As a scarce resource, it will become increasingly in demand as the economy grows, but to maintain the ecological functioning of our rivers, will have to be increasingly withheld from use. At the same time, available water must be reallocated more equitably than it was in the past. New environmental legislation that followed from impact studies on our major river systems, requires more water in the lower reaches and estuaries than was considered necessary when existing dams were originally built.
Only recently did scientists realise the importance of maintaining estuary ecosystems, areas where salt and fresh water mix to serve as breeding grounds for sea and freshwater fish. Periodic flooding is also necessary to control riparian vegetation and to keep flow canals open. Most rivers need between 20% and 40% of unaltered runoff to maintain reasonably normal habitats and ecosystem processes. This means releasing more water from large dams to maintain the flow, while knowing that the human demand for water is also increasing.
Water and money
Economic growth, not population growth, drives water demand. Supplying water to an additional one million people for their basic needs does not require a large volume of water. But as soon as they have small houses with small gardens, and maybe small cars washed once a week, demand escalates. Also keep in mind the increased demand from industry and agriculture.
Economic growth of 6% translates into an average water use increase of 2,5% per annum, with the current emphasis on water conservation and demand management. To prepare for anticipated future demand, against a volatile supply caused by climate change, new projects are planned far into the future.
The most cost-effective remedy is to first enlarge existing reservoirs if possible. Increasing the height of an existing dam wall increases the volume exponentially. The preferred option is to store water outside a major water course, as it has less impact on river ecology. South Africa also has large reservoirs of deep underground water, 1 000m to 2 000m below the surface, that can still be exploited. Our major cities can do a lot about purifying and recycling sewage water. And then there’s the potentially unlimited supply of water from the sea.
Unfortunately the sea is in the wrong place, as being at sea level means expensive pumping and distribution networks, and desalination is in most cases still more expensive than treating fresh water. But this is a future option. he department will use tariff increases to control water demand, as Eskom is planning to do for electricity. It’s inevitable that water will become more expensive in future. Water management basics he National Water Act of 1998 regulates all issues related to water. It is based on principles of sustainability, equity and efficiency. Ecological considerations and the basic human right to access water have priority. he notion of private water ownership is abolished and groundwater is managed as part of the integral water cycle.
Access to water is separated from landownership, which means that permanent rights to water don’t exist anymore. Instead, a system of time-constrained authorisations and licenses has been introduced. o manage water effectively and to drive the reallocation process, the country has been divided into 19 water management areas, demarcated according to catchment borders to enhance management. Each area has a Catchment Management Agency (CMA), responsible for water resource management. I n the Western Cape three CMAs have already been established: the Breede-Overberg, Gouritz and the Olifants-Doorn CMAs. raditional irrigation boards must be transformed into water user associations.
Irrigation boards primarily consist of white farmers, following from the riparian owner system in the old 1956 Water Act and the landownership laws under the apartheid system. Water user associations need to be more representative of race and gender. The focus in a given catchment area must also change, from mainly irrigation water used by riparian property owners to water users in general.
On the right track Water user associations are already achieving successes in capacity building, reallocating water through buying water use entitlements, construction of dams with a percentage of water being allocated to emerging farmers at a cost to commercial farmers, voluntary reduction of water entitlements to reallocate to emerging farmers and the promotion of joint ventures by water resource management members. But how does all this affect existing commercial farmers? The 1998 National Water Act stipulates that land and water reform can be implemented together or separately. The Water Allocation Reform Strategy has set some strategic targets: 70% of licensed water use should be allocated to black people by 2024, starting with 30% by 2014; 50% to women by 2024, starting with 30% by 2014.
The department will prioritise the allocation of surplus water – after ecological needs, basic human needs and existing water users’ needs have been taken care of – to BEE projects where possible. In cases where there is a potential for BEE projects and no surplus water available, existing water users will have to pitch in.
Through compulsory licensing, existing water use can be curtailed to redistribute water to historically disadvantaged groups and to ensure sustainable functioning of rivers as a water resource. Though this may sound harsh, commercial farmers can maintain current production levels with less water through better management, for example by changing from microjet to drip irrigation. Farmers are also encouraged to develop other water sources, such as boreholes and storage, on their properties. The department does not intend restricting farmers to the extent where they cannot operate viably, or cause severe economic prejudice. Looking ahead My advice to farmers is that they should become involved in land reform and BEE projects.
By empowering people on your own farm, water can be reallocated to projects without you feeling any loss. Farmers can acquire extra water by initiating a BEE project; financial subsidies are available for such projects. They can apply for water use entitlements of up to R7 500/ha, as well as contributions of R15 000/ha irrigation for bulk water infrastructure, at the department. Farmers are already businesspeople, so it’s time to think and plan strategically about your needs. – Wouter Kriel Contact Willie Enright on (021) 950 7149 |fw • ‘
