1 | P a g e Task: NWRS 2 Title of document: Draft National Water Resource Strategy 2 (NWRS-2): Task leader: FC van Zyl Task team FC van Zyl, H Keuris members: Authors of Prof MN Nkondo, FC van Zyl, H Keuris, B Schreiner document: Contributors: MP Nepfumbada, H Muller Reviewers: FC van Zyl, H Keuris, MP Nepfumbada, H Muller Report status: Version 1. comprehensive Date: July 2012 Issued to: Keywords: National Water Resource Strategy National Water Resource Strategy 2 Page | i Executive Statement Water is a critical strategic natural resource. It is essential for growth and Water is a critical development, the environment, health and wellbeing of the people of South natural strategic Africa. Although this principle is generally accepted, it is not always well resource understood or appreciated. Despite the fact that South Africa is a naturally water stressed country, further challenged by the need to support growth and development as well as potential climate change impact, the resource is not receiving the priority status and attention it deserves. This situation is reflected in the manner by which this scarce resource is wasted (more than 37% water losses), polluted, degraded, inadequately financed and inappropriately strategically positioned. Paradoxically South Africa has a fairly well developed water management and infrastructure framework which has resulted in a perceived sense of water security (urban and growth areas), as well as a lack of appreciation and respect for a critical strategic resource. South Africa is facing a number of water challenges and concerns, including Water is a security of supply, environmental degradation and resource pollution. The complex sustainability of our fresh water resources has reached a critical point and its business associated management is now at a crossroads. It is now of paramount importance that the status of South Africa’s water is elevated to the core of the public agenda and that advanced management practices are applied and implemented to address an increasingly complex business. The NWRS is the Management of this critical resource is governed by the National Water Act (Act primary 36 of 1998) and is given effect through the National Water Resource Strategy mechanism to (NWRS). This Strategy is the legal instrument to plan, develop and manage water manage water resources in an integrated and sustainable manner. It is the primary mechanism resources to manage water across all sectors towards achieving Government’s development objectives. The first Edition of the NWRS (published in 2004) defined the fundamentals of NWRS1 remains integrated water resource management and presented a clear perspective of the an essential water situation in South Africa and the critical interventions required. To date, building block for effective and efficient water resource planning and new infrastructure water development has contributed to the strengthening of the country’s economy and management social development. However, priority actions, such as implementation of water allocation reform, equity, water conservation and demand management, water National Water Resource Strategy 2 Page | ii resource protection and interventions to improve water governance, still require urgent attention. Water underpins the socio-economic development of South Africa. A reliable Water underpins supply of water in sufficient quantities at the desired quality is critical to the socio- economic growth, social development and job creation. It is core to the majority economic of the South African macro-development strategies such as the National development of Development Plan, the New Growth Path and specific Outcomes. Given the South Africa limited availability of fresh water resources, it is unlikely that it will be economically feasible to meet all the demands that may arise. Unless new innovative approaches are adopted in order to reconcile demand and supply, particularly in the most water-stressed catchments and areas of development, South Africa’s growth will be negatively impacted. Thus far, South Africa’s water managers have done well. An extensive water Appropriate and resource framework and bulk water supply network supports a strong economy timeous and associated services. However, the water situation in South Africa has reached interventions are a stage where appropriate and timeous interventions are urgently required to urgently sustain development and to avert future water deficits, with associated negative required impacts on socio-economic development and ecosystems. To date, South Africa’s water security is mainly reliant on surface water and its Further surface development. Based on recent water reconciliation studies, it is clear that surface water resource water availability and its remaining development potential will be insufficient to development is support the growing economy and associated needs in full. Although limited limited development potential still exists, serious challenges remain in many water management areas. To facilitate and enable new growth and development, South Africa must review its present approach towards water management and extend the definition of water resources. By having adopted a more holistic approach towards water management, its South Africa has availability and its use, water resources have been re-defined in a much broader adequate water context. The inclusion of water losses, water use efficiency and demand resource management, improved water governance, optimisation of existing water potential to resources including groundwater, rainwater harvesting and water systems serve its management, re-use of water, resource protection and recharge, as well as the requirements sea in the resource pool, results in South Africa having adequate water resource potential to serve its requirements. In saying this, however, spatial and local challenges remain, where the format (characteristics) of the resource, the National Water Resource Strategy 2 Page | iii associated cost of supply (and associated use sector and scheme viability), user specific footprints, as well as competing demand, will dictate particular development solutions and allocation criteria. This emerging approach has extensive implications for water resource The key challenge management. By broadening the narrow traditional focus on resource is to master the art development as the solution, a more inclusive business and systems management and science of approach, including effective water use, use control and regulation, research and unlocking the technology, as well as creative solutions, will be adopted. potential water resources In dealing with the business of ensuring water security, the following key management approaches should be applied: The first is the need to respond to specific socio-economic development The critical drivers, each with its mandates and motives, associated water needs and challenges: water impacts. This requires effective integrated planning as well as Implementation of appropriate water resource development and allocation criteria. Factors options and influencing decision-making include development and management costs, associated sectoral business viability, sector-specific water footprints, resource sustainable availability and competing demands with associated prioritisation. management there The second is the resource choice (mix of solutions), each with its specific of spatial and unique context. The third is ensuring access to water by the timely translation of options into actions through effective pro-active organizing, financing and implementation arrangements. The fourth is ensuring sustainable service delivery through effective operations, maintenance and business management. The fifth is the sustainable management of the resource through effective protection and conservation, wise and effective use, and proficient governance. South Africa, despite being a freshwater-scarce country, has sufficient water resources potential to meet its short to medium term requirements. But, the key challenge (and in order to avert a potential water crisis) is about mastering the art and science of unlocking the potential resources, ensuring timeous accessibility, facilitating sector and business viability (water cost and affordability), ensuring sustainable water delivery and management as well as effective water governance. National Water Resource Strategy 2 Page | iv In addition to water security, various specific water challenges, concerns and factors increasing water stress, demand urgent attention and intervention. These include: Highly variable climate and associated run-off, flood and drought risks, and the need to respond to potential impacts of climate change; Deterioration of water resource quality and ecosystems due to pollution (eutrophication, salinisation, acid mine drainage and microbiological contamination) as well as developmental impacts on water habitats. These include challenges with regard to the implementation and application of the ecological portion of the Reserve; and, Focus on and application of sustainable water management including infrastructure asset and life cycle management. It is imperative that the underlying causes and associated enabling factors Need to identify dictating and influencing successful delivery, are identified and addressed in a and address holistic manner. success, enabling and risk factors Critical factors that must receive priority attention are: Inadequate financial resources and operating in a stressed economic environment;