Factors Influencing Availability of Water in South Africa

Factors Influencing Availability of Water in South Africa There are many factors influencing the sustainability of water supply in South Africa. One of the reasons is that According to the global water balance (figure below), South Africa is situated in a negative runoff zone, which means that annual evaporation always exceeds rainfall and South Africa is further situated in a semidesert / desert latitude zone, which has almost no weathering and soil formation, due to the drop in precipitation and vegetation cover, and the higher temperatures and evaporation rate. Besides the main factors, that will be dealt with in the essay, such as the over exploitation of water by the economic sectors and the main water sources in South Africa being polluted and therefore cannot be used, the situation of South Africa contributes largely to unsustainable usage of water through evaporation and therefore influencing the sustainability of water for future generations. The table below supports The Miller Model (Figure 1) as it shows that in South Africa, the amount of evaporation exceeds the amount of rainfall and the water demand often exceeds the water yield which highlights the shortages of water in that alone without other major factors being looked at. South Africa gets most of its water (66%) from surface runoff which is contained in about 320 dams all over the country which have total capacity of more than 32 400 million m3. Johannesburg being such a huge city is the biggest metropolitan area in South Africa. However unlike other cities of its size anywhere in the world it is one in very few that are not situated on or next to a major watercourse. Johannesburgs main water source comes from the Jukskei and Upper Klip River in the north and south respectively. The Jukskei catchment is situated within the Pretoria-Witwatersrand area. A range of users from recreational activities to industrial users are using the Jukskei River, with different water standards catering for each category and although the catchment is used for a variety of human activities it still has to support a population number of 790  000 in 1991 which has probably increased over the years. The Klip River catchment is one of the most heavily impacted river s ystems in South Africa and is subjected to almost every type of pollution. It furthermore serves all five recognised user groups identified by DWAF (domestic, agricultural, recreation, industrial and the natural environment). It is approximated that 9500 million m3/annum of the total requirements for water of 12  871 million m3/annum is abstracted from surface water resources.   The remainder comes from groundwater, the re-use of return flows, and the interception of water by afforestation.   In rural, semi arid and arid areas, surface water is not abundant therefore groundwater is used extensively instead  the six major aquifers (rocks with porosity and water permeability) in South Africa include, Table Mountain Group sandstones, coastal sand deposits, basement granites, Karoo dolerites, Dolomites and alluvium along perennial rivers.   Most exploitable groundwater occurs in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country and in the Western Cape, where aquifers are concentrated.  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  When looking at Figure 3 which is the map of South Africa shows how utilizable groundwater is scarce in KwaZulu-Natal and the south of South Africa whereas water is concentrated in Northern and Western Cape. However with ground water excessive concentration of chloride, nitrate, and other salts, all of which are costly to remove which shows how less and less groundwater will be exploitable for human purposes as it is becoming increasingly polluted with tox ic wates. Looking at the above figure it shows how water in South Africa is concentrated in the Northern part of South Africa. In KwaZulu Natal province, there is 92% of available water that is guaranteed and only a one in thirteen risk of water restrictions which shows its availability. Although water may be currently available, leading scientists predict that SAs economic hub will run short of water should a severe drought occur in the next 10 years. Due to South Africas failure to maintain water pipes that provide households with water 30% was lost through leaking or burst pipes. The right to sufficient water is guaranteed by the countrys constitution, and the government has worked hard to provide access to running water to 88 percent of the population, up from 62 percent in 1996. However, water may be available but it is unevenly distributed and it is extrapolated that by 2025,that water deficits will occur in three of the four water management areas that support most of the countrys economic activity. The Klip River which has been mentioned previously is located in an urban area where there is plenty urban development and Industries. Due to mining activities in the area, the river is subject to pressures from those mining activities as large amounts of water are required to support industries such as those that generate electrical power. Mining on its own has been averaged to use up to 8 % of South Africas water. Mines such as the Grootvlei mine are responsible for intoxicating valuable groundwater by pumping wastes into rivers thus making it useless in regards to human use. IRRIGATION Irrigation accounts for 50% of the total water use in South Africa. Farmers that grow crops or fruit, for commercial use or farmers that practise subsisitence farming, use lots of water to meet the demands of the fields of crops that need watering. The process of meat production uses up a lot of water which is said to be around 3000 litres of water for one Kg of meat which is why people are encouraged to reduce their intake of meat to save water. FACTORIES Factories not only emitt gasses into the atmosphere but they also release effluents into nearby rivers that are both toxic to humans and animals. Some factories use water to cool down tanks and other machinery and the release it back into rivers which is a form of pollution because when water is heated, oxygen decreases which is detrimental to aquatic life. MANAGEMENT AND SOLUTIONS: Community Development and Environmental Education By raising awareness amongst all people in rural areas, that are mostly uneducated, that water is a precious resource which has an impact on all aspects of life people will begin to take note of the significance of water to all that exist. These awareness projects can be made by having people talk to people about how to reduce water usage by not bathing three times a day or leaving a tap running for example. Water Conservation 50% of all water available in South Africa is used up by irrigation purposes. The application of water conservation and demand management (WC/DM) principles in the irrigation and farming sector will have a significant effect on the availability of water to other sectors. In order to successfully manage water resources then stricter boundries must be set on each sector using and only allowed a certain amount of water. Industry, Mining and Power Generation Sector The Industry, Mining and Power Generation Programme oversees the development and implementation of appropriate policies, strategies, projects and initiatives that will promote water conservation in these economic sectors. Such programmes should be improved as they aim to establish a culture of water conservation in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors and this will ensure sustainable use of water. Another solution and initiative that have been taken to combat water shortages is the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (II) which is due to begin in 2020 as It is expected to take more than nine years to prepare for and implement the project. Once the project is underway there will be an estimated transfer of 479-million cubic meters annually to South Africa which is aimed at getting water from Lesotho and supplying Gauteng province with it however Negotiations were still under way with the government of Lesotho regarding the flagship of the project. Desalinization of surrounding oceans such as the Indian and Atlantic Ocean has been considered but later ruled out due to financial, technological and facility constraints in the country to undergo this process. It is true that water is still available in South Africa and it is also true that in a few years this resource will not be able to support and sustain the population. Industries and households have proved to be the guzzlers of water in South Africa. Strategies that have been implemented will be effective in reducing the usage of water by Industries, and programmes that aim to educate the youth and the elderly on water conservation will alert people to the fact that We dont have the luxury of choice and time.

Pros and Cons of a Political Dynasty Essay

Political dynasty is common not only in our country but also in other parts of the world. It has advantages and disadvantages that may affect the community and the people as well. One of the advantages of this is that since the sons, wives or any other members of the same family in government positions have enough background on politics and well-versed in governance, they know how to care and deal with the people and they know how to work with the government since they are a familiar with it because of their relatives. Being familiar in leading people is a big factor. This helps a lot in becoming a good leader. These dynasties came about because of the votes of the people because the latter know that these set of political families can help them improve their lives. This is a good thing especially if the family has a good track record in their services and maintains integrity in their office. Most of these dynasties have been in power for decades and are being tolerated by their cons tituents since continuity in governance and policies are good for the communities they serve which is unlike in diverse political leaders in a particular province, each has his own agenda that may not be congruent to the development of the province. But of course, there are also disadvantages of having political dynasties in a country. It seems that families of influence continue to shape the direction of a certain country. Presidents rise and fall but the same people continue to rule. Being career politicians is pretty much a family business at this point where every new offspring is expected to follow in his or her parent’s footsteps and ensure that the cash flow continues. These political families have gathered enough wealth and resources to ensure that they win any election whether through the strength of the family name or through more â€Å"creative† electoral strategies. The bad side of political dynasty is when a corrupt family rules a certain place or certain country, the tendency is that corruption is being tolerated and passed from one generation to another. At the end of the day, the people will be the one to choose the leaders they want to lead. They must exercise their right to vote and enjoy the democracy of our country. The main thing they must do is to vote wisely.

FAQs for Writing Your Graduate Admissions Essay

When graduate school applicants learn of the importance of the admissions essay to their graduate school application, they often react with surprise and anxiety. Facing a blank page, wondering what to write in an essay that can change your life can paralyze even the most confident of applicants. What should you include in your essay? What shouldnt you? Read these answers to common questions. How Do I Choose a Theme for My Admissions Essay? A theme refers to the underlying message that you intend to convey. It may be helpful to make a list of all of your experiences and interests at first and then try to find an overlapping theme or connection between the different items on the list. Your underlying theme should be why you should be accepted into graduate school or specifically accepted into the program to which you are applying. Your job is to sell yourself and distinguish yourself from other applicants through examples. What Type of Mood or Tone Should I Incorporate in My Essay? The tone of the essay should be balanced or moderate. Dont sound too cheerful or too morose, but keep a serious and ambitious tone. When discussing positive or negative experiences, sound open-minded and use a neutral tone. Avoid TMI. That is, do not reveal too many personal or intimate details. Moderation is key. Remember not to hit the extremes (too high or too low). Additionally, do not sound too casual or too formal. Should I Write in the First Person? Although you were taught to avoid using I, we and my, you are encouraged to speak in the first person on your admissions essay. Your goal is to make your essay sound personal and active. However, avoid overusing â€Å"I† and, instead, alter between I and other first-person terms, such as â€Å"my† and â€Å"me† and transition words, such as however and therefore. How Should I Discuss My Research Interests in My Admissions Essay? First, it is not necessary to state a specific and concise dissertation topic in your essay. You only to need to state, in broad terms, your research interests within your field. The reason you are asked to discuss your research interests is that the program would like to compare the degree of similarity in research interests between you and the faculty member you wish to work with. Admissions committees are aware that your interests will likely change over time and, therefore, they do not expect you to provide them with a detailed description of your research interests but would like for you to describe your academic goals. However, your research interests should be relevant to the proposed field of study. Additionally, your aim is to show your readers that you have knowledge in your proposed field of study. What If I Don’t Have Any Unique Experiences or Qualities? Everyone has qualities that can distinguish themselves from other individuals. Make a list of all your qualities and think of how you utilized them in the past. Discuss the ones that will make you stand out but will still have some connection to your field of interest. If you do not have many experiences in your field, then try to make your other experiences relate to your interests. For example, if you are interested in applying to a psychology program but only have experience working at a supermarket, then find a connection between psychology and your experiences at the supermarket that can show your interest in and knowledge of the field and portrays your ability to become a psychologist. By providing these connections, your experiences and you will be depicted as unique. Should I Mention Which Faculty Members I Would Like to Work With? Yes. It makes it easier for the admission committee to determine if your interests match with the faculty members you’re interested in working with. However, if possible, it is recommended that you mention more than one professor you wish to work with because it is a possibility that the professor you are interested in working with is not accepting new students for that year. By mentioning only one professor, you are limiting yourself, which can decrease your chances of being accepted. Additionally, if you only wish to work with a specific professor, then you are more likely to be rejected by the admissions committee if that professor is not accepting new students. Alternatively, it may be helpful to contact professors and find out if they are accepting new students before applying. This reduces the chances of being rejected. Should I Discuss All Volunteer and Job Experiences? You should only mention volunteer and employment experiences that are relevant to your field of study or have helped you develop or acquire a skill that is necessary for your field of interest. However, if there is a volunteer or job experience that is not related to your field of interest yet has helped influence your career and academic goals, discuss it in your personal statement as well. Should I Discuss Flaws in My Application? If Yes, How? If you think it may be helpful, then you should discuss and provide an explanation for  low grades or  low GRE scores. However, be concise and do not whine, blame others, or try to explain away three years of poor performance. When you discuss flaws, make sure you aren’t giving unreasonable excuses, such as â€Å"I failed my test because I went out drinking the night before.† Provide explanations that are reasonably excusable and comprehensive to the academic committee, such as an unexpected death in the family. Any explanations you give must be very very brief (no more than roughly 2 sentences). Emphasize the positive instead. Can I Use Humor in My Admissions Essay? With great caution.  If you do plan on using humor, do so cautiously, keep it limited, and make sure it is appropriate. If there is even the smallest possibility that your statements can be taken the wrong way, dont include humor. For this reason, I advise against using humor in your admissions essay. Should you decide to include humor, do not let it take over your essay. This is a serious essay with an important purpose.  The last thing you want to do is offend the admissions committee or let them believe that you are not a serious student. Is There a Limit to the Length of the Graduate Admissions Essay? Yes, there is a  limit  but it varies depending on the school and the program. Usually, admissions essays are between 500-1000 words long. Do not exceed the limit but remember to answer any assigned questions.

Sociological Perspective The Sociological Imagination

The decisions we make and the outcomes of those decisions are influenced and shaped by the situations we find ourselves in, the values we have and the behaviours of the people around us. These decisions and actions in turn have an effect or impact on the society. In this essay, I will explain the â€Å"sociological imagination† according to Mills, his distinction between personal troubles and public issues and analyse sociological imagination in my biography by showing how my dream of attending university is made a reality as a result of social or historic forces. C. Wright Mills, a sociologist in 1959 showed concerned and studied how societal changes affect our lives. According to Mills, one of the ways by which we can understand societal change and the world around us is to use the sociological perspective. The sociological perspective required looking at things from the view point of those experiencing the issue that concerns the problem at hand. Such that, the presentations of sociologist should reflect the data of how people in a situation actually react instead of their own view point of how they think they would react in that situation. The sociological perspective also involves questioning the world around us because most of our activities that we consider as normal routines have societal influence if analysed sociologically. For example; exercising which is seen as an activity to keep fit and stay healthy is also influenced by one’s societal class;Show MoreRelatedEssay on what is the sociological perspective (imagination )691 Words   |  3 PagesQuestion 1: What is the sociological perspective? nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;What is the nature of the social sciences? This is the question that began the study of society, first performed by C. Wright Mills in his development of the idea of the sociological imagination. There are many different aspects to the sociological perspective. 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