Our aim is to protect the environment and its resources, while continuously finding sustainable solutions for the specific aspects of our client’s projects, whilst ensuring cost saving in the long term.
Our Services
Aquatic Ecological Assessments
Surface Water Assessments
Wetland Assessments
Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting
Rehabilitation Plans
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Water-use licence applications
Environmental Impact Assessments
Agriculture Projects
Environmental Control Officer
Our aim is to protect the environment and its resources, while continuously finding
sustainable solutions for the specific aspects of our clients’ projects, whilst ensuring cost
saving in the long term.
Mission
To continually develop and grow our skill set to ensure that we can find new and innovative solutions to our clients’ challenges and ultimately ensure that our clients can establish more sustainable and environmentally friendly operations in the long term.
Vision
To build exceptional partnerships with a diverse group of companies in order to create a team that can work together on a wide variety of projects and deliver a comprehensive service to our clients.
Core Values
- Client service excellence;
- Improving the environment & communities where we work & live;
- We make & support business decisions through experience &
good judgment; - We act with honesty & integrity, not compromising the truth;
- We show pride, enthusiasm & dedication in everything that we do;
- We are committed to delivering high quality services.
DREAM ENORMOUSLY BIG
Vision is everything – If you don’t know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else.
Achieving our goals and dreams is fantastic but that’s not the most important thing about setting goals.
The most important thing is the type of company that we become along the way.
Aquatic Ecological Assessments
The assessment and monitoring of benthic macro-invertebrate communities form an integral part of the monitoring of the health of an aquatic ecosystem. Macro-invertebrate assemblages (SASS 5) are good indicators of localised conditions because many benthic macro-invertebrates have limited migration patterns or sessile lifestyles. The analysis of macro-invertebrate communities is well-suited for assessing site-specific impacts, this is done by comparing upstream and downstream studies. Benthic macro-invertebrate assemblages are made up of species that constitute a broad range of trophic levels and pollution tolerances, thus providing good supportive evidence for interpreting cumulative effects (Barbour et al. 1999).
The ecological integrity (Ecosystem Health) of a resource is considered an essential part of the water resources, which must be managed. Included in the definition of an Ecosystem Health” is:
“The physical and structural aquatic habitats (both in stream and riparian), the water, the biota and the physical, chemical and ecological; processes that link habitat and biota.” (Jooste, et al., 2000).
Surface Water Assessments
The purpose of a Surface Water Assessment is to define the water resources in its associated drainage area and to identify potential sources of contamination. The Surface Water Assessment also aims to characterise the existing surface water environment (Quality and calculated catchment yield) for it to be used as a benchmark against future surface hydrological impacts could be measured. Surface Water studies also include an in-depth impact assessment.
Wetland Assessments
Wetlands are delineated based on scientifically sound methods, and utilizes a tool from the Department of Water and Sanitation ‘A practical field procedure for identification and delineation of wetlands and riparian areas’ (DWAF, 2005) as well as the “Updated manual for identification and delineation of wetlands and riparian areas” (DWAF, 2008). These include:
Ground Truthing
Wetlands are identified based on one or more of the following characteristic attributes (DWAF, 2005)
The Terrain Unit Indicator helps to identify those parts of the landscape where wetlands are more likely to occur.
presence of plants adapted to or tolerant of saturated soils (hydrophytes);
Wetland (hydromorphic) soils that display characteristics resulting from prolonged saturation; and
A high-water table that results in saturation at or near the surface, leading to anaerobic conditions developing within 50 cm of the soil surface
The Terrain Unit Indicator
The terrain unit indicator is an important guide for identifying the parts of the landscape where wetlands might possibly occur. Some wetlands occur on slopes higher up in the catchment where groundwater discharge is taking place through seeps. An area with soil wetness and/or vegetation indicators, but not displaying any of the topographical indicators should therefore not be excluded from being classified as a wetland. The type of wetland which occurs on a specific topographical area in the landscape is described using the Hydrogeomorphic classification which separates wetlands into ‘HGM’ units. The classification of Ollis, et al. (2013) is used, where wetlands are classified on Level 4 as either Rivers, Floodplain wetlands, Valley-bottom wetlands, Depressions, Seeps, or Flats.
Groundwater Monitoring and Reporting
Groundwater monitoring is conducted to ensure that any possible pollution or changes in groundwater chemistry is detected at an early stage and allow for the implementation of mitigation measures.
Rehabilitation Plans
Rehabilitation Plans are compiled for mining operations, construction developments and agricultural developments. We compile rehabilitation plans to ensure that the site is rehabilitated according to all applicable standards for closure. However, we aim to establish a programme that will ensure the set rehabilitation goals will be achieved, while also ensuring that the operations remain economically viable.
South African mining and associated legislation and policy places ultimate responsibility for mitigating environmental and social damage as a result of mining operations on mining companies themselves. The liability exists throughout the different phases of the mine, from commencement, during operations, post operations and mine closure. This includes compulsory legislative commitments for remediation and/or rehabilitation and ultimate close out.
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
A geographic information system is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking and displaying data related to positions on the Earth’s surface. We utilize GIS to create maps for all your project needs
Environmental Control Officer
An Environmental Control Officer is appointed to manage all the environmental aspects on site during the construction phase of new projects.
Water-use licence applications
The National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) – to provide for fundamental reform of the law relating to the water resources, to repeal certain laws, and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Water is a scarce resource in South Africa and many countries globally. The National Water Act Recognises that the ultimate aim of water resource management is to achieve the sustainable use of water for the benefit of all users.
A Water-use Licence is required water-uses triggered under Section 21 of the Act:
Section 21(a): Taking of Water from a water resource
Section 21(b): Storage of Water
Section 21(c): Impeding or Diverting the flow of water in a watercourse
Section 21(d): Engaging in a stream flow reduction activity contemplated in Section 36
Section 21(e): Engaging in a controlled activity identified as such in Section 37(1) or declared under Section 38(1)
Section 21(f): Discharging waste or water containing waste into a water resource through a pipe, canal, sewer, sea outfall or other conduit
Section 21(g): Disposing of waste in a manner which may detrimentally impact on a water resource
Section 21(h): Disposing in any manner of water which contains waste from, or which has been heated in, any industrial or power generation process.
Section 21(i): Altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse
Section 21(j): Removing, discharging or disposing of water found underground if it is necessary for the efficient continuation of an activity or for the safety of people
Section 21(k): using water for recreational purposes
Environmental Impact Assessments
An Environmental Authorisation needs to be applied for when listed activities are triggered under the National Environmental Management Act. These activities could range from clearance of vegetation to establishment of new residential development. Contact us for advice when planning a new project.
The National Environmental Management Act (Act 107 of 1998) (NEMA) is there to provide for co-operative environmental governance by establishing principles for decision making on matters affecting the environment, institutions that will promote co-operative governance and procedures for co-ordinating environmental functions exercised by organs of state, to provide for certain aspects of the administration and enforcement of other environmental management laws and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Agriculture Projects
We are there to assist you and your company with all your environmental and sustainability needs with regards to your farming operation.
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