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d. Environmental legislation Water resources management is subject to the requirements of national environmental legislation as contained in the National Environmental Management Act, 1998( Act No. 107 of 1998)( NEMA) and those parts of the Environment Conservation Act, 1989( Act No. 73 of 1989)( ECA) that have not yet been repealed by NEMA. NEMA defines the Department as a national department that exercises functions that may affect and involve the management of the environment. Regulations made in terms of the ECA define activities that may have a substantial detrimental effect on the environment. These include most of the water-related activities for which the Department is currently responsible under the Act. The Department is therefore obliged not only to ensure that all activities related to the management of water resources are carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Act, but also that they comply with the requirements of NEMA, ECA and other related environmental legislation.
e. Consolidated environmental implementation and management plan In terms of NEMA, the Department has prepared and published a Consolidated Environmental Implementation and Management Plan( CEIMP) that describes, among other things, the Department’ s functions, policies, plans and programmes, and how these comply with environmental legislation. The plan also describes existing and proposed co-operative arrangements with other departments in all spheres of government, which will ensure their compliance with water-related policy and legislation. The CEIMP must be reviewed and revised as necessary, but at least every four years, and annual progress reports must be submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism( DEAT).
Other departments( listed in Schedules 1 and 2 of NEMA) must also prepare Environmental Implementation and / or Environmental Management Plans. All plans must be assessed by the Committee for Environmental Coordination, of which the Department’ s Director-General is a member, to ensure that they comply with environmental legislation and are in harmony with one another. The plans are therefore important tools for promoting a consistent and co-operative approach to environmental management.
f. Integrated environmental management framework In its CEIMP, the Department has committed itself to developing and implementing an integrated environmental management framework to ensure that its approach to environmental issues is aligned with the national environmental principles described in NEMA, and complies with the requirements of NEMA and the Act. In particular, the framework will ensure that environmental considerations are addressed throughout the life cycle of all water-related projects and activities at both strategic and project levels.
A range of appropriate environmental assessment and management tools, such as strategic environmental assessment, biophysical, social and health impact assessment, risk analysis and environmental management plans, will be developed and implemented to facilitate sound environmental practices.
g. Environmental reporting NEMA requires DEAT to prepare an Annual Performance Report on Sustainable Development in terms of government’ s commitment to Agenda 21: the United Nations’ plan of action to achieve sustainable development that was agreed at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. As part of this commitment, DEAT also intends producing regular State of the Environment Reports for South Africa. The first edition was published in 1999. The Department’ s contributions to national environmental reporting will be co-ordinated through the integrated environmental management framework and will be facilitated by the preparation of regular State of Water Resources Reports. These reports will include information that will highlight progress in achieving the environmental objectives of the Act. The reports will indicate areas where new interventions or intensified efforts are required, and thus inform the content of subsequent editions of the NWRS.
h. Management of waste disposed onto land By agreement with DEAT, the Department has a mandate in terms of section 20 of the ECA to oversee the management of waste disposal onto land. The Minister is responsible for issuing permits for waste disposal sites and for issuing directives concerning the management of the sites. However, Parliament has approved an amendment to the ECA that transfers this responsibility to DEAT. The transfer of the function will take place according to a timeframe agreed between the departments, with the intention of effecting the transfer by April 2005. The Department will retain responsibility for reviewing permits. PA
NATIONAL
PROVINCIAL CATCHMENT
LOCAL
The water network.
WUA
WUA BPs
BP
DWAF OTHER NATIONAL DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL & PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
NWRS
CMSs
WSP BPs
National strategies for: environment, agriculture, land use, industry, mining, energy, health, housing, rural development, urban renewal, etc.
Water
Water Water Services Development Plans
Plan
Provincial Provincial Growth & Development Strategies
Integrated Development Plans
FEATURES
Source The National Water Resource Strategy Programme can be accessed at www. dws. gov. za
69
SECTORAL
ESKOM
Large Industry
Mining
Agriculture
Housing Industry
Department of Water and Sanitation www. plumbingafrica. co. za April 2017 Volume 23 I Number 2