White paper on a national water policy for South Africa

This White Paper outlines the direction to be given to the development of a new National Water Bill in South Africa. The policy is placed within the context of the South African constitution, the country's social and economic context, the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), and within the international context. It draws on an earlier document entitled "Fundamental Principles and Objectives for a New Water Law in South Africa". The principles of the new policy are based on equity and optimum resource use and protection. It distinguishes three main priorities: basic needs, environmental requirements and international obligations. Under water resource management activities the Paper identifies the following activities: water use authorization; water resource protection; water utilization and conservation; water pricing; water resource development; public safety and disaster prevention; monitoring, assessment and auditing; and international cooperation. It then addresses the institutional, human resource and research policy requirements needed to implement the above activities.