The changing face of Rietvlei Dam

Abstract

I n South Africa, eutrophication has been recognised as a water quality problem for over 30 years. The country has some of the most nutrient enriched water bodies in the world, with around 35% of our dams being either eutrophic (very nutrient enriched) or hypertrophic (extremely nutrient enriched). Constructed between 1932 and 1934, Rietvlei Dam has been an important source of drinking water for the City of Tshwane. Today, it still provides around 6% of the city’s drinking water requirement while also being the centre of one of the country’s few urban nature reserves.

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