COJ State of the Rivers
Project Details:
Client: City of Johannesburg
Discipline: Environmental and Specialist Studies
Category: Water and Sanitation
Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng
Key project Details: The Environmental Scientific Assessment - River Health and Water Quality state Assessment of all the rivers within the Gauteng Tranversing Water Basins
2020
Thero Services collaborated with HHO Consulting Engineers to undertake the role of Environmental Consultant for the State of the Rivers Study within the City of Johannesburg. The project's scope encompassed various crucial aspects, including the implementation of watercourse sampling methods, the assessment of 11 rivers within the City of Johannesburg, and the monitoring and evaluation of chemical and water quality parameters. Additionally, Thero Services was tasked with biological classification of river health, aiming to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ecological status of the designated rivers.
The scientific study aimed to achieve several objectives, such as proposing management actions to enhance the ecological health of the rivers, assessing the ecological health status of 17 selected river sites during different seasons, and describing the hydrological and geomorphological attributes of the river systems. Thero Services played a pivotal role in identifying strategies for the City of Johannesburg to mitigate negative impacts on river systems, thereby improving their ecological health over time. Furthermore, the project involved developing public awareness materials regarding the status of the city's river health and offering recommendations considering the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Determining the River Health Status necessitated a comprehensive analysis, combining various parameters including in situ observations, chemical and biological water quality, trophic state of the watercourse, riparian vegetation, and riverine macroinvertebrates. Field assessments were conducted at each sample point to evaluate erosion potential, river geomorphology, habitat indicators, visible pollution, channel patterns, water flow levels, and the presence of aquatic life forms. The project team comprised specialists in riparian botany, chemical water quality, aquatic ecology, environmental management, and Geographic Information Science (GIS), ensuring a multidisciplinary approach to address the complexities of river health assessment and management.
