National Water Resource Strategy 2
Portfolio Committee Hearings:
Response to Submissions
Fred van Zyl
Department of Water Affairs
November 2012
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1. Introductory Statement
• The Department of Water Affairs appreciates and values the
engagement and support of the Portfolio Committee towards
the development of an effective and appropriate NWRS2
• The Department appreciates and welcomes the input and
responses provided by the public and sector role-players
• The Department is in the process of extended & extensive
engagement with the presenters, institutions, sectors & role
players
• The Department is also conducting a series of consultations
with sector stakeholder and all these comments will be assessed
and reviewed
• The public consultations will run up to 7 December 2012 and
the aim is to finalise the NWRS by March 2013
2
Hearings a key part of a broader
consultation process:
• Public Consultation
– National
– Provincial
• Theme and Sector Consultation
– Various sectors
– Civil Society
– Theme workshops
– Sector support team
• Media & communication
• Website, e-mails and written submissions
3
2. General Comments & Overview
• The submissions & presentations reflected a wide spectrum
of aspects & issues regarding the draft strategy, varying
from the inclusion of specific programmes to improved
regulation, from specific water quality issues such as acid
mine drainage and ‘fracking’ to the need to engage with
sector strategies, from information requirements to policy
debate, from style & format to institutional requirements
• The comments are being considered
• DWA has to consider and decide on how the comments will
be incorporated into the NWRS2
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General Comments & Overview (2)
• There are diverse opinions on what the ‘strategy’
must include &/or provide, including some
dissatisfaction on what is currently in the strategy
• Most stakeholders commented on their own areas of
interest and therefore comments are mostly theme
or programme focussed with related expectations
• In principle positive support & appreciation for the
Strategy framework and associated strategies
• DWA acknowledges some gaps in the strategy as well
as the need to reorganise and provide more detail
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Public response framework
governance
Submissions represented
different themes and
dimensions
holistic
strategic
Few submissions focussed
on outcomes and the total
picture
outcome
outcome
institutional
programmes
technical
operational
outcome
outcome
outcome
Submissions reflect
different operating levels
6
Some Positive Responses
• Major support for Core Strategies
• Strong demand for effective water regulation
• Demand to address functionality, operations &
maintenance
• Need to address mobilization of resources
• Need to ensure implementation tools & instruments
(sub strategies, legislation, etc)
• Link with water services
• Align with Sector goals & strategies
• Provide detailed objectives, targets and responsibilities
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Specific comments on strategy approach
• Only focus on NWRS1 framework and content!
• Include assessment on limited implementation of
NWRS1
• Too many strategies
• Exclude policy issues and implications
• Only focus on operational issues and actions
• Proposal to exclude some concepts: smart
management, water footprint, value chain, source to
tap
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3. Response framework
1. Definition & understanding of “strategy”
2. Scope, contents and format:
1. Legal requirement
2. NWRS1 framework vs NWRS2 drivers
3. Policy or no policy
4. ‘new’ concepts: yes or no?
5. Too much, too little
3. NWRS 1 analysis & strategic assessment
4. Format , structure & style
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Response framework
5. Specific Issues
1. Improved governance: regulation, law reform
2. Sector alignment & involvement
3. New proposals & theme gaps: urban
strategies, rural strategy, AMD, fracking, offsetting
4. Institutional: CMAs, forums, Infrastructure
agency, water tribunal
5. Operational issues
6. Information
7. Alignment & integration with Water Services
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3.1 Definition and understanding of ‘strategy’ &
associated detail
• Different expectations: from high level strategic direction
to programmes, and associated activities with detailed
implementation plans
• Extensive detail required in terms of NW Act (detailed
information, plans, guidelines, procedures for each action)
• Different levels of detail in terms of macro and core
strategies vs operational strategies
• Issue of availability of extended theme strategies
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3.2. Scope Contents and Format
(1) Legal requirements
• Requirement 1: Strategy must set out strategies to achieve the
purpose of the Act:
– ‘Purpose’ clearly described in Act but no associated
strategies for key Outcomes in NWRS1 (except ecosystem
protection, disaster management & international) – now
included, plus sector strategy alignment
• Information requirement: Challenges experienced to provide
detailed water accounts per WMA: detail not available, but
advanced information and associated strategies reflected in
Reconciliation Studies which forms part of NWRS2. Presentation
of water balances problematic in terms of reality of sector &
user misinterpretation
• Legal ‘status’: Format & style of document to be
addressed
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Focus on purpose(as per NW Act)
Basic human needs
Water resources must be:
protected
Equitable access
Redressing the past
used
Efficient, sustainable use
developed
To support
conserved
(achieve)
Social & economic
development
managed
protecting aquatic ecosystems
controlled
Prevent pollution &
degradation
valued
Disasters, dam safety,
international,
growth
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(2) Difference between and rationale for change
between NWRS1 and NWRS2
NWRS1
NWRS2
Limited sector knowledge,
participation, ownership, DWA
responsible and accountable
Sector ownership and focus, joint
accountability and responsibility
Core strategies
Limited and fragmented
implementation
Implementation model with clear
agreements, integrated approach
(internal and external)
Enabling strategies and strategic
intervention (governance model)
Internally focused on the water
sector
Alignment across sectors such as
agriculture, land reform, energy,
private sector, etc. Also spatial
alignment
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(3) Policy or No Policy
• NPC recommended that NWRS2 must only be
an operational strategy of existing policy and
should not include any new policy
• Response: present & future situation and
requirements demand a rethink of existing
water management model and associated
strategies. DWA and many other
stakeholders such as BUSA, Energy,
Environment, Agriculture, Civil Society
supports the inclusion of key and critical
policy issues
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International Assessments (2012)
WWF, Rio+20, water security Workshop
Threats
Reasons
Intervention
Water quality
Ineffectual
leadership
Central role of
water
Fresh water
security
Financial resources
Align with social,
economic goals
State risks
Technical ability
ecosystems
Management
ability
Historical experience
insufficient
Concepts aligned with
international framework
Smart , holistic
culture
Collective sector
effort
Water footprint
funding
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(4) Include ‘new’ concepts: yes or no?
• 2 groups objected to the introduction of new
concepts such as water footprint, source to
tap, core strategies.
• Majority of other groups/ institutions are
strong supporters thereof
• Response : maintain concepts but provide
more detail and actions
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(5) NWRS2 includes too much, too little
• Recommendations received to only focus on a
few areas
• Statements made that DWA is too optimistic
and must be more realistic
• Response:
– Recommendations in principle valid
– However, some strategies are not negotiable and
must be implemented
– When combining all input, there is an increase in
number of proposed strategies
– All strategies are in principle valid and will be
addressed by different managers and18institutions
3.3 NWRS 1 analysis & strategic assessment
• Proposal to include a section on strategic
analysis of NWRS1 implementation
• Response: Strategic assessment was done,
not only in terms of NWRS1, but also in terms
of the water challenges experienced
• Instead of reflecting the findings in a
defensive manner, it was introduced as
critical core and enabling strategies
• Assessment process and findings will be
included in preamble
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Strategic Assessment 1
• Failure to implement
– Lack of ownership : < 2 - 4% awareness
– Product v/s ‘live strategy’ approach
– Inadequate commitment, will, leadership
• Why water concerns & challenges:
– Status of water: water not valued, poor culture and attitude
– Incomplete and inadequate governance and management
approach/ model (‘smart thinking’)
– Inadequate leadership and commitment
– Inadequate integrated planning & alignment
– Lack of sector ownership and accountability
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Strategic Assessment
cont
• Role & position of Water
– Water management not aligned with sector macro
strategies and vice versa
– Water not central to planning decision making
• Specific concerns:
– Skills, capacity
– Funding
– Business model
– Information, knowledge
– Insight & understanding (no water concerns)
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Strategic Assessment 2: Dealing with
the future
•
•
•
•
•
Reality
Water @ the cross roads
Dealing with the real & reality challenges
Issue of ‘insight vs sight’
Redesigning the governance model
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3.4 Format , structure & style
• Need to improve style, align sub strategies with core
strategies
• Focus on and include implementation plan with clear
targets, detail actions, timeframes, responsibilities.
• Need to translate in all languages ( user friendly)
• Response: Agree. Implementation plan will be
submitted with the NWRS2 . The document will be
translated after gazetting. Summarised, user friendly
interim translations are under development.
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3.5 Response to specific issues raised
during the Public Hearings
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Governance and Leadership (1)
Integrated planning
Urban strategy
Rural Strategy
Core Strategy 2: These issues will be
addressed in the implementation
framework
Regulations
Information
Monitoring
Compliance
Fair and consistent
Transparency
Governance Strategy 2: Availability of
information and transparency
acknowledged within the government
legislative framework. Issues raised will
be considered in the rework and other
related strategies & legal framework
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Governance and Leadership (2)
overnanceTheand
Leadership
Water use authorizations
Department
has already prioritised the eradication
Licensing backlogs
Implement compulsory licensing
of the water use licensing backlog through the Letsema
programme. The intension is to proceed with
compulsory licensing and it will be included in the
NWRS2 and the implementation framework.
Institutional framework
Fast track establishment of CMAs
Delegate functions
Involve Civil Society
Governance Strategy 3: Proposals to include, improve
and address motive for CMAs, participatory
management and the role of forums, Infrastructure
agency, the Water Tribunal , Regulator
Information
Address required information gap and requirements
Need to align
Response:
Updated, detailed water balance & accounts per
WMA not available.
Advanced reconciliation studies and associated
information presents required strategic insight and
direction
Information and strategic implications in NWRS1 are
still valid and applicable.
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Governance and Leadership (3)
overnance
and
Leadership
Investment framework for the water
Core strategy 10: A Water Sector
sector
investment framework has been
developed and was endorsed by
Cabinet.
Response: Comments to strengthen it
will be incorporated.
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Management of water resources
overnance and
CoreLeadership
Strategy 6, Detailed Core Strategy
Water use efficiency
2 addresses the issues
Water quality
River Health
AMD
Fracking
Waste Water Systems
Core Strategy 5, Detailed Core Strategy
1, Governance Strategy 2
AMD & fracking will be addressed
Specific water quality sub-strategy to be
included
Reserve
Prioritisation , monitoring and
management of ecological and
human needs
Eco Systems Management
Core Strategies 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
Agree to strengthen reserve & ecosystems components
Alignment with Water Services
Will align with Water Services
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Technical matters
Infrastructure –new
Core strategy 10, Enabling strategy 1: Will improve
and strengthen.
Operation and
maintenance
Core strategy 9, agree on expanding and
prioritization.
New innovation
Fog harvesting, rainwater harvesting, alien
vegetation, stream flow reduction activities will be
addressed
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Operational matters
DWA operational issues
Various requests to deal with
operational level issues such as water
licensing, trading, strategic use and
allocation, etc
Response: Agree, need to be
addressed. Various policy implications
and related issues.
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Cross cutting issues
Sector Collaboration
DWA has established an extensive
collaboration network during the
consultation process and will proceed
and formalize it further during the
implementation phase
Job creation
Core Strategies 3, 4 & 10,
Enabling Strategies 1, 2
Pro poor
Equity, 1, 4
Skills development
Enabling Strategy 2
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4 Implementation Framework And Governance
•
•
•
•
•
Clear implementation framework will be developed
Outcome based
Timeframes
Prioritizing
Business alignment
– Aligned to DWA performance plan and strategy
– Strengthen partnerships with existing Government structures
and Departments
– Sector partnerships and commitments
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5 DWA Proposed Process to assess and
consider comments
• 90 days consultation period ends on 7 December 2012
• DWA will then enter a phase during which the comments
and inputs will be assessed, reviewed and incorporated as
relevant and appropriate – mid-December 2012 to
January/Februay 2013
• In order to ensure transparency, an evidence based
approach and buy in, DWA will set up internal and external
review panels:
–
–
–
–
Sector Specialists
DWA Strategy Champions
Senior Management
Minister
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DWA Proposed Process to assess and
consider comments
• Timeframes
– Redraft – March 2013
– Minister’s endorsement of redrafted NWRS2 - end March 2013
– State of the Nation Address – include NWRS2- February 2013
– Cluster approvals – early 2013
– Cabinet approval – April 2013
– Parliament approval – subject to and following Cabinet approval
– Gazette by the Minister – mid 2013
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“The difference between a
successful person and others is
not a lack of strength,
not a lack of knowledge,
but rather in a lack of will”
Vincent T. Lombardi
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Thank You