NATIONAL NORMS AND STANDARDS FOR DOMESTIC WATER AND SANITATION SERVICES
Title: National Norms and Standards for Domestic Water and Sanitation Services
Government Gazette Notice: GN 982 in GG 41100 of 8 September 2017
Commencing date: 8 September 2017
The previous norms and standards for water and sanitation have, over the last few decades, inadvertently focused on addressing water services and backlogs in urban areas, unintentionally overlooking the diverse variances and challenges prevalent in the rural areas. Consequently, local government structures are dealing with a range of approaches to water service provision that span both urban and rural areas, which are often based on the allocation of powers and functions between district municipalities and local municipalities, thus creating confusion and misalignment in the provision of services.
This document is the culmination of the review and revision of the international and national norms and standards for water and sanitation services. It sets out and describes the national norms and standards for levels of water services, including sanitation, which will be applicable from 2017 onwards, until the Minister requests another revision in future.
After the introduction and definitions, the first part of the document (Part One) focuses on water components of water services and the second part of the document (Part Two) focuses on the sanitation and waste water components of water services. Part Three summarises the monitoring and reporting responsibilities and Part 4 concludes with a proposed plan of action in implementing the norms and standards for water and sanitation services.
Annexure A summarises the legislation impacting on water and sanitation services, Annexure B list the policies and strategies, and Annexure C provides a list of current guidelines and standards pertaining to water and sanitation services.
So what for my operation?
These Norms and Standards place duties on municipalities, as water service authorities, as well as on water service providers, being any person who provides water services to consumers or to another water services institution, but does not include a water services intermediary. Therefore, if your operation provides water services (including supply and sanitation services), you must ensure compliance to these Norms and Standards.
