The wise use of water in agriculture

As South Africa is a water-scarce country, it is critical for all water users to prioritise the protection of this precious resource. However, water is also a key economic enabler in the agriculture sector. Magda du Toit spoke to industry experts about the regulated use of water in agriculture.

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If you own land and have access to a water resource, you do not automatically have the right to use that water. According to the National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998), or NWA, users need approval from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) by general authorisation or by obtaining a water-use licence to use water from natural sources.

WATER-USE LICENCE APPLICATION PROCESS

According to the DWS, three steps are needed to obtain a licence. The steps are set out on its website and aim to test the application against the principle of beneficial use in the public interest, and specifically against Section 27 of the NWA. The steps are as follows:

• Pre-application process. During this step, the DWS determines and advises the applicant on the information required to compile a water-use licence application technical report to support the application.

• Screening. This is the screening of the technical report, resulting in the acceptance or rejection thereof.

• Processing and finalisation. The application for a water-use licence can now be submitted to the regional office of the DWS. The office will charge a licence processing fee and will conduct an assessment, whereafter the applicant will be informed if the application was successful or not.

During processing, the information in the technical report is evaluated by specialist groups, after which a recommendation will be sent to the delegated authority to make the final decision on whether to approve the application or not. According to the DWS’s website, an application for a water-use licence can take up to 90 days to process, taking into consideration the complexity of the application, benefits to the nation, as well as possible impacts.

ENSURE LEGAL WATER USE