The DWAF must strive to manage our water resources to achieve the most beneficial use of water in the interests of the nation as a whole – this includes.

The DWAF must strive to manage The DWAF must strive to manage our water resources to achieve the our water resources to achieve the most beneficial use of water in the most beneficial use of water in the interests of the nation as a whole – interests of the nation as a whole –

this includes a constitutional this includes a constitutional mandate for water reformmandate for water reform

The DWAF must strive to manage The DWAF must strive to manage our water resources to achieve the our water resources to achieve the most beneficial use of water in the most beneficial use of water in the interests of the nation as a whole – interests of the nation as a whole –

this includes a constitutional this includes a constitutional mandate for water reformmandate for water reform

Water policy, law and strategyWater policy, law and strategy

The Constitution, 1996The Constitution, 1996

Fundamental Principles & Objectives for a Fundamental Principles & Objectives for a New South African Water Law, 1996New South African Water Law, 1996

National Water Policy, 1997National Water Policy, 1997

National Water Resource National Water Resource Strategy, First Edition, 2004Strategy, First Edition, 2004

National Water Act, 1998National Water Act, 1998

Implications for water Implications for water allocation reformallocation reform

Policy ObjectivesPolicy Objectives

The fundamental objectives of the National Water Policy The fundamental objectives of the National Water Policy are to achieve –are to achieve –

► ► EquityEquity - in access to water services, the use of - in access to water services, the use of water, and the benefits of water usewater, and the benefits of water use(Note the difference between (Note the difference between equityequity and and equalityequality))

► ► SustainabilitySustainability - in use of water, through measures to - in use of water, through measures to protect water resources to ensure indefinite availability protect water resources to ensure indefinite availability for human usefor human use

► ► EfficiencyEfficiency - in use of water - in use of water

Equity, sustainability and efficiency are all intimately Equity, sustainability and efficiency are all intimately related to water allocation reformrelated to water allocation reform

NWRS Purposes – Framework for CMSsNWRS Purposes – Framework for CMSs

A catchment management strategy is the A catchment management strategy is the framework for water resources management in a framework for water resources management in a water management area.water management area.

The NWRS provides the framework within which The NWRS provides the framework within which all catchment management strategies will be all catchment management strategies will be prepared and implemented in a manner that is prepared and implemented in a manner that is consistent (not uniform) throughout the country.consistent (not uniform) throughout the country.

In particular, in terms of section 9(b), a In particular, in terms of section 9(b), a catchment management strategy must not be in catchment management strategy must not be in conflict with the NWRS.conflict with the NWRS.

NWRS – Water UseNWRS – Water Use

““Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 - Use of WaterUse of Water - is one of the - is one of the most important parts of the National most important parts of the National Water Act because, among other things, Water Act because, among other things, it describes the provisions according to it describes the provisions according to which water use may be progressively which water use may be progressively adjusted to achieve the Act's principal adjusted to achieve the Act's principal objectives of equity of access to water objectives of equity of access to water and sustainable and efficient use of and sustainable and efficient use of water.”water.”NWRS Ch3, Pt 2, first paragraph NWRS Ch3, Pt 2, first paragraph

NWRS – Compulsory LicensingNWRS – Compulsory Licensing

The NWRS outlines the process of compulsory The NWRS outlines the process of compulsory licensing as follows (Ch 3, Pt 8) –licensing as follows (Ch 3, Pt 8) –

- Verification of existing water useVerification of existing water use- Determination of water resource availabilityDetermination of water resource availability- Classification of the water resourceClassification of the water resource- Setting of resource quality objectivesSetting of resource quality objectives- Determination of the ReserveDetermination of the Reserve- Development of components of the catchment Development of components of the catchment

management strategymanagement strategy- Calling for and evaluation of licence applicationsCalling for and evaluation of licence applications- Preparation of water allocation schedules and Preparation of water allocation schedules and

undertaking public consultation on themundertaking public consultation on them- Announcing water use allocations in the Government Announcing water use allocations in the Government

GazetteGazette- Issuing licencesIssuing licences

Take-home messagesTake-home messages

The NWRS is the broad framework for The NWRS is the broad framework for managing water resources in South Africamanaging water resources in South Africa

It provides much useful information, but it is It provides much useful information, but it is not sufficiently detailed to facilitate authorising not sufficiently detailed to facilitate authorising individual water usesindividual water uses

The fundamental objectives of managing water The fundamental objectives of managing water resources in South Africa are to achieve resources in South Africa are to achieve equityequity, , sustainabilitysustainability and and efficiencyefficiency

Water allocation reform is at the heart of Water allocation reform is at the heart of achieving these objectives achieving these objectives

(More or less) everyone is involved(More or less) everyone is involved

WHY DO WE NEED WATER ALLOCATION WHY DO WE NEED WATER ALLOCATION REFORM?REFORM?

1) To promote PROACTIVE ACTION for redress

2) To ACHIEVE sustainable and equitable development

3) To SUPPORT poverty eradication & economic development

4) To HELP BALANCE resource protection, equity and growth

WHAT ARE THE UNDERLYING WHAT ARE THE UNDERLYING CONSIDERATIONS?CONSIDERATIONS?

1) The way we allocate water can have severe economic, political, social and ecological consequences

2) Where we must re-allocate water – minimise the impacts on the economy

3) We must make sure that everyone has the capacity to use the water productively and responsibly

4) We must support development – but in an ecologically sustainable way

WHAT ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS?

Water Availability

(Model)

Installed Modeling System

Reservescenario

s

Ecological class & Reserve

Process to

finalise

InteractiveInteractivedeveloping of developing of

reconciliation optionsreconciliation options(incl Water Conservation (incl Water Conservation & Demand Management)& Demand Management)

RecommendationsRecommendations

Existinglawful use

Allocationschedule

Process tofinalise

License applicatio

nsFuture use

(IDP,PGDS

)Water required

for equity, rural

development

Pu

bli

c

Part

icip

ati

on

Pu

bli

cati

on

, A

pp

eals

, etc

Process to

finalise

CMS

Deve

lop

C

atc

hm

en

t M

an

ag

em

en

t S

trate

gy

Nati

on

al

Wate

r N

ati

on

al

Wate

r R

eso

urc

es

Reso

urc

es

Str

ate

gy

Str

ate

gy

ISP

Pu

bli

c

Aw

are

ness

CMA & WUA establishment

Water use licensing

PHASES OF WATER ALLOCATIONS / COMPULSORY LICENSING

PREPARATORY MID- CL / ALLOCATION POST- M & E

RDM

Verification of existing lawful use

Water Balance

Initiate Communications Campaign

Engagement with other spheres of Govt (IDP,PGDS,ISRDP,LUMP)

Internal Strategic Perspectives / Situational Assessments

Public

Engagement

Monitoring impact of process & outcomes (socio-economic indicators)

RDM

Catchment Assessment Report (from Prep phase)

- RDM & Allocation Plans + Schedules -

WHAT IS “BENEFICIAL USE OF WATER IN WHAT IS “BENEFICIAL USE OF WATER IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST”?THE PUBLIC INTEREST”?

WATER ALLOCATION MUST PROMOTE: Economic growth & social development

Job creation

Equitable Access to water

Social stability

Investor confidence

Protection of aquatic ecosystems

Efficient and non-wasteful use of water

A balance between sectors

HOW DO YOU PROMOTE BENEFICIAL USE IN HOW DO YOU PROMOTE BENEFICIAL USE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST?THE PUBLIC INTEREST?

1) PROMOTE APPLICATIONS FROM, AND AUTHORISATIONS TO, DISADVANTAGED USERS

Cooperative governance

Facilitating authorisations with a high public interest

Promoting BEE and women owned businesses

Capacity building to support productive uses

Promote the equitable distribution of the benefits of productive water use

Minimise the impacts on the existing lawful users

2) WATER ALLOCATIONS AND REALLOCATIONS MUST BE FAIR AND REASONABLE

3) MUST PROMOTE BENEFICIAL, PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT USE

Support livelihoods but not poverty traps

Promote a balance use of water in a variety of sectors

Capacity building and awareness wrt the most beneficial uses

Increased benefits per drop used

Sustainable development balances current needs with future needs

Gradual movement to improved functioning agreed by stakeholder

Accept screening or desktop impact assessments if the use is beneficial

Aim to secure a minimum level of ecosystem functioning first

4) MUST BALANCE IMPACTS WITH PUBLIC INTEREST

5)5) MUST SPEED UP PROCESSING OF HIGH PUBLIC MUST SPEED UP PROCESSING OF HIGH PUBLIC INTEREST – LOW IMPACT APPLICATIONS [S 27]INTEREST – LOW IMPACT APPLICATIONS [S 27]

PUBLIC INTEREST

IMPACTLOW HIGH

LOW

HIGH

SCHED 1

GENERAL AUTHOR.

RAPID PROCESS

DETAILED PROCESS

COMPULSORY LICENSING

6)6) LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT MUST VARY LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT MUST VARY BETWEEN CATCHMENTSBETWEEN CATCHMENTS