Using Multiple Indices for the Water Resource Management of a Monomictic Man-Made Dam in Southern Africa

Abstract

This study employed different indices, namely the weighted arithmetic water quality index (WQI), Carlson Trophic State Index (TSI), van Ginkel TSI, and Trophic Level Index (TLI) to determine the water quality status of a man-made dam for the needs of sustainable water resource management in Southern Africa. The selection of indices for the study was based on the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the dam. The Roodeplaat Dam exhibited the spatial variation of physicochemical characteristics, indicative of influence by point-source pollution. Although the dam was classified as being eutro-hypertrophic, it was evident that water clarity was not a limiting factor but was P-limited, which was an indication of limiting conditions on primary production. Moreover, the WQI calculated for the dam with an average of 93.94 demonstrated very poor water quality that could be used for crop irrigation purposes only. As such, continued nutrient enrichment must be mitigated to sustain fitness for irrigation, at least. However, strategic goals should involve widening fitness for use. The selected indices were found to be effective for water resource management and could be applied to dams impacted by point-source pollution in Southern Africa. Thus, this study recommends the implementation of an integrated management approach, which needs to prioritize nutrient management to retain societal resource value.