Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 12
Integrated management of urban diffuse
pollution in the Southern African region
R. Hranova
ABSTRACT: The multidisciplinary nature of diffuse pollution problems
requires an integrated and systematic approach to their solution and the
management of water resources. The integration with respect to regulatory
instruments and corresponding monitoring practices for their enforcement,
including biomonitoring, has been discussed. The spatial variation of
storm and natural water quality at a small catchment level and interactions
has been presented, including groundwater characteristics at selected
locations. Management tools and practices, suitable for application in the
region, have been presented in the light of the integrated cycled approach
to the subject, together with social, economic and financial considerations.
The most common sources of diffuse pollution have been discussed, and
appropriate abatement techniques and methods suggested. Directions for
future developments have been put forward.
1 SELECTED ASPECTS OF INTEGRATION
Diffuse pollution management should be viewed and implemented in the context of the
integrated approach to the management of the whole water resources system, at
catchment level. This is a multi-objective task, which could be approached from different
perspectives - social, economic, political, technical, etc. Integration might be sought in
different directions and at different levels. Some examples of different directions of the
integration process might include:
• Consideration of impacts and interactions of the different elements of the water
resources systeme.g. man-made structures and natural water bodies;
• Spatial variations in terms of upstream - downstream uses;
• Changes within one element of the system (river or lake), e.g. impacts of erosion and
sediment-waterinteractions;
• Land use patterns and their impacts on natural water resources;
• Surface - ground water interactions;
• Institutional arrangements and the need for coordination between different institutions
involved inthe process.
The levels of integration correspond to the scale at which the integration is sought, e.g.
local, regional, national or international and corresponding links and interactions.
Different scales of management would influence the objectives and goals to be achieved,
