WATER SECTOR PLANNING TOOLS Proposals for improving sectoral & inter-sectoral planning

NOTED Current water sector planning tools – National Water Resources Strategy (every 5 years) – Internal Strategic Perspectives (Catchment Management Strategies where CMAs exist) – Reconciliation Studies – Water Service Development Plans – Provincial Water Sector Plans

EMERGING PLANNING ISSUES Increasing demand to support energy generation – e.g. Plans to build 20 more power stations!!! Plans to expand irrigated agriculture However fresh water is limited and efficient use will be primary Options – Moving industries to the coast – Building nuclear plants in the coastal areas – Moving water from less efficient sectors (agric) to more efficient (mining, industry, urban)

CHALLENGES – PLANNING TOOLS NWRS is too infrequent, so it cannot inform national strategic planning with up-to-date information The existing tools are sufficient, however they are not used by sector departments and other planning actors Integration of planning is still a challenge, e.g. there are no aligned timeframes There is a need to strengthen information collection tools to monitor water availability

PROPOSALS 1.The NPC should endorse the NWRS as an overarching, long-term planning tool that will provide comprehensive info on availability and guide reconciliation studies. The NWRS must provide scenarios and NPC/government leaders must take decisions based on scenarios

PROPOSALS 2.The annual Strategic plan on water resources must be used to inform the NPC about status of water availability and emerging risks & opportunities 3.Other plans to be considered include a Regional perspective (international boundaries), water use sector perspectives (demand, impact and management of water) 4.NPC must oblige all departments (& users) to consider water availability in their planning and demonstrate this clearly

PROPOSALS 5.Strengthen communication and engagement between the department and use sectors. This includes publishing and sharing information on status of water availability/constraints and reviewing and strengthening of coordination & cooperative governance structures and related mechanisms 6.Develop responsive local tools that would indicate options, implications & costs for any proposed local/provincial project to ensure that water is adequately factored. 7.Develop and strictly apply rules (guiding water use) for every project and programme

PROPOSALS 8.Need to develop clearer indicators and targets to monitor performance, especially in the following areas – WCDM – Water quality – Economic value of water-intensive exports – Extent of water mix – Sector use (distribution) – Water footprint for each sector

THANK YOU