National Water Resource Strategy 2
Portfolio Committee Hearings
Summary of Comments, Recommendations and DWA Response
(31 October 2012)
Nr / Institution / Comment / Recommendation / Presen-tation slide no / Response /1. / University of Cape Town: Urban Water Management / · Appreciate value and substance of NWRS2
· Difficult to comprehend core strategies and to link with functional strategies
· No consideration given to the concept of “water management cycle” in the urban context” / Improve link between core and functional strategies / 23 / Agree
Need to include processes / 30 / · Process in principle not normally part of a strategy
· Implementation and enabling plans will have more detail
Include statement and strategy on “urban water management / 25 / Will include. Need to sort out detail
Include statement on “fit for purpose” / Will include. Need to sort out detail
Include strategy on “Sustainable urban water drainage” and address impact of urban storm-water/runoff” / 25 / Will include. Need to sort out detail
Include “ planning, implementation/application of Water Sensitive Urban Design” in action list / 25 / Will include. Need to sort out detail
Recommendation from Portfolio Committee member to also include Rural Water Strategy / 25 / · Will address it on high level
· A considerable amount of work has been done on local water management (including stock-watering case studies),small scale farming, economic development. More work will be done going forward.
2. / Centre for Environmental Rights / Appreciate water is a complex business. Key focus of comments on legal and regulatory aspects:
· lack of transparency in water governance. Need access to water & regulatory information
· difficult to get prosecution
· Water tribunal not addressed in NWRS2
· Need to address lack of implementation of strategy especially regulatory actions / Address water information and reporting transparency, including access to regulatory information / 25 / Yes
Need for strategic monitoring and improved compliance enforcement. / 25 / DWA is constantly expanding monitoring programmes where the need arise and where it is possible within financial and human resource constraints.
Localised sources of pollution and the impact thereof is measured and managed by the different regional offices.
The data collected through the national monitoring programmes are readily available to the public as well as some summarised interpretations and graphs. It is available either on the website or on individual request to the Department. These sources are not as well known as it should be. We acknowledge that accessibility need to be improved.
Address appropriate civil and administrative penalties (improved and more effective penalty system) / 15
25 / We acknowledge the need for effective penalty system and we will be addressing this during the National Water Act Review.
· Address and include the Water Tribunal (Competition Tribunal)
· Address water licensing
· Need to address required law reform
· Need to address associated institutional framework such as improved Regulator / 15
25 / Agreed to address in the Strategy. Major policy and legislative implications.
Challenges to be addressed in the Legislative review.
3. / Gauteng Water Caucus / Key focus on Acid mine Drainage, sewerage pollution and water resource quality / · Need to address water resource quality in especially urban areas: Special focus to be placed on improved water quality management
· Need to address strengthen urban waste management
· Improve protection and restoration of urban rivers
· Include clear approach to Acid Mine Drainage (including funding) / 25
28 / Agree to strengthen and expand water quality support strategy.
Enhance social and institutional investment including job creation / 27
31 / This is and will be expanded on in Core Strategy 4 & 10 on Equity and the Investment Framework.
Need to strengthen Municipal capacity / 25
28
31 / Agree. Need to address the Municipal Water Management accountability. The Department has developed a draft Water Sector Education and Training strategy to address the scarce skills in the Municipalities. We are also collaborating with CoGTA, LGSETA and other key stakeholders to ensure that Municipalities have capacity to provide sustainable water services (NB: note overlap with Water Services). To be addressed in Core Strategy 11 & 8: Sector Mobilisation and Accountability, Improved Governance as well as Municipal Water Strategy
Issue of addressing urban disaster management was also added by PC / 25
30 / Agree, addressed in Technical Strategy 3: Disaster Management. The department is in a process of finalising and approving water-related disaster management plan
4. / Green Peace / · NWRS2 not adequately addressing issue and implications of new coal-fired power stations / Principle of Water Footprint supported / 17 / Noted.
Need to address issue of water (use) and energy including water efficiency and renewable energy / 14
28 / Agreed, will form part of the Water Demand and Water Conservation strategy.
Address transparency on water information, especially access to information on water management plans, water supply to users, water licences and pollution by mining and industry / 17
26 / Agreed, the current approach towards a National Integrated Water Information System are already being extended to include these.
· Need to address and conduct strict water demand assessments
· Need to apply strong regulatory measures in terms of offenders ( mines operating without valid licenses / 26
28 / Water demand assessments to be improved and extended. Need improved monitoring and regulation.
DWA to present total water use by energy sector / 25
30-31 / Agreed, will be addressed. Imply sector accountability and enforcement as part of the water account.
DWA to provide proof of “no water crisis” / 19,22,26 / Section on water security will be strengthened and prioritised.
5. / Energy intensive User Group / · In principle not happy with NWRS2: not a strategy, more a policy document, too many strategies, too few action plans and time frames, limited facts, no clear objectives
· Document reflects ”frustration of Government failure”
· Strategy does not address the challenge of South Africa
· Lack of addressing underlying administrative issues
· Decentralization appears to be a slogan and not a strategic action / · Strategy must not seek to address or change policy, nor develop new policy
· Strategy must not address or propose legislative requirements
· Strategy must only focus on and follow NWRS1 framework and issues / 15
15
14
19-22 / Noted, but does not agree: NWRS2 will have policy implications. Will guide policy and will inform the process of policy and legislative.
Strategy must only focus on a selected few priorities / 18 / Water resources management is a very comprehensive and complex field. Strategy must be complete. Within the strategy actions can be prioritised or de-prioritised with motivation.
Include section on why actions have not realized / 14 / Assessment was done. Key findings will be reflected. Interventions addressed via Core and enabling strategies
Need for dedicated involvement of private sector, need framework for engagement / 14
15, 31 / Agreed. Motive for a Core Strategy 11: Sector Mobilisation
Does not agree with Sector role players being both strategic partners and “water culprits” / 14
15 / Sectors are strategic role-players but also water users, impactors and enablers
Does not agree with new concepts such as water footprint, source to tap, core strategies / 17 / Disagree, need to extend water governance model
NWRS2 fails to provide required information and presents no updated water balance / 26 / · Detailed information not available
· Strategic information provided
Strategy does not reflect detailed investment requirements and solutions / 27 / Investment framework in process of development. Core info will be provided
Do not agree with the proposal to implement 9 WMAs / 26 / Disagree, see below, will include motive as requested.
6. / The Chamber of Mines / · Supports the strategic objectives and strategic directions provided
· Need to include clear deliverables and timeframes
· NWRS2 to build on experience of NWRS1
· Support the development on CMAs. Disappointed with lack of progress on CMA establishment
· Concerted efforts of mining industry to address acid mine drainage not reflected in Strategy
· Dispute implications that business and industry lack commitment to manage water / Legal status of Strategy to be reflected in document / 12 / Noted. Will address the legal format and implacations.
Need to provide/Include clear deliverables and timeframes / 32 / Yes, an implementation plan is being developed
Focus on establishment of CMAs / 26 / Agree, DWA has developed implementation plan for rolling out the establishment 9 CMA with a fixed time frame of three to five years. A stakeholder engagement & communication strategy is in place , requiring DWA Regional Offices to engage various stakeholders regarding the establishment of the CMAs. Inputs from stakeholders will be considered and factored during implementation process
Focus on effective planning / 32 / Agree, part of improved governance.
Focus on water use efficiency / 28 / Agree
Need status of investment framework / 27 / Updated data will be incorporated in Investment Framework (Core Strategy)
Need detailed plan on skills and capacity building (short, medium and long term) / 21
31 / Yes, the enabling strategy will be strengthened Special focus will be placed on water management capacity in DWA and the sector for the short and medium term.
The draft action plan is being consulted with the sector as part of the NWRS public consultations and will then be finalised with time frames. DWA in collaboration with CoGTA have also developed an action plan to address specific skills and capacity building challenges that will be implemented in collaboration with the sector
Need to address and speed up licensing / 26 / Agreed
Need to give more strategic direction to municipalities / 25
28 / Agreed
Need to address water security for Mining / 14
31 / Yes, this applies to all sectors. Need sector specific motivation.
Need to strengthen integrated planning / 19
20-22
25
31 / Yes, this will be included in the water security and sector sections. Specific section on macro strategies alignment in response to be strengthened
7. / Sasol / Private sector water user’s response to water security and risks to be enhanced / 31 / Agree
Introduce a water off-setting policy / 31 / Agreed, it is currently under consideration
Need to address historically disadvantaged individuals / 26
31 / Yes, this is part of the equity core strategy
Need to maintain assurance of supply to existing users / 25
26 / Yes, it is part of the approach to water security and water allocation and sustainability. .
Promote the concept of “water footprint” / 31 / Yes
8. / Eskom / Emphasise partnership between industry/sector and DWA / · Need to strengthen water planning, policy and operations
· Need to develop (include) a structured framework that clearly link strategic goals to activities and enabling actions
· Need to address current misalignment between water and energy strategies
· Water pricing strategy need to be addressed and included
· Need to address water security
· Need to enhance research on climate change
· Need to address water quality / 13
23
31
26
19-22
29
28 / Yes, these issues have been identified and will be addressed.
Pricing strategy is being developed & will be published for comment next year and will be referenced and addressed in the NWRS.
Need to address backlog in licensing / 26 / The Department has prioritised Water use Licence Application (WULA) from ESKOM and other mines providing coal to ESKOM. Currently the Department has only 11 WULA for coal- mines supplying ESKOM, which are still to be finalized. Regular meetings are held and Memorandum of Understanding is to be developed.
Need to implement bottom up analysis of water use and quality / 26 / Agree, include in information strategy.
Need to address backlog in maintenance / 29 / · Yes, this is part of Core Strategy 9: Sustainable Management. This need to be expanded and focussed on specific interventions. framework
· Municipal Asset Management is a legal requirement. DWA has developed a Municipal intervention plan that will be reflected in the NWRS.
Need to address revenue management (including billing and cost recovery) / 27
30 / Yes, this will be included in the Investment Framework and financial strategy
Need to review investment framework / 27 / Investment Framework included as Core Strategy 10.
Confirm and address “strategic water use” / 11
31 / Yes, will be addressed.
9. / AgriSA / · Appreciate and support the NWRS2
· Agriculture a major role player in job creation / · Need to fast track setting up of CMAs
· Focus on delegations of water management functions
· Support the need to align water with agricultural strategies (need to address economic, social and food security role of Agriculture
· Support life cycle water footprint
· Support the need to address equity but in a responsible manner
· Support the need to address illegal use
· Need to address poor quality of water (major impact on food production and markets) / 26
26
31
17
26
31
25
28 / Yes, agreed with all statements. All aspects will be addressed, see details above.
Need to align water allocations and land reform / 26
31 / Agree. The department is working close with the department of Rural Development and Land affairs in issues of land restitution and water licences
Need to address disparity in terms of mining, not subject to same constraints as other sectors / 26
31 / Address in water footprint, licensing, compliance and enforcement
10. / SA Water Caucus / · Welcomed the emphasis on “democratic developmental state"
· Support the principle and strategy for citizen participation / · Ensure the technical strategies are pro-poor
· Need to confirm that the ecological and human reserve remains first priority
· Need to maintain “polluter pays “ principle
· Need to address Acid Mine Drainage
· Civil society participation must be strengthened (especially in CMAs)
· Need to strengthen Climate Change strategy