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National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998)

Regulations

Regulations for the Establishment of the  Classification System, 2010

2. Procedure for determining different classes of water resources

 

(1) The class of a water resource must describe—
(a) the extent of use of the water resource;
(b) the Reserve;
(c) the resource quality objectives; and
(d) the determination of the allocable portion of a water resource for use.

 

(2) Water resources must be classified into one of the following classes—
(a) Class I water resource;
(b) Class II water resource; or
(c) Class III water resource.

 

(3)
(a) A Class I water resource is one—
(i) which is minimally used; and
(ii) in which the configuration of the ecological categories of the water resources within a catchment results in an overall condition of that water resource that is minimally altered from its pre-development condition.
(b) A Class II water resource is one—
(i) which is moderately used; and
(ii) in which the configuration of ecological categories of the water resources within a catchment results in an overall condition of that water resource that is moderately altered from its pre-development condition.
(c) A Class III water resource is one—
(i) which is heavily used; and
(ii) in which the configuration of ecological categories of the water resources within a catchment results in an overall condition of that water resource that is significantly altered from its pre-development condition.

 

(4) The procedure to determine the different classes of water resources must comprise of the following 7 steps:
(a) Step 1: Delineate the units of analysis and describe the status quo of the water resource or water resources;
(b) Step 2: Link the socio-economic and ecological value and condition of the water resource or water resources;
(c) Step 3: Quantify the ecological water requirements and changes in non-water quality ecosystem goods, services and attributes;
(e) Step 5: Evaluate scenarios within the integrated water resource management process;
(f) Step 6: Evaluate the scenarios with stakeholders; and
(g) Step 7: Gazette and implement the class configuration.