Implementing South Africa’s National Water Resource Strategy

1. Implementing South Africa’sNational Water Resource Strategy Progress Report to the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs & Forestry June 2005 Barbara Schreiner & Fawcett Ngoatje Department: Water Affairs and Forestry

2. National Water Policy, 1997 National Water Act, 1998 National Water Resource Strategy, First Edition, 2005 Context To inform the Portfolio Committee of progress with activities relating to the management of water resources during the period 2004/2005 Objective of the presentation

3. Water Resources Planning • Internal Strategic Perspectives – forerunners of catchment management strategies – published for all 19 water management areas • Agreement reached with Lesotho at ministerial level to proceed with LHWP Phase II feasibility study • Pre-feasibility study on a joint management plan for the Lower Orange River substantially complete (with Namibia) • Agreement reached on joint basin studies for – • Maputo basin (with Mozambique) • Limpopo basin (with Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana)

4. Protection of water resources • Requirements for the water resource classification system finalised, and drafting commenced • 5 “comprehensive” Reserves initiated, in the Olifants/Doorn, Komati, Letaba and Kromme/ Seekoei rivers • Lower-definition Reserves determined in ±150 quaternary catchments to facilitate evaluation of applications for water use licences • Several baseline monitoring surveys - notably in the Berg River - initiated • Groundwater studies initiated, principally to supplement the “comprehensive” Reserve determinations, but also in the Vaal dolomitic areas and the Sandveld • Background information compiled for a policy on river conservation (to ensure South Africa’s rivers represent the full range of biodiversity and ecological functioning)

5. Water Use • Implementation strategy for the Water Allocation Reform (WAR) programme drafted and public consultation commenced • Validation/verification of existing/registered water use completed in Vaal catchment and in progress in Mhlathuze catchment • Enforcement of water use conditions in Bapsfontein (dolomitic groundwater) and Witbank areas, and preparations for Tosca area (groundwater use) • Licences issued • ±150 for abstraction • ±100 for afforestation (stream flow reduction)

6. Water Conservation andWater Demand Management • National and sectoral WC/WDM strategies – for Agriculture, Water Services, Industry, Mining & Power Generation sectors - published after public consultation • Water use efficiency conditions developed for water use licences • Working for Water • ±142 500ha initial clearance of invasive alien vegetation • ±507 000 ha follow-up clearance • ±10 000 person hours employment created

7. Water Pricing and Financial Assistance • Revised Water Pricing Strategy – • Consulted with key stakeholders • submitted to Minister prior to Gazetting for public comment • Revenue Collection (billing and debt collection) Policy in preparation • Policy on subsidies to resource-poor farmers approved by Minister, and procedures being developed • No subsidies granted in terms of the new policy • Financial assistance – waived or discounted water use charges – granted • R 71.5m paid in terms of State-guaranteed loans to 16 water user associations

8. Water Management Institutions (1) International institutions • Agreement signed by South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique to establish the Limpopo Basin Commission National Institutions • National Water Resources Infrastructure Branch established in the department • Preparation of a business case – to be presented to Cabinet early in 2005/6 - for the proposed National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) at an advanced stage

9. Water Management Institutions (2) Local Institutions • Nkomati Catchment Management Agency established and nominations for Governing Board submitted to Minister • Other CMA establishment proposals – • Breede – Gazetted for public comment • Mvoti-Mzimkulu – approved by Minister • Crocodile West/Marico, Usutu-Mhlathuze and Thukela – ready for submission to Minister • 10 new Water User Associations established, 4 constitutions in preparation (Limpopo) • 10 irrigation boards transformed into Water User Associations, 6 submissions being processed

10. Monitoring and Information • Groundwater mapping project • Consolidation of 21 groundwater maps into a seamless GIS coverage • Groundwater Resource Assessment Phase II • Methodologies for determining, and draft national data sets for: recharge, groundwater-surface water interactions, groundwater planning potential, and groundwater use • Five-year Water Resources Monitoring Plan developed • Align and integrate monitoring of quantity and quality, surface and groundwater, sediment and wetlands • River Health Programme (biological monitoring) • State of Rivers reports produced for Buffalo (E Cape), Crocodile West/Marico, Berg, Diep and Hout Bay rivers • Water Authorisation Registration & Management System (WARMS) • Registration and billing of water use system fully functional

11. Disaster Management Drought management • Additional funding to municipalities for emergency water provision necessitated by source failures – • Funding arranged, allocated and managed, and support provided • Western Highveld Scheme (pipeline from Rand Water supply system in Mamelodi – Cullinan – Ekangala for domestic and industrial use) • 1st Phase completed • 2nd Phase nearing completion • Morgenstond – Jericho Link (power generation on the eastern highveld) • Completed

12. Infrastructure Development • Berg River Project • Financing agreements concluded • Placing of embankment material and concrete work to outlets commenced • Housing contract commenced • Flag Boshielo Dam • Construction work on dam raising continued • Nandoni Dam • Impounding continued • Housing completed and occupied • Displaced farmers compensated • Olifants River Water Resources Development project (De Hoop Dam) • Project approved by Cabinet - design in progress • Vaal River Eastern Subsystem (pipeline from Vaal Dam to improve assurance of supply to Eskom & SASOL) • Project approved by Cabinet - design in progress

13. Challenges in Implementing the NWRS • Capacity • Finances

14. Concluding Remarks