National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) Notices Revision of General Authorisations in terms of Section 39 of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) (The Act) 3. Disposing of Waste in a manner which may detrimentally impact on a Water Resource

 

[Section 21(g)]

 

 

This general authorisation replaces the need for a water user to apply for a licence in terms of the Act, provided that the water use is within the limits and conditions as set out in this general authorisation.

 

 

This authorisation does not apply to a person who is not the lawful occupier of the land or who does not have lawful access to the land on which the disposal takes place.

 

 

 

 

 

This authorisation is applicable throughout the Republic of South Africa, except for those subterranean government water control areas set out in Table 3.1, which may be amended from time to time.

 

 

This authorisation will be applicable for five years from the date of publication of this notice, unless—

 

 

In this general authorisation, unless the context indicates otherwise, any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in terms of the Act shall have that meaning, and—

 

"biodegradable industrial wastewater"

means wastewater that contains predominantly organic waste arising from industrial activities and premises including—

 

"category A mine"

means—

 

"complex industrial wastewater"

means wastewater arising from industrial activities and premises, that contains—

 

"domestic wastewater"

means wastewater arising from domestic and commercial activities and premises, and may contain sewage;

 

"evaporation pond"

means a dam designed to collect and dispose of wastewater through evaporation, from which any concentrated waste or sludge must be removed and disposed of according to the requirements of any relevant laws and regulations;

 

"grey water"

refers to wastewater generated through domestic activities and premises, including washing, bathing and food preparation, but does not contain sewage;

 

"monitoring programme"

means a programme for taking regular measurements of the quantity and quality of a water resource, waste or wastewater discharge at specified intervals and at specific locations to determine the chemical, physical and biological nature of the water resource, waste or wastewater discharge;

 

"on-site disposal"

refers to the disposal of wastewater on individual properties not permanently linked to a central waste collection, treatment and disposal systems, such as septic tank systems, conservancy tank systems, soakaway systems, french drains, pit latrines, some package plants and related activities;

 

"organic waste"

means waste of non-anthropogenic origin that is readily biodegradable in the environment and does not contain any toxic substances that may accumulate in the environment

 

"primary treatment"

means treatment of wastewater by a physical process, which may involve maceration, sedimentation, screening and grit removal;

 

"secondary treatment"

means treatment of wastewater by a biological process, which amongst others may involve solar and other energy, bacteria, algae and a variety of aquatic biota, to remove organic matter;

 

"wastewater"

means water containing waste, or water that has been in contact with waste material;

 

"wastewater pond system"

means a dam or system of dams designed to collect wastewater and to conduct primary and secondary treatment, from which treated wastewater is disposed of.

 

 

A person who—

may on that property or land outside the areas set out in Table 3.1—

 

 

A person who—

may on that property or land outside the areas set out in Table 3.1—

 

 

A person who—

may on that property or land outside the areas set out in Table 3.1, dispose of—

 

 

A person may dispose of mine residue into mine residue deposits provided that—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wastewater storage dams and wastewater disposal sites must be located—

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following methods for sampling and analysis must be adhered to:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any property or land in respect of which a water use has been authorised in terms of this general authorisation, such property or land must be made available for inspection by an authorised person in terms of section 125 of the Act.

 

 

Any information on the occurrence of any incident that has or is likely to have a detrimental impact on the water resource quality must be reported to the responsible authority within 24 hours.

 

 

A person who contravenes any provision of this general authorisation is guilty of an offence and is subject to the penalty set out in section 151(2) of the Act.

 

NOTE: Information regarding the drainage regions referred to in Table 3.1 can be obtained from the Responsible Authority upon written request.

 

TABLE 3.1: Subterranean government water control areas excluded from general authorisation for disposal of waste