Draft National Water Resource Strategy 2 nd Edition Public hearings on the NWRS 2 nd edition Oral submission by The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Old Assembly Chamber, Parliament Harrison Pienaar 31 October 2012 Presentation outline Introduction Comments on what the NWRS does / doesnt emphasize Implementation challenges Perspectives on balancing national interest and local empowerment Recommendations Concluding remarks Slide 2 of 16 Introduction Draft NWRS represents good response to National Development Plan, New Growth Path and DWAs Water for Growth and Development Framework Strategic turnaround approach in managing water more effectively and efficiently Responding to key concerns raised water shortages by 2025, failing state of infrastructure (dams), polluted rivers and poor state of municipal infrastructure (waste water treatment plants/works) Slide 3 of 16 Introduction Water has critical role to play in all sectors NWRS vital in this context in order to enhance economic and development goals Agriculture (62%) Domestic - urban & rural (27%) Mining (3%) Power generation (3%) Afforestation (2%) Other (3%) Irrigation Domestic Mining, industry, power Forest plantations CSIR Perspective on Water, 2011 Slide 4 of 16 What the draft NWRS II does emphasize Slide 5 of 16 0 1 IWRM principles Water should be regarded as a finite resource that has an economic value with significant social implications; That local communities must participate in all phases of water management; That water resource management must be developed within a comprehensive set of policies and That there is a need to recognize and actively support the role of rural populations with particular emphasis on women What the draft NWRS II doesnt emphasize Slide 6 of 16 Implementation challenges water value chain The National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS) as per National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) is mainly concerned with water resource management Strategic framework for water services (SFWS) as per Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997) has its focus on water supply Alignment between NWRS and SFWS implementation efforts critical In order to achieve this - key water sector role-players throughout the entire water value chain (resource to tap and vice versa ) must have a good understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities in this context Slide 7 of 16 Water Sustainability Flagship Program (ensuring water security - medium to long-term ) Technology Intervention (improve effluent quality short to medium-term ) Water Service Authorities (Municipalities) Water Services Providers (Water Boards) Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority (TCTA) DWAs National Water Resources Infrastructure Branch Water User Associations Catchment Management Agencies Implementation challenges water institutions (cont..) Dam and Inter-basin transfers Water treatment plants Bulk distribution - pump stations and pipelines Customers Sewers Waste water treatment works Reticulation Catchment with surface and groundwater NWRS II SFWS Slide 8 of 16 Perspectives on balancing national interest and local empowerment According to SA Constitution (Act 108 of 1996), government is constituted as national, provincial and local spheres of government distinctive, interdependent and interrelated The National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998) follows suit through CMA establishment delegate water resource management to regional or catchment level involve local communities within the framework of the NWRS Slide 9 of 16 Perspectives (cont..) CMAs are delineated by natural surface water units (catchments) Groundwater resources do not follow same boundaries and water often distributed and used outside of these boundaries The Rand Water area of supply, overlaid by CMAs illustrates this point Decisions should be made at the appropriate levels that balance interests across these boundaries Risks and disasters are better coordinated at higher orders of clustering, since significant national resources can be mobilised and deployed in areas needed Implementation plans can be better executed at local level where relevant knowledge and skills reside Slide 10 of 16 Perspectives (cont..) Water is both social and economic good As economic good it supports local development and generate revenue for effective management of the resource Due to disparities between regions water as social good is better managed at higher levels where affordability and capacity issues do not constrain equitable provision of water Water should be used effectively to achieve development outcomes as well as efficiently least input for most benefit Effectiveness is better achieved at higher levels where all applications can be considered Efficiency maybe be better achieved at local levels as a result of direct involvement and local ownership Slide 11 of 16 Perspectives (cont..) The balance between strategy and implementation should be achieved across central and decentralised systems Strategy is about doing the right things. Deciding what to do requires the broadest perspective of options, risks, opportunities and constraints best achieved from high vantage point Implementation is about doing things right requires detailed knowledge of the implementation issues and implementation environment as well as close proximity to this environment and active hands-on engagement Slide 12 of 16 To give effect to the objectives of the NWRS there must be Clear reporting lines and functions (Ministry, Department and Institutions) More effective dispute resolution Effective oversight role by the Department A clear role for the Department to set policy, regulate, and provide support to water resource management and water services institutions to achieve their constitutional and legislative mandates This may require a more direct relationship between management institutions and the Department regarding reporting and oversight However, the overall trusteeship of water remains with the Minister of Water Affairs Recommendations Slide 13 of 16 Successful implementation of the NWRS would require good understanding of: physical aspects of water throughout the water value chain associated management and institutional aspects of water throughout the water value chain Effective public-private partnerships among key water sector role-players - an important vehicle in order to achieve NWRS objectives Much has been learnt since the first edition NWRS, much has been achieved and much remains to be achieved Concluding remarks The NWRS is a water sector document which the entire sector must own up to and should not be perceived as a DWA business plan per se Slide 14 of 16 Slide 15 of 16 Water research offerings Water research, information and knowledge management effectively serves the water sector towards improved water resource management and sustainable water service provision. CSIR has a wide range of skills and trans-disciplinary research skills in: Water science catchment, transboundary river basins, incl. oceans, coasts (global change) and nanotechnology Systems modelling, economic and social sciences Development of decision-support tools inform integrated planning frameworks, etc. Spatial planning initiatives and innovation; Building and construction innovation Coastal and port infrastructure THANK YOU! Slide 16 of 16