Water Wheel Sept/Oct 2026: Groundwater

Abstract

Better the devil you know: Durban aquifers come in for close scrutiny “Stille waters, diepe grond. Onder draai die duiwel rond. ” The Afrikaans proverb refers to the mysteries and psychological depth sometimes lurking below the surface of shy or seemingly placid people. Alerting us that deep within, a secret, perhaps even tempestuous nature, may be roaming. This familiar piece of wisdom could well apply to groundwater. Our subterranean stores, a vital supplement to our water supply, remain something of a mystery. Do we really know what aquifers contain? And are the contents as pure as some of us would like to think? Ought we to be more on guard, to protect the resource? A recent Water Research Commission (WRC) funded study tested the waters of greater Durban, with particular attention to a relatively new, unregulated bedevilment, known as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). These include pesticides, potions and lotions, drugs, legal and otherwise, and “lifestyle” compounds, like caffeine and nicotine.

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