South Africa is an arid country and is one of the 30 driest countries in the world. Coupled with that, the country as a whole has not recovered from the 2014 drought, with the Western Cape Province currently experiencing the worst drought in 400 years.
A drought is a natural disaster of below-average precipitation in a given region, resulting in prolonged shortages in the water supply, whether atmospheric, surface water or groundwater. A drought can last for months or years or may be declared after as few as 15 days. It can have a substantial impact on the ecosystem and agriculture of the affected region and harm to the local economy. Annual dry seasons in the tropics significantly increase the chances of a drought developing and subsequent bush fires. Periods of heat can significantly worsen drought conditions by increasing evaporation of water vapor.
Droughts and water shortages can have major environmental, economic and social impacts on South Africa. These impacts are:
- In the case of environmental effects: lower surface and subterranean water-levels, lower water flow-levels, increased pollution of surface water, the drying out of wetlands, more and larger fires, higher deflation intensity, loss of biodiversity, worse health of trees and the appearance of pests and ecological diseases.
- Economic losses include: lower agricultural, forests, game and fishing output, higher food-production costs, lower energy-production levels in hydro plants, losses caused by depleted water tourism and transport revenue, problems with water supply for the energy sector and for technological processes in metallurgy, mining, the chemical, paper, wood, foodstuff industries etc., disruption of water supplies for municipal economies.
- Social costs include the negative effect on the health of people directly exposed to this phenomenon (excessive heat waves), a possible limitation of water supplies resulting in water shortages, increased pollution levels, high food-costs, stress caused by failed harvests, etc.
As a result of the drought conditions being experienced throughout the country, dam levels all over South Africa are declining rapidly in most provinces whilst the drought effects continue.
Dam levels in Gauteng and the Eastern Cape are on the decline while provinces like Mpumalanga have seen a slight increase since the summer rains from previous weeks. Kwa-Zulu Natal dams have remained stable despite the hot summer weather conditions that the province has been facing. Although there have been rainy periods since the beginning of the summer season, Kwa-Zulu Natal temperatures have been climbing up to higher degrees. The hot temperatures have led to a slight decline in some dams around the province.
With the drought conditions affecting the agriculture sector in South Africa, it is important that farmers are proactive when it comes to the conservation of water in their dams. A simple solution to preserving the quality of water and minimizing water loss in dams is used is to use a good quality dam liner. Dam liners are a simple way to provide waterproofing of dams and ponds where the soil type is not ideal for water storage, providing the waterproofing essential for a viable dam.
HDPE or High-Density Polyethylene is used to make a thick waterproof plastic sheet for the lining of dams. HDPE is a geomembrane liner which is used for solid waste containment, mining and water containment. Geomembrane is a synthetic product engineered using geotechnical ingredients to produce a low or non-permeable synthetic membrane liner, which is used as dam liners amongst other applications.
Dam liners at the bottom of the dam or pond will help to stop seepage or leaking of water into the surrounding soil. The use of a dam liner also reduces evaporation and external contamination when used as a dam cover.
At Cargo Tarp and Net, Our HDPE liners are made of premium quality high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with the chemically produced polyethylene resin. Our tough geomembrane liners are suitable for all conditions and are UV resistant. However, Geomembrane liners are also perfect to use at the bottom of a landfill as a landfill liner to stop seepage of waste into the ground. They can also be used as a landfill cover or at the bottom of a sewage treatment plant to stop seepage into the surrounding soil. Our geomembrane liners are used in the mining, agriculture, aquaculture, civil engineering, construction, the petrochemical industry successfully. These liners are perfect for use in landscaping projects and they can also be used for environmental protection and sanitation.
Being environmentally friendly is important in the 21st century. Therefore, It is important to note that while plastic is bad for the environment there are certain types of plastic based products that can actually conserve resources and protect resources without damaging the environment. Geomembrane technology derived synthetics is one of them when used as dam liners, covers and for preventing seepage of dangerous chemicals into our ground and water. Furthermore, potable water is not affected by a geomembrane lining and the quality of the water is actually protected by geomembrane liners. Geomembranes are impermeable and can also be used to contain waste and chemicals. It is especially important in containing petrochemicals during emergency situations so they do not damage the environment.
Cargo Tarp and Net supplies and manufactures high-quality geomembranes, rubber pond liners, and PVC liners. These can be used as farm dam liners as well as for other applications. At Cargo Tarp and Net, can customize your dam or pond liners to your requirements and always ensure the highest quality control. Our passion lies in producing quality products and providing excellent customer service all the time. We ensure that our clients receive the best quality products, service, after sales service and prices consistently.
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