Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Noordhoek, Western Cape

The report details the creation of a groundwater monitoring network in Noordhoek, Western Cape, commissioned by WWF South Africa and implemented by GEOSS South Africa. Following a drought from 2015 to 2019, the area saw a surge in private boreholes and wellpoints. The project involved a desktop study, a hydrocensus of 158 properties, and the deployment of four Solinst dataloggers in private boreholes. Key findings highlight stakeholder concerns regarding E-coli contamination from soakaway systems and the potential for seawater intrusion. Data from the network is integrated into the Table Mountain Water Source Area Groundwater Dashboard to provide public visibility of water level trends and seasonal fluctuations.

• The 2015-2019 drought in the Western Cape and City of Cape Town led to a significant increase in the number of boreholes and wellpoints, particularly in the Noordhoek area, which is located within the Table Mountain Strategic Water Source Area (TM-SWSA).
• A hydrocensus of 158 properties in Noordhoek revealed that 21.5% of visited residents completed surveys, identifying 18 boreholes and 16 wellpoints. Most of these were drilled between 2016 and 2020, with depths ranging from 3 to 80 metres, targeting the Springfontyn Formation and the Table Mountain Group (TMG) aquifer.
• Stakeholders expressed significant concerns regarding groundwater quality, specifically high levels of E-coli attributed to the lack of a sewage pipeline system and reliance on soakaways and septic tanks, as well as high iron and salt content.
• A monitoring network consisting of four Solinst dataloggers was deployed in private boreholes between January and March 2022. Initial data indicates water levels between 6 and 23 mbgl and electrical conductivity (EC) values between 128 and 171 mS/m, which are classified as 'marginal' per DWAF (1998) guidelines.
• Monitoring data is manually downloaded and uploaded to the Table Mountain Water Source Area Groundwater Dashboard (groundwaterinfo.africa) to allow users to track seasonal fluctuations and the impact of regional groundwater abstraction.

APA

Tomlinson, A., Holloway, M., & Barrow, D. (2022). Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Noordhoek, Western Cape. WWF South Africa. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/3_annexure_3_appendix_c_noordhoek.pdf

Chicago

Tomlinson, Ashleigh, Michael Holloway, and Dale Barrow. Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Noordhoek, Western Cape. WWF South Africa, 2022. https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/3_annexure_3_appendix_c_noordhoek.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tomlinson |first1=Ashleigh |last2=Holloway |first2=Michael |last3=Barrow |first3=Dale |title=Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Noordhoek, Western Cape |publisher=WWF South Africa |date=14 April 2022 |url=https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/3_annexure_3_appendix_c_noordhoek.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tomlinson2022establishing, author = {Tomlinson, Ashleigh and Holloway, Michael and Barrow, Dale}, title = {{Establishing a citizen-science groundwater monitoring network for Noordhoek, Western Cape}}, institution = {WWF South Africa}, year = {2022}, month = apr, url = {https://wwfafrica.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/3_annexure_3_appendix_c_noordhoek.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }