Community perceptions, participation, and satisfaction with existing Water Resource Management Plans: a case study of a polluted water system in South Africa

Abstract

Abstract Globally, there has been increased competition and demand between different water uses to find new and innovative approaches towards managing water resources. This has resulted in a dire need for an integrated approach which needs different sectors to achieve future action on water and sustainable development. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to understand community perspectives of the function and management of the highly eutrophic Roodeplaat Dam (RD) and its tributaries. The required data was collected through interviews and surveys in the surrounding communities. The results of the study showed that in terms of community perceptions, more highly educated people tend to qualify the quality of water as very bad and their perceptions on the potential effects of poor water quality were correlated to gender. People's satisfaction level of the current management plan was negatively correlated to employment status. Surprisingly, the community's involvement in the management and use of water resources in the Roodeplaat Catchment Area were correlated to their ethnicity. Some key recommendations from this study included the development of an ongoing community-based water management plan which adopts a bottom-top approach which incorporated community perspectives and opinions into final decision-making process.