The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is in the process of reviewing and possibly amalgamating the National Water Act of 1997 and the Water Services Act of 1997.

The potential amalgamation of the two principal legislations will be subsequent to Cabinet’s approval of the revised water policy. The purpose of this legislative review is about taking water to the people, explained Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Pamela Tshwete.

The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) budget vote encompasses all these policy and strategic elements while unfolding how the Annual Performance Plan for 2014/15 is being implemented.

The total budget for the department for the 2014/15 financial year is R12.4 billion. Over the medium-term, this budget is expected to grow to more than R17 billion by 2016/17.

During this year, the DWS’s spending focus will be on providing regional bulk infrastructure for water and wastewater treatment works which link water sources to local government infrastructure. The department will also transfer R2.6 billion in the 2014/15, R3.7 billion in 2015/16 and R4 billion in 2016/17 to the Water Trading Entity through the Water Infrastructure Management programmes.

R 260 million has been allocated to kick-start the Bucket Eradication Programme in informal settlements around the country.