Wetland information from DWAF Perspective

DWAF is the South African national Department of Water Affairs and Forestry

Compiled by Ms Nyamande T.B

The National Water Act (NWA), 1998 (Act 36 of 1998), regards the Minister of DWAF1 as the public trustee of the nation's water resources and therefore acknowledges the Department's overall responsibility for and authority over the nation's water resources.

The ultimate aim of integrated water resource management is to achieve the sustainable use of water for the benefit of all users now and in the future. Recognising this, it is important to note that the protection of the water resource is imperative to ensure sustainability of the nation's water resources in the interests of all water users.

a. Definitions (NWA, 1998)

i) Water resource includes a watercourse, surface water, estuary, or aquifer;

ii) Watercourse means 

• (a) a river or spring;
• (b) a natural channel in which water flows regularly or intermittently;
• (c) a wetland, lake or dam into which, or from which, water flows; and
• (d) any collection of water which the Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare to be a watercourse,

and a reference to a watercourse includes, where relevant, its bed and banks;

iii) Wetland means land which is transitional between terrestrial and aquatic systems where the water table is usually at or near the surface, or the land is periodically covered with shallow water, and which land in normal circumstances supports or would support vegetation typically adapted to life in saturated soil.

b. Uses of water

According to s.21 of the NWA, water uses include consumptive & non-consumptive uses.

Consumptive uses are:

(a) taking,
(b) storing,
(c) Impeding or diverting the flow r
(d) Engaging in streamflow reduction activity (SFRA);
(e) Engaging in Controlled activities

non-consumptive components are

(f) discharging waste or wastewater into a water resource or
(g) on land by irrigation,
(h) disposing of heated water,
(i) altering the bed and banks of water courses,
(j) removing underground water by mining, and
(k) for recreational purposes (NWA 1998).


Water Use Authorisations:

Water authorisations are regulatory tools and strategies to address equity, maintain sustainability and access of water for different water uses, without compromising the integrity of the water resource. The following are authorization, which are issued by DWAF:

• Existing Lawful Water use,
• General Authorisation,
• ad hoc licences, and Compulsory licensing),

Before issuing a licence, among other relevant factors, the Reserve needs to be considered.

The Reserve means that quantity and quality of water required –

• to satisfy basic human needs by securing basic water supply, as prescribed under the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997) for now or future, taking water from, or being supplied from the relevant water resources; and

• to protect aquatic ecosystems - to secure ecologically sustainable development and use of the relevant water resources (NWA 1998).

NB: DWAF Wetland Task Group (DWTG), through the mandate of DWAF national office is compiling a Position Paper to serve as implementation requirements for various DWAF Directorates and all Regions and CMAs.

REFERENCE

National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998)