GROUNDWATER DASHBOARDS - TABLE MOUNTAIN WATER SOURCE AREA

The report details the creation of an open-source groundwater monitoring dashboard (groundwaterinfo.africa) for the Table Mountain Water Source Area. It outlines the transition to the Lizmap web client, the use of a PostgreSQL database to store regional groundwater and rainfall data, and the implementation of two user interfaces: a 'Quick view' for the general public and a 'Deep dive' for scientists. The document emphasizes the necessity of regular data updates from entities like the City of Cape Town and the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure the dashboard's long-term sustainability.

• The groundwater dashboard was developed to address information gaps regarding the number of boreholes in Cape Town, private water usage, recharge rates, and ecosystem impacts following a spike in borehole installations during the 'Day Zero' period.
• The technical architecture utilizes a suite of open-source software, including a PostgreSQL database server, Aquabase water resources management software, QGIS desktop and server software, and the Lizmap web client.
• To cater to different audiences, the dashboard provides two distinct map versions: a 'Quick view' for students and curious citizens to see average groundwater levels, and a 'Deep dive' map containing more scientific information for practitioners and environmental scientists.
• The system integrates diverse data sources, including GEOSS monitoring networks, Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) chemistry and HYDSTRA datasets, City of Cape Town cemetery monitoring boreholes, and web-scraped rainfall data from World Meteorological Organization (WMO) registered stations.
• The dashboard identifies specific monitoring areas, including Newlands, Airport/Epping/Bellville, and the Philippi Horticultural area and Lentegeur, with planned expansions into Kommetjie & Scarborough, Noordhoek, Bergvliet, and Brackenfell.
• Long-term sustainability depends on the appointment of a consultant to maintain the database and the regular acquisition of data (at least quarterly) from partners such as the City of Cape Town and the DWS.

APA

WWF South Africa (2022). GROUNDWATER DASHBOARDS - TABLE MOUNTAIN WATER SOURCE AREA. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/4_annexure_4_groundwater_dashboard_partnering_with_icomms_and_immo_blecher.pdf

Chicago

WWF South Africa. GROUNDWATER DASHBOARDS - TABLE MOUNTAIN WATER SOURCE AREA. 2022. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/4_annexure_4_groundwater_dashboard_partnering_with_icomms_and_immo_blecher.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF South Africa |title=GROUNDWATER DASHBOARDS - TABLE MOUNTAIN WATER SOURCE AREA |date=24 March 2022 |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/4_annexure_4_groundwater_dashboard_partnering_with_icomms_and_immo_blecher.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfsouthafrica2022groundwater, author = {{WWF South Africa}}, title = {{GROUNDWATER DASHBOARDS - TABLE MOUNTAIN WATER SOURCE AREA}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/4_annexure_4_groundwater_dashboard_partnering_with_icomms_and_immo_blecher.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }