Water Quality

The water used for irrigating the golf course came from two streams flowing across the property. The first originates within the central factory area of Modderfontein; thus, the stream contains the discharge from many cooling towers and the clarified effluent from a coal-washing plant. The quality of this water varies depending on the amount and type of chemicals or coal fines discharged into the stream. Facilities are in place to prevent these contaminants from leaving the Modderfontein property; however, they are positioned after the stream has passed through the golf course. The second stream also has its origin in an industrial complex. It starts at the Kelvin Power Station southwest of the golf course and passes through the industrial area of Sebenza. Although this stream is heavily contaminated from time to time, the quality of the water is better than the one passing through the Modderfontein factory. TDS, sodium, ammonia, chloride, sulfate, nitrate and pH data are provided for both streams. All irrigation water for the golf course is currently taken from the Kelvin stream. The mid-summer SAR (sodium-adsorption ratio) of 2.73 for the water was calculated in 1992/1993. The level of suspended silt and dispersed clay in the stream water varies, but can be quite high when discharge rates and stream flow are above normal. A filtration system is used to screen out suspended solids before the water is drawn into the irrigation system; however, the 12-micron screens employed in the filter are ineffective for removing all suspended materials.