groundwater governance in south africa – case study · groundwater governance in south africa ......

Groundwater Governance in South Africa Case studySouth Africa – Case studyK. Pietersenco‐authors ‐ H. Beekman, M. Holland & S. Adams

30‐May‐201230 May 2012

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za

Setup of report1 Background

2 Groundwater Governance at national level2 Groundwater Governance at national levelPolicies and legislationInstitutionsKnowledge and capacityWater sector financinggClimate change and adaptation

3‐6 Groundwater governance at local levelBotleng (3) / Gauteng (4) / Houdenbrak (5) / Dinokana‐Lobatse (6)g ( ) / g ( ) / ( ) / ( )IntroductionResource settingLocal groundwater managementEvaluation of groundwater governance provisions

7 Recommended management instruments to implement measuresGovernance provisions & institutional capacity of case study aquifersSelection of management measures for the case study aquifersClimate change and adaptation in the case study aquifersConcluding remarks

References

Another project sponsored by www.wrc.org.za12‐Jun‐12File name 2

Policies and legislation ‐ findings

Topic… Groundwater Provisions…

Controlling groundwater use o Licensing of groundwater unclear (regulation of local governments)

o Only 20% of applications processedLimited capacit ithin DWAo Limited capacity within DWA

Regulating construction of wells and boreholes o No explicit regulationo Only technical guidelines and procedures

for drilling, testing and sampling.g g p gControlling groundwater pollution o Waste discharge charge system not yet

implementedo Inadequate groundwater monitoring

networksnetworksLinkages with other legislation

National Environmental Management Act (1998) and

o DWA and DEA (NEMA) both may require groundwater users to obtain a license

o The two departments follow different Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act (2002)

procedures for assessmento No effective co‐operative governance

procedures in placeo Mines operating without water use license


o Mines operating without water use licenseo Mining license issued without due

consideration for water use consequences12‐Jun‐12File name 3

Institutions ‐ findings

National and Regional: Directorate of Geohydrology dissolvedInadequate co‐ordination with and support to regional offices and municipalitiesVery limited hydrogeological capacity in Department

Regional: process of establishing CMAs put on hold (IRP)Delay in establishing CMAs, lack of updating of ISPs, delay inDelay in establishing CMAs, lack of updating of ISPs, delay in formulation and implementation of CMSs...(ground)water issues not adequately taken care of in IDPs at local levelLack of trained hydrogeologistsInadequate information on groundwater

International: SADC GWMP ‐ establishment of GMISA / donorInternational: SADC GWMP establishment of GMISA / donor support to RBOs

Weak institutional framework (RBOs to be better aligned to national programmes; GMISA still not operational)


p g ; p )

12‐Jun‐12File name 4

Groundwater strategy (GS)

Groundwater StrategyGroundwater to be recognised as important strategic water resourceKnowledge and use of groundwater increased along with the capacityBetter groundwater management programmes developed

Priority actionsPriority actionsPolicy, legislation and regulationWater resources planningHuman capacitySustainable groundwater managementInstitutional capacityInformation managementGroundwater researchCommunication and awareness


Water sector financing – Cost of implementation Iimplementation I

Commissioning Routine (on‐going)

(establishment)

Combined Summary of Costs R273,450,000.00 R65,900,000.00

Policy Legislation andPolicy, Legislation and Regulation

R11,100,000.00 R0.00

Water Resource Planning R10,500,000.00 R500,000.00

Human Capacity R 4,700,000.00 R29,300,000.00

Sustainable groundwater Management

R2,100,000.00 R10,000,000.00

Institutional Capacity R1,250,000.00 R950,000.00

Information Management R31,000,000.00 R20,000,000.00

GRIP completion (RO’s) R212 000 000 00 R0 00- GRIP completion (RO s) R212,000,000.00 R0.00

Groundwater Research R200,000.00 R2,550,000.00

Communication and R300 000 00 R2 600 000 00


AwarenessR300,000.00 R2,600,000.00


Case study areas


Botleng Dolomite Aquifer:Typologies and threatsTypologies and threats

Typology Situation / process High Risk

Medium Risk

Low Risk

Risk of extensive quasi-irreversible aquifer degradation and subject to potential conflict

Intensive exploitation (leading to land subsidence, saline or polluted water intrusion) ✓

amongst users Vulnerable to pollution from land surface (vulnerability, pollution) ✓

Depletion of non-renewable storage (in p g (aquifers with low contemporary recharge) ✓

Potential water use conflict but not at risk of quasi-irreversible

With growing large-scale abstraction (especially in aquifers with high T/S

ti )✓

aquifer degradation ratios)Vulnerable to point-source pollution (vulnerability, pollution) ✓

Shared transboundary resourceShared transboundary resource

Insufficient (or inadequate use of) scientific knowledge to guide development policy &

Potential to improve rural welfare & livelihoods (not fulfilling potential) ✓

Natural quality problems (e.g. As, F) ✓


g p p yprocess

Natural quality problems (e.g. As, F) ✓

Scope for large-scale planned conjunctive use (urban W/S or irrigated agriculture)

✓

Botleng dolomite aquifer:Evaluation of groundwater governanceEvaluation of groundwater governance

Capacity Criterion Context Prov. Inst. capacityp y

Technical

Basic hydrogeological maps For identification of groundwater resources 3 1Groundwater body/aquifer Delineation With classification of typology 3 1Groundwater piezometric monitoring network To establish resource status 2 1Groundwater pollution hazard assessment For identifying quality degradation risks 1 1p y g q y gAvailability of aquifer numerical ‘management models’

At least preliminary for strategic critical aquifers 0 0

Groundwater quality monitoring network To detect groundwater pollution 1 1Water well drilling permits & groundwater use i ht

For large users, with interests of small users t d

2 1rights noted

Instruments to reduce groundwater abstraction Water well closure/constraint in critical areas 1 1

Instruments to prevent water well construction In overexploited or polluted areas 2 1Sanction for illegal water well operation Penalizing excessive pumping above permit 1 1Groundwater abstraction & use charging ‘Resource charge’ on larger users 2 1Legal &

Institutional

Groundwater abstraction & use charging Resource charge on larger users 2 1

Land use control on potentially polluting activitiesProhibition or restriction since groundwater hazard

1 0

Levies on generation/discharge of potential pollutants

Providing incentives for pollution prevention 0 0

Government agency as ‘groundwater resource guardian’

Empowered to act on cross-sectoral basis 1 1

Community aquifer management organisationsMobilising and formalising community participation

0 0

Cross Sector Coordination with agricultural development Ensuring ‘real water saving’ and pollution control 1 1


Cross-SectorPolicyCoordination

Coordination with agricultural development Ensuring real water saving and pollution control 1 1

Groundwater based urban/industrial planning To conserve and protect groundwater resources 0 0

Compensation for groundwater protection Related to constraints on land-use activities 0 0

Public participation in groundwater management Effective in control of exploitation and pollution 1 1

Governance provisions ‐ Results

Similarity in effectiveness provisions for aquifers across all thematic areas

Basic technical provisions in place (e.g. hydrogeological maps)

Effectiveness other governance provisions weak or non‐existent

Groundwater monitoring weak; assessment groundwater resourcesGroundwater monitoring weak; assessment groundwater resources poor

Fair provisions for water well drilling and groundwater use rights

W k t l d t b t ti d ll ti ( liWeak control groundwater abstraction and pollution (poor compliance monitoring and enforcement)

Weak provisions for establishment aquifer management organizations

Weak cross‐sector policy coordination

Only for Botleng groundwater management action plan but not implemented

Institutional capacity across all thematic areas weak or non‐existent except for the Steenkoppies dolomite aquifer


Management measures

Macro policy adjustments Regulatory provisions Community participation

• Integration of GS into NWRS, CMS, and other strategies

• Include groundwater abstraction in the water

• Registration of new wells and boreholes

• Review of general authorizations

• Accelerate establishment of CMAs and WUAs

• Establishment of Aquifer Management Committees

pricing strategy• Harmonize water related

legislation• Integrate groundwater

• Registration of drillers• Registration and verification

of water use• Simplification of groundwater

g• Stakeholder engagement in

decision-making

g gresource planning between different spheres of government

p glicensing (e.g. single license for DWA and DEA)

• Timeous issuing of water use license

• Compliance monitoring and enforcement

• Protection zoning around boreholes and pollution ppathways

• Establish regulations for borehole construction

• In stressed catchments


implement compulsory licensing


Concluding remarks

Findings South African groundwater governance g g gcase study in line with recommended priority actions of the Groundwater Strategy (2010)Groundwater governance provisions well capturedGroundwater governance provisions well captured in water related policies and legislationKey issue is the implementation of all y precommended actions at local aquifer levelAction is needed with regards to strengthening: (i) groundwater resources regulation at both nationalgroundwater resources regulation at both national and local levels, and (ii) institutional capacity (CMSs, WUAs and Human Resources)DEFINITION

Social License to Operate (SLtO)


groundwater governance in south africa – case study · groundwater governance in south africa ......

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