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The Testing and Application of the SWAT+ Water Allocation and Decision Tables for Nutrient Loads Simulations: A Case Study of the Integrated Vaal River System, South Africa

IWRA World Water Congress 2025 Marrakech Morocco
Water Quality and One Health Opportunities
Author(s): Joshua Rasifudi - Department of Water and Sanitation, South Africa
Joshua Rasifudi
Department of Water and Sanitation, South Africa
01 December 2025

Oral: PDF

Abstract

Introduction

• The catchment areas of the IVRS are experiencing a deterioration in water quality at an alarming rate

• Salinity , Eutrophication, Localized microbial contamination & emerging pollutants.

• Water requirements already exceed the available supply

• Impacts of climate related pressures and the increase in water demands, more pressure on water quality will continue to be evident in the water resources of the IVRS.

Key Messages

• The new SWAT+ water allocation module and decision tables for incorporation of management action has produced plausible results for the IVRS system.

• The IVRS SWAT+ model can now be used for annual operation analysis and future predictions for management actions and interventions for water quality management

• This study contributes to enhancing water quality monitoring systems, where the spatial and
temporal limitations in water quality monitoring data should be augmented by predictions using hydrologic water quality models incorporating management action (system operating rules).