National Water Resource National Water Resource Strategy Strategy

Presentation to Portfolio CommitteePresentation to Portfolio Committee1515thth September 2004 September 2004

Department of Water Affairs and ForestryDepartment of Water Affairs and Forestry

Outline of presentationOutline of presentation• NWRS: purpose, mandate, etcNWRS: purpose, mandate, etc• National water pictureNational water picture• Resource protection measuresResource protection measures• Priorities for allocationPriorities for allocation• Meeting water needsMeeting water needs• Water resources under control of MinisterWater resources under control of Minister• Infrastructure developmentInfrastructure development• Major challengesMajor challenges• Implementation of NWRSImplementation of NWRS• Financial implicationsFinancial implications• WSSD targetWSSD target

National Water Resource StrategyNational Water Resource Strategy

National Water Act:National Water Act:• legal framework under which the nation’s water resources are legal framework under which the nation’s water resources are

protected, developed, managed, etcprotected, developed, managed, etc• three key principles: equity, efficiency and sustainabilitythree key principles: equity, efficiency and sustainability• requires the establishment of a National Water Resource requires the establishment of a National Water Resource

Strategy:Strategy:– After public consultationAfter public consultation

– Minister, DG, state, water management institutions must give effect to Minister, DG, state, water management institutions must give effect to the NWRS when exercising any power or performing any duty in terms the NWRS when exercising any power or performing any duty in terms of the Actof the Act

– Must be reviewed at least every five yearsMust be reviewed at least every five years

• Approved by Cabinet 1 Sept 2005; now to be GazettedApproved by Cabinet 1 Sept 2005; now to be Gazetted

Purpose of the NWRSPurpose of the NWRS

• Provides the framework for managing water Provides the framework for managing water resources, and for resources, and for preparing catchment preparing catchment management strategies;management strategies;

• Provides water-related information; and Provides water-related information; and

• Facilitates the identification of development Facilitates the identification of development opportunities and constraintsopportunities and constraints

Informed by and informs:Informed by and informs:

• National Spatial Development FrameworkNational Spatial Development Framework

• Provincial Growth and Development StrategiesProvincial Growth and Development Strategies

• Local Integrated Development Plans and Water Local Integrated Development Plans and Water Services Development PlansServices Development Plans

• Public sector investment plansPublic sector investment plans

• Identification of opportunities for interventions in Identification of opportunities for interventions in the first and second economythe first and second economy

Contents of the NWRS include:Contents of the NWRS include:• Details on water availability, use, strategies to Details on water availability, use, strategies to

balance supply and demandbalance supply and demand• Strategies for water resources managementStrategies for water resources management

– eg protection & use; conservation, pricing; eg protection & use; conservation, pricing; institutions; monitoring and information; disaster institutions; monitoring and information; disaster managementmanagement

• Programme and financial implicationsProgramme and financial implications– Major activities including new infrastructureMajor activities including new infrastructure

• Complementary strategiesComplementary strategies– eg capacity building, consultation, researcheg capacity building, consultation, research

• National planning and coordination National planning and coordination – Including international cooperationIncluding international cooperation

National Water PictureNational Water Picture

• Water is necessary for growth and developmentWater is necessary for growth and development• South Africa needs to create jobs South Africa needs to create jobs • South Africa is a water scarce country South Africa is a water scarce country • Of 180 countries, SA is 30th with least water per Of 180 countries, SA is 30th with least water per

capitacapita• SA subject to irregular rainfall: floods and SA subject to irregular rainfall: floods and

droughtsdroughts• DWAF is the custodian of the nation’s water DWAF is the custodian of the nation’s water

resourcesresources

Water Resource ProtectionWater Resource Protection

Reserve determinationsReserve determinations

• The ReserveThe ReserveWater quantity and quality to meet basic human needs Water quantity and quality to meet basic human needs

and ecological requirements to protect aquatic and ecological requirements to protect aquatic ecosystemsecosystems

– 1450 Reserve determination applications since 1450 Reserve determination applications since October 1999October 1999

– 600 Reserve determinations approved 600 Reserve determinations approved – More than 12 catchments at medium– high confidenceMore than 12 catchments at medium– high confidence

• Resource Quality ObjectivesResource Quality Objectives – Set of narrative and numerical management objectives Set of narrative and numerical management objectives

in line with the Resource Classin line with the Resource Class– Will take account of all water users requirementsWill take account of all water users requirements

Reserve, Class and RQOsReserve, Class and RQOs

Preliminary determination of the

Reserve

Preliminary determination of the

Class

Resource Quality

Objectives

Reserve scenarios

(preliminary)

Preliminary determination of the Class

1999

Select Reserve scenario

Resource Quality

Objectives2001-2004

Directorate: Resource Directed Measures RDM and other Directorates

2005-Set Class of

resource Set Reserve

Reserve scenarios

Set Resource Quality

Objectives

Classification System development and Classification System development and classifying water resourcesclassifying water resources

• Classification System Classification System – Classification System sets principles, guidelines, procedures and Classification System sets principles, guidelines, procedures and

specify stakeholder participation when water resources are classified specify stakeholder participation when water resources are classified – A Resource Class will ensure an appropriate balance between A Resource Class will ensure an appropriate balance between

utilisation and protection ensuring sustainabilityutilisation and protection ensuring sustainability

• The Process of Classifying (Determine a class)The Process of Classifying (Determine a class)– Determine and set the classDetermine and set the class– Could be an iterative processCould be an iterative process

• Proposed ClassesProposed Classes– NaturalNatural– Moderately used Moderately used – Heavily used, and Heavily used, and – Unacceptably degraded Unacceptably degraded

River Conservation PlanningRiver Conservation Planning

• Purpose to conserve a representative sample of Purpose to conserve a representative sample of aquatic biodiversityaquatic biodiversity

• Give effect to National Environmental Give effect to National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004)Management: Biodiversity Act (Act 10 of 2004)

• Initial indication is that freshwater biodiversity Initial indication is that freshwater biodiversity is more urgent than terrestrial due to the state is more urgent than terrestrial due to the state of water resources of water resources

Priorities for allocating waterPriorities for allocating water

• Target:Target:

To achieve greatest overall social and economic To achieve greatest overall social and economic benefits, within framework of equity and benefits, within framework of equity and sustainabilitysustainability

• Apply to:Apply to:

Long term allocations (water use authorisations)Long term allocations (water use authorisations)

Short term allocations (during water Short term allocations (during water restrictions)restrictions)

• Subject to specific circumstances, and may change Subject to specific circumstances, and may change over timeover time

• General guide in descending order of General guide in descending order of importanceimportance– Provision for the Reserve (human and ecological)Provision for the Reserve (human and ecological)

– International agreements and obligationsInternational agreements and obligations

– Primary social needs (poverty eradication, domestic, Primary social needs (poverty eradication, domestic, social stability)social stability)

– Key economic sectors (power generation, key Key economic sectors (power generation, key industries)industries)

– General economic uses (dictated by economic General economic uses (dictated by economic efficiency)efficiency)

– Convenience uses, private recreation etc.Convenience uses, private recreation etc.

Priorities for allocating waterPriorities for allocating water

Reconciliation strategies - Reconciliation strategies - meeting the needs for watermeeting the needs for water

• Water demand management and conservationWater demand management and conservation• Surface water resource management (operation of Surface water resource management (operation of

dams) and conservationdams) and conservation• Managing and use of groundwaterManaging and use of groundwater• Re-use of waterRe-use of water• Eradication of invading alien vegetationEradication of invading alien vegetation• Re-allocation of waterRe-allocation of water• Development of surface water resources (e.g. dams)Development of surface water resources (e.g. dams)• Transfer of waterTransfer of water

Water resources under direct Water resources under direct control of the Ministercontrol of the Minister

• Water in South Africa is a national assetWater in South Africa is a national asset• Some water in each WMA under direct Some water in each WMA under direct

control of Minister - quantity and qualitycontrol of Minister - quantity and quality– Reserve (ecological Reserve, basic human needs)Reserve (ecological Reserve, basic human needs)– water to meet international rights and obligationswater to meet international rights and obligations– water use of strategic importance (e.g. to generate water use of strategic importance (e.g. to generate

electricity)electricity)– transfers of water between water management transfers of water between water management

areasareas– contingency to meet future growthcontingency to meet future growth

Infrastructure developmentInfrastructure development

• Indicative listIndicative list

• Creation of infrastructure branch in DeptCreation of infrastructure branch in Dept

• Possible establishment of NWRIAPossible establishment of NWRIA

• Formal process of approval for any Formal process of approval for any infrastructure developmentinfrastructure development

• Economic infrastructure off budget, social Economic infrastructure off budget, social infrastructure exchequer fundedinfrastructure exchequer funded

Major ChallengesMajor Challenges• Reallocating water use to -Reallocating water use to -

– achieve equity of accessachieve equity of access– make water available for productive livelihoods in make water available for productive livelihoods in

rual areasrual areas– ensure that existing beneficial uses can continueensure that existing beneficial uses can continue– meet international obligations in shared riversmeet international obligations in shared rivers

• Balancing use of water resources with Balancing use of water resources with protection to ensure sustainable development protection to ensure sustainable development

““This has given rise to what is perhaps the most important This has given rise to what is perhaps the most important challenge facing our water manager, which is the need to challenge facing our water manager, which is the need to

introduce equity in resource distribution”. Minister Sonjicaintroduce equity in resource distribution”. Minister Sonjica

Major ChallengesMajor Challenges

• Creating sustainable water management Creating sustainable water management institutions that are –institutions that are –– financially viable from water use chargesfinancially viable from water use charges– technically competenttechnically competent– representative of water users and stakeholdersrepresentative of water users and stakeholders– 5 CMAs to be established before March 20055 CMAs to be established before March 2005

• Funding infrastructure development from user Funding infrastructure development from user charges, where appropriate.charges, where appropriate.

ImplementationImplementation

Implementation will be -Implementation will be -• Multi-yearMulti-year• PrioritisedPrioritised

– geographically in respect of water stressgeographically in respect of water stress– in accordance with developmental needsin accordance with developmental needs

• IntegratedIntegrated– in management approaches and strategiesin management approaches and strategies– with other programmes and initiativeswith other programmes and initiatives

Document will be translatedDocument will be translatedEasy to read version will be producedEasy to read version will be produced

Financial implicationsFinancial implications

• Pricing strategy review under wayPricing strategy review under way– Waste discharge and abstraction chargesWaste discharge and abstraction charges

• CMAs intended to be financially viableCMAs intended to be financially viable

• Extra costs to be dealt with in normal Extra costs to be dealt with in normal budget processbudget process

WSSD - JPOI targetWSSD - JPOI target

• WSSD - JPOI target - all countries must WSSD - JPOI target - all countries must have integrated water resource management have integrated water resource management plans and water conservation plans by 2005plans and water conservation plans by 2005

• NWRS meets this target, a year in advanceNWRS meets this target, a year in advance

• Thank youThank you