Theme : Information, monitoring & research NWRS Workshops October - December

Managing Water for an Equitable and Sustainable Future WATER INFORMATION AND MONITORING CD: Water Resources Information Management 2

Importance of Monitoring and Information It is indispensable for effective water management; More and more reliable information will be critical in future; It is needed to address escalating challenges in: – Increased water needs for growth, development and equity; – Complexities and uncertainty brought about by climate change; – Competing needs of different water users and aquatic ecosystems; and Good information on water depends on effective monitoring systems, good data management, secure archiving and highly accessible dissemination systems. 3

Present Situation. Most hydrological datasets are still adequate, but with insufficient growth and some decline in places; Inadequate maintenance, vandalism and theft of monitoring equipment; Many rainfall gauges have been closed down by SAWS; Not enough data sharing between government departments; Need more shared water information with countries in shared river basins; Information in the National Register of Water Use is still incomplete; Several water information systems are still “stand alone” and with limited accessibility; and Resources (staff, skills, funding and equipment) for monitoring are still inadequate. 4

Drivers for Improved Governance of Water Information and Monitoring The scope is extensive and complex: availability, distribution, quantity, quality, use of water, costs and authorization; Monitoring happens at local, regional and national levels of government and in the sector; Significant information needs of many stakeholders must be addressed; Many institutions are now involved in water information management and monitoring; Resources in funds, skills and manpower are limited; The is a growing resulting need to optimise efforts in monitoring and improve availability of information, and Great benefits and potential synergy will be gained through effective collaboration and pooling of efforts in this field. 5

Strategic Approach DWA will lead with a national plan in partnership with organs of state, water management institutions, water users and water sector institutions to improve, facilitate and coordinate the ongoing monitoring, recording, assessment and dissemination of data and information on water at all levels. 6

Strategic Objectives Raise awareness about the value of water information; Improve national water monitoring governance; Improve the collection of water data and information; Rationalize data and information on water on a national scale; Increase efficient access to timely and related water information; Improve national coverage by data and information; Ensure reliable and quality-checked data and information; Increase investment in water and related information, and Improve the use of advanced and appropriate technologies in water monitoring and information 7

Managing Water for an Equitable and Sustainable Future RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 8

Key Issues to Address Raise awareness on the need to invest in collecting high quality water-related information in collaboration with water sector institutions; Implement a national monitoring and information management plan for the water sector, evaluated & updated every 5 years; Establish an integrated water information management system accessible to institutions and sector users by 2019; Ensure that high quality data and information for supporting scientific research, regulation, monitoring and compliance enforcement are made accessible to public and private institutions; Invest in building technical expertise needed to collect, analyse the water information and to produce reports for decision-makers in support of the “water footprint” concept; 9

More Key Issues… Build a network for data collection by water users, government, scientific institutions and members of the public; Work jointly with SAWS and the ARC to ensure improved investment in rainfall monitoring. Develop a data sharing protocol and set national data standards; Initiate the development of national and WMA-level water accounts during 2013 in preparation for NWRS-3; Ensure the necessary resources to improve the current water monitoring infrastructure over the next five years to achieve an effective monitoring network across the country as part of the 5 Year Monitoring Plan. 10

MOTIVATION The water sector in South Africa faces urgent challenges such as the scarcity of the resource and the deterioration of the quality thereof This leaves us with no other alternative but to invest in the future through the development of R&I in the water sector 11

SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS Publicly-funded water R&I currently use the water research levy, administered by the Water Research Commission (WRC) - currently approximately R150 million/annum The total level of water-related R&I funding (public plus private) is higher – between R250 and R350 million/annum for the sector as a whole Most of the water research is conducted at universities, science councils, parastatals, private sector organisations, water utilities and NGOs 12

13 KEY ISSUES Fragmentation between the water sector R&I strategy, national science and technology, the national R&D strategy and the National System of Innovation Reliance on international research and innovations, while there are local solutions available (sometimes outside the recognised formal sector) Researchers must be trained and encouraged to contribute towards solutions for the water sector Over-reliance of water-related R&I on public funding Uptake of research and innovation products No consolidated database of R&I roleplayers and products 13

14 SOLUTIONS DWA to take a lead role in directing and supporting research and innovation to address specific water sector challenges Develop a framework for monitoring and evaluation of R&I progress and uptake/use Promote innovation and technology in the private and public sector by making funds available for pilot projects, support knowledge sharing and continue to award outstanding achievement in various forums Utilisation of indigenous knowledge to enhance water resource conservation and management 14

Establishment of a comprehensive inventory of water related R&I data for the South African water sector Establish a viable funding model for the sourcing and allocation of financial resources to water sector R&I Effective utilisation of mobile technology and satellite imagery in resource monitoring, compliance monitoring and enforcement activities Establish public-private partnerships to secure funding for water-related R&I SOLUTIONS 15