5.2. Current Waste Management practices of emerging farmers
5.2.1. The contamination of water bodies
Thirty six percent of the sample group indicated access to water as a challenge (Table 5.3). A select few respondents (8%) within all local municipalities expressed disappointment in municipal service delivery stating that water cuts were frequent. Those that did not have access to a borehole or municipal treated water relied on dams and rivers to supply their crops, livestock and households with water. The contamination of water bodies is of particular interest in terms of waste disposal in rural areas, given that communities and industries are directly reliant on these water sources.
Table 5. 3. Challenges faced by emerging farmers based on popularity (multiple responses).
The Midmar dam and Umgeni River supplies, on a yearly basis, 4.8 million people with water within the uMgungundlovu District and eThekwini municipalities (Umgeni water, 2012: 8).
Therefore, according to UDM- municipal manager, the pollution sources that are currently threatening water sources are of concern. The establishment of emerging and subsistence farms near water bodies has become a common occurrence in rural regions, particularly in indigenous rangelands (UDM- municipal manager). Control over the exploration of general waste management practices near water sources however is limited due to a lack of funding, staff and public interest (UDM- municipal and DAE- waste manager). In addition, municipalities cannot
Frequency (n=50)
Percentage (100%)
Finances 46 92
Theft of livestock 41 82
Access to water 18 36
Lack of Technology 13 26
Food availability 10 20
Waste management 9 18
Climate Change 9 18
Other 4 8
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remove people from these sites as a result of “political red tape” that limits their authority to enforce polices (UDM- municipal manager). UDM- municipal manager stated that
“government organisations do not attempt to intervene on indigenous land in terms of NEMA and bylaws as a result of a lack of willingness to comply with authority”. The KwaZulu-Natal traditional leadership and governance bill, 2013 however states under section 29 that in addition to other duties the “iNkosi must participate in municipal councils as contemplated in section 81 of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act, 1998 (Act No. 117 of 1998)”
(KwaZulu-Natal, 2013:28).
Being near a water source means easy access to water for crops, livestock and household needs.
Farmers therefore see this as a suitable location to establish themselves. This however increases the risk of pollution of water sources. Signs of resource degradation are beginning to show in the uMgungundlovu District municipality. Midmar dam is located within the study area, near the town of Howick. Also a popular tourist attraction, the dam is a source of water for half the population of KwaZulu-Natal (Jogiat, 2014:1). As of August 2014, a warning from the National Department of Water and Sanitation was published in local newspapers, informing the public of KwaZulu-Natal that the level of nutrients, bacteria, detergents and fertilisers within the dam has grown exponentially as a result of residential and agricultural activities taking place on the banks of the dam and the rivers leading into it (Carnie, 2013). Plate 5.4 shows the current state of Midmar dam. With increased nutrient levels, undesirable vegetation has begun to grow within the dam. Although it cannot be seen on the surface, this vegetation is clearly visible with a closer view. The presence of this is an indication of ecological transition and the degradation of water quality. UDM- municipal manager predicts that within the next 18 years the water quality of the entire dam will be such that it will be considered undrinkable and unsanitary to swim in. According to Jogiat (2014:1), pollution within the dam originates from communities and farming institutions, formal and informal, situated in close proximity to the banks of the three rivers flowing into the dam, the Lions, uMngeni and Mooi Rivers. In addition, the dam is situated in close proximity to the Khayalisha and Mpophomeni communities and commercial agricultural operations (Jogiat, 2014:1). Continued haphazard use of these water sources will result in eutrophication of the water source that will ultimately degrade ecological systems that affects downstream systems and the cost of water purification for municipal use.
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Plate 5. 4. Panoramic view of Midmar Dam, in addition to a closer view of vegetation growth caused by nutrient overload.
The FAO, (2006:xxii), states that “water used by the livestock sector exceeds eight percent of the global human water use”. Water consumption during livestock husbandry is therefore significant particularly in developing countries. Livestock husbandry involves the direct consumption of water through drinking and cleaning practices, in addition to the consumption of water in the production of feed (Chen and Li, 2013:92). However when determining the water footprint of livestock husbandry practices, the degradation of water as a result of these practices needs to be considered (DWA- deputy director). It is required under the DWA policy on the registration of small private non-commercial farm waste disposal sites that farmers complete a DWAF DW 808 registration form in order to gain access to water (DWAF, 2001:1).
The aim of this registration is to assist DWA in monitoring disposal sites and water usage (DWA- deputy director). Farmers that produce less than one ton of general waste per day are exempt from registration with the DWA, provided all other environmental health requirements
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are met (DWAF, 2001). Registration gives departments some control over emerging farmers compared to subsistence farmers however knowledge obtained from the registration is limited to willingness to comply (DWA- deputy director). Up to 90% of water users within the informal sector, emerging and subsistence farmers, are not registered with regard to any water use (DWA- deputy director). Department and municipal officials therefore face great challenges in terms of the monitoring the sites.
Both waste and municipal key informants have acknowledged that significant portions of pollution originates from subsistence and emerging farmers that use inappropriate waste disposal methods, and are looking into informal waste management practices. It is however nearly impossible to prove in most cases the origin of pollution as generally pollution is found downstream from the point source and could pass multiple potential sources before being detected. In addition, given that most farmers are not registered with DWA, the “polluter pays”
principle implemented by NEM: WA cannot be applied effectively. Results obtained from this study indicated that 20% of farmers used water for the cleaning and disposal of animal waste.
This being said, results also showed that 94% of emerging farmers had no disposal system in place to collect water that had been used for cleaning or waste disposal purposes. Those that did, opted to keep waste in a tank or drum to be properly disposed of by an appropriate authority.