, Department of Zoology, Rhodes University
Prof A J Pieterse, Department of Botany, University of Potchefstroom
Mr R Porter, Natal Parks Board
Mr R A Pullen, ConsultBuro, Alkantrant
Mr W N Richards, Director, Umgeni Water
Prof K H Rogers, Department of Botany, University of Witwatersrand
Ms G Roos, Environmental Sciences, ESKOM: Technology, Research & Investigations
Prof A Rooseboom, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Stellenbosch
Mrs L Rossouw, Environmental Scientist, ConsultBuro
Mr O Rossouw, Department of Water Affairs & Forestry
Mr M T Seaman, Department of Zoology, University of the Orange Free State
Prof R E Schulze, Department of Agricultural Engineering, University of Natal
Mr S Southwood, ENV Consulting Engineers (Bophuthatswana) (Pty) Ltd
Mr M C Steynburg, Rand Water
Drs B & F Talbot, Talbot & Talbot
Mr R Taylor, Head: Estuary Research, Natal Parks Board
Mr G Tosen, Environmental Sciences, ESKOM T-R-I
Mr M Truter, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Foskor Limited
Dr A J Twinch, Umgeni Water
Mr T van der Westhuizen, Foskor Limited
Dr A M van Niekerk, Wates, Meiring & Barnard Inc.
Mr L van Rensburg, Manager: Public Affairs, Transvaal Sugar Limited
iv
Mr A G J Vlok, Executive Director, SAPPI
Mr R Vogel, Consultant: Environmental Services, AECI Ltd.
Dr R D Walmsley, Steffen, Roberston & Kirsten Inc.
Mr J A Wates, Wates, Meiring & Barnard
Prof T H Wooldridge, Department of Zoology: Estaurine Management, University of Port Elizabeth
v