Thermal springs generate heated interest

Abstract

A new multi-faceted research project funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) is shedding light on one of South Africa’s most under-utilised resources. Article by Petro Kotzé. For many South Africans, the only reference to a thermal spring is childhood memories of a splash in a heated Aventura pool. Indeed, a number of hot springs have been developed for recreational and tourism purposes and at some, water is bottled and sold for therapeutic purposes. Yet, elsewhere in the world, in addition to the increasing popularity of spas and the growing natural health industry, thermal spring waters are increasingly being used for power generation, industrial processing, agriculture, aquaculture, bottled water and the extraction of rare elements. In 2005, 72 countries reported on the direct use of geothermal energy. The plethora of new uses for this resource has resulted in an unprecedented resurgence of interest. Locally, thermal springs remain some of our natural resources that have been researched the least, and are mostly under-utilised.

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