Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
The Reserve represents that quality and quantity of water required to protect aquatic
ecosystems and to meet basic human needs. It has priority over all other water uses. This
portion of the available water is under the direct control of the Minister. The Act specifies
that the requirements of the Reserve must be met before water can be allocated to other
uses. However, where the water is already allocated to other users, requirements of the
Reserve may be met progressively over time. The Reserve therefore has a significant
impact on allocation planning. The NWRS indicates that the determination of the
Reserve, the resource class, and the resource quality objectives will form part of the
compulsory licensing process.
The basic human needs component of the Reserve provides water necessary for
survival (currently set at 25 litres per person per day). Water for domestic use is regarded
as a Schedule 1 use, and so does not require authorisation. All other human uses of the
resource would be subject to authorisation.
Currently, the Preliminary Reserve (basic human needs and ecological) has been
determined at a desk-top level for the entire country. Studies are being undertaken to
determine these reserves at a comprehensive level in several catchments.
Catchment Management Agencies (CMA)
The National Water Act provides for the delegation of water resources management
to the lowest possible level. The NWRS has subsequently outlined a programme for the
establishment of these water management institutions.
CMAs will ultimately be responsible for water use allocation in catchments.
However, the powers and functions retained at a national level specify the water that will
be available for reallocation, and can therefore have a profound impact on the allocation
process by the CMA. The way in which the national department interacts with the CMA
in this respect is therefore critical. Methodologies for water use allocation must resolve
these institutional interactions.
Currently, one CMA has been established and seven are close to establishment; these
out of a total of 19 proposed CMAs for the country.
Monitoring
Chapter 14 of the National Water Act places a duty on the Minister to develop
National Monitoring Systems. The purpose of these systems is to facilitate the monitoring
of water resources and water resources management processes, so as to provide
information to water users, water management institutions, and the public. This
information is critical not only for the effective and efficient management of water
resources, but also to demonstrate that management of the water resource is realising
benefits for all. This is particularly important given the sensitivities about the water
reallocation process, and because the ultimate success of the process will largely be
determined by the extent of willing participation by all existing and potential future water
users.
The application of the methods developed in other water management areas also rests
on demonstrating their efficacy in the test catchments, and using these results to
encourage the future CMAs to initiate implementation. Activities have been aimed at
developing monitoring systems for measuring the impact of the processes, particularly in
terms of improved livelihoods for the rural poor, and for linking these to the monitoring
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