National Water Resource Strategy 2
4th Municipal Water Quality Conference
Name: Marie Brisley
Date: 8 July 2013
Venue: Sun City
Sustainable, equitable and secure water for
a better life and environment for all
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Purpose of presentation
 To contextualise the development of the finalised
NWRS2
 To provide water sector stakeholders with an overview
of the finalised NWRS2 as approved by Cabinet on 26
June 2013
 To highlight key issues arising from the NWRS2 that
require water sector engagement
 To mobilise water sector stakeholder support for
NWRS2 implementation (2013 – 2017)
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Why a 2nd NWRS?
• SA is very different today from 1998 (National Water Act)
and 2004 (last NWRS)
• Act requires reviews at intervals not exceeding 5 years
• The release of the 1st National Development Plan (Nov
2012) sets out a new path for SA to eliminate poverty and
reduce inequality by 2030
• SA approaching serious water resource limits which
require good water management to achieve economic,
social, development & environmental goals sustainably
• Identify emerging policy priorities in the water sector
• NWRS2 responds to this context, challenges and priorities
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
NWRS2 responds to …
SA 2013 and beyond
South Africa’s key growth,
development, and socioeconomic priorities over next 5
to 10 years
Water sector future
needs and constraints
• As articulated in
the National
Development
Plan (NDP) 2012
• Within the
mandate of the
National Water
Act 1998
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Alignment with National Development Plan
“Equity, Growth and Development”
NWRS2 Strategic objectives are now aligned to
National Water Act and NDP, ensuring that:
• Water supports development and elimination
of poverty and inequality
• Water contributes to the
economy and job creation
• Water is protected, used,
developed, conserved
& managed
• Water is controlled
sustainably and equitably
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Why is this alignment so important?
• South Africa’s Vision for 2030 as described in the NDP makes
demands on our water resource
• Water needs to provide for growth and development – these
demands are intensifying with population increases and growth
in economic activities
• Yet our water resource is already stressed
• Water scarcity threatens energy production, food security,
economic activities and the quality of life of our citizens
• We cannot afford to threaten the sustainability of this precious
resource …
 The NWRS2 makes the decisions to address the current and
future water demands for our country’s 2030 Vision and to
simultaneously ensure the sustainability of our water resource
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Process
Cabinet approved draft NWRS2 for publication
in Government Gazette on 07 08 2012
Public Consultation commenced 07 09 2012
Extensive consultation process conducted from
September 2012 - March 2013
Strategy redrafted to take into account
comments and alignment with Government’s
objectives and existing frameworks - significant
improvement
Institutional
arrangements
Financing the
water sector
Monitoring &
Execution
information
management
Research and
innovation
International and transboundary water
resource management
Regulation of the water
sector
Managing water
resources for climate
change
Water conservation &
water demand
management
Equitable water use
Water resources
protection
Water resources
planning, development
and infrastructure
management
Execution
Strategic themes
Objectives
Vision of NWRS2
Sustainable, equitable and secure water for a better life and environment for all
Goal
Water is efficiently and effectively managed for equitable and sustainable growth and
development
Water is protected, used,
Water supports
Water contributes
developed, conserved,
development &
to the economy
managed and controlled
elimination of
and job creation
sustainably and equitably
poverty & inequality
Water sector
skills &
capacity
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
The core message!
• Fresh water (surface) resource at its limit in most areas
• Sufficient alternative potential water available:
– Improved efficiency & water loss management, re-use, local
resource optimisation (groundwater), improved control, resource
protection, desalination, transfers, systems optimisation;
• However, accessibility is conditional and at a cost:
– Requires effort & timeous implementation
– Spatial challenges (including re-allocation )
– Use sector viability challenges
• Water quality & habitat a major concern;
• Need to “stretch” water, funding and infrastructure;
• Major social, economic, environmental risks .
Water Reconciliation (All Town study)
Category
Count of
% of
schemes schemes
no shortage > 10 yrs
334
37%
water resource shortage 5 - 10 yrs
113
12%
water resource shortage 1 - 5 yrs
120
13%
water resource currently in deficit
273
30%
65
7%
905
100%
unknown
Grand Total
Without effective
metering, billing
and use efficiency
the total demand
will rise to 20 b
m3/a before 2025 +
exceed total yield
available
10
Water Use Efficiency
Other Water Use
Efficiency
Focus Areas
Non-Revenue
Water
% NRW
Industrial water use
• water efficient water processes
• re-use of water
• reduce pollution (treat return flows)
Mining water use
• mining activity & water demand
fluctuates with mineral prices
• major risk of heavy metal pollution
and process related chemicals
• promote re-use of water
• prevent ground water pollution
Non-Revenue Water 2012
• NRW = 37% of water supplied
• Over 30% of WSAs need intervention
• Lost revenue = R11b/a
• Target 50% reduction in NRW by 2014
Progress over last 2
yrs
• NRW in metros
declined 35% - 33%
• Needs active
intervention at all
WSAs
Agriculture water use
• reduce water losses in canal systems
• promote efficient application systems
• select water efficient crops
WUE in other sectors
• power generation
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Overview of finalised NWRS2
SETS THE SCENE
CHAPTER 1:
INTRODUCTION
• Purpose (Legal Status, NWA)
and scope
• Why a revised NWRS?
• Process to develop the NWRS
• Reflecting on NWRS1: lessons
learnt
Purpose, background
and why a revised
strategy is required.
Reflections on
implementation of
the 2004 NWRS
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Lessons from NWRS1
Achievements
Outstanding challenges
Development of new water resources and
Achievement of water conservation and
water supply infrastructure and an investment
demand management targets
in improved dam safety for state dams
Streamlined water allocation reform to
Water Reconciliation Strategies in major urban
redress past racial and gender imbalances in
areas and improved insights into reliable
access to water for productive uses and to
future water demands and supplies
address poverty and inequality
A significant proportion of reserve
Implementation of environmental flow
determinations have been done with different
monitoring
level of confidence.
Establishment of water management
Incentive-based regulation through Blue and
institutions and the decentralisation of
Green Drop assessments
water resources management
Improved sector collaboration and
Strengthening of regulation of water
participation
resources and water quality
A Learning Academy to improve skills and
Improvement of technical and management
capacity within the sector
skills to implement developmental water
Two Catchment Management Agencies
management
established
Improvement in the integration of
Support given to numerous resource-poor
monitoring and information management
farmers
Reduction in the backlog of infrastructure
Water sharing agreements and institutional
maintenance
arrangements in place in all trans-boundary
basins
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
CHAPTER 2: NATIONAL
STRATEGIC IMPERATIVES
• Contextualises water
within Vision 2030, by
demonstrating how
sector will respond to
NDP & Govt Outcomes
• Highlights water sector
future needs,
challenges and priorities
The NEW ENVIRONMENT and
strategic drivers for change. This is
the environment within which THE
SECTOR have to strategise water
resource management.
Demands on THE WATER SECTOR
to meet future growth and
development, key challenges,
facts about water including water
scarcity, climate change.
PRIORITIES emerging from the
new environment and water
challenges
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
CHAPTER 3: VISION, GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
• Vision
• Goal
• Objectives
• Principles & approach
• Strategic themes
This chapter provides a STRATEGIC
OVERVIEW of the NWRS :
- The VISION for the strategy
- The overall GOAL to support the
vision
- The overall OBJECTIVES of the
strategy (what will be achieved)
- The PRINCIPLES AND APPROACH
(that guide implementation)
- The STRATEGIC THEMES (how the
vision and goal will be achieved)
• Describes key enabling factors for execution
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
CHAPTERS 4 – 9: ADDRESS STRATEGIC
THEMES (1) as in NWA
4.
Water resources planning, development and
infrastructure
4.
Water resources protection
These chapters are
the heart of the
strategy. They
address the
5.
Equitable water allocation
STRATEGIC THEMES
6.
Water conservation and demand management
7.
Managing water resources for climate change
8.
Regulation of the water sector
9.
International and trans-boundary water
resource management
DWA & sector commitments to action are
clearly articulated in chapters addressing
strategic themes
including objectives
(what needs to be
achieved) and
strategic actions
(how).
Each of these themes
contributes to the
vision and goal of the
NWRS2
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Strategic Themes
• Water resources planning, development and
infrastructure management - investment in
infrastructure and continuous planning
• Water resource protection - manage for RDM and
maintenance of resources
• Equitable water allocation - elevate WAR, align with
RDS & land reform
• WCDM- practical interventions by all sectors
• Managing water resources for climate change
Adaptive water governance
• Regulation of the water sector - amend legislation &
develop framework
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
CHAPTERS 10 – 15: ADDRESS STRATEGIC THEMES (2)
10. International and trans-boundary water resource management
 International partnerships for execution
11. Institutional arrangements
 Institutional model for national WR infrastructure, 9 viable CMAs,
9 viable RWUs
12. Financial Management
 Develop National Water Infrastructure Investment Framework
13. Monitoring and information management
 Integrated national information management plan
14. Research and innovation
 National Water Research Plan for entire innovation value chain
15. Water sector skills and capacity
 Public leadership and management
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Commitments include (1)
• DWA will continue, in partnership with stakeholders, to develop and
maintain Reconciliation Strategies for balancing water supply and
demand in critical and water scarce catchments.
• For DWA funded infrastructure, DWA will require water institutions to
value-engineer infrastructure investment plans to optimise the cost
effectiveness & to evaluate the appropriateness of the technology
envisaged.
• DWA will re-assess water resource infrastructure ownership and
transfer infrastructure to the appropriate organ of state.
• Implementation of National Ground Water Strategy - promote the
use of groundwater on a larger scale than before.
• DWA, with sector partners will explore use of new technologies for
re-using waste water and for using treated mine water
• Development of centres of excellence at selected universities.
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Commitments include (2)
• Research institutions and private sector to cooperate to support
development of desalination technologies.
• DWA will develop WAR Implementation Plans and ensure the
consequent mobilisation of resources to realise programme
implementation.
• DWA, in a consultative process, will determine specific race and
gender water re-allocation targets for each project area, using the
national WAR target as a baseline (currently 30%).
• Sector strengthening of institutional capacity to manage & regulate
WCWDM effectively.
• DWA will accelerate and streamline the water use authorisation
process by establishing a single authorisation process with DEA and
DMR as well as a joint CME between DEA and DWA.
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Commitments give sector direction
• The twelve existing water boards will be consolidated into nine
viable Regional Water Utilities (RWU) to strengthen the
development, financing, management, operation and
maintenance of regional bulk water and wastewater
infrastructure. Target 2015
• DWA will drive the establishment of the nine CMAs by 2016
• An appropriate institutional model for National Water
Resources Infrastructure Management will be established to
take responsibility for the ownership, financing, development,
management, and operations and maintenance of national
water resources infrastructure by 2015.
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
CHAPTER 16: ADDRESSES EMERGING POLICY PRIORITIES &
PREPARES FOR IMPLEMENTATION ACTION
• Issues
 Revision of Water Legislation (Integration of the Acts)
 Reallocation of water rights (Equity)
 Appeal process and mechanisms
 Sanitation
 Review of roles & responsibilities of WSIs, including RWU & WUA
 Good Governance
 Water off-setting and Water Trading
• Policy Review process underway in tandem & emerging policy
and legislative issues will be taken up in the policy and legislative
review
• Implementation Plans & Communication
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Annexures
• Annexure A: Water Management Perspectives for each of
the 9 WMAs
• Annexure B provides reader-friendly information on
Understanding the Hydrological Cycle (useful for nontechnocrats)
• Annexure C contains the now final National Desalination
Policy released as part of the NWRS2
• Annexure D is the National Strategy for Water Re-use also
released as part of the NWRS2
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
….and now to implementation...
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Principles and approach to NWRS2 implementation
• Participatory approach with emphasis on citizens’ participation and
implementation commitment by all water users and sector stakeholders
• Partnerships with private sector and civil society (the success of the
NWRS2 is dependent on all stakeholders not just the public sector)
• Good governance including transparency, accountability, equity,
responsiveness, predictability, integrated sectoral planning, clarification
of roles and responsibilities
• Centrality of water in planning and decision making where all sectors
consider water availability in their development planning
• NWRS2 Implementation Framework will guide development of
Implementation Plans to operationalise the Strategy
 Developed in collaborative manner with sector stakeholders
and water users - per water use type and group
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
NWRS2 Implementation Framework guides Plan development
Strategic Theme
Responsible institutions
Planning,
infrastructure
development
and
management
Minister
of
Water Affairs
DWA
National water
resource
infrastructure
entity
Regional Water
Utility
CMAs
International
bodies
WUAs
WSAs
WSPs
Sector
line
departments
Agriculture
sector
Mining sector
Industrial sector
Protection
Equitable
water
allocation
Conservation
and demand
management
A plan will be developed for each
strategic theme that illustrates how the
theme objectives will be achieved across
all the sector institutions.
A plan will be developed for each
institution that addresses how that
institution will implement that NWRS2 and
how it will contribute to each of the
strategic themes
International
cooperation
Managing
for
climate
change
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Implementation plans
Each plan will address the following:
 Key milestones and performance indicators;
 Strategic actions to achieve the milestones
 Activities to achieve the performance indicators
 Resources (budget and any other resources) required
 Person(s) responsible
 Time frame for implementation
DWA as sector leader will initiate the NWRS2 Implementation Plan
development process
Each use sector will agree development process & co-ordination
responsibility
Key sector forums provide platforms to share progress
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Priority focus areas for next five years
(Implementation Plans respond to these)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Achieving equity including Water Allocation Reform
Water Conservation & Water Demand Management
Institutional establishment and good Governance
Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement
Adequate Funding, Operation and Maintenance of
water resources infrastructure
(completion of National Water Infrastructure Investment
Framework is imminent)
Water Resource Infrastructure Projects
R213 billion
investment
required over 10
years
incl. rehabilitation
29
NATIONAL WATER RESOURCE STRATEGY 2
Conclusion
• As a country we must manage our scarce fresh water
resource to the benefit of the country as a whole
• We must be guided by national strategic imperatives as
defined by Government
Let’s make it happen!
Thank you