Water: Inland management

Water user associations are water management institutions that operate at a restricted localised level. Water user associations are co-operative associations of individual water users who wish to undertake water related activities for their mutual benefit. A water user association may exercise management power and duties only if and to the extent these have been assigned or delegated to it

Several sections in the National Water Act (Chapter 8: Sections 91-98) deals with the establishment, powers and disestablishment of water user associations.

In the process of developing the catchment management strategy (Section 8-11), a catchment management agency must seek co-operation and agreement on water-related matters from various stakeholders and interested people.