ABSTRACT
Nitrate, as will be emphasized by the majority of the papers, is a contaminant of great significance on this continent. The first paper is a detailed discussion on its occurrence, the hydrochemical interactions, its effects and some specific cases to illustrate these. It is noted in Tredoux & Talma’s paper that nitrate values in excess of 500 mg/l have been measured in southern African groundwater. The causes are numerous but their conclusions that in most cases, the occurrence of high levels of nitrate in groundwater is due to pollution related to anthropogenic activities is of great importance. Of particular significance is the finding that inappropriate on-site sanitation at rural villages and towns frequently leads to groundwater pollution by nitrate and the abandoning of wellfields, as this is mirrored by many of the cases studies which follow.
