## 3 Results
### Feasibility Assessment
Nhlambeto farm is the only site using shallow groundwater from the riverbed alluvium, so it has the lowest total dynamic head requirement of 20 m. A hi trheni Mqekwa farm pumps water from boreholes that are quite distant from the irrigated field, and it requires the highest total dynamic head of 43 m. The village of Mbhedle requires the longest conveyance pipe (1000 m), but the water requirement is quite low, so the estimated total dynamic head is 33 m. The peak power requirements ranged from 1.2-1.3 kWp at Mizilea, with the lowest population size, to 2.8-3.4 kWp at Matsotsosela with the highest population. This corresponds to a solar panel surface area requirement of 8.0-8.7 m\({}^{2}\) at Mziela and 18.7-22.3 m\({}^{2}\) at Matsotsosela. Fairly high peak power requirements and large solar panel areas were calculated for Mayephu (large population), A hi triheni Mqekwa farm and Macena farm (large total dynamic head). On the other hand, moderate peak power requirements and solar panel areas were calculated for Mbhedle, Matsumoto Ngamba farm and Duvadzi farm. Groundwater samples of all water sources were collected and analyzed in the laboratory to determine fitness for use. The results are presented in Tables S1 and S2 (Supplementary Materials) and they were compared to the South African National Standard SANS 241 of 2015 to determine the water quality fitness for domestic use. The figures in red in Tables S1 and S2 indicate values of determinants that are not within the SANS 241 thresholds. In general, groundwater quality is not fit for domestic use as is, and some water treatment will be essential. Water quality is fit to marginally fit for agriculture, based on the South African Water Quality Guidelines [61] for agricultural use. Any build-up in groundwater and soil salinity should be monitored. Whilst pH values are within the prescribed standards for all water sources, the sites in the villages of Mbhedle, Matsotsosela, Matsumoto Ngamba farm, A hi triheni Mqekwa farm and Duvadzi farm have elevated electrical conductivity (EC), in particular due to elevated Na and Cl. Groundwaters in the proximity of villages (draining water from villages) have particularly high NO\({}_{3}\) levels beyond the legal standard (<48.7 mg\(\cdot\)L\({}^{-1}\) NO\({}_{3}\)). This is especially the case for the villages of Mbhedle, Mayephu, Mizilela, A hi triheni Mqekwa farm and Macena farm. The spike of >200 mg\(\cdot\)L\({}^{-1}\) NO\({}_{3}\) concentration at borehole H14-1815 in Mayephu is due to the vicinity of an animal kal (<30 m). In addition, Matsambo Ngamba farm, A hi triheni Mqekwa farm and all sites in the villages, except Mizilela, exhibited high concentrations of Total Organic Carbon (TOC > 10 mg\(\cdot\)L\({}^{-1}\)) at the end of the rainy season (Table S1). By far the best water quality source is the water retained in the sand alluvial aquifer of the Molototsi River (Nhlambeto farm at Dzumeri) (Tables S1 and S2). This confirms previous results that water quality in the sand banks approaches rainwater quality as it originates from direct vertical recharge via rainfall [62]. All parameters were within the standard limits, except color due to high turbidity. However, elevated concentrations of Al and Fe were found in the sand banks aquifer, especially in May 2022, and this needs to be investigated further. Elevated Mn beyond the aesthetic threshold (100 mg\(\cdot\)L\({}^{-1}\)) was found in Mbhedle and at Matsumoto Ngamba farm (Tables S1 and S2). In general, these findings make it imperative to treat the groundwater for drinking water purposes and this has implications on the capital investment and operational costs.