water use management
The National Water Act, 1998 (Act No 36 of 1998) defines various categories of permissible water uses –viz. Schedule 1 uses, generally authorised uses, existing lawful uses and licensed uses. GCS provides comprehensive services relating to water use licensing and water use regulation in general, including:
- Water use licensing – GCS specialises in handling the water use licensing process on behalf of an organisation, allowing for maximum efficiency and minimal costs and delays.
- Assessing compliance with license conditions and licence amendment applications - GCS undertakes detailed assessment audits of an organisation’s compliance with its water licence conditions and, where possible, advises the client how to achieve and sustain compliance.
- Validation and verification of existing lawful uses – GCS assists organisations in the validation and verification of their water uses in terms of Section 35 of the National Water Act.
- Integrated Water and Waste Management Plans (IWWMP’s) – GCS staff are qualified to undertake IWWMP’s in terms of the requirements of the relevant Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) regional offices.
- Water use registration in terms of the General Authorisations in Government Notice No 398 and 399, dated 26 March 2004 (Reviewed regularly by DWAF) - GCS assists organisations in identifying their specific water use registration requirements, and completes the relevant registration forms and ensures that the water uses are properly registered.
- Water rights transfer and Trading - the transfer of water use entitlements has become an important process in the water stressed sectors of the country. GCS provides the necessary assistance with regard to such transfers, including preparation and submission of the necessary documentation to the regulatory authorities.
