1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: This is catal. Last week the city's updated dam levels, 2 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 1: saying that we are now below the fifty percent mark. 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:18,240 Speaker 1: Around about forty percent is our damn capacity dropping week 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:21,960 Speaker 1: by week, The city warning again consumption is not falling. 5 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: Water restrictions could be back on the table later this year. 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: But beyond our dams, new research from the University of 7 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: the Western Cape points to a deeper concern. It's expected 8 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: that we'll have less fewer than expected, less than expected 9 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: rainfall this winter season. But what about our backup? What 10 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: about the ground water that is also steady, steadily declining 11 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: as a long term study that shows that we have 12 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 1: eighty percent of our boreholes declining, dropping by as much 13 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:03,040 Speaker 1: as seventeen meters. Joined on the line by doctor Sasseto Fikelni, 14 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: who is a researcher at the Department of Earth Sciences 15 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: at the University of the Western Cape. So say you 16 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: really appreciate your time just in terms of your research. 17 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: Couple with our declining damn devils, coupled again worth less 18 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: than expected rainfall this winter season? How serious is this 19 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: groundwater decline? 20 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:31,080 Speaker 2: Good morning Leicester, and good morning to your listeners. Thank 21 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: you to having me on your show first of all 22 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 2: the decline in terms of groundwate level. It is to 23 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 2: us in a way, although the decline is is gradually 24 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,639 Speaker 2: and it's not visible in our eyes. It can only 25 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: be seen when you start to analyze the groundwate levels 26 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 2: over a period of time. For example, laur research and 27 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 2: looked at time of televers since two dozens then to 28 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: build twenty four. That's when you are able to tread 29 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 2: it decline the way period of years. 30 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 1: Groundwater played a very important role in our day zero 31 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: scenario of what ten years ago twenty seventeen to twenty 32 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: nineteen that took us through that drought area. Can it 33 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: still play a role with this decline that we've seen 34 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 1: over the last what five years of this study? 35 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 2: To be honest, letter Mala, groundottas still play a role. However, 36 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 2: we have to be cootious in terms of how we 37 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 2: then abstract o our crondatar resources in the case lit 38 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: because as I said that, the studies showed that there 39 00:02:48,280 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: is a declimb. However, as I'm saying again, we can 40 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: still use the groundwater role. We need to be cautious 41 00:02:56,440 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 2: on how to use the crownwatter hands. I suggesting my 42 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 2: study that they should be. There is a need to 43 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:12,119 Speaker 2: actually find a way through the Department of What Time Salitation, 44 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 2: to find a way to regulate how the use of 45 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:21,239 Speaker 2: groundwater is in the country. Because if you remember, based 46 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,960 Speaker 2: on as you said that intend the fifteen penisary introut, 47 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 2: a lot of residents started to invest on poholds and 48 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 2: that is one of the reasons that you find this 49 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 2: sraduality decline of groundwater level because a lot of communities 50 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 2: now are using groundwater. 51 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: So when when you say maybe look at at more regulation, 52 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 1: are you talking about the licensing, the permit seeking permission, 53 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 1: maybe costs that you pay to the city or water 54 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: authority to access groundwater. That was some of the interventional 55 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: that you're considering. 56 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 2: Yes, Adding to that, I think one of the things 57 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 2: that is more important is awareness among the citizens because 58 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 2: I happen to find out that a lot of residents 59 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 2: they just have bow hooles just to fill in their 60 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 2: water poles, just for irrigation. And then that irrigation that 61 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 2: is not monitored because I have Crown Water bowls of water, 62 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: so I don't need to pay it of Cape Town 63 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 2: for irrigation. So that on its own is serving an 64 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:40,719 Speaker 2: impact on the decline in terms of crowndwater levels. 65 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: When it comes to recharging our groundwater storage, I know 66 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 1: that there has been some investment in terms of the 67 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: Cape Flats aqua for the role that it plays within 68 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:58,600 Speaker 1: the Philippy area. There have been infrastructure that has been built, 69 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: has been opening. But when we talk about the recharging, 70 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 1: how are we are we only relying on the water's 71 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 1: that that falls from the sky to recharge there's underwater storage. 72 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: What are the infrastructure mitigation mechanyms can we implement to 73 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: maybe improve the forecast when it comes to groundwater storage? 74 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: Okay, thanks for that question. And the city of Cape 75 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 2: Town is doing a huge search and then I think 76 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 2: part of that research they are facilities where they are 77 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:37,520 Speaker 2: doing what we call managed aquasaller charge. What does manage 78 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 2: acquafaer charges? Basically taking water from the aquafer and putting 79 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: it back to the system just to recharge the system 80 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,560 Speaker 2: to keep it sustainable. However, those tribes are not enough more, 81 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 2: especially when you're having issues of them levels that are 82 00:05:56,040 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 2: dropping to below fifty percent, and that already allows the 83 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: communities to start using the resource, of which that I 84 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 2: think on its own, it is a challenge in terms 85 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: of the decline of groundwater levels. 86 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 1: Do we have a number in terms of either private 87 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: but unregistered unreported ball installations. Do we have a number 88 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 1: of how many either residential properties, maybe even light to 89 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 1: medium industry that are tapping into groundwater storage? 90 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 2: Unfortunately, I don't have the numbers with me. However, I 91 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 2: would believe that because remember under Schedule one of licensing, 92 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 2: which is the mystical use of groundwater resources, some residents 93 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 2: they don't even register the apple holes. So in that 94 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 2: way you cannot even check how many people are tapping 95 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 2: on this aquifer. And also something that just we need 96 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: to remember about the air quifer. The Tapelets aquifer is 97 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: an aquifer on it on then there is also a 98 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 2: Mamma's berry shale aquifer which is sitting beneath the capelets appreast, 99 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 2: so that kind of information is not visible in terms 100 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 2: of how many bohols are tapping only on capelets, and 101 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 2: how many bohols are tapping on the mammals berry shale 102 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 2: aquifer which is sitting beneath the careless acquat. And hence 103 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 2: that my Stad suggests that we need an integrated approach 104 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 2: to say how do we share the data in terms 105 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 2: of how many bowholes or how many people that are 106 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 2: tapping on this capelets aquifer and also on the mamma's 107 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 2: beery aquaffer so that we can have a better monitoring 108 00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 2: system and also better decision making in terms of water 109 00:07:56,320 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: are location and also in terms of issuing licenses cause. 110 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 1: And that way you will licensers for for users or 111 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: licenses for for bar operations. If I were to go 112 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:15,200 Speaker 1: onto my neighborhood market place group, every second, third, fourth 113 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: advertisement is of some company offering some borehole service or 114 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:27,480 Speaker 1: these operations registered? Should they be registered? If there's someone 115 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:30,520 Speaker 1: who would be contracted by a residence to say, well, 116 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: let's let's see if I can get some some some 117 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:37,439 Speaker 1: groundwateron tapia, are these businesses registered? 118 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 2: They're they're drilling businesses. I'm not quite sure. Some are registered, 119 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 2: but some are not registered. However, we are required when 120 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,920 Speaker 2: we're a borehole in terms of what are use licensed 121 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 2: to register your pohole, whether you registered as under Schedule 122 00:08:56,480 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 2: one or under general authorization what I use, or as 123 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 2: an existing water use license. But we are required if 124 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,199 Speaker 2: you have a bothold to be registered based on those 125 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,959 Speaker 2: lecenses that are just made made mention. 126 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:16,599 Speaker 1: Of doctor Sceto Fikileni. He is currently working with the 127 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:22,920 Speaker 1: National Department when it comes to Earth Sciences, looking at 128 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: our groundwater storage. His research saying that over the last 129 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 1: years we have seen significant drop in water storage in 130 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: our groundwater. I really appreciate your time, thanks so much 131 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: for joining us here on good morning, Cape Tan.