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Mail & Guardian

Water Hyacinth

latest news & developments
Water hyacinths at the Hartebeersport dam. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

A 50-year seed bank and tiny hoppers: Hartbeespoort’s water hyacinth battle

Tiny biocontrol insects, released by the Centre for Biological Control, are preventing flowering and suppressing growth — a long-term solution to South Africa’s most problematic…

  • Sheree Bega
5 min read
Without biocontrol, Hartbeespoort Dam could be 70% covered in superweed
AQUATIC BIODIVERSITY

Tiny bugs winning the fight against invasive water hyacinth in Hartbeespoort Dam

Without biocontrol, Hartbeespoort Dam could be 70% covered in superweed

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
A flotilla of hundreds of boats sailed effortlessly on the Vaal River at the weekend, without being hindered by invasive water lettuce and water hyacinth
ANTI POLLUTION FORUM

Invasive weeds cleared from Vaal River through community-government collaboration

This was achieved through a partnership involving the Vaal community, Rand Water, Rhodes University’s Centre for Biological Control, the water and sanitation department and the…

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
The water hyacinth, the world’s worst aquatic invasive weed, clogs rivers. But a new “bioeconomy” venture is looking at turning this unwelcome plant into biogas, packaging, fertiliser and thermal insulation. Photo Delwyn Verasamy
AFRICA CLIMATE VENTURES

Developing a bioeconomy in Africa could drive nature-positive economic growth

But more research, development and innovation, as well as investment is needed

  • James Mwangi
  • Simon Zadek
4 min read
Water hyacinth, native to South America, is described as the world’s worst aquatic weed. It thrives in nutrient-enriched waters like Hartbeespoort Dam, forming dense impenetrable mats that affect boating, fishing and water sport activities and harms aquatic biodiversity. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
ARTICLE

Powerful insect army reduces water hyacinth on Hartbeespoort Dam to 2.5%

The tiny planthoppers are biological control agents and natural enemies of the world’s worst aquatic weed

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
In early February, AfriForum, together with several other organisations, businesses and community members, removed more than 1 623 tonnes of water lettuce from the Vaal River. Photo: AfriForum
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Vaal River residents say water lettuce is ‘national crisis’

If allowed to pass the Vaal River Barrage, the plant has access to a journey of about 1 000km of the middle and lower Vaal river, the Bloemhof Dam and then into the Orange river

  • Sheree Bega
11 min read
Artificial lakes like Hartbeespoort must be treated and managed as semi-natural lake ecosystems to keep them healthy and support demands made on them such as raw potable water and recreational use. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BILL HARDING

SA rivers, dams, used as waste disposal systems, says ecologist

The nutrient enrichment problem can’t be solved unless appropriate levels of wastewater treatment are applied

  • Sheree Bega
6 min read
Water hyacinth, native to South America, is described as the world’s worst aquatic weed. It thrives in nutrient-enriched waters like Hartbeespoort Dam, forming dense impenetrable mats that affect boating, fishing and water sport activities and harms aquatic biodiversity. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Tiny bugs reduce water hyacinth on Hartbeespoort Dam to 5%

Biological control is effective but the real solution would be to fix wastewater treatment plants in Joburg and Pretoria and stop sewage spills

  • Sheree Bega
9 min read
Peach started out by making normal gin and infusing it with the water hyacinth and a little bit of cucumber. Photo: Supplied
BRONKHORSTSPRUIT DAM

Bottoms up! Gin crafted from invasive water hyacinth plaguing Bronkhorstspruit Dam

Green Devil and Purple Monster gins are made by resident at the water’s edge using the otherwise-unwanted superweed

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
The RMS system continued to provide erroneous bills, as the metro had passed a credit for water charges totalling R564 641.04 for another residential property in Tongaat in November 2021 after a complaint was lodged. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
DAY ZERO

Contaminated or none at all: South Africa’s water affairs are cause for concern

With La Niña bringing much-needed rain, it is inexcusable that South Africans do not have access to their most basic human need: water

  • Ozayr Patel
5 min read
Water hyacinths at the Hartebeersport dam. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CENTRE FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Insect army winning war against invasive superweed in South Africa’s waterways

Tiny bugs – water hyacinth planthoppers – have reduced the coverage of an invasive superweed to below 5%

  • Sheree Bega
8 min read
Water hyacinth being controlled by bio controll measures at hartebeesport. (Delwyn Verasamy)
CENTRE FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Insect army winning fight against invasive water hyacinth

The coverage of the invasive superweed has been reduced to 12.5% from 40% in February

  • Sheree Bega
4 min read
Dr Rosali Smith is confident the planthopper insects from South America will do their job in destroying the invasive weed. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
CENTRE FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL

Insect army tackles Hartbeespoort Dam’s water hyacinths

About 300 000 planthoppers have been released on Hartbeespoort Dam to control the green horror

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Superspreader: Workers have been contracted to remove the hyacinth in the dam, but it’s too little, too late, as the coverage area can double every week. (Andy Mkosi)
BIO CONTROL

South African rowing in peril as Roodeplaat dam gets choked by plant colonies

Poorly treated wastewater in Tshwane is to blame for the water hyacinth and cyanobacteria colonies

  • Sheree Bega
10 min read