Understanding water use licences is essential for legal and sustainable water management. Farmers need to know when a licence is required, particularly for large-scale irrigation, to avoid legal issues and ensure they are using water resources responsibly.
In this episode, leading hydrogeologist Dirk Moolman breaks down the essentials every farmer should know about water licensing, testing and borehole management. Whether you are figuring out when you need a water use licence or understanding the importance of knowing water quality, Moolman offers expert tips to keep your farm’s irrigation water up to standard.
“One of the most important parts that we must take into consideration is that when we abstract water from aquifers, we do it in a sustainable [way]. [There] is usually five [to] seven boreholes on a property and some of them are located in close proximity to one another.
“It’s very crucial to see if these boreholes are connected to one another and to make sure that we adjust the abstraction volumes to these boreholes to make sure that we don’t over-abstract this precious resource that we do have,” he explains.
Water testing tools
Moolman further shares that the need for a licence depends on the intended use of the water. For example, if the water is for domestic use or small-scale gardening, a licence may not be necessary. However, he notes that if the water is used for commercial farming or large-scale irrigation, a licence is typically required to ensure sustainable water management and compliance with local regulations.
Related stories
- Why water quality in agricultural irrigation matters
- Use water wisely with a well-designed irrigation system
Moolman provides a thorough explanation of the essential tools and considerations for testing farm water, focusing on pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen, and other critical elements such as bacteriological contamination and trace elements.
“Your pH and EC can give you a quick estimate of what your water quality is looking like. You can easily go online and purchase these handhelds, pH and EC measurement tools that you can just put in the water and it can give you an indication of what the pH or the electrical conductivity is.
“As far as the water quality goes, you need to do a lot more testing in order to see if this water is safe for human and livestock consumption. If you want to, you can use it for irrigation,” he explains.
In this episode, Moolman also discusses:
- Bacteriological contamination;
- Best practices for borehole pumping and more.
Dive deeper into the episode and gain insights from the award-winning Farmer’s Inside Track, officially recognised as Africa and the world’s best podcast at the 2024 Digital Media Awards presented by WAN-IFRA, the global press organisation.
Option 1: Click here to listen on Spotify (all mobile and other devices)
Option 2: Click here to listen on any Apple device
READ NEXT: Policies needed to unlock SA’s agritourism potential
Sign up for Farmer’s Inside Track: Join our exclusive platform for new entrants into farming and agri-business, with newsletters and podcasts.
