National Water Resource Strategy

The National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS2), published in June 2013 by the Department of Water Affairs, provides a strategic framework for the protection, use, development, conservation, and management of South Africa's water resources over a five-to-ten-year period. The strategy aims to align water management with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality. It identifies South Africa as a water-stressed country facing challenges such as security of supply, environmental degradation, and resource pollution. The NWRS2 prioritizes equitable water allocation, water conservation and demand management (WCWDM), and the establishment of robust institutional arrangements, including nine Catchment Management Agencies and nine Regional Water Utilities. To implement these goals, the document estimates a total sector investment requirement of R700 billion over ten years.

• South Africa is identified as a water-stressed country where surface water resources are nearly fully utilized, and suitable sites for new dams are running out. The document notes that "South Africa is the 30th driest country in the world" and that "most exploitable water resources are utilized".
• The strategy estimates a total sector investment requirement of R700 billion over the next ten years, averaging R70 billion per year. This includes R670 billion for infrastructure across the water value chain and R30 billion for sustainable water management programmes.
• Water conservation and water demand management (WCWDM) are prioritized as the most cost-effective means to balance supply and demand and postpone the need for new infrastructure. The document states that "WCWDM is the foremost Reconciliation Strategy to balance water supply and demand".
• Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in urban supply systems is a significant challenge, averaging 36.8% over a six-year period, with some municipal schemes reaching up to 90%. This results in estimated revenue losses of more than R7 billion per annum.
• The strategy outlines a plan to reform water allocation to redress past racial and gender imbalances. The national target is for 30% of water to be in the hands of black and women citizens, with half of that specifically for black women.
• The document proposes a significant institutional realignment, including the establishment of nine Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) and nine Regional Water Utilities (RWUs) to manage water resources and bulk infrastructure more effectively.
• Climate change is expected to reduce overall water availability in South Africa, with the interior and western parts likely to experience more intense and prolonged droughts, while eastern kind of eastern coastal areas may become wetter.
• The irrigation sector is the largest single user of water in South Africa, accounting for approximately 60% of total water utilization, but it suffers from high losses, estimated between 35% and 45%.
• The strategy identifies Strategic Water Source Areas, which cover 8% of the land area across South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland, but provide 50% of the water for these countries.
• Water quality is severely impacted by mining (acidity and metals), urban development (salinity and microbiological), and agriculture (sediment and agro-chemicals). Acid mine drainage (AMD) is specifically highlighted as a major pollution threat in the Witwatersrand Gold Fields, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal Coal Fields.
• The document establishes a hierarchy of water allocation priorities: 1) The Reserve (basic human needs and aquatic ecosystems), 2) International water requirements, 3) Poverty eradication and equity, 4) Strategically important national economy uses (e.g., electricity generation), and 5) General economic purposes.
• The strategy promotes the use of alternative water sources to supplement surface water, including groundwater, water re-use, desalination of seawater, and the treatment of acid mine drainage.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2013). National Water Resource Strategy. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/1999/12/NWRS2-2013.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. National Water Resource Strategy. 2013. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/1999/12/NWRS2-2013.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=National Water Resource Strategy |date=June 2013 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/1999/12/NWRS2-2013.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centreforenvironmentalrights2013national, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{National Water Resource Strategy}}, institution = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2013}, month = jun, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/1999/12/NWRS2-2013.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }