ENVIRONMENT and ENERGY
National Water Resources Strategy
This is an extract from the National Water Resources Strategy 2 , gazetted in 2013 , as it relates to the plumber ’ s need to have an awareness of the strategy . Why awareness ? Because this very policy is the one that offers protection to the plumber to install according to compulsory standards and to use compliant products .
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In the January 2017 issue of Plumbing Africa , we referred to the opportunities that exist for plumbers to offer a more comprehensive service to their clients when we spoke of assessment of client needs , which in effect becomes the Water Conservation and Water Demand Strategy ( WCWDM Strategy ) document . References to other chapters will required download from www . dws . gov . za .
A set of broad strategies need to be implemented to reconcile the available supply with the demand for water and water conservation . Managing the demand for water is key to ensure sustainable use of our water resources , and to ensure that sufficient water is available for current and future requirements .
The National Water Policy ( Department of Water Affairs and Forestry , 1997 ) thus states , “ Water resources shall be developed , apportioned and managed in such a manner as to enable all user sectors to gain equitable access to the desired quantity , quality and reliable water . Conservation and other measures to manage demand shall be actively promoted as preferred option to achieve this objective .”
The National Water Act ( Act No . 36 of 1998 ) therefore aims to achieve the desired balance between the development , use , protection , conservation , management and control of water resources . The National Water Act promotes water resource management with the objective of reconciling water supply and demand , and to enable all user sectors to gain equitable access to the desired quantity and reliability of water supply .
Demands on South Africa ’ s finite water resources are increasing , thereby also increasing the competition between agricultural , industrial , power generation , mining , commercial , and domestic needs . To meet these demands in a water-scarce country , all sectors must improve their water use efficiency and conserve water .
The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry ( DWA ), now the Department of Water and Sanitation ( DWS ), developed a National WCWDM Strategy , supported by three subsidiary strategies , focussing on water services , agriculture , industry , mining , and power generation . The WCWDM Strategy is a fundamental step in promoting water use efficiency and is consistent with the National Water Act , which emphasises effective management of water resources .
The DWS has also been developing Reconciliation Strategies , of which WCWDM forms an integral part in balancing supply and demand . Through these studies , targets to reduce the demand were set for all the major demand centres and WCWDM has been identified as the first step to be implemented in all other towns .
Growth and development goals South Africa aims to build a transformed society where opportunities for a better life are extended to all its citizens . The National Development Plan ( NDP ) proposes that realising such a society will require transformation of the economy by bolstering competitiveness and investment in high value-added industries ; increasing exports , focusing on those areas where South Africa already has endowments and comparative advantage , such as mining , construction , mid-skill manufacturing , agriculture , and agro-processing ; and developing the tourism and business services . However , most of the sectors in which there are significant growth opportunities are water dependent .
• The NDP stresses that economic growth should be environmentally sustainable and that water conservation must be a priority to ensure sufficient water to support equitable economic growth and the achievement of the national developmental goals . Thus , all sectors of the economy need to prioritise water conservation in their development plans .
• The NDP states a dedicated national water conservation and demand management programme , with clear national and local targets for 2017 and 2022 . Sub-programmes focused on municipalities , industry and agriculture had to be developed between 2012 and 2015 . The progress thus far is uncertain .
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www . plumbingafrica . co . za March 2017 Volume 23 I Number 1