Rationale for an ecological risk approach for South African water resource management

The principle of ecosystem protection in the South African Water Act requires that water resource management tools for a multiple stressor environment be tailored to the characteristics of the aquatic ecosystem. The requirements of the Act, the characteristics of aquatic ecosystems as well as co-occurrence of diverse stressors are considered. Although single substance criteria have a useful role, they are not sufficient for resource management within the context of the ecological reserve. It is proposed that an effect-likelihood approach has the potential to address the variability and uncertainty in management of a surface water body subject to multiple stressors. An in-stream receiving water risk objective approach might be considered. WaterSA Vol.27(3) 2001: 283-292