Safety and protection key facets of new Water Act

A DRASTICALLY different Water Law has been introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Rural Development to replace a nearly 50-year-old Water Act.

Central to the new water legislation is the obligation placed on the Minister to ensure that safe water is available for basic human needs. This could mean reserving part or all of the flow in a watercourse, including any groundwater system or water stored in reservoirs for this purpose.The Water Resources Management Bill, which provides for the management, development, protection, conservation and use of water resources, was tabled by Agriculture Deputy Minister Paul Smit in the National Assembly last week.”Water is not renewable.Yes, it can be recycled, but not forever.That is why we need proper tools for effective management and best practices to ensure sustainability of this sacred resource,” Smit said when he motivated the Bill.With the exception of abstracting water for domestic use, the new law will introduce a comprehensive licensing system for the extraction and use of water, as well as the discharge of waste water.The legislation will also clamp down on water pollution:it prescribes that permits be issued for any discharge of effluent to water resources or underground, or for the construction of any effluent treatment or water disposal works above groundwater aquifers.The new law will also pave the way for key new institutions to be established in the interest of better water resource management, such as a Water Advisory Council, Water Regulatory Board and a Water Tribunal.While the Water Advisory Council will advise the Minister on policies and water resource management issues, the Water Regulatory Board will exercise independent control over water abstraction and effluent discharge pricing.The Water Tribunal will be a special court to hear and decide on matters related to a water resource anywhere in Namibia.The Bill also provides for the legal recognition of community-based rural water supply management institutions, to encourage and enhance community ownership of water supply infrastructure and accelerate the process of cost recovery.Dam safety and flood management measures are also among new provisions in the Bill.This could mean reserving part or all of the flow in a watercourse, including any groundwater system or water stored in reservoirs for this purpose.The Water Resources Management Bill, which provides for the management, development, protection, conservation and use of water resources, was tabled by Agriculture Deputy Minister Paul Smit in the National Assembly last week.”Water is not renewable.Yes, it can be recycled, but not forever.That is why we need proper tools for effective management and best practices to ensure sustainability of this sacred resource,” Smit said when he motivated the Bill.With the exception of abstracting water for domestic use, the new law will introduce a comprehensive licensing system for the extraction and use of water, as well as the discharge of waste water.The legislation will also clamp down on water pollution:it prescribes that permits be issued for any discharge of effluent to water resources or underground, or for the construction of any effluent treatment or water disposal works above groundwater aquifers.The new law will also pave the way for key new institutions to be established in the interest of better water resource management, such as a Water Advisory Council, Water Regulatory Board and a Water Tribunal.While the Water Advisory Council will advise the Minister on policies and water resource management issues, the Water Regulatory Board will exercise independent control over water abstraction and effluent discharge pricing.The Water Tribunal will be a special court to hear and decide on matters related to a water resource anywhere in Namibia.The Bill also provides for the legal recognition of community-based rural water supply management institutions, to encourage and enhance community ownership of water supply infrastructure and accelerate the process of cost recovery.Dam safety and flood management measures are also among new provisions in the Bill.