The Impacts of Sand Mining on Water Quality: A South African Perspective

Asabonga Mngeni

2022

Abstract

Sand mining is a common practice in many rivers and flood plains in South Africa. As a result of population growth, economic development, and infrastructural development, the demand of sand continues to rise. The aim of this study was to determine how sand mining affects water quality. The impact of sand mining on water quality was determined by comparing turbidity, pH, electrical conductivity, and temperature in three sampling sites (upstream, adjacent, and downstream). In addition, we determined if sand extracted using the manual method affects the four water parameters the same way they are affected by the tractor-loader-backhoe. These water parameters were measured in five rivers in the Eastern Cape Province (Tsembeyi, Thina, Gaduka, Somerville, and Nomhala). The results showed that sand mining affects turbidity, with greater turbidity in the adjacent sampling sites that the upstream sampling sites. The variation in turbidity can be due to sand extract suspending solid particles in the water column. On the other hand, pH values in adjacent sampling sites increased noticeably. The results revealed that the sand extraction method affects electrical conductivity, with higher electrical conductivity when using the mechanical (tractor-loader-backhoe) method than the manual method. The difference in electrical conductivity can be explained by the fact that generally turbidity and electrical conductivity have a positive correlation. Even though other water parameters such as temperature and pH were not affected by sand mining, results showed that sand mining affects water quality in terms of turbidity and electrical conductivity.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Mngeni A. (2022). The Impacts of Sand Mining on Water Quality: A South African Perspective. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Water, Ecology and Environment - Volume 1: ISWEE; ISBN 978-989-758-639-2, SciTePress, pages 156-161. DOI: 10.5220/0011950900003536

in Bibtex Style

@conference{iswee22,
author={Asabonga Mngeni},
title={The Impacts of Sand Mining on Water Quality: A South African Perspective},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Water, Ecology and Environment - Volume 1: ISWEE},
year={2022},
pages={156-161},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0011950900003536},
isbn={978-989-758-639-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 3rd International Symposium on Water, Ecology and Environment - Volume 1: ISWEE
TI - The Impacts of Sand Mining on Water Quality: A South African Perspective
SN - 978-989-758-639-2
AU - Mngeni A.
PY - 2022
SP - 156
EP - 161
DO - 10.5220/0011950900003536
PB - SciTePress