Catchment Management Agencies

The purpose of establishing the catchment management agency (Section 77-90) is to delegate water resource management to the regional or catchment level and to involve local communities, within the framework of the national water resource strategy.

The functions of the catchment management agency include:

    to develop a catchment management strategy
    to investigate and advice interested people on the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of the water resources in its water management area
    to co-ordinate the related activities of the water users and of the water management institutions within its water management area
    to promote the co-ordination of its implementation with the implementation of any applicable development plan established in terms of the Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997)
    to promote community participation in the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of the water resources in its water management area.