News from the South African water sector

Abstract

UPFRONT Water Users Might Pay for Alien Removal Water users might soon be contributing to the removal of invasive alien plants. The Water Wheel has learnt that the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry has started a strategic level investigation into the feasibility and viability of implementing a user charge, possibly as a component of the water resource management charge, to cover the cost of clearing invasive plants primarily in the mountain catchment areas and riparian areas of the country. About 750 tree and 8 000 other plant species have been introduced to South Africa over the years. About 200 species are regarded as invasive, including certain pine, wattle, and eucalyptus spe-cies. These alien plants waste water resources; reduce the country’s ability to farm; intensify flooding and fires; cause erosion, destruction of rivers, siltation of dams, and estuaries, and poor water quality while threatening indigenous plants and animals.

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