The Northern Cape town De Aar takes its name from the Afrikaans word for “the artery” due to its numerous underground water-bearing channels. New research aims to ensure the sustainable use of groundwater resources in a town where nearly all activities rely on this vital groundwater source.
By Myolisi Gophe
DE AAR, a town in the Northern Cape, takes its name from the Afrikaans word for “the artery” due to its numerous underground water-bearing channels. The town’s dependence on these groundwater sources makes effective groundwater management essential.
Recognising this need, the University of the Western Cape (UWC) has partnered with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to investigate groundwater recharge mechanisms.
This research aims to ensure the sustainable use of groundwater resources in a town where nearly all activities rely on this vital source.
Since 2013, UWC, DWS, CSIR and Emthanjeni Local Municipality have collaborated to estimate groundwater recharge values in the De Aar aquifer system. These estimates are crucial for determining safe abstraction rates and guiding sustainable groundwater use in the town’s water allocation plans.
De Aar serves as the headquarters for the Emthanjeni Municipality and the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality, where sustainable water allocation is vital for supporting various development activities.
A key aspect of this project is collaborating with local farmers to test groundwater system behaviours.
Together, UWC, DWS, CSIR and farmers assess how much water the aquifer systems receive (recharge), how much they yield over time, and their sustainable yield.
“We conduct 24-hour pumping tests to generate reliable data. Collaborating with farmers ensures that the farming community accepts and adopts the recommendations. Farmers need trustworthy scientific information to manage groundwater use sustainably and protect their equipment,” explained Professor Thokozani Kanyerere.
Kanyerere, from the Unesco Chair Centre on Geohydrology and the Institute of Water Studies in the Department of Earth Sciences at UWC, leads the De Aar Groundwater Project alongside Dr Harrison Pienaar from CSIR and Lucky Baloyi from DWS. Baloyi is also a PhD scholar in the Department of Earth Science at UWC.
According to Kanyerere, the UWC-DWS-CSIR partnership focuses on various aspects of groundwater research, including exploration, development, hydraulics, groundwater-surface water interactions, monitoring, modelling and governance.
In November 2023 and April 2024, three PhD students, six Master’s students and one postdoctoral scholar joined Kanyerere and Harrison in De Aar to work on the groundwater project.
Kanyerere emphasised that involving postgraduate scholars in practical research is a valuable investment, preparing them for the job market.
“This initiative to strengthen human capacity in the groundwater sector is more crucial than ever as climate change exacerbates water scarcity. Groundwater is becoming an essential alternative water source, supporting environmental integrity and socio-economic development,” said Kanyerere.
He added that by partnering with DWS, CSIR and local communities, UWC students gain exposure to real-world challenges and solutions, enhancing their employability. The collaborative approach not only improves students’ practical skills but also creates opportunities for employment and business ventures.
“In a world with increasing job scarcity, developing specific skills must be coupled with opportunities for employment. Partnerships with potential employers like DWS and CSIR expose our students to the job market and provide platforms for engagement. These collaborations help our graduates remain relevant and technologically adept,” Kanyerere concluded.
