Dedication to water science

Professor Tamiru Abiye in the Hydrogeology Programme in the School of Geosciences won the TW Kambule-NSTF Award: Researcher, for his dedication to water science and focus on building research capacity and solving community problems to attain sustainable development in South Africa. 

Because Africa has massive groundwater reserves which are resilient to climate change, Abiye’s research advances the sustainable use of groundwater to alleviate poverty and enhance economic development.

Abiye is an NRF-rated researcher and registered Professional Natural Scientist in South Africa with some 30 years of experience in the field. He envisages Wits becoming a hub to train groundwater professionals to solve critical water supply problems on the continent. Such capacity-building will contribute to achieving sustainable development at a time of increasing population, climate change impacts, water pollution, and lack of proper water management.

Ritchie Morris recognized by the International Association of Hydrogeologists

Ritchie Morris of Morris Environmental & Groundwater Alliances

At their Annual General Meeting held in Wuhan, China in September 2022, the International Association of Hydrogeologists recognised Ritchie Morris of Morris Environmental & Groundwater Alliances for his work in developing and managing a groundwater supply near Sedgefield.

The Applied Hydrogeology Award is presented annually to a person who is a groundwater professional and has made outstanding contributions to the application of hydrogeology, particularly in developing countries or in support of international development efforts. The IAH was founded in 1956 and has a world-wide membership of more than 4 000 scientists, engineers, water managers and other professionals working in the fields of groundwater resource planning, management and protection.

Ritchie developed a wellfield to supply 4.5 ML/d of water needed to preserve timber damaged by the fire that swept through the Knysna area in June 2017.  The salvaged timber had to be stacked and kept saturated to preserve it until it could be processed in the local sawmills.  This was an important part of the economic recovery of the region after the devasting fire.  The wellfield comprised 8 production boreholes and was in place by September 2017.  It operated for 3.5 years until all the timber could be processed and has since been decommissioned.

With the support of his client, Ritchie’s mobilisation and management of other specialists ensured the wellfield could be successfully developed in quick time.  The project highlighted the application of sound scientific and hydrogeological principles to the significant benefit of his client, to the environment and the surrounding community.

Submitted by: Dr Roger Parsons   Ph.D (UFS) Pr.Sci.Nat.
Parsons and Associates Specialist Groundwater Consultants.
New office tel:  063 403 9309  cell: 083-310-6504
email: roger@pasgc.co.za web: http://www.pasgc.co.za