{"id":75960,"date":"2016-08-06T12:53:25","date_gmt":"2016-08-06T10:53:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/water-wise-agriculture-gets-innovative-amid-crippling-drought\/"},"modified":"2016-08-06T12:53:25","modified_gmt":"2016-08-06T10:53:25","slug":"water-wise-agriculture-gets-innovative-amid-crippling-drought","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/water-wise-agriculture-gets-innovative-amid-crippling-drought\/","title":{"rendered":"Water wise: agriculture gets innovative amid crippling drought"},"content":{"rendered":"

Water wise: agriculture gets innovative amid crippling drought<\/a>: <\/p>\n

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DAMMING EVIDENCE: Quacha Group representative Christo Mostert inspects the new dam liner as it is put to the test at one of the group\u2019s farming operations near Patensie. Photo: Photography by Malcolm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

WITH eight of South Africa\u2019s nine provinces declared drought disaster areas, the agricultural sector and other water-intensive industries are incorporating clever water conservation solutions to preserve this increasingly scarce commodity.<\/p>\n

Among these solutions are the lining of dams and reservoirs to cut water losses from seepage into the soil, as well as covering water bodies to reduce losses from evaporation \u2013 requests which are increasingly being asked of water solutions company Rhino Water, the company says.<\/p>\n

The latest weekly report released by the national Department of Water and Sanitation indicates that the country\u2019s dams and reservoirs are currently operating at just over 52% capacity, compared with 74% last year.<\/p>\n

In the Eastern Cape, with dams at an average capacity of 66%, farmers are not taking the availability of water for granted.<\/p>\n

The Quacha Group, which operates farms in Patensie, Loerie and Addo, is one of the businesses which has asked Rhino Water for help. Chiefly a citrus producer, the group specialises in high value, intensive farming, which is built on smaller production units with higher yields.<\/p>\n

According to Quacha\u2019s Dirk Odendaal, the group needed to streamline costs and one solution had been to invest in water storage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe decided on water storage for two reasons. The first was to make use of the preferential night-time electricity prices by pumping \u2018cheap\u2019 water into the dam at night and then distributing it via gravitational feed during the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe second reason was to secure water during the dry period. The Gamtoos has continuous water supply through a channel system that is always filled with water. But every year this system shuts down for two weeks for routine maintenance, so having a water store will allow the group to expand its fruit mix, despite this downtime, with crops such as berries that require constant watering and feeding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although water security was not a problem in the Gamtoos region, Odendaal said it was nevertheless important to maximise the resource in the development of individual farming projects.<\/p>\n

He said his group\u2019s new dam would ensure water availability should any unforeseen circumstances arise, especially given the introduction of a dam liner which would contribute to conserving the stored water by minimising seepage-related losses.<\/p>\n

According to water solutions expert Sarel Bam, MD of Rhino Water \u2013 the company responsible for the dam liner\u2019s installation \u2013 the lining consists of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is one of the most chemically resistant materials available.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has high tensile strength with good impact, tear and puncture resistance and very good environmental stress cracking resistance,\u201d said Bam, adding that the dam liners also had a variety of other applications for farmers and could be used to line sludge ponds for piggeries, dairies and abattoirs.<\/p>\n

\u201cBasically, anywhere where organic or industrial waste threatens to leach into the soil and contaminate the groundwater.\u201d<\/p>\n

Aside from its agricultural uses, Bam said HDPE was the preferred choice for lining landfills and the insulation of chemical plants, roads and petrol stations, as well as in mining operations.<\/p>\n

Other water saving solutions asked of the company included woven geo-membranes that act as a protective cushion for liners in rocky soil, and floatation covers which prevent the growth of algae and water loss through evaporation, he said.<\/p>\n

Some of Rhino Water\u2019s recent projects included liners and floatation covers for six treated waste water ponds in the agri-zone at the Dube TradePort industrial development zone, as well as lining the waste water treatment works ponds in Nieu-Bethesda for Cacadu District Municipality.<\/p>\n

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