UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
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WRM3701: Water Resource Management
Assignment 01 — Semester 1, 2026
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
WRM3701
Module Code:
Water Resource Management
Module Name:
Assignment 01
Assignment:
2026
Due Date:
70 Marks
Total Marks:
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for WRM3701 — UNISA 2026
, UNISA | WRM3701 Water Resource Management – Assignment 01
Question 1: Flood vs. Drought Risk Management in the uMngeni River Catchment
Note: Question 1 requires engagement in the Discussion Forum under “Unit 1-Activity 1” as out-
lined in the assignment instructions. Screenshots of the student’s discussion post and replies
to two classmates must be attached as the answer to this question. The position argued in the
forum is summarised below as a contextual record.
1.1 Position Adopted: Prioritising Drought Risk Management for Long-term Water Security
The uMngeni River Catchment in KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s most strategically
vital water supply systems, serving the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg and a combined
population of roughly 3.8 million people (Jewitt et al., 2020). The catchment faces a dual
hydroclimatic challenge: recurrent flooding driven by extreme rainfall events and deepening
drought cycles linked to climate variability. When forced to prioritise one framework, the case
for drought risk management as the primary water resource strategy carries more weight for
long-term water security, though flood risk mitigation remains a necessary operational layer.
1.1.1 Why Drought Risk Deserves Priority
South Africa is a semi-arid country and the uMngeni Catchment sits within a region that ex-
perienced severe droughts during the 2016 and 2017 rainfall seasons (Hughes et al., 2018).
Drought erodes the very foundation of water supply: it depletes reservoir storage, reduces
baseflow, and degrades the ecological infrastructure that sustains consistent water deliv-
ery. Unlike floods, which are acute events, drought is cumulative and insidious. Strydom et
al. (2020) recorded an overall warming trend of 1 to 4 degrees Celsius per century across the
uMngeni Catchment’s microclimate monitoring stations, with atmospheric water vapour pres-
sure increasing significantly at three of the study sites. This warming trajectory reduces soil
moisture retention, accelerates evapotranspiration, and progressively lowers the catchment’s
ability to sustain baseflow between rainfall events.
From an infrastructure and economics standpoint, drought-proofing a water supply system
requires forward planning rather than emergency response. Investing in ecological infras-
tructure within the catchment, such as the rehabilitation of riparian wetlands and the control
of invasive species like Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii), has been shown to sustain water-
related ecosystem services including water supply, baseflow maintenance, and erosion con-
Page 2 of 15
College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
WRM3701: Water Resource Management
Assignment 01 — Semester 1, 2026
⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄ ⋄⋄
WRM3701
Module Code:
Water Resource Management
Module Name:
Assignment 01
Assignment:
2026
Due Date:
70 Marks
Total Marks:
Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for WRM3701 — UNISA 2026
, UNISA | WRM3701 Water Resource Management – Assignment 01
Question 1: Flood vs. Drought Risk Management in the uMngeni River Catchment
Note: Question 1 requires engagement in the Discussion Forum under “Unit 1-Activity 1” as out-
lined in the assignment instructions. Screenshots of the student’s discussion post and replies
to two classmates must be attached as the answer to this question. The position argued in the
forum is summarised below as a contextual record.
1.1 Position Adopted: Prioritising Drought Risk Management for Long-term Water Security
The uMngeni River Catchment in KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s most strategically
vital water supply systems, serving the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg and a combined
population of roughly 3.8 million people (Jewitt et al., 2020). The catchment faces a dual
hydroclimatic challenge: recurrent flooding driven by extreme rainfall events and deepening
drought cycles linked to climate variability. When forced to prioritise one framework, the case
for drought risk management as the primary water resource strategy carries more weight for
long-term water security, though flood risk mitigation remains a necessary operational layer.
1.1.1 Why Drought Risk Deserves Priority
South Africa is a semi-arid country and the uMngeni Catchment sits within a region that ex-
perienced severe droughts during the 2016 and 2017 rainfall seasons (Hughes et al., 2018).
Drought erodes the very foundation of water supply: it depletes reservoir storage, reduces
baseflow, and degrades the ecological infrastructure that sustains consistent water deliv-
ery. Unlike floods, which are acute events, drought is cumulative and insidious. Strydom et
al. (2020) recorded an overall warming trend of 1 to 4 degrees Celsius per century across the
uMngeni Catchment’s microclimate monitoring stations, with atmospheric water vapour pres-
sure increasing significantly at three of the study sites. This warming trajectory reduces soil
moisture retention, accelerates evapotranspiration, and progressively lowers the catchment’s
ability to sustain baseflow between rainfall events.
From an infrastructure and economics standpoint, drought-proofing a water supply system
requires forward planning rather than emergency response. Investing in ecological infras-
tructure within the catchment, such as the rehabilitation of riparian wetlands and the control
of invasive species like Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii), has been shown to sustain water-
related ecosystem services including water supply, baseflow maintenance, and erosion con-
Page 2 of 15
