Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences in 2025
2026-02-06
Tracing Pollution Pathways in the Trichardspruit Catchment, South Africa: Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Impacts
Authors
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Nkhensani Tshidzumba
Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa
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Malebo D Matlala
Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i1.12133Abstract
Water quality is fundamental to water security, ecosystem integrity, and public health. This study assessed the impact of wastewater effluent on the Trichardspruit River, which receives effluent from two wastewater treatment works (WWTWs). Over a 12-month period, water samples were collected across six study sites (S1–S6) to evaluate physicochemical and microbiological parameters relative to national Resource Quality Objectives (RQOs) and Water Use Licence (WUL) limits. One-way ANOVA showed significant (p < 0.05) spatial differences for all parameters, and Tukey’s HSD identified the strongest pairwise contrasts at and below the discharge of WWTW-2 (S5). Orthophosphate peaked at 7.26 mg/L at S5, and remained elevated at 3.6 mg/L at S6. Chemical oxygen demand reached 92 mg/L at S5, and likewise, EC and major ions (Cl− and SO42−) were higher at S5 & S6 than upstream. Microbial contamination exceeded permissible standards throughout the monitoring period, with E. coli counts as high as 7230 CFU/100 mL at S6, indicating a severe public health risk. Overall, WWTW-2 (S5) showed a stronger local impact than WWTW-1 (S2), while downstream persistence of salts and microbes indicates that dilution alone is insufficient. The study underscores the need for improved sewer system maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, and stricter enforcement of discharge standards to achieve compliance with Water Use Licenses. Enhanced real-time monitoring and implementation of RQOs are essential to safeguard the Trichardspruit River and regional water security.
Keywords:
Compliance Monitoring; Contamination; Eutrophication; Trichardspruit; Wastewater Effluent; Water Quality; Water SecurityReferences
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Tshidzumba, N., & Matlala, M. D. (2026). Tracing Pollution Pathways in the Trichardspruit Catchment, South Africa: Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment Impacts . Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 8(1), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v8i1.12133
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