An unprecedented discovery of a fresh water resource has been found in Beaufort West, in the Western Cape, the Department of Mineral Resources said in a statement on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The resource was discovered by the Council for Geoscience (CGS), a statutory Science Council reporting to the minister of Mineral Resources, while conducting research on the development of shale gas.<\/p>\n
The preliminary results indicate that the water is of good quality for drinking and other uses.\u00a0Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said the much-needed water resource brings about a huge relief to the drought-stricken Beaufort West and the Western Cape Province.<\/p>\n
Zwane had directed the CGS to conduct a baseline study to enable government to make informed decisions on the balance of science-based evidence on the development of shale gas resources in the vast Karoo Basin of South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cA geoscientific team from the CGS has concluded the geological mapping, geophysical survey (both ground and air-bourne), hydrogeological monitoring (which is continuous until the drilling of a deep borehole +3km) and environmental screening.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe water boreholes intended for the baseline studies and future monitoring of the water resource have also been used to pilot the casing methods to ensure maximum protection of the water resource in the Karoo,\u201d the department said.<\/p>\n
The final characterization of the five boreholes will be concluded by the end of January 2018.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe research work will be done in stages in order to minimize the potential impact of drilling to the environment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn due course, the borehole will be officially handed to the municipality to ensure that the people of Beaufort West and nearby communities can have access to water,\u201d the department said.<\/p>\n