Search for precious water goes airborne

MAYOR Patricia de Lille asked residents and farmers not to be surprised when they saw field workers or a helicopter lifting a giant circular wheel – an electromagnetic loop – in Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Philippi and Atlantis over the next four weeks.

This was said as the mayor launched the Cape Flats Aquifer aerial survey at the Cape Radio Flyers RC Field, near Milnerton, where a helicopter was conducting a geophysical survey of the area.

The mayor said the method being used would not pose any danger to residents and was designed to assist with the mapping of underground aquifers and groundwater flow.

The City has commissioned a number of land-based and airborne geophysical surveys in order to establish the extent of the aquifers and to validate existing data and information on the aquifers.

“The land-based survey only requires a few pieces of equipment. No digging was required. We ask residents and farmers not to be surprised when they see these field workers or helicopter operations in their areas.

‘‘We’ll also try not to conduct the surveys on private land,” said De Lille.

She said that although these initiatives were under way, residents should still save water in order to stave off “Day Zero”, expected in May.

The City is preparing to tap into the Atlantis-Silwerstroom Aquifer, the Cape Flats Aquifer, and the Table Mountain Group Aquifer (TMGA) to supplement surface water supplies.

A survey of the Atlantis Aquifer has already been completed and contractors will begin work this week in the Cape Flats region.

John Holmes, managing director of Umvoto Africa – which will be conducting the surveys – said: “The loop would generate an electric field and this would map the underground geology of the area to establish the extent of the aquifer.”

The technology used generates a electromagnetic signal that provides data and information at a larger volume and quicker rate than ground surveys, said Holmes.