Licence to limit - Groundwater use authorisation under scrutiny

Abstract

GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT Following the promulgation of the National Water Act (NWA) in 1998, groundwater, long considered the ‘poor cousin’ of surface water, has been accorded a new importance in South Africa. With vast untapped underground sources of fresh water being discovered, groundwater has been touted as the answer to many urban and rural areas’ present and future water needs. To protect the resource from potential pollution and over-exploitation, several legislative measures have been implemented. Both the Department of Water Affairs & Forestry (DWAF) and the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism (DEAT) have different procedures with respect to assessing groundwater use applications. At present, authorisation to use groundwater is legislated under the NWA, Environmental Conservation Act, and the National Environmental Management Act.

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