National Water Act [No. 36 of 1998] - Department Of Energy

1 1fg~~ -j(J- j (JREPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICGOVERNMENT GAZETTESTAATSKOERANTVAN DIE REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKACAPE TOWN, 26 AUGUST 1998vol. 398No. 19182 KAAPSTAD, 26 AUGUSTUS 1998 OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTN(). August 1998It is hereby notified (hat the President has assentedto the following Act which is hereby published for generalinlormation-No. 36 of 1998 : National Water Act, ()()R VAN DIE PR[iSII)[;NTN(). 1091.~(, ALlg,]\(Ll\ lot)~Hicrby word bckend gcnl:iak d;lt die Prc\idcnt \ygoedkmring geheg Iwt MI] die (mdel-st;i:lndc Wet v:it I]icrhy[m algenmnc inligting gcpuhliwx! m tml:--No. 36 van 199X: Nusitmitlc Watcrwct. 199X,2N(I 19182 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 26 AUGUST 19 8 Act No. 36, 1998 National Water ACT, 1998 ACT10 provide for fundamental reform of the law relating to Water resources; to repealcertain laws; and to provide for matters connected that Water is a scarce and unevenly distributed National resource whichoccurs in many different forms which are all part of a unitary, inter-dependent cycle;Recognizing that while Water is a natural resource that belongs to all people, thediscriminatory laws and practices of the past have prevented equal access to Water , anduse of Water resources;Acknowledging the National Government s overall responsibility for and authorityover the nation s Water resources and their use, including the equitable allocation ofwtiter for beneficial use, [he redistribution of Water , and international Water matters.)))))]

2 Recognizing that the ultimate aim of Water resource management is to achieve thesust~inable use of Water for the benefit of all users;Recognizing that the protection of the quality of Water resources is necessary toensure sustainability of the ntition s Water resources in the interests of all Water users;andRecognizing the need for the integrated management of all aspects of Water resourcesand, where appropriate, the delegation of management functions to a regional orcatchrnent level so as to enable everyone to participate;(English text signed by the President. )(Assented to 20 August 1998 .)BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, asfollows:-INDEXCHAPTER 1: INTERPRETATION AND FUNDAMENTAL ,1 (). and interpretation5 Purpose of ActPublic trusteeship of nation s Water resourcesEntitlement to wtiter useCHAPTER 2: WArER MANAGEMENT STRATEGIESPart 1: National Water resource strategyEstablishment of National Water resource strategyContents of National Water resource strategyGiving etfect to National Water resource strategyPart 2: Catchment management strategiesEsttiblishmen[ of catchment management strategiesContents of catchment management stmtegyGuidelines for and consultation on catchrnent management strategiesGiving effect to catchment management strategieslo15-1N(), 1 )182 GOVERNMENT GAZ[: H E.]]

3 26 AUGUST 1 9X,Act No..36, 1998 National , Water ACT. 199 XPurt 1: Chrssijication systent for Water resourcesI 2. Prescriptitm of clwitication systemPurt 2: Class@ cation of Water resources and resource quality objectivesI 3. Determination of class 01 wukr resources and resource quality objccti\es 514. Preliminary dctcrtnination of class or resource quulity objectivesi 5, Giving cticct (0 dctcrnlinMion of class of Water resource and resource quaiilyobjectivesPart 3: The Reserve16. Determination of Reserve17. Preliminary determinations of Reserve18. Giving ctlecl to ReservePart 4: Pollution prevention19. Prevention and remedying effects of pollutionPart .5: Emergency iucidents1()15Z(), control of emergency incidentsCHAPTER 4: USE OF WATERPart 1: General principles2 I. Water use22. Permissible wuter useZ() 23. Determination of qu:mtity of w~tcr which tntiy be allocuted by resp(msibleauthority24.))

4 Licenccs tor use of w~[er found underground (m pr(~per{y ot mmlher person~~. Tr~lnsfcr of w;ltcr usc ilLllllorlSLl(i ollS 26. Rcgulutions on (Im usc of wuter25 Part 2: C(~ [jtls, conditions and essential requiretnents of generalauthorisations and licences27, consid~r~l[i~)ns fc)r issue of gcncr:d au[horisu[ions find Iicenccs28. Essential requirements of Iicences~(). Conditions for issue of generat uulhorisa(ions and }icences30, Security by applic:mt3 I. Issuc 0[ Iicencc no guarantee of supplyI art 3: Existing la wfhl Water uses32. [ktinition of existing lawful Water use33. l>ecldr~ili(m ot wdlcr usc 0s existing Iilwtul wotet- LISe34, Authority t[) continue with existing lawful Water use35. Vcrilico(icJn of existing wutcr usesPart 4: stream Jht w reduction Dccl:lrali[)n 01 slrctim ll(~w reduction activitiesPart 5: Controlled activities37. C onlrolltxl aclivity N)(?)))))]]]]]]]]]

5 N,) l~)1N2(government GAZETTE, 26 AIIGLIST 1998 .Act No. 36, 1998 National Water ACT. 199 XII&clmition of cetlain uclivilies as controlled activitiesPart 6: General authorisatiotts39, Gcnertii uu(horisations to use wuterPart 7: Individual applications for licences40. Applictition lor liccncc4 I. Procedure for Iicence tipplicutions42, Reasons for decisionsPart 8: Compulsory licences for Water use in respect of specijic , Iicence applicationsLate applicationsProposed allocation schedulesPreliminary allocation scheduleFinal allocution schedulesLicences rcpltice previous entitlementsPart 9: Review and renewal of licences, and amendment andsubstitution of conditions of licencesReview and amendment of licencesFormat amendment of IicencesSuccessors-itl-titleProcedure for edrlier renewal or amendment 01 licencesPart 10: Contravention of or failure to comply with authorisationsRectification of contraventionSuspension or wilhcirawal of entitlements to use waterSurrender of IicenceCHAPTER 5: FINANCIAL PROVISIONSPart 1.

6 Water use chargesPricing strategy i ~}r wti[er use chargesApplication 01 pricing strutegyRecovery of Water use chargesLiability tor Water usc chargesWater use cborges are charges on landPart 2: Financial assistanceFinancial assistance by MinisterRegulations on tinancial assistancelo30 CHAPTER 6: GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF DIRECTOR-GENERALPart 1: Delegation, directives, expropriation, condonation andadditional powersEklegiition 01 powers and duties by MinisterExpropri:Kion of propertyExpropriation for rehabilitation and other remedial workCondonation of ftiilure to comply with time periodDispensing with certain requirements of ActIntel-vcntion in litigation4088.\!) 1)1s?(io\I. I<, I (;.lzl.[rk 3, .AIK;I SI IWN\cl \ll. 3(1, 1998N YI lo N,\l. \\ ,Al A( 1, lLJ~)S() ).70, ,70.( HAIYI IR 7: CATCHhll{NT NIANA(;ENIENT AGENCIESPart I: Estaltlishmetlt {Ittd po wers of catch mettt management agencies77, ),X().)]]}

7 Xl, ,Part -/: liltk ( tlti(~il, { [lh[ ttteflt or chttnge of nwter munagettt t) ,90,91.~)?, ,9(>07,~)x.~)~)10-H)45 IllN(I. l~Jl X2 GOVE LNMENT GAZETTE. 26 AUG[JST 1998 Act No. 36, 1998 NATIONAI. WATEF ACT. 1998I ( 20, 32133134135I 36 Rcgufatior?s regarding irdvisory committeesTransiti(mal provisions relating to advisory C( mrnitteesCHAPTER 10: lNTL?RNAIIONAI. WATE 1 MANAGEMENTE stablishment of bodies to implement interna ional agreementsGovernance and functions of bodiesPowers of bodiesBodies must manage different functions as se] ~arate unitsReports on performance of functionsInvestigation of affairs or financial position 01 bodiesTransitional provisions relating to existing bo liesCHAPTER 11: GOVERNMENT WA IIERWORKSA cquisition, construction, alteration, repair, 01 ,eration and control of govern-ment waterworksComsultati(m and environmental impact asses$ mentFinancing of government waterworksWater from government waterworksAccess to and use of government waterworks for recreiitional purposesGovernment waterworks constructed before c )mmencernent of ActDisposal of government waterworksRegulations regarding government waterwork iCHAPTER 12.)]]}

8 SAFETY OF I )AMSD efinitionsControl measures for dam with safety riskResponsibilities of approved professional pers w?sRegistration of dam with safety risk25 Factors to be considered in declilring diim or ca .egory of dams with safety riskExemptionsRegulations regarding dilm safetyCHAPTER 13: Acc13ss TO AND RIGkI rs OVER LANDPart I: Entry and inspectit nAppointment of authorised personsPowers and duties of authorised personsPart 2: ServitudesDefinitionsAcquisition of servitudes35 Rights and duties of servitude holders i~nd Ian{ IownersProcedure for acquisition and amendment ofs :rvitudesPowers of High Court in respect of Cli]im for : ervitudeCompensation payable for granting of servituc esNoting of servitude and amendment by endors ment against title deed40 Cancellation of servitudeJoint wtiterwork involving servitudePart 3: Waterworks and personals ?rvitudesOwnership of waterworks on land belonging t{) anotherTrimsfer of personid servitudes5I ()Is203045,1(4 No.}}

9 36, I 998(;OVI RNM[:N I 26 ALIG[lST 1~)~)~N,\llo NAl, W,NW : A( 1. 199 XCHAPTER 14: MONIrlORIN(;, ASSESSMEN r AND INFORMATION 137I 38139140141I ~~I 43144,145146147, 49.[ ,I , ,159,i art I: National monitoring s vstemstls[ahlishmcn[ of na[ioniil nl(mit(~riilg systemEstablishment of mechanisms to cn-ordina(e monitoring of Water Ircsourcw[ art 2: National injbrmation systems ot, Water resourcesEstabiishmcnl of niilional information systcn sobjectives of nalirmal information systemsProvision 0[ inf(wrnationAccess to informationRegu]n[ions for monitoring, :issessment and i lforrnationPart 3: Information on bloodlines, Jloot k and droughtsFl(xdlincs tm plans I[}r c\tablishnlent 01 townshipsDuty to make inl (mnati(m :Ivoil:ible to publicCHAPTER 15: A1 AND DISPU 1 E RI? SOI,U [IONE stablishment of Water TribunalOpcration ()( Water TribunalAppeals to Water TribunalAppeals from decision~ of Water TribunalMcdia(i(mCHAPTER 16: OFFENCES AND < EMEDIESOtl encesEnquiry in respecl {)t compenw[i(m I or barn) loss or damage sufferedAward (JI dam:igesotl cnces in reliition to employer and employt e relationshipsInterdict or other (waler by High CourtCHAPTER 17: (.)))))))))))))]]]]]]]]]]]

10 ENERAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS Part I: boundLilllilati(m of liabilityAmendment or substitution of instrumentsEffect (it delegationPart 2: Powers and authoris~ tionsDocuments deemed to be properly authorised and issuedDocuments and steps valid under certain circumstancesSer\ice of documentsRepeal of laws, and savingsShort title and commencement103035 SCHEDULES1234 PERMISSIBLE USE OF WATERPROCEDURAL MATTERS REGARDIN{ SERVITUDES40 POWERS WHICH MAY BE EXERCISED AND DUTIES TO BEPERFORRIED BY CATCHMENT MANI iGEMENT AGENCIES ONASSIGNNIENT OR DIiLEGArlONhlANA(;EhlENT AND PI. ANNING OF WArER NIANAGEMENTINSTITUI1 ONS4514N() 19182 GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 26 AUGUST 1998 Act No. 36, 1998 National WATt31 ACT, 19985 MODEL CONSTITUTION OF Water U $ER ASSOCIATION6 Water TRIBUNAL7 ACTS REPEALEDCHAPTER 1 INTERPRETATION AND FUNDAMEN; AL PRINCIPLESThis Chapter sets out the fundamental principles of th, Act.)))}