Analyzing wastewater use possibilities: Prospects of garden irrigation in the Middle Olifants sub-basin

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the relevance of wastewater as one possibility to deal with the scarce water 
situation in the Middle Olifants Sub-basin. The Middle Olifants sub-basin is the third most water stressed sub-basin 
in South Africa. It is an arid and semi-arid region which includes different water user groups like growing industrial 
zones, large and small-scale farming with irrigation activities. The study used stratified random sampling technique 
due to the fact that some households use wastewater and others do not use wastewater. The analysis using both 
descriptive statistics and logistic regression model revealed that there are several socio-economic factors (for 
example, education level, water source, water quantity, availability of garden, etc.) that affect the usage of 
wastewater for agricultural purposes. This implies that the Department of Water and Forestry and other private 
institutions need to raise the public awareness campaign in the communities in order to encourage people to use 
the wastewater efficiently so that fresh water could be conserved. Policies on wastewater use have tended to focus 
on treatment before use and the implementation of strict regulations. In South Africa clear policy guidelines on 
how to optimize the benefits and minimize the risks of this practice are lacking.