RESTRICTION OF WATER USE: BREEDE-GOURITZ AND BERG-OLIFANTS WATER MANAGEMENT AREAS
Title: NATIONAL WATER ACT OF 1998: BREEDE-GOURITZ AND BERG-OLIFANTS WATER MANAGEMENT AREAS LIMITING THE USE OF WATER FOR URBAN, IRRIGATION AND INDUSTRIAL (INCLUDING MINING) PURPOSE IN THE CATCHMENT AREAS OF THE DAMS SUPPLYING THE WESTERN CAPE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND FROM THE SYSTEM
Government Gazette Notice: GN 1057 in GG 40279 of 16 September 2016
Commencing date: 16 September 2016
The Minister of Water and Sanitation on reasonable grounds believes that a water shortage may exists on/in the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS) and/including other areas in/of the Berg River, Palmiet River and Riviereonderend River catchment areas due to insufficient rains and restricted rainfall predictions for the oncoming winter season and that it is necessary to limit the taking of water that feeds the major dams and is taken from the WCWSS.
The WCWSS comprises of several dams, mostly located in the upper regions of the Berg River and Breede River catchments. The system supplies raw water to the City of Cape Town, the West Coast District Municipality (DM) for domestic supply to Swartland Local Municipality (LM). Saldanha Bay LM and Bergrivier LM, the Stellenbosch LM to augment the supply to Stellenbosch, and to agricultural users downstream of the Berg River Dam, Voelvlei Dam and Theewaterekloof Dam.
The Minister of Water and Sanitation may in terms of Item 6 (1) of Schedule 3 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA) limit the use of water in the area concerned If the Minister on reasonable grounds believes that a water shortage exists within the area concerned.
The taking of water from the Western Cape Water Supply System (including ell areas within the Berg-Olifants and Breeds -Gouritz Water Management Areas) by all users have now been limited as follows:
1. 20% of curtailment on all water use in the aforementioned areas.
2. The limitation applies from the date of this notice until further notice.
So what for my operation?
Should your operation be located within this catchment, it is important for your operation to have knowledge of these restrictions as relevant to the quantities of water allowed to be taken from the specified water systems. If you contravene this notice, the authority may modify, or require you to modify the contravening waterwork so that it cannot be used to take more water than that allowed for in the notice; or remove the waterwork or require you to remove the waterwork if the notice contains a prohibition on the use of that waterwork. Any reasonable costs incurred by this modification or removal may be recovered from your operation.
What is Shangoni’s approach?
Shangoni can assist individuals and industries located in the affected area in developing a detailed water conservation/demand management strategy.
