Groundwater quality assessment in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District using the Water Quality Index
type: CreativeWork
description: In the conducted research, the groundwater quality of different boreholes located in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District (NMMD), more specifically Ratlou, Ditsobotla, and Tswaing local municipalities (LM), for drinking, livestock, and irrigation purposes were assessed. The obtained water quality results were also presented in straightforward and understandable form, along with a developed water purification technology decision tree in order to assist policymakers and/or concerned citizens with the evaluation and improvement of the water sources. It was found that the NMMD not only lacks a water management plan but also that irregular and ineffective groundwater monitoring is taking place. Furthermore, concerns were raised that the obtained results from the analysis would be rich in data, but poor in information for the necessary personnel. The objectives were therefore to not only effectively assess the groundwater quality of the specific area, but to also present the data in an easily understandable form for the necessary personnel by using the Water Quality Index (WQI) model. The WQI model used in the research was constructed by integrating the variable weights of several WQI studies. A final water quality class classification, ranging between Class I and V, was allocated to the individual water sources. 90 boreholes were evaluated, where the assessed parameters for drinking purposes include, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Faecal coliform, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, nitrate, sulfate, fluoride, chloride, manganese, iron, zinc, and copper. For livestock purposes TDS, EC, pH, nitrate, sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and copper were evaluated and for irrigation purposes, TDS, EC, pH, chloride, permeability index (PI), Kelly ratio (KR), sodium percentage (%Na), sodium adsorption rate (SAR), magnesium adsorption rate (MAR), and potential salinity (PS) were evaluated. For drinking purposes, the majority of the boreholes shift…
abstract: In the conducted research, the groundwater quality of different boreholes located in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District (NMMD), more specifically Ratlou, Ditsobotla, and Tswaing local municipalities (LM), for drinking, livestock, and irrigation purposes were assessed. The obtained water quality results were also presented in straightforward and understandable form, along with a developed water purification technology decision tree in order to assist policymakers and/or concerned citizens with the evaluation and improvement of the water sources. It was found that the NMMD not only lacks a water management plan but also that irregular and ineffective groundwater monitoring is taking place. Furthermore, concerns were raised that the obtained results from the analysis would be rich in data, but poor in information for the necessary personnel. The objectives were therefore to not only effectively assess the groundwater quality of the specific area, but to also present the data in an easily understandable form for the necessary personnel by using the Water Quality Index (WQI) model. The WQI model used in the research was constructed by integrating the variable weights of several WQI studies. A final water quality class classification, ranging between Class I and V, was allocated to the individual water sources. 90 boreholes were evaluated, where the assessed parameters for drinking purposes include, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Faecal coliform, total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, nitrate, sulfate, fluoride, chloride, manganese, iron, zinc, and copper. For livestock purposes TDS, EC, pH, nitrate, sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and copper were evaluated and for irrigation purposes, TDS, EC, pH, chloride, permeability index (PI), Kelly ratio (KR), sodium percentage (%Na), sodium adsorption rate (SAR), magnesium adsorption rate (MAR), and potential salinity (PS) were evaluated. For drinking purposes, the majority of the boreholes shift…
author: Van der Merwe, Caitlin Margaret
language: en
keywords: Groundwater quality, Water Quality Index (WQI), Ngaka Modiri Molema District (NMMD), Water treatment, Water purification technology decision tree, Drinking, Irrigation, Livestock
date published: 2022
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:33:42Z
provider: North-West University (South Africa)
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: North-West University (South Africa).

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/10394/39386