Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Rural Water Supply Branch of the same institution is responsible for the rural water
supply and sanitation. The Urban water supply and sanitation is looked after by a
parastatal organization - the Swaziland Water Services Corporation (SWSC).
Several other Government Departments provide important input, in particular the
Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MOAC), with the responsibility of assisting
farmers, conservation works and small irrigation schemes. The Ministry of Health and
Social Welfare recently established an Environmental Health Unit (EHU), with the role
of assisting in controlling water pollution and minor spring protection schemes. The
Ministry of Economic Planning and Development (MEPD) provides a channel for
procuring external funding for rural water supply schemes. In addition, there are a large
number of non-governmental organisations active in the water field. An important player
in the water quality management practice is the Water Sector Committee, which was set
up to oversee the drafting of the New Water Act.
Such a type of institutional arrangement could lead to a considerable overlapping and
duplication of efforts. The institutional arrangements, with corresponding powers and
responsibilities, which would be established under the new water legislation, would serve
to overcome such a duplication of efforts. The new legislation would make provision for
the establishment of a National Water Authority (NWA) and a Department of Water
Affairs (DWA). The Director-General of the DWA will provide technical support to the
NWA and help to co-ordinate the activities of the different boards, task forces,
government departments and international water commissions.
The Swaziland legislation with respect to water quality control and regulation is
included in the old Water Act, developed in 1967, which addresses point sources of
pollution only. However, a new Water Bill has been developed in 1998, to amend this
and to include a water quality objective approach, which during the period of study was
in the process of approval by the Parliament. The water-quality monitoring program
implemented to support the legislation has two different sections. The first one is
envisaging the river water quality and one of its objectives is to determine the
background pollution levels. The other section envisages effluent discharges and their
control with respect to specified maximum pollution levels. The legislation focuses on
industrial discharges and provides the possibility for a temporary exemption permit,
which relaxes some of the requirements of the effluent regulations. Before such an
exemption is granted, an environmental impact study should be carried out, which should
be paid by the polluter. The legislation provides for offences and penalties in cases of
non-compliance as well.
3.4
Water supply and sewerage systems in Mbabane
The City is provided with a reticulated water distribution system. Two water treatment
plants provide about 15,000 m
3
/day; the older one at Sidwashini is supplied from the
upper reaches of Mbabane and Pholinjane Rivers and consists of slow sand filters and a
chlorination unit. The new one (Woodlands treatment plant), is supplied from the
Hawane Dam on Mbuluzi River, and consists of a classic treatment technology with a
rapid sand filtration. Both water supply sources for the town are located up-stream the
Mbabane City.
