The National Water Resource Strategy 2 (NWRS2) is not only a Department of Water Affairs strategy, but rather belongs to and therefore should be implemented by the whole water sector. This was Marie Brisley of the Department of Water Affairs’ main message the first time the Strategy was presented to a public forum at the 4th Municipal Water Quality Conference taking place at Sun City from 7 to 11 July 2013.
According to Brisley, without effective metering, billing and use efficiency the total water demand will rise to 20 billion m³/ annum before 2025 and exceed the total yield available. The core message of her presentation was therefore that fresh surface water as a resource is at its limit in most areas – however there is sufficient alternative potential water available. This is through improved efficiency and water loss management, re-use, local resource optimisation especially of groundwater, improved control, resource protection, desalination, transfers and system optimisation. “However, accessibility is conditional and at a cost,” stressed Brisley, adding that it requires effort and timeous implementation while facing spatial challenges and sector use viability challenges. “Water quality and habitat is a major concern.” As such we need to stretch not only water resources, but also water funding and infrastructure while managing major social, economic and environmental risks. Approach to implementation
Brisley added that the Department’s approach to the implementation of the NWRS2 would be participatory, emphasising citizens’ participation and implementation commitment by all water users and sector stakeholders. There will also be a focus on partnerships with the private sector and civil society, according to Brisley, who also made sure to emphasise the fact that the success of the NWRS2 is dependent on all stakeholders, not just the public sector.
Implementation also involved the centrality of water in planning and decision making where all sectors consider water availability in their development planning, among other key implementation principles. Brisley explained that the NWRS2 Implementation Framework would guide development of implementation plans to operationalize the Strategy. These are to be developed in a collaborative manner with sector stakeholders and water users per water use type and group. The five priorities for the next five years – and the implementation plans are to respond to these – have therefore been identified as:- Achieving Equity including water allocation reform;
- Water Conservation & Water Demand Management;
- Institutional establishment and Good Governance;
- Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement; and
- Adequate Funding, Operation and Maintenance of water resources infrastructure.
