Abstract:The integrity of the Blesbok Spruit catchment has been significantly compromised over the past decades, mainly due to the discharge of mining effluent and sewage. This research investigated the hydrological responses, in terms of water quality, in the event of land cover change within the catchment to make predictions on the future sustainability of the region's water resources with the application of Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression analysis. The quantification of hydrological responses in terms of water quality towards land cover changes has not been completed by previous research studies within the catchment. This research established the catchment's present state of water quality and formulated PLS model equations to enable the prediction of future concentrations of specific water quality parameters in association with future land cover change. A change in land cover was found to have various negative influences. The retransformation of land cover into natural areas is accompanied with unintended and undesirable effects due to the degradation of the catchment's buffering capabilities and the absence of the enforcement of the decommissioning of mining operations. For the Blesbok Spruit catchment to avoid a future water predicament, systematic and interdisciplinary measures need to be implemented OPEN ACCESSWater 2014, 6 2947 according to these and other related findings, to ensure the future sustainability of the catchment and the region as a whole.

The Grootdraai Dam catchment forms part of the Vaal River system, which is deemed to be the 'workhorse' of South Africa as it is located within the economic heart of the country. The status of water quality within the catchment is an important characteristic that needs to be investigated extensively due to its importance to the country's future economic growth. Intricate relationships between land cover and specific water quality parameters were quantified and unique model equations were formulated to predict water quality in the region. Urban and mining developments should be re-evaluated due to the accompanied significant hydrological consequences.

The Grootdraai Dam catchment forms part of the Vaal River system, which is deemed to be the 'workhorse' of South Africa as it is located within the economic heart of the country. The status of water quality within the catchment is an important characteristic that needs to be investigated extensively due to its importance to the country's future economic growth. Intricate relationships between land cover and specific water quality parameters were quantified and unique model equations were formulated to predict water quality in the region. Urban and mining developments should be re-evaluated due to the accompanied significant hydrological consequences.

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