Water Department Research Articles

How to Check and Maintain Your Septic System Before and Immediately After Hurricanes

The purpose of this guide is to provide tips for how to check, maintain, and use your septic system in the days leading up to a hurricane and immediately after any associ­ated flooding. This guide is intended for residents who have a residential septic system connected to their home. Written by Mary G. Lusk, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, October 2024.

Groundwater quality assessment for drinking and irrigation purposes in the Ayad river basin, Udaipur (India)

Globally, about 5.25 billion people depend on groundwater for their water needs. However, groundwater quality significantly impacts human health and agriculture, influenced by factors such as land use, waste seepage, soil properties, and geological settings. In Rajasthan, the primary groundwater quality issues involve fluoride, nitrate, chloride, and calcium. This study addresses the gap in the understanding of the spatial and temporal variations of these contaminants and how the variations are linked to geology and land use. The basis for the analysis is data spanning 2000 to 2021from the Ground Water Department (GWD), the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), and citizen science data from 2022 to 2023, focusing on the Ayad River Basin. The research aims to evaluate groundwater quality for drinking and irrigation by assessing physico-chemical parameters and using the Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI) method to calculate the Groundwater Quality Index (GWQI) from 2000 to 2023. The findings suggest a decreasing GWQI trend from west to east in the basin, with good groundwater quality (GWQI below 50) in the southern regions near the cities Umarda, Ramgiri, Undri, and Hariyab. The highest index values were near Bhoyana, Khemli, and Sisarma. The results of the salinity hazard test showed that salinity is a major issue in the eastern part of the basin. Though the groundwater is notably hard, a comprehensive analysis of various parameters nevertheless suggested its suitability for irrigation purposes. These results provide new insights in the quality of the groundwater resources in the Ayad River basin and valuable insights for policymakers and for decision-makers to develop strategies to preserve the groundwater quality.

The Critical Social Processes for Standardising the Ecological Monitoring of Australian Landscapes

For a long time, ecological monitoring across Australia has utilised a wide variety of different methodologies resulting in data that is difficult to analyse across place or time. In response to these limitations, a new systematic approach to ecological monitoring has been developed in collaboration between the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network and the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water - the Ecological Monitoring System Australia (EMSA). A qualitative approach involving focus groups and semi-structured interviews was undertaken to review perceptions of the introduction of the EMSA protocols amongst Natural Resource Management practitioners and other key stakeholders. We found that environmental management stakeholders recognise there will be many advantages from the standardisation of ecological monitoring. However, key concerns emerged regarding the capacity needed to implement the standard protocols, the utility of the resultant data for regional projects, and the scope for adaptive co-management under the EMSA. Stakeholders emphasised the need for autonomy and flexibility, so their participation in protocol development can facilitate regional adoption of the standards. Respondents’ concerns about a perceived lack of genuine consultation and acknowledgement of feedback revealed the importance of clear communication at all stages of an environmental management project aiming to standardise practices. Our findings indicate that reflexivity will be vital to address the complexity involved in standardisation of ecological monitoring. Formal processes of social learning will need to be integrated into environmental management approaches to account for the increasing complexity of socio-ecological systems as they are challenged by global change.

Saline Dreams

This text examines the engineered ecology and resultant aesthetic implications of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s Dust Mitigation Project at Owens Lake, California with an eye toward its aesthetic implications and potential for understanding large-scale landscape design in the Anthropocene. Imagined here is a near-future evolution of this infrastructure toward strange new landscapes, turning radically empirical environmental geoengineering techniques toward an emergent, more expansive aesthetic dimension.

Phytoremediation Potentiality of Bottle Gourd Plant (Lagenaria siceraria)

A pot experiment of bottle gourd plant with Pb, Zn, NPK and Vermicompost (VC) was carried out at the Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka. The aim of the study was to introduce a phytoremedial technique. The bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) plant was used in the trial for evaluating its potentiality to accumulate Pb and Zn from soil and translocate these elements to different parts of the plant. Twelve treatments (T) were utilized in the experiment including control (T1). The remaining treatment groups were composed of different ratios of VC and recommended dose of NPK- with and without lead and Zinc. Tolerance to metal stress by the bottle gourd plant was evident in terms of higher biomass and yield production with the Pb and Zn. The maximum total biomass (leaf + stem + root) of fresh (67.49 g) and dry yield (8.41g) was achieved with Pb addition to T11. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) and Translocation Factor (TF) greater than one (BCF>1 and TF>1) were considered indicators of heavy metal accumulators and translocators, respectively. Among the Pb treatments, highest BCF achieved in leaf (1.67) with T12, in stem (1.82) with T8, in root (4.67) with T11 and maximum TF (2.87) found with T11. The Zn treatments exerted the highest BCF value in leaf (1.80), and in stem (1.64) with T10, in root (2.70) with T12, lowest value of BCF and TF were displayed in control (T1). Research exposed that bottle gourd plants had transferred both the heavy metals from soil significantly. The highest Pb accumulation in leaf was found to be 0.0023% (dry weight) in T10 and the lowest (0%) in T1. The highest translocation factor was found in T5 for Pb and in T11 for Zn. Moreover, bioconcentration factor (Pb) in shoots exhibited a significant, strong, and negative correlation (r = -0.804, p = 0.002) with the soil organic carbon content. There was also a strong, significantly negative correlation between total Pb content in soil and BCF (leaf) (r = -0.717, p = 0.009), as well as BCF (stem) (r = -0.692, p = 0.013). Similar relationship was found in case of Zn. The study revealed that bottle gourd plants possess phytoremedial potentiality which will be beneficial for the pollution context of Bangladesh. Further investigation is needed for greater research interest. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2024, 10(1): 59-74

Growth Performance of Neem (Azadirachta indica) Seedlings as Influenced by Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers

A pot experiment was carried out in the net house of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka. The aim of the study was to assess growth and yield performance of Neem seedlings with the different doses of organic and NPK fertilizers. Trichocompost (TC) was used as organic fertilizer. The treatments used in the experiment were: T1: Control (-OM and -NPK), T2: TC (10 ton/ha), T3: TC 5 ton/ha, T4: NPK 100% RDF, T5: NPK 80% RDF + TC 5 ton/h, T6: NPK 60% RDF + TC 5 ton/h, T7: NPK 40% RDF + TC 5 ton/h, T8: NPK 80% RDF + TC 10 ton/h, T9: NPK 60% RDF + TC 10 ton/h, T10: NPK 40% RDF + TC 10 ton/h. Pots were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Plant height and the number of leaves per plant were recorded at a 15-day interval. The tallest plant (78.87 cm) observed with the application of sole Trichocompost 5 ton/ha. Incremental dose of TC and inorganic fertilizer reduces the height of plant. The maximum no. of leaves ( 51.67) was found with NPK 60% RDF + TC 5 ton/h at the stage of 90 days and the next highest amount of leaves (44.67) with NPK 80% RDF + TC 10 ton/h at 90 days after. The lowest height (12.52 cm) and leaf number/plant (8.33) were recorded in control. Maximum fresh and dry weights (root, bark, and leaf) were 17.19 g/plant and 6.24 g/plant, respectively, found in T8: (NPK 80% RDF + TC 10 ton/h). The best growth performance of seedlings was observed in T8: NPK, 80% RDF, and TC 10 ton/h .The research indicated that there was no significant treatment difference on nutrient uptake by the neem seedlings. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2024, 10(1): 81-90

Historic water quality patterns in endemic schistosomiasis regions of southern Africa: Implications for disease vector distribution

Alterations in atmospheric temperature and rainfall have a major influence on the distribution patterns of vector-borne diseases, including schistosomiasis, by changing the optimum habitat of the intermediate hosts (vectors) that transmit these diseases. Water quality degradation and the creation of artificial freshwater habitats may widen or restrict the distribution of disease vectors. Understanding the influence of water quality on ecosystems is essential in determining the environments that vectors thrive in and where potential outbreaks of the disease they carry will occur. This study aims to analyse the changes in various water quality variables between 1977 and 2009 in the Mbombela river systems and how this may have altered the presence of schistosomiasis snail vectors in these areas. Historical water quality data for the Sabie, Kaap, Komati and Crocodile rivers were obtained from the Department of Water and Sanitation monitoring stations and separated into three decades (1977–1987; 1988–1998 and 1999–2009). The Physicochemical Driver Assessment Index (PAI) was used to determine the ecological category of the rivers in each decade. A Principal Component Analysis was also created for the different river systems to identify possible changes in water quality over the 3 decades. According to the PAI, the Sabie River remained in a relatively good state while the Crocodile, Komati and Kaap rivers had a low water quality to begin with and became further degraded over the three decades. The PCAs indicated the Sabie and Crocodile rivers had increased levels of salts, nutrients and pH between 1988-1998 and 1999–2009 while the Kaap River had high salt content and pH between 1977 and 1998 and high nutrients during the decade of 1999–2009. These results indicate that there has been a change in the water quality of Mbombela river systems with notable increases in salt, pH and nutrient levels. As a result, the aquatic biota have likely been negatively affected and this poses severe impacts on the presence and abundance of schistosomiasis vectors as the snails are sensitive to changes in salinity, nutrients and pH.

Nutrient Removal Efficiencies in a Bioretention Cell Using Pre-Treated Coconut By-Product as Carbon Source

Abstract In this research, the appropriateness of alkali pre-treatment on coconut by-products was managed by exposing coconut husk and shell to 2M NaOH. The powdered samples were analysed for morphology observation, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Particle Size Analyzer (PSA), and water quality tests. Weakening the hemicellulose structure resulted from subjecting the coconut shell to alkali pre-treatment shown in the morphology observation. Furthermore, the FTIR analysis exhibited the presence of O-H stretch in all pre-treated samples representing an indication for occurring the lignin breakdown, while an absence of the C=O functional group was shown in both additive samples after their subjection to alkali pre-treatment. In PSA analysis, the particles of all samples were found finer than the particle size distribution standards, in which the smallest D50 was obtained for the treated coconut shell (TCS), followed by untreated coconut shell (UCS), untreated coconut husk (UCH), and treated coconut husk (TCH). Among all the powdered samples (TCS, UCS, UCH, and TCH) analysed in this study, only TCH values met the ranges provided and recommended by the Urban Stormwater Management Manual for Malaysia (MSMA) and the Australian Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Communities (DSEWPC). Meanwhile, a poor removal rate for total suspended solids (TSS) was attained due to the contribution of TSS by the filter media which caused the TSS rates to surpass the inlet values. Additionally, the presence of a high concentration of total phosphorous (TP) in all the tested samples indicated their capabilities to provide PO43 in the bioretention cell, which is a vital nutrient for the plant’s growth. In contrast, Ammoniacal Nitrogen (AN) with a concentration rate as low as 4 mg/L was observed throughout the test periods which showed a significant reduction compared to the rate of AN at the inlet samples ranged between 5.2 and 11.4 mg/L. The findings indicated that coconut by-products, when subjected to an alkali pre-treatment process, are appropriate for incorporation as additives in bioretention filter media.

Biodiversity as a Tool to Boost Seagrass Restoration Success

This publication reviews the importance of seagrass, major threats to seagrass, and ways in which seagrass species diversity and genetic diversity can positively impact seagrass management and restoration. Written by C. Spengler, Jamila Roth, and Laura K. Reynolds, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, March 2024.

The Influence of Procurement Practices in Commercialization of Water, and Private Service Delivery in Nairobi County, Kenya

Aim: The purpose of the study was to discuss the effect of procurement practices on commercialization of water and private service delivery in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Methods: Quantitative and Qualitative methodologies of data collection and analysis were implored in this research. The Collection of the data was through key informant interviews and questionnaires. Secondary data was obtained from library research materials, internet search and document analysis. The researcher used descriptive and content analysis techniques to analyze the data. Simple random sampling was used in selecting participants from Nairobi City residents. The target population was 4,397,073 Nairobi City County Residents and 635 Staff of the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation; two departments were targeted in the Ministry i.e. The Water, Sewerage and Sanitation Development department and The Water Infrastructure Development Department which has a total of 168 in-post staff. Results: The study found that the components of commercialization of water greatly influences the quality control and equal access to water by the residents. These components are procurement practices, standardization machinery, and the supervision mandate by governmental agencies i.e. WASREB (Water Services Regulatory Board) and WARMA (Water Resources Management Authority). The study concludes that having good procurement practices in place, fosters integrity and professionalism in private water service provision. Recommendations: There is need for the government through its approved agencies WASREB and WARMA, to tailor-make policies that would better suit the unique Kenyan societies’ informal service providers, instead of unifying them all to be governed by a single policy. There is need to ensure private water service vendors provide quality and affordable services set out by government and its agencies. The government ought to thoroughly investigate the private water enterprises that have applied to be licensed to provide water services; not just at the national level but also the small-scale water kiosks-ought to be thoroughly scrutinized. The governmental agency WASREB ought to conduct more impromptu checks on WSPs (Water Service Providers) as opposed to only limiting itself to doing quarterly checks and visits.

Urban occupation and surface runoff in cities: a study case in Piracicaba - SP

This study analyzes how uncontrolled human occupation can negatively impact surface runoff conditions in urban environments. For this purpose, the study assesses the correlation between rainfall, Piracicaba River flow and the urban occupation growth regarding the incidence of floods in Piracicaba-SP. To address the research question: Is the increase in flooding caused by the increased population density? The following data was used: flow and precipitation data in the urban perimeter, obtained from the Piracicaba Water and Electricity Department; population and density data from five neighborhoods based on the "Google Earth Pro" software, covering sixteen years of study. The findings indicate that three districts experienced increased flooding, while two other well-established districts did not encounter significant changes in flood frequency.

Utilization of hydrodynamic modelling to quantify water losses from the Sundays River between Darlington Dam and Korhaans Drift Weir

This study quantified transfer losses over the 2021/2022 water year for irrigation releases from Darlington Dam into the Sundays River, which are diverted at the Korhaans Drift Weir. A one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic model was set up and calibrated to simulate the transfer losses which were assumed to consist primarily of evaporation and evapotranspiration (ET). Flow measurements were undertaken with an acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) to verify the calibrations of the Parshall flumes at Darlington Dam and at Korhaans Drift Weir. The ADCP results showed that the Department of Water and Sanitation’s (DWS’s) existing discharge tables underestimated lower flows by 13% and higher flows by 16%. The hydrodynamic model results also estimated transfer losses between Darlington Dam and Korhaans Drift to range between 2.0% and 5.3%. It was determined that the transfer losses were seasonal and were lower than those determined by similar studies for other South African rivers.

The effects of seasonal variations on water quality at selected recreational rivers in Kelantan

Determining and assessing water qualities for recreational rivers are crucial for understanding its overall effects to environmental health and potential impacts to human health. Hence, this paper discusses seasonal variation effects on recreational river water quality at six selected recreational rivers in Kelantan namely Lata Janggut, Lata Goleng, Lata Turbo, Lata Keding, Lata Renyok and Lata Batapar. It is significantly important to determine whether these rivers are able to support and safe for recreational activities. The water qualities in the study areas were determined using the guidelines and parameters provided by the National Water Quality Standard (NWQS) and Department of Environment (DOE). The parameters tested in this study were in accordance to NWQS using six parameters, which were pH, BOD, COD, ammoniacal nitrogen, dissolved oxygen and TSS. The water qualities were tested via in situ and laboratory testing. According to DOE, water qualities that are suitable for recreational activities are in Class I and II. The findings from this study confirmed that all six rivers’ water qualities fall under Class I and II for both seasons, with one stream fell in Class II during dry season (Lata Goleng) and three streams fell in Class II during wet season (Lata Renyok, Lata Keding and Lata Batapar). Overall, the study areas were still clean and suitable for recreational activities.

Impact of earthquake on river water quality based on combination of satellite data and groundwater analysis

The impact of an earthquake on river water quality is massive, and the quality of life and environment typically changes as a result of a quick drop in the environment system. A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Ranau area of Sabah, Malaysia, in 2015, affecting the Liwagu River’s water quality. Satellite data on earthquakes, coupled with local water quality data collecting, allows for an accurate assessment of water quality parameters. As a result, the Sabah Water Department provided secondary water quality data from Bambangan and Kimolohing on the Liwagu River. Following that, turbidity, color, pH, electric conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), dissolved oxygen (DO), nitrate (NO3−), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), alkalinity, hardness, chloride (Cl-), and sulfate (SO42−) were chosen. The investigation discovered unusually high turbidity and color in the water on June 17, 2015, as well as elevated levels of Al, Fe, and Mn. DO concentrations plummeted to 3.8 mg/L on the same day. Statistical analyses, employing the Kruskal-Wallis test, identified significant parameters—Fe (0.001) and Mn (0.001) at both stations, turbidity (0.001), and color (0.003) in Kimolohing, and Al (0.027) in Bambangan. Recovery in water quality took two weeks to two months, with iron and manganese requiring over six months for restoration. The earthquake didn’t solely dominate the impact but altered pollution sources to the river. The discussion highlights the synthesis of spatial and temporal dynamics enabled by the integration of ground and satellite data. This approach not only refines retrospective analyses but also propels us into predictive modeling, enhancing preparedness for future seismic events. The study’s holistic environmental impact assessment extends beyond water quality, unraveling cascading effects on ecosystems, soil, and vegetation. Informed decision-making for sustainable resource utilization emerges as a pivotal outcome, emphasizing the interconnectedness of seismic activity, rainfall patterns, and water quality. The study serves as a blueprint for future environmental assessments, emphasizing multifaceted approaches to understand and mitigate the complex impacts of seismic events on water resources.

Geologic Map of the Bedford 30- x 60-minute Quadrangle, Indiana

The Geologic Map of the Bedford 30- x 60-minute Quadrangle shows the Mississippian and lower Pennsylvanian bedrock units and the overlying Pleistocene and Holocene deposits distributed over eight counties. The mapped area includes five physiographic divisions of the Southern Hills and Lowlands Region in south-central Indiana. Bedrock units and unconsolidated deposits were characterized by outcrop field observations, and new and archived borehole data. Bedrock data was consolidated into a single mapping database, which was then processed using gridding and contouring tools in ArcGIS Pro, resulting in rock formation contact lines, mappable at 1:100,000 scale. Additional information used to delineate contacts for unconsolidated deposits was based upon Indiana Department of Natural Resources water well database and soils data from the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) digital elevation models were also used to identify landforms and refine contacts between surficial units. The mapped bedrock units, from east to west, range in age from the Borden Group (lower Mississippian) to the Raccoon Creek Group (Lower Pennsylvanian) with the strike oriented generally from northwest to southeast. Quaternary deposits are found in river and stream valleys and filling the Wabash and Scottsburg lowlands with glacial deposits. Quaternary sediments were mostly deposited during the last two major advances of the Laurentide Ice Sheet into south-central Indiana. Brief summaries of all mapped bedrock units and unconsolidated deposits are listed on the map sheet, with more detailed descriptions in the accompanying pamphlet. Bedrock survey drill hole data points are also displayed on the map with corresponding links to expanded drill hole information for each of the survey drill holes listed in the pamphlet. In addition to the map and pamphlet, a composite spatial data set that conforms to the standardized database schema known as GeMS (Geologic Map Schema) is also available for download from this site. Both ESRI-licensed geodatabase and open shapefile versions of the spatial data set are available for download. Metadata records associated with each element within the spatial data set contain detailed descriptions of their purpose, constituent entities, and attributes. This geologic map was funded in part through the STATEMAP program supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Cooperative Agreement No. G21AC10646.

An Assessment of Solid Waste Management in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Sanitation has remained an important and long standing global public health challenge, especially in middle and low income countries. Efforts have been made, and are still being made at finding a total solution to the problems of waste management by successive governments in Nigeria, but none has been fruitful. This study assessed solid waste management in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Methodology: For the purpose of this research, a qualitative approach was adopted. This approach employed the use of a Key Informant Interview (KII) and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The study was carried out in Ikenne Local Government Area, one of the existing local council areas in Ogun State, the Southwestern part of the country. Twelve personnel of the Water and Environmental Sanitation (WES) department of Ikenne Local Government Area were interviewed for the purpose of this study. The sample consists of the director, deputy director, three chief environmental officers, two senior environmental officers, and five field workers. Results: The respondents stated that there are just two collection trucks servicing the entire five communities. The stress placed on these vehicles would only last for a short while as they are liable to break down. The department also lacks personal protective equipment for health attendants, which ought to help them prevent infectious diseases in the course of performing their duties. Households from the three different communities have shown their dissatisfaction towards the services rendered to the communities by the WES department. They voiced out their displeasures during the focused group discussions where most of them said they are rarely served, even on environmental sanitation days. These options revolve around seeking a redress to institutional constraints. Lack of reliable funding system has affected a lot of functions that ought to be carried out by environmental officers. It all comes down to a single factor – fund. The provision of official vans for inspection purposes, collection trucks, manpower (skilled and unskilled) and other tools are all determined by availability of funds. Conclusion: The study was able to establish that institutional constraint is the major factor militating against solid waste management systems in Ikenne Local Government Area. Every finger points towards this direction and so also the institution admits to this fact. When there is no collection vehicle to carry wastes, the available ones can only serve a few of the population. This is not to say that manpower to collect wastes from households is less important, as they are needed to transfer the wastes into the trucks and also dispose of them, as the services rendered to the people.

Využití srážkoodtokového modelování v hydrologické praxi ČHMÚ

Rainfall-runoff modelling is widely used in the hydrological practice of the CHMI. The presented text offers an insight into work of the Surface Water Department. The use of hydrological modelling procedures is described on specific selected examples such as the derivation of theoretical flood waves, the evaluation and verification of past flood events or its use in several applications operated at the CHMI. Hydrological modelling is also an integral part of scientific and research activities with a focus on updating methodological procedures and harmonizing input data.

Influence of different organic manures on the growth and yield of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) plants

A pot experiment was conducted during rabi season in the year 2021-22 under net house condition of the Department of Soil, Water and Environment, University of Dhaka to evaluate the influence of different organic manures on the growth and yield contributing the characteristics of marigold. Seven types of organic manures, viz. Alo, Supermill, Mazim, Vermicompost, ACI, Kazi and Poultry manures were applied singly at the rate of 5 ton ha-1. The tallest plant of marigold (60 cm) found with Supermill, the maximum leaf number (367 plant-1) with Poultry manure, leaf area (6.56 cm2 plant-1), leaf area index (0.017), total fresh weight (15.55 g plant-1) and total dry weight (4.78 g plant-1) of marigold plants were recorded with Mazim organic manure. The highest number of branches (78 plant-1), flowers (11 plant-1), diameter (2.80 cm), fresh weight (1.90 g plant-1) and dry weight (0.54 g plant-1) were recorded in ACI organic manure. The upper limit length (8.0 cm) of root and the length of shoot (51.30 cm) were recorded in Supermill. The highest root-shoot ratio (0.22) was recorded in Kazi organic manure. The standard range of number of flower’s was 6 to 11 plant-1 with the treatments without using synthetic fertilizer or any toxic pest control substance. The maximum number of flower (11 plant-1) obtained with ACI. The findings indicated the clear possibilities of growing safe and environment friendly marigold flower in context of Bangladesh. The study revealed that all the sources of organic materials enhanced the growth and yield component of marigold. The study also generated a new information as guide line for future research target. The organic sources may be arranged according to the production of number of marigold flower: ACI>Poultry litter> Mazim>Supermill >Alo>Kazi. Further investigation is needed for future research interest. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2023, 9(2): 39-48

Hydrogeological Investigations of Groundwater and Surface Water Interactions in the Berg River Catchment, Western Cape, South Africa

The Berg River Catchment based in the Western Cape Province, South Africa services the greater Cape Town area with water, subsequent to supplying the vast agricultural activities that exist in the middle and the lower reaches. This study thus investigates the hydrogeochemical interactions between surface and groundwater in the Berg River Catchment with the aim of establishing trends and transfer of constituents between the surface and groundwater systems, investigates the role that geology plays in water chemistry as well as identifies the geochemical processes controlling surface and groundwater chemistry in the catchment. This study was carried out using three types of research designs namely i) experimental research design; ii) field research design and meta-analysis research design. Furthermore, the study made use of hydrochemical data ranging from 2003 to 2013 obtained from the National Water Monitoring Database owned and maintained by the Department of Water and Sanitation and data that were sampled in 2016 by authors and analyzed using the ICP-MS Technique Ground Water Chart, Arc-GIS and Geosoft (Oasis Montaj) were further employed to model the data. The results indicated that: i) in the Upper Berg there is not much interaction and transfer of constituents between surface and groundwater; ii) the Middle Berg, however, indicated a degree of interaction with the sharing of constituents between the two water systems and iii) the Lower Berg indicated only NaCl water type also noting that the area situated near the river mouth whereby there is the mixing of river and seawater.

Quaternary Geology of the Washington-Jasper Area

"Quaternary Geology of the Washington-Jasper Area" was created to present basic quaternary geologic information that contributes to the characterization of potential aggregate resources, characterization of bedrock aquifer systems, and analysis of the overlying predominantly glacial deposits. This map is based on data compiled from project field observations and project exploratory borings, complemented with IGWS cartographic (e.g., Gray, 1989) and archive borehole data, select Indiana Department of Natural Resources water well logs, and United States Department of Agriculture soil survey maps. Expert knowledge of fluvial, glacifluvial and ice-marginal environments was used to draw contacts between units. This geologic map was funded in part through the STATEMAP program supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Cooperative Agreement No. G21AC10646. "Quaternary Geology of the Washington-Jasper Area" is a composite geodata set that conforms to "GeMS (Geologic Map Schema)--a standard format for the digital publication of geologic maps," available at http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/. Metadata records associated with each element within the geodata set contain more detailed descriptions of their purposes, constituent entities, and attributes. An OPEN shapefile version of the data set is also available. It consists of shapefiles, DBF files, and delimited text files and retains all information in the native geodatabase, but some programming will likely be necessary to assemble these components into usable formats.