As water quality monitoring forms part of monthly operational aspects related to compliance requirements associated with Water Use Licences (WUL), Environmental Monitoring Programmes (EMPr) and general duty of care (NEMA Section 28) it is vital to ensure correct sampling procedures according to specific water resources. Numerous...

Quite often we hear the phrase “alien invasive species” or “alien species”, however do we know what this means and how to handle these species if found on our property?   To assist with this, the following defines the two most common phrases: Alien species: A species that is not...

  GENERAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION   The aim of an Environmental Management System is to achieve an equilibrium between the environment, society and the economy. Internationally and locally within South Africa, new and existing developments need to meet the needs of environmental sustainability and societal expectations, all while promoting...

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is defined as a systematic process which recognises, predicts and evaluates the possible positive and negative economic, biophysical and social influences of any suggested project (Keatimilwe & Ashton, 2005). The purpose of an EIA is to inform decision-makers of the perceived...

When it comes to environmental audits, the process of being audited by an external auditor can be quite daunting, especially when one is ill prepared for the audit. At ENVASS we undertake regular and various environmental audits to verify compliance and provide meaningful input towards...

Noise monitoring is considered to be a measure to exercise duty of care (Section 28(1) of the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA)), as the study undertaken will provide the current conditions of noise on the site, which can then be used to...

  A human can live for more than three weeks without food, but can only survive for three-to-four days without water. With the population of Earth relying so heavily on this non-renewable resource, it is imperative to implement every means possible to conserve the systems that...

Biodiversity offsets are conservation measures designed to remedy the residual negative impacts of development on biodiversity and ecological infrastructure, once the first three groups of measures in the mitigation sequence have been adequately and explicitly considered (i.e. to avoid, minimize and rehabilitate/ restore impacts). Offsets...

People feel most at ease and relaxed at home where they can relax in their chosen environment. However more often than not, something disturbs the peace and quiet such as a new apartment block impeding the beach view or a development of a car workshop...

Groundwater monitoring forms part of an effective Environmental Compliance Monitoring Programme which enables proactive quality and quantity assessment, identification of impacts and rectification planning. Purging of groundwater monitoring localities is generally required to comply with sampling quality assurance plans and procedures which is conducted prior...