A New Mindset for Integrated Water Quality Management for South Africa

Abstract

The aim is to develop a conceptual model for aligning water resource quality and drinking water quality management. The model is based on the premise that good water quality is in everyone's best interests. Current management approaches attach responsibility for good water quality at a high level. The integrated water quality management approach “breaks down” the management of water quality into smaller management units and establishes a horizontal and vertical reporting framework through the application of a generic business process. The business process requires the identification of critical risk factors and critical control points in each management unit. The results of the project were the development of the water use cycle, as a context for the model, and the development of a basic integrated water quality management. A case study is currently underway in the Breede River catchment of the Western Cape Province of South Africa in order to refine the proposed model.

Notes

1. A formal definition for cooperative governance could not be found, although principles exist that define cooperative government (rather than governance). These can be accessed at: http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons3.htm/. The Intergovernmental Relations Act of 2005 does not contain an interpretation of the phrase “cooperative governance”. The Act can be downloaded at: http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/coopgov/structures.htm/. Because it is important that this phrase is defined, since the management framework will only be effectively implemented under a cooperative governance framework, cooperative governance is defined in the context of this project, as follows: “South African government institutions or organs of state acting or operating jointly to make decisions that define expectations, grant power or verify performance.” This would imply that there must be accountability between institutions or organizations responsible for carrying out management activities.

2. A group such as this is often referred to as a Water User Association (WUA) in South Africa. This is a statutory body established under the South African National Water Act (NWA) No. 36 of 1998 and must be established by a proposal to the Minister of Water Affairs. This means that there are specific provisions regarding what a WUA must undertake to put in place when they are established and also what must be reported on. However, the model presented does not require a group of farmers to be organized in an institution such as a WUA.