Hydrological science in South Africa: 1995-1998

Abstract

This paper presents recent progress in the hydrological sciences in South Africa as reported to the International Association of Hydrological Sciences on a 4-year basis. It covers hydrology in its broadest sense, in terms of water quantity and quality, surface and groundwater, from both a scientific and a water management perspective. Water is South Africa’s most precious natural resource. Ground- water resources are relatively meagre; therefore South Africa’s major water supplies are and will always be derived mainly from surface water. The erratic flow regime of most South Africa’s rivers has led to the construction of dams so as to harness the water resources. Growth in reservoir constructions was rapid in the second half of the 20th century. In 1950 total storage capacity was about 3 billion cubic metres, and this has since grown tenfold to the present figure of 30 billion cubic metres.