Water Management Areas

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Water Management Areas (WMAs) are parts of South Africa that are managed by the Water Boards.

South Africa Republic in the southernmost part of Africa

South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 mi) of coastline of Southern Africa stretching along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini (Swaziland); and it surrounds the enclaved country of Lesotho. South Africa is the largest country in Southern Africa and the 25th-largest country in the world by land area and, with over 57 million people, is the world's 24th-most populous nation. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World or the Eastern Hemisphere. About 80 percent of South Africans are of Bantu ancestry, divided among a variety of ethnic groups speaking different African languages, nine of which have official status. The remaining population consists of Africa's largest communities of European, Asian (Indian), and multiracial (Coloured) ancestry.

Contents

The list should be complete, and in accordance with the definitions of the Department of Water Affairs. Apart from these WMAs they also have a number of Water Drainage Areas (some dams are only used for drainage, some seem to be used for both).

List of Water Management Areas

Name of WMAGross capacity x10³M³Nr.Main riversLocation
Berg Water Management Area 416 19 Berg River, Diep River and Steenbras River Around Cape Town, Western Cape
Breede Water Management Area 1 039 18 Breede River, Riviersonderend River, Sout River, Bot River and Palmiet River Around Cape Aghulas, Western Cape
Crocodile (West) and Marico Water Management Area 814 3 Crocodile River and Marico River Mostly North West
Fish to Tsitsikama Water Management Area 726 15 Great Fish River, Kowie River, Boesmans River, Sundays River, Gamtoos River, Kromme River, Tsitsikamma River and Groot River Western part of Eastern Cape
Gouritz Water Management Area 261 16 Gouritz River, Olifants River, Kamanassie River, Gamka River, Buffels River, Touws River, Goukou River and Duiwenhoks River Eastern part of Western Cape
Inkomati Water Management Area 1 049 5 Komati River and Crocodile River Eastern Mpumalanga
Limpopo Water Management Area 281 1 Limpopo River, Matlabas River, Mokolo River, Lephalala River, Mogalakwena River, Sand River, Nzhelele River and Nwanedi River Limpopo province
Lower Orange Water Management Area 36 14 Ongers River, Hartbees River and Orange River Mostly Northern Cape
Lower Vaal Water Management Area 106 10 Harts River, Molopo River and Vaal River North West and northern Northern Cape
Luvubu and Letaba Water Management Area 652 2 Mutale River, Luvuvhu River and Letaba River Northeast Limpopo
Middle Vaal Water Management Area 1 673 9 Mooi River, Vet River and Vaal River Northwest Free State
Mvoti to Umzimkulu Water Management Area 806 11 Mvoti River, Tongaat River, Mdloti River, Ohlanga river, Umgeni River, Sterkspruit River, Lovu River, Umkomazi River, Mzimayi River, Umzimkulu River, Mtamvuna River Around Durban
Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area 1 070 12 Swane River, Mntafufu River, Mzimvubu River, Mngazi River, Mtata River, Xora River, Mbashe River, Nqabara River, Gqunube River, Buffalo River, Nahoon River, Groot Kei River Rest of Eastern Cape
Olifants Water Management Area 1 074 4 Elands River, Wilge River, Steelpoort River and Olifants River Southern part of Limpopo, northern Mpumalanga
Olifants/Doorn Water Management Area 12817 Olifants River, Doorn River, Krom River, Sand River, and Sout River Western Cape north of Cape Town
Thukela Water Management Area 1 1107 Thukela River Western KwaZulu-Natal
Upper Orange WMA 11 56613 Modder River, Riet River, Caledon River and Orange River Southern Free State
Upper Vaal WMA 5 6308 Wilge River, Liebenbergsvlei River and Vaal River Gauteng, northern Free State, southern Mpumalanga
Usutu to Mhlatuze Water Management Area 3 2836 Usutu River, Pongola River, Mhlatuze River, Mfolozi River and Mkuze River Northern KwaZulu-Natal

See also

Related Research Articles

Olifants River (Limpopo) river in South Africa

The Olifants River, Lepelle or Obalule is a river in South Africa and Mozambique, a tributary of the Limpopo River. It falls into the Drainage Area B of the Drainage basins of South Africa. The historical area of the Pedi people, Sekhukhuneland, is located between the Olifants River and one of its largest tributaries, the Steelpoort River.

Mokolo River river in South Africa

The Mokolo River is a major watercourse in Limpopo Province of South Africa. This river collects much of the drainage of the Waterberg Massif and discharges it to the Limpopo River. The river's catchment area comprises 8,387 square kilometres (3,238 sq mi).

Limpopo WMA, or Limpopo Water Management Area(coded: 1), in South Africa includes the following major rivers: the Limpopo River, Matlabas River, Mokolo River, Lephalala River, Mogalakwena River, Sand River and Nzhelele River and covers the following dams.

Luvubu and Letaba WMA, or Levubu and Letaba Water Management Area , includes the following major South African rivers: Mutale River, Luvuvhu River and Letaba River, and cover the following dams:

Crocodile (West) and Marico WMA, or Crocodile (West) and Marico Water Management Area , in South Africa is sub-divided into 6 sub-management areas each corresponding with a (part) river drainage area, and include the following major rivers: the Crocodile River and Marico River, sub divided into an upper Crocodile River sub-management area and a lower Crocodile River sub-management area. The Marico River sub-management area, the upper Molopo River sub-management area, The Elands River sub-management area, and the Apies River / Pienaars River sub-management area.

Inkomati WMA, or Inkomati Water Management Area , in South Africa is situated in the north-eastern part of South Africa in the Mpumalanga Province, with a small area in the Limpopo Province. It borders on Mozambique in the east and on Swaziland in the south-east. The water management area extends over several parallel river catchments which all drain in a general easterly direction, and flow together at the border with Mozambique or within Mozambique, to form the Incomati River which discharges into the Indian Ocean immediately north of Maputo. A special situation is presented by the Komati River, the most southern tributary of the Incomati River, which rises in South Africa and flows into Swaziland, then re-enters South Africa where it is joined by the Crocodile River at the border with Mozambique, before flowing into Mozambique as the Incomati River. The Sabie River is the other main river in the water management area and flows into Corumuna Dam in Mozambique just downstream of the border with South Africa, and upstream of its confluence with the Inkomati River.

Mzimvubu to Keiskamma WMA, or Mzimvubu to Keiskamma Water Management Area , includes the following major rivers: the Swane River, Mntafufu River, Mzimvubu River, Mngazi River, Mthatha River, Xora River, Mbashe River, Nqabara River, Gqunube River, Buffalo River, Nahoon River, Groot Kei River and Keiskamma River, and covers the following Dams:

Upper Orange WMA, or Upper Orange Water Management Area , Includes the following major rivers: the Modder River, Riet River, Caledon River and Orange River, and covers the following Dams:

Lower Orange WMA, or Lower Orange Water Management Area , Includes the following major rivers: the Ongers River, Hartbees River and Orange River, and covers the following Dams:

Fish to Tsitsikama WMA, or Fish to Tsitsikama Water Management Area , in South Africa Includes the following major rivers: the Fish River, Kowie River, Boesmans River, Sundays River, Gamtoos River, Kromme River, Tsitsikamma River and Groot River, and covers the following Dams:

Gouritz WMA, or Gouritz Water Management Area , in South Africa includes the following major rivers: the Gouritz River, Olifants River, Kamanassie River, Gamka River, Buffels River, Touws River, Goukou River and Duiwenhoks River, and covers the following Dams:

Olifants/Doorn WMA, or Olifants/Doorn Water Management Area, Includes the following major rivers: the Olifants River, Doorn River, Krom River, Sand River, and Sout River, and covers the following dams:

Berg WMA, or Berg Water Management Area , Include the following major rivers: the Berg River, Diep River and Steenbras River, and covers the following Dams:

Breede WMA, or Breede Water Management Area , Includes the following major rivers: the Breede River, Riviersonderend River, Sout River, Bot River and Palmiet River, and covers the following Dams:

Crocodile River (Limpopo tributary)

The Crocodile River is a river in South Africa. After its confluence with the Marico River, both rivers form the Limpopo River.

Touws River (river) river in South Africa

The Touws River is a river in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is a tributary of the Groot River, part of the Gourits River basin.

Marico River river in Botswana

The Marico River or Madikwe is a river in Southern Africa. There are a number of dams in its basin. Groot Marico town is named after the Marico River. After it is joined on its right bank by the Crocodile River it is known as the Limpopo River.

Nzhelele River river in South Africa

The Nzhelele River is a major watercourse in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The river's catchment area comprises 2,436 square kilometers.

Nwanedi River river in South Africa

The Nwanedi River is a watercourse in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is a tributary of the Limpopo River flowing east of the Nzhelele, joining the right bank of the Limpopo 58 km east of Musina at the South Africa/Zimbabwe border.

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