The New Tshwane Council Area

Due to increased nutrient enrichments the water quality of water bodies of the TMM are declining. The main causes of water pollution in the TMM are are:

• The removal of edge vegetation;
• Extensive encroachment of "informal housing" has already taken place within the floodlines (i.e. along the Edendal spruit);
• On-site sanitation associated with informal settlements and illegal squatting (influences ground water as well as surface water);
• The clearance of development sites of all vegetation cover; 
• Uncontrolled storm water run-off from surfaces (i.e. parking lots, streets, industrial and residential sites etc) which contain a variety of contaminants;
• Littering (i.e. empty bottles, cans, cigarette boxes etc.); and
• Dams that are being built in rivers (i.e. Centurion Lake).

Polluted water requires expensive purification processes, and therefore it will eventually result in increased water supply rates. If not purified the polluted water will pose a threat to aquatic and terrestrial life. The water demand in the New Tshwane Area is expected to double to more than 1 million m³ in the year 2015.

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