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This article discusses the protection and management of water ecosystems to ensure the quantity and quality of water resources while promoting ecological sustainability. It addresses common water quality concerns in South Africa and highlights the need for resource-directed measures and source-directed controls. The article also emphasizes the importance of integrated water resource management and provides an overview of key priority areas and governance and institutional arrangements in the water sector.
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Managing Water for an Equitable and Sustainable Future PROTECTION OF WATER ECOSYSTEMS CD: Water Ecosystems Ms N. Mohapi
Protection of water resources Maintenance of the quantity and quality of the water resources while ensuring ecological sustainability. Prevention of further degradation of the water resources. Rehabilitation of the degraded water resources.
Common Water Quality concerns in SA Sporadic sewage effluent spillages (Microbiological contamination) Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) Other localized pollution in urbanized & industrialized areas Eutrophication Salination (diffuse pollution)
Further exacerbated by… 6 Over-abstraction of ground and surface water in many catchments; Habitat destruction (sand-wining from riverbeds, invasive alien aquatic plants, agricultural activities in riparian zones); Development in estuarine zones
Prevalence of the Water Quality Issues: Eutrophication – Crocodile West Marico, Lower & Middle Vaal, Mvoti to Umzimkhulu and Umzimvubu to Keiskamma Acid manage Drainage – Upper Vaal, Olifants, Middle Vaal, uThukela, Inkomati, Crocodile West Marico, Limpopo Microbial contamination – countrywide with minimal impacts in Usuthu to Mhlathuze, uThukela and the Orange Salination - countrywide with minimal impacts in Mvoti to Umzimkhulu
The Protection of Water resources is addressed by 2 Broad based Approaches: Resource Directed Measures Focus on overall health or condition of the water resource measured by its ecological status. Aims at achieving a balance between protecting and using the water resources for social and economic development Source Directed Controls Limits and constraints that must be imposed on the use of water resources to achieve the desired level of protection. Control of water use activities at the source of impact through standards, and situation-specific conditions. Link between protection of water resources and regulation of use.
The broad-based approaches are supported by… Hierarchy of decision-making Integrated management Long-term vision for the resource, taking social, economic and environmental concerns into consideration 9
Catchment Management Strategy Resource Management Strategy Source Directed Management Strategy Other strategies Compliance End of pipe standards Management plans State INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: THE BIGGER PICTURE Catchment Vision Societal values and aspirations Desired state of water resources Catchment Assessment including current state Management Class Determine RQOs and Reserve Monitoring Water Use Control Strategic use; International obligations; future use; inter-basin transfers Allocation schedule (quality and quantity) Water use authorisations 10
KEY PRIORITY AREAS (cont) • Development of water resource protection strategies (focus on priority interventions such as AMD, Eutrophication, IWQM etc.); • Rehabilitate important water sources and critically threatened wetlands • Establish clear goals relating to the quantity and quality of the relevant water resource (incl. the management class and setting the RQOs) • Develop an integrated water quality information system and strengthen water resource monitoring programmes (wetlands, River Health); 11
KEY PRIORITY AREAS • Development of regulatory tools and their roll (Waste Discharge Charge System) • Enhance capacity in institutions to manage water quality; • Strengthen collaboration with key partners on managing freshwater ecosystems (NFEPA’s, Protection zones to curtail developmental impacts) 12
DRIVERS FOR CHANGE • Effective delivery on the constitutional and legislative mandates of the institutions • Access to water supply and sanitation • Reallocation of water • Management of pollution, water theft • Infrastructure backlog & maintenance • Establishment of institutions
There is currently an ineffective arrangement of water sector institutions Minister Stakeholders DWA TCTA WSAs (156?) International bodies* WRC CMAs (2) Water Boards (12) WSPs WUAs (79) Lines of reporting through the DG to the Minister Irrigation Boards (169) *: Orasecom, Limcom, Incomaputo committees, KOBWA; Minister has 97 entities reporting organisations, which is unmanageable-the arrangements need to change.
Vision and Objectives To create sustainable water sector institutions that will facilitate effective service delivery The overall trusteeship of the water value chain is with the Minister of Water Affairs. The Department will set policy, regulate, and provide support to water management and water services institutions The ownership, financing, development, management and operations and maintenance of national water resources infrastructure will be strengthened The development, financing, management, operation and maintenance of regional bulk water and wastewater services will be strengthened through the consolidation of existing water boards . Water resource management for each of the 9 newly defined water management areas is strengthened through consolidating into 9 economically viable CMAs.
Vision and Objectives Water user associations will facilitate the management of local water resources infrastructure by users for their mutual benefit and assist with local water resource management functions. The development and management of the four international river basins will be undertaken by trans-boundary water management institutions. Water research, information and knowledge management will contribute to improved water resource management and sustainable water service provision. Economic regulation is to being explored and by the end of 2014 a decision will be taken around appropriate institutional design which will ensure that water provision and services is provided in an efficient, fair and sustainable manner
Future Water Sector Institutional arrangements Minister Stakeholders DWA NWRI GC TCTA International organisations* WSAs WRC CMAs (9) Water Boards (9 > 4 WSPs WUAs** (10) WUAs Lines of reporting through the DG to the Minister Accountability to the Minister *: Orasecom, Limcom, Incomaputo committees, KOBWA; ** WUAs with state infrastructure or state guaranteed loans The proposed structure will reduce the 96 institutions reporting directly to Minister by 50% and therefore reducing span of control.
Water Management Areas Limpopo Olifants Inkomati- Usuthu Vaal Orange Pongola-Mzimkulu Berg-Olifants Mzimvubu-Tsitsikamma Breede-Gouritz
Management of water resources at catchment level The role of CMAs is to ensure that water resources are managed to facilitate the involvement of local communities in water resources management. The new 9 WMAs have been gazetted for public consultation on the 20 July 2012 for 90 days Inkomati-Usuthu, Breede -Gourits, Vaal, Orange, Limpopo, Olifants, Mzimvubu- Tsitsikamma, Berg- Olifants and Pongola –Mzimkulu. Two CMAs are operational the Inkomati and Breede-Overberg CMA The department plans to establish all 9 CMAS one in each WMA by 2015. The establishment of the CMAs will be prioritised based on the progress towards establishment, the state of readiness of the proto-CMAs, the water resources management challenges and financial viability.
Managing National water resources infrastructure • At present the Department manages most of the national water resources infrastructure while the TCTA finances and project manages specific water projects as per Ministerial directives. • These projects are financed off-budget and the investment costs are repaid through user charges. • Key areas of concern are poor financial management of the Water Trading Entity, low revenue collection, poor customer management (including poor customer data), delays in procurement of key maintenance contracts, high staff turnover, loss of skills and low staff morale. • A draft business case has been developed for the creation of an optimal institutional model • The main advantages of this are increased accountability, transparency and improved performance.
Managing local water infrastructure(water user association) • Slow transformation of irrigation boards has been due to difficulties in achieving representivity targets, unresolved concerns regarding the transfer of private assets and liabilities to a wider grouping • There is a lack of financial and technical resources to support new ‘developmental’ WUAs.
Managing local water infrastructure(water user association) A Transformation of Irrigation Boards Irrigation boards to be transformed within 12 months to bring within the ambit of the National Water Act Amendment of the National Water Act Transformation score-card to be introduced. Differentiated approach to regulation of irrigation boards WUAs with government water schemes and state loans to be regulated by DWA . Establishment and accountability of WUAs to be done by CMAs. B Regulation , Establishment and Accountability of WUAs C • Effective support for the establishment of WUA for resource poor farmers • DWA to drive support programme on Resource Poor Farmers with Rural & Land Affairs and Agriculture. Minister Flagship Project on Land/Water and Agrarian for Resource Poor Farmers
Management of Regional water infrastructure and future role of water boards A Stronger water boards can play a more effective role in supporting municipalities 5 Strengthen water boards through consolidation & expansion B 12 9 Address underperforming & marginal water boards through consolidation Address gaps in regional infrastructure provision through expansion 2 1 Improve management of water resources infrastructure by taking on WR assets & improve sector alignment (source to tap) 3 C Strong, financially viable regional institutions can access financial markets to raise finance for investment 4 Bubbles are water boards scaled by revenue, a proxy for potential development impact
water research commission A National Water Research Plan be introduced in South Africa led by DWA and WRC. Coordination of Water Research B Legislative Review B The review of the Water Research Act of 1971 to be fastracked and the review to be completed within 6 months.
OBJECTIVES • Giving effect to Equity Principle by: • Redressing past imbalances (race and gender) • Contributing to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment • Enhancing Capacity development • Supporting Local, provincial and national planning initiatives • Facilitating Fair, reasonable and consistent Allocations • Achievement of Development objectives
OBJECTIVES .... • To have meaningful transformation in water use • To support poverty eradication & economic development • To help balance resource protection, equity and growth
SITUATION ANALYSIS (WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION LIKE ) • Large quantities of water in the hands of Non HDIs; • Most applications received are from Non HDIs without any indications of contribution to redress and equity • Allocable water getting depleted without achieving equity in allocations • Difficulties experienced by HDIs in using water for productive purposes. • Trading of water does not necessarily contribute to equity • Lenient legislation towards the status quo
WHAT IS THE STRATEGY GOING FORWARD (HOW TO)? • The Water Allocation Reform Strategy (WARS) proposes strategic mechanisms to achieve the set targets: • Set-Asides • General authorizations • Strategic alignment with other national initiatives • Compulsory Licensing • Partnerships • Review of the current WAR strategy
TARGETS OF WATER ALLOCATION REFORM National targets in respect of blacks National targets in respect of women
The sucess of WAR is largely dependent on collaboration with all sectors (mining, industry, agriculture, etc)
WHY IS REGULATION IMPORTANT? (VALUE CHAIN) • To ensure the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of water resources. • The guiding principles (sustainability and equity) recognise • the basic human needs of present and future generations, • the need to protect water resources, • the need to share some water resources with other countries, • the need to promote social and economic development through the use of water.
WHY IS REGULATION IMPORTANT? • To ensure the protection- the health and interest of citizen • To ensure the protection of citizens rights to basic water services • To realise the above : (protection of the water resources and citizens) Regulatory function entails: • Authorisation • Compliance monitoring • Enforcement
DRIVERS OF REGULATION • WATER RESOURCES • RSA is rated as water scarce thus the need to protect the resource from threats of : • over abstraction • discharges that are not compliant with the set standards • unlawful water use • etc • WATER SERVICES • The need to protect the health and interest of citizens • The need to protect the citizen rights to basic water services. • Increased demand for water services due to among others population growth, migration from rural to cities.
DRIVERS OF REGULATION (Cont...) • ECONOMIC REGULATION • The protection of the interest of the consumers without compromising the sustainability of the Water Services Institutions • Ensuring that tariffs throughout the value chain are: • fair to all citizens (equitable); • affordable (viable; ensureeconomically effective & efficient use of resources); and • allow for continuity of service (sustainability).
SITUATION ANALYSIS • DRINKING WATER QUALITY • Comparison of 2009 (first) and 2012 Blue Drop reports on the National microbiological compliance of the South African tap water measured against the National Standard (SANS 241) indicates an improvement. • WASTE WATER • Improved/reduced risk rating • WATER RESOURCE • Increased reports of unlawful Water Use • Increase application for Water Use authorisation - increased the need for Compliance monitoring and Enforcement • Capacity constraints in dealing with the demand for increased regulatory function
WHAT IS THE STRATEGY GOING FORWARD (HOW TO)? • Strengthening and continuous improvement of Water services Regulation by e.g. (RPMS) Regulatory Performance Measurement Systems • INCENTIVE-BASED REGULATION: • The conscious use of rewards as well as penalties to encourage performance and continuous improvement • TARGETED RISK-BASED REGULATION • Risk-based regulation allows the institutions to identify and prioritise the critical risk areas within its water and wastewater management and to take corrective measures to abate these. • Risk analysis is used by the Regulator to identify, quantify and manage the corresponding risks according to their potential impact on the water resource and to ensure a prioritised and targeted regulation
WHAT IS THE STRATEGY GOING FORWARD (HOW TO)? • PRIORITISING GEOGRAPHIC AREAS AND SECTORS • e.g._stressed WMA • Mpumalanga - Sector (Mining) • Vaal - Sector (Irrigation) • SEPARATING (WITHIN DWA) SUPPORT FROM REGULATION • Referring cases of ailing municipalities needing support to sector support unit of the Department (Rapid Response Unit.)
WHAT IS THE STRATEGY GOING FORWARD (HOW TO)? (Cont...) • CAPACITATED STAKEHOLDERS • Awareness campaigns • Strengthen the role of Civil society • OTHER MEASURES • Inter departmental collaboration • Joint investigations with law enforcement agencies • Strengthening the compliance and enforcement unit • Targeting specific problem areas • Promoting self-regulation • Entrench the principles of Regulation • Development of Regulatory tools
Part 4.7 Water Sector Capacity Building & Skills development
Background to Skills Development Landscape • The skills shortage and low levels of water literacy can be attributed to a fragmented approach to education, training and public awareness. • Despite the overarching positioning of the National Qualification Framework(NQF) as a design imperative, education, training, human resource and skills development have not aligned into an integrated, seamless process. • Skills challenges have primarily been converted into human resource management concerns, resulting in the neglect of a pipeline approach to education and training.
NWRS 2 SKILLS: Alignment with the Legislative Framework Water Sector Leadership Group Skills Task Team Water for Growth and Development HRD - SA NEW Growth Path Constitution/National Water Act/NWRS 2 NSDS III & EWSETASSP 2011-2016 12 OUTCOMES MTSF 2009-2014
Skills are vital to key Water Sector strategic goals for: Ensuring sustainable and equitable water Ensuring universal access to safe and affordable water services Building, operating and maintaining infrastructure (Aligned) and effective institutions The Water for Growth and Development goals Skills Development Objectives for the Water Sector
Key Interventions over the next 5 years:WATER LITERACY 4.1 Key Interventions over 5 years • Roll Out of the Curriculum Aligned Resource Materials to Grade R-9 in all schools across the country (some work have started) • Roll Out Curriculum Aligned Resource Materials for Grade 10-12 and FET Colleges • Capacitating educators on water education • Develop strategy and programme for HET-level water literacy and partner SAQA on water elements of education and training • National Public Education and Awareness Drive