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Telephone: 012-336-8477
Reference: 2/1/5/1
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES: QUESTION 276 FOR WRITTEN REPLY
A draft reply to the above mentioned question asked by Mr M W Makhubela
(COPE-Limpopo) is attached for your consideration.
ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DATE:
DRAFT REPLY APPROVED/AMENDED
MRS B E E MOLEWA, MP
MINISTER OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
DATE:
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 276
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 05 AUGUST 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 21)
276. Mr M W Makhubela (COPE-Limpopo) to ask the Minister of Water and
Environmental Affairs:
Whether her department has a strategy to encourage the implementation
of water-sensitive urban design that minimises pollution and erosion
so that storm water is captured within the urban landscape rather than
simply being discharged into the sea; if not, why not; if so, what are
the relevant details?
CW340E
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REPLY:
No, the Department does not have a strategy that promotes water-
quality-wise urban design and storm water attenuation per se.
Local government has executive authority in respect of municipal
planning and the Department of Water Affairs supports local government
where appropriate. The Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process
and the establishment of Water Services Development Plans should house
specifications for water-wise development at municipal level. The
Departmentâs planning mandate in respect of water quality endeavors to
ensure fitness-for-use of receiving water resources. From a
regulatory perspective, the Department manages water uses, such as
sewage works which constitute the end-point of large quantities of
urban storm water through the water use authorisation process, e.g.
licensing. The Department is further also responsible for ensuring
that water use efficiency measures are implemented by local government
in order to prevent wasteful practices and to manage water demand.
The town, Atlantis in the Western Cape constitutes an example where
the Department actively supported local government, and where storm
water designs was completed prior to finalising the urban lay-out
plans in order to enhance water supply to the town.
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