L Hendricks: National Water Conservation and Water Demand Indaba

22 March 2007

Executive Mayor of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council
Ms Connie September, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Water Affairs
and Forestry in the National Assembly
Professor Biswas
Honourable guests
Ladies and gentlemen

1. Introduction

In the 13 years since democracy, the Department of Water Affairs and
Forestry has provided more than 12 million South Africans with access to clean
water. In doing so South Africa has more than achieved the rate of delivery
required to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the Heads of
State at the United Nations (UN) in 2000. At that meeting, President Thabo
Mbeki, together with 100 other Heads of State committed to halving the
proportion of people lacking safe water in the world by 2015.

The target that we have set ourselves in South Africa goes beyond these MDGs
and we are targeting universal access to clean water by 2008. Achieving this
target would see a further 7,2 million people having access to clean water by
2008. We are also targeting adequate sanitation for all by 2010. Providing
access to sanitation and clean water is undoubtedly a critical measure in
reducing poverty in our country.

Living in a country that has scarce water resources and poor infrastructure
in rural areas and townships requires us to be very circumspect in how we
approach our targets and in the technology we use.

"Coping with water scarcity" as the theme for 2007 World Water Day is
therefore apt for South Africa, which is one of the top 30 driest countries in
the world. We have an estimated average of less than a 1 000 cubic metres of
water per person per annum, which is quite low by international standards. It
puts us clearly as water stressed country as over 1 700 cubic metres per person
per annum is considered enough not to be in water stress or have water
scarcity. In addition, the current climatic conditions that we are experiencing
makes water scarcity a daily reality for many in our country. The challenge of
climate change is that we are likely to see a reduction of rainfall in some
parts of South Africa and to see an increase the intensity of droughts and
floods.

Despite these challenges we cannot fail our people in their quest for a
better life. We need to give them water and we need to ensure that water plays
its role in our socio-economic development. It is, therefore, a priority for us
to manage our water so that we are able to balance the social needs of our
people especially those who have been denied access to water in the past with
our economic needs as water is a key ingredient in economic growth.

In an example of how we are trying to create this balance I would like to
use the occasion of this speech to announce that I have made a volume of 60
million cubic metres of water available from the Pongolapoort Dam for a sugar
development project on the Makhathini Flats. The feasibility studies for this
project will still need to be conducted over the next two years with a view to
development taking place afterwards. A Water User Association will need to be
established with prospective community farmers and the water use licence will
be issued to them once sugarcane supply agreements are signed by the
farmers.

2. Water scarcity

Ladies and gentlemen, for our own National Water Week we have adopted the
theme "Water is life � protect our scarce resources." This theme is in line
with the World Water Day theme and was chosen because we need to create greater
levels of awareness amongst South Africans that water is a scarce commodity and
that its continuous availability in our rivers and taps should not be taken for
granted.

The greater and increasing demands for water requires us to look at all
available options to address our water needs. We are looking at new dams and on
Monday of this week I was launching the building of the De Hoop Dam which when
completed will address the water needs of 800 000 people in Sekhukune, Limpopo,
as well as the needs for the mines in that region. And there are no doubt other
areas that have significant potential for new dams.

However, building dams and new infrastructure is not the only solution and
we urgently need to re-look at how we use our water. Water conservation and
water demand management have a crucial role to play in the future.

We have come a long way in our country in addressing the policy and
legislative aspects of water use, but we still have a long way to walk in its
effective implementation. We are particularly proud of our National Water Act
(Act 36 of 1998) which has enshrined integrated water resources management into
law and incorporates the principles of equity, sustainability and efficiency.
The National Water Act as well as the Water Services Act provide an enabling
environment for water conservation and water demand management and require role
players to integrate this approach into their strategic roles, responsibilities
and activities.

3. Equity and scarcity

Programme Director, our legislation also gives us a clear mandate to use
water to redress the inequities of apartheid and to ensure that those
historically disadvantaged have access to water for domestic and productive
purposes, whilst ensuring that water is utilised in a responsible and
sustainable manner. To this end my Department will be starting the compulsory
licensing process in three of our most water stressed areas in the near future,
the Mhlathuze Catchment in KwaZulu-Natal, the Inkomati Water Management Area in
Mpumalanga and the Jan Dissels Catchment in the Western Cape. This process will
level the playing fields allowing all South Africans who want to use water for
productive purposes for small scale irrigation projects, small businesses and
large commercial enterprises to apply for water for productive purposes on an
equal basis.

We can then make sure that the water is shared on a more equitable basis and
in a way that helps government realise its developmental goals and provide
redress for past inequality. But to ensure that this process does not unfairly
prejudice any users who want to contribute to economic growth and job creation,
we must make sure that we make the most efficient use of all our water
resources.

4. Water losses

Ladies and gentlemen, it is through effective integrated water resources
management that we can attempt to address the many needs for water in our
country. One area that we need to give greater attention to is the significant
water loss, wastages and inefficient use of water in the domestic, agriculture
and industrial sectors including mines and power generation. There is great
scope for all of us to work together to improve the levels of water use
efficiency across all water users. And I am pleased that Eskom has come on
board as one of the sponsors of Water Week.

Water conservation must be factored into all steps of the water management
cycle from the very inception of the planning process, through the design,
operation and de-commissioning of relevant schemes and projects. This is not
just the function of government, but the function of all water users. We should
remember that water institutions should supply water efficiently and
effectively, minimise water losses and promote water conservation and water
demand management among their consumers while water users themselves, whether
at the household level, or in industry or on the farms, should not waste water
and should use it efficiently.

As the national trustee of the water resources of South Africa, my
Department needs your active collaboration to buy-in and support in reaching
the goal of using our water efficiently and in the words of the National Water
Act, "beneficially and in the public interest."

It would be ideal if we could achieve efficient water use without having to
use punitive measures and there are some water users who have been remarkably
innovative in saving water and using it more efficiently. At the same time,
there are still a large number of people who use water as if there was an
endless supply. If necessary we will use punitive measures or pricing to
address this abuse! It is to this end that my Department is preparing
regulations on water use efficiency.

5. Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Indaba

Ladies and gentlemen, the purpose of this indaba is to explore and delve
deeper into the practical steps to accelerate the implementation of water
conservation and water demand management.

Issues that we should consider include:

* how best government can create an enabling environment for improved water
use efficiencies across all water use sectors
* how best business and industry can begin in earnest, a drive to manufacture
water efficient devices and equipment for our market
* how best water management and water services institutions can facilitate the
implementation of water conservation programmes in their areas of jurisdiction,
be it through by-laws on water use or better pressure management or control
over the quality and nature of fixtures in the distribution and retail supply
infrastructure
* how best end users (industry, agriculture, communities) can make every effort
to use water wisely, efficiently and beneficially.

I am aware, that some municipalities are doing an excellent job in
implementing water conservation and water demand management with wonderful
results in water savings, reducing losses and encouraging users to become more
efficient. Such information should not be limited to technical people and
officials of government. It is crucial for ordinary people to understand this
and be an integral part of the solution.

Ordinary people have a right to know why and how, we are implementing water
conservation and water demand management as well as why we have to build dams.
People also have experiences to share in how to conserve and manage water. In
order to share this information and experiences my Department will be launching
a national water conservation and water demand management "success stories"
publication to convey to everyone just what can be achieved when people put
their minds to it.

I am also considering launching a national water conservation and water
demand management ministerial awards the aim of which would be to recognise
water management institutions, water services institutions and water users that
are making a significant improvement in their efficiency of water use.

6. Data on water losses

Programme Director, in order to be effective in our efforts to conserve
water and in our water demand management programme we must be able to monitor
and measure our water use, our water wastage and water loss, far more
accurately than we do now.

The Water Research Commission has recently completed a study of 62
municipalities looking at water losses and the study estimates that if what is
taking place in these municipalities were applied across the board, the losses
for domestic water use through physical water losses, inaccurate meters and
unbilled and unauthorised consumption could be as high as 29% of the total
domestic water supplied in South Africa (which excludes irrigation and bulk
users). This highlights a serious challenge and I am told that the situation is
equally challenging internationally.

Over the past few years, the Water Research Commission in partnership with
my Department has invested in developing advanced and pragmatic tools and
methodologies to quantify and assess water losses. These developments assist us
in working towards more credible and accurate estimates in a cost efficient
manner. A recent research output undertook an extensive nationwide study for
the assessment of and causes of non-revenue water in South Africa with a
particular focus on municipal water supply systems. The study highlights the
root causes, nature and extent of estimated water losses in the various water
use categories. This will assist us to design relevant interventions to improve
the situation.

The extent of water losses, wastages and inefficient use of water is
negatively affecting the ability of municipalities to provide sustainable
services, conversely successful receipt of water income by municipalities could
dramatically improve their financial position. My Department is, therefore,
looking at how we can support municipalities to implement water conservation
measures. To date an amount of R45 million has been allocated to municipalities
as part of the flagship pilot on water conservation and water demand management
implementation. A minimum of eight municipalities selected across the various
regions will receive this support as a national pilot for the coming financial
year. The success of this pilot would determine the benefits for us in
establishing a water conservation and water demand management fund for
municipalities.

We are also in the process of developing a National Water Use Efficiency
Information System to assist in monitoring the water use efficiency trends in
our country at local, provincial and national scale to be able to identify
areas of interventions. This information system will play a critical role in
creating a water saving South Africa, with a dedicated interactive educational
tool for water users to learn and share information on efficient water use best
practices and initiatives. We look forward to this system being in place by
next year's Water Week. For it to be successful we will need stakeholders to
proactively engage with my Department and supply information.

7. Regulations

Programme Director, we have studied experiences from elsewhere in the world
and in our Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to see how to
sensibly develop national water conservation and water demand management
regulations. The process of drafting the regulations is underway and we hope to
get your inputs on them during the course of the indaba. It is anticipated that
the draft regulations will be ready for consultation during the course of this
year and that they will be in force next year.

The aim of these regulations is to set national standards and foster a
common approach to development and implementation of water conservation and
water demand management across water use sectors. Once in place these will
enable local government to further standardise and translate these regulations
into local by-laws for local enforcement and monitoring with my Department's
support.

We are also establishing a national water conservation and water demand
management advisory committee to support and advise my Department in this huge
task, to create and entrench the culture of water conservation and water demand
management not only amongst water users, but also among water management and
water services institutions.

8. Communication

Ladies and gentlemen, we understand that without comprehensive community
awareness, support and understanding even the most sophisticated approaches and
interventions will not work. There is therefore a need to communicate the
importance of conserving water to every sector of South African society. My
Department has therefore implemented a dynamic new strategy to communicate this
message to establish greater awareness of water conservation but more
importantly, it will call people to action. This strategy is implemented under
the banner of a national water-wise campaign, a brochure of which is included
in our conference packs with a summary of the aims of each phase of the
strategy. You may have already seen our advertisements on television and
radio.

As part of our awareness campaign we have adopted a Blue Ribbon in a droplet
form, to symbolise South Africa's ongoing efforts to use water efficiently. I
wish to invite all of you to take your Blue Ribbons out of your packs and put
them on together, as a reflection of our commitment to a Water-wise South
Africa where water is recognised for its social and economic value, cared for
and used wisely and well, for the benefit of our children and our children's
children.

9. Conclusion

To conclude, ladies and gentlemen, Mahatma Gandhi once said, "If we go on
using the earth uncaringly and without replenishing it then we are just greedy
consumers. We should take from the earth only what are our absolute and basic
necessities: things without which we cannot survive. The earth has an abundance
of everything but our share in it is only what we really need." Gandhi lived
his life on these principles and there is a lot we can learn from his
example.

President Mbeki in his 2007 State of the Nation Address (SONA) said in the
context of addressing the backlogs of service delivery, "We will continue to
confront these challenges so as to erase in our country that which is ugly and
repulsive so that together we can speak of freedom and the happiness that comes
with liberty."

I wish to reiterate and make a strong call upon all of us to commit
ourselves to using our water sustainably, efficiently and equitably.

Finally, I want to thank our sponsors and organisers of this indaba,
particularly Rand Water for partnering with us in this event. I would also like
to recognise Plumbing South Africa for volunteering their monthly news magazine
for a dedicated Department of Water Affairs and Forestry column to communicate
water conservation and water demand management issues.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
22 March 2007