Water: Inland management

One of the main objectives of the Water Services Act is the promotion of effective water resource management and conservation.

According to the national environmental management principles, people and their needs should be the first concern (NEMA). One of the objectives of integrated environmental management is to ensure the consideration of environmental attributes in management and decision-making which may have a significant effect on the environment (NEMA).

The National Government is responsible for and has authority over the nation's water resources, their use and management. This includes the equitable allocation and beneficial use of water in the public interest (Use of Water; National Water Act).

A national water resources strategy will include the management and control of water resources for the country as a whole. It will also provides the framework within which water will be managed at regional or catchment level, in defined water management areas (Water resource strategies; Catchment management strategies; National Water Act).

The protection of water resources is fundamentally related to their use, development, management and control (protection of water resources; National Water Act). Matters relating hereto must be provided for within a classification system for all water resources.

Licences for the use of water can be applied for. The responsible authority may conduct its own investigation on the likely effect of the proposed licence on the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of the water resource (Individual applications for licences; National Water Act). Licences for water use in respect of a specific resource is compulsory to facilitate efficient management of the water resource.