NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY

1. NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY SOUTH AFRICA’S WATER SITUATION AND STRATEGIES TO BALANCE SUPPLY AND DEMAND INKOMATI WMA

2. WMA 5: Inkomati - Rainfall and Evaporation

3. WMA 5: Inkomati - Base Map

4. WMA 5: Inkomati - Land Use

5. WMA 5: Inkomati - Sectoral Water Requirements (2000)

6. Sectoral contributions to the economy (1997) 30 % National Inkomati WMA 20 % Contribution 10 % 0 % Other Trade Mining Finance Transport Electricity Agriculture Community Government Construction Manufacturing

7. WMA 5: Inkomati - Water Availability (2000)

8. WMA 5: Inkomati - Water Reconciliation (2000)

9. WMA 5: Inkomati - Population scenarios

10. WMA 5: Inkomati - Water Reconciliation (future)

11. WMA 5: InkomatiGroundwater • Geology underlying the WMA is generally not of high water bearing capacity • Relatively good availability of surface water: only limited abstraction of groundwater occurs in the WMA • Only about 1% of total available yield from the water resources from groundwater • Most of groundwater use is for rural domestic supplies, game and livestock watering • Further development of groundwater is likely to directly impact on the availability of surface water

12. WMA 5: Inkomati Water quality • In the natural state quality of surface water is of a high standard • Bacterial pollutionoccurs from localised areas with insufficient sanitation facilities • Increased salinity results from irrigation return flows • Quality of groundwater is naturally of a high standard • Management of water quality in Sabie River and Crocodile River of particular importance with respect to ecosystems in the Kruger National Park

13. WMA 5: Inkomati Key issues • International nature of Inkomati River Basin and sharing of water resources with Swaziland and Mozambique - pronounced impact on water management in the WMA • Important that international obligations be met at all times, and that all three co-basin countries subscribe to common standards with respect to environmental requirements for water • Water requirements already exceed availability of water in several parts of the WMA - particularly serious in Crocodile sub-area (strongest potential for economic growth in the WMA exists, and which will exacerbate the existing shortages)

14. WMA 5: Inkomati Key issues (2) • Management of Sabie River and Crocodile River with respect to quantity, quality and temporal flow distribution of particular importance with respect to ecosystems in the Kruger National Park • Of national importance that transfer of high quality water from Komati sub-area west of Swaziland to the Eskom power stations in Olifants WMA be maintained • Implementation of the Reserve will increase existing deficits in Crocodile sub-area and Komati sub-area west of Swaziland • Deficits in Sabie sub-area to be off-set by Inyaka Dam

15. WMA 5: Inkomati Water resources under control of the Minister • Transfer of water from Nooitgedacht and Vygeboom Dams to Olifants WMA for power generation • Water supplied to South African land area by the Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA) - includes releases for environmental purposes • Water to be released to Mozambique to honour international commitments • All water resource developments which may impact on neighbouring countries, will be subject to national authorisation