‘Focus on farming compliance’
WITH the agricultural sector using the bulk of available water, regulations will need to be enforced, as noncompliance could result in the province running out of water sooner.
At a meeting between the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and Agri-SA, Minister Nomvula Mokonyane said the department would embark on a more vigorous enforcement process, with more resources being brought in from other provinces to strengthen capacity in the Western Cape DWS office.
The input of the sector was critical for the economy, but water conservation remained the responsibility of all, especially the agricultural sector, which used the bulk of all available water, she said.
Agri-SA president Dan Kriek said: “The economic impact across the board will be immense if no water is available for the sector, with a resultant social impact too. There is therefore a need to keep this economic sector alive. As Agri-SA we agree with the need for enforcement; illegal irrigators will also not be defended.
“We are also concerned about unauthorised water use. We therefore take the issue of verification very seriously.”
Kriek said they would support the department. Compliance was non-negotiable.
He added that the issue of efficient disaster relief to help farmers would also have to be addressed.
The DWS deputy director-general for strategic and emergency projects said the lack of compliance with restrictions, over abstraction and illegal water use and storage, had worsened the water situation over time.
Mokonyane said they would continue encouraging water harvesting for future use to relieve pressure on the current supply.
“The situation is currently not positive and it does not seem it will be so in the foreseeable future. There is a need for all to comply with the restrictions in place for better water use,” she said.
Cape Town is experiencing level six water restrictions. On Friday, dam levels were at 30%, down by 1% from New Year’s Day.