The IWR staff has a unique range of skills which enable them to address the complexity of the multiple use of freshwater resources. The professional staff are trained in Hydrology, River Ecology and Aquatic Biology. The institute is also fortunate to have a number of secretarial and technical support staff to assist with administration, computer programming, field and office data collection and processing.

Completed projects include

• Hydrology
  • Development, testing and installation of a real-time ecological Reserve implementation method for the Thukela River
  • Ephemeral rivers hydrology
  • Links between water temperatures, ecological responses and flow rates: A framework for establishing water temperature guidelines for the ecological Reserve
  • Various hydrological consultancy projects
• Environmental Water Quality
  
  • Microplastics as emerging contaminants: method development, ecotoxicity testing and biomonitoring in South African water resources
  • Boksburg Lake and Wetland Project
  • Sasol: Environmental Water Quality Assessment
  • Richards Bay Minerals: Environmental Water Quality Assessment
  • The endocrine disruptor research programme at UCEWQ
  • Evaluation of methods for assessment of eco-toxicological risk due to complex effluent discharge
  • The application of chronic (sub-lethal) toxicity endpoints to the development of resource quality objectives
  • Osmoregulation in freshwater invertebrates in response to exposure to salt pollution
  • Effects of detergents on a small stream in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Phase II
• Adaptive Water Resource Management
  • LIRA: Enhancing urban wetland and river ecosystem health
  • The role, benefits and prioritisation of ecological infrastructure (EI) in mitigating the impacts of droughts in South Africa
  • Rehabilitation of grasslands after eradication of alien invasive trees
  • Climate Change Adaptation and Decision-Support System
  • The development of a framework for the involvement of local government in water resource management, linked to water services provision
  • A stakeholder driven process to develop a catchment management plan for the Kat River Valley
  • A case study of the wetland rehabilitation project in the Kromme River Valley floor marshes, Eastern Cape

Last Modified: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 14:58:00 SAST