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Water Use Types

Water uses that require authorisation in terms of Section 21 (a) to (k) of the
National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998)
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For the purposes of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998)
water use includes:

(a) Taking water from a water resource

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(b) Storing water

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(c) Impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse

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(d) Engaging in a stream flow reduction activity contemplated in section 36

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(e) Engaging in a controlled activity identified as such in section 37(1) or declared under section 38(1)

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(f) Discharging waste or water containing waste into a water resource through a pipe, canal, sewer, sea outfall or other conduit

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(g) Disposing of waste in a manner which may detrimentally impact on a water resource

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(h) Disposing in any manner of water which contains waste from, or which has been heated in, any industrial or power generation process

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(i) Altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse

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(j) Removing, discharging or disposing of water found underground if it is necessary for the efficient continuation of an activity or for the safety of people

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(k) Using water for recreational purposes.

Typical mining activities that require authorisation in terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998).

Section 21 (a) & (b)

Abstraction of water from boreholes or rivers for processing, dust suppression, domestic use, wash bays, drilling etc. (Section 21a).

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Storing of water in reservoirs (Section 21b).

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Storing diverted clean water runoff in storm water attenuation dams as part of the mine’s storm water management plan (Section 21b).

Section 21 (c) & (i)

Constructing haul roads over watercourses (Section 21c and i).

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Excavations within a 500m radius of wetlands (Section 21c and i).

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Construction of storm water management infrastructure within a 500m radius of a wetland (Section 21c and i).

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Construction of clean water diversion structures and outlets within the 1:100 year flood line area of a watercourse (Section 21c and i).

Section 21 (e)

Irrigation with treated effluent from septic tanks on gardens at office area (Section 21e). ​ Discharging of treated effluent from septic tanks into a watercourse (Section 21e).

Section 21 (g)

Run of Mine stockpiles (Section 21g). ​ Dust suppression with dirty water from pollution control dams or tailings dams (Section 21g). ​ Backfilling of excavations with overburden material (Only when the mineral being mined has the potential to generate acid mine drainage) (Section 21g).
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Section 21 (f) & (g)

Discharging of treated effluent form pollution control dams into a watercourse (Section 21f). ​ The use of septic tanks at the office area, workshop, processing plant and wash bay (Section 21g). ​ Waste rock stockpiles (Section 21g).
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Section 21 (g) & (j)

Storage of dirty water runoff in pollution control dams as part of the mine’s storm water management plan (Section 21g). ​ Storage of fine tailings in tailings dams (Section 21g). ​ Dewatering of mine excavations to efficiently conduct the mining activity and for the safety of the workers (Section 21j).

Typical agricultural activities that require authorisation in terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998).

Section 21 (c) & (i)

Construction of pump house and other abstraction infrastructure within the 1:100 year flood line of a watercourse (Section 21c and i) ​ Irrigation of crops within a 500m radius of a wetland (Section 21c and i). ​ Construction of farm roads and low water bridges that traverse over watercourses (Section 21c and i). ​ Construction and storage of water in a dam that was built within a watercourse (Section 21c and i).

Section 21 (a) & (b)

Section 21 (a) and (b) Abstraction of water from boreholes or rivers for irrigation or the watering of animals (in the case of a feedlot) (Section 21a). ​ Storage of water in water reservoirs such as earth dams (Section 21b).

Section 21 (e)

Irrigation with treated effluent from septic tanks (Section 21e). ​ Irrigation with effluent from pollution control dams in the case of a feedlot where the dirty runoff water from the feedlot pad flows into a pollution control dam (Section 21e).
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Section 21 (g)

The use of septic tanks (Likely to be authorised in terms of a General Authorisation) (Section 21g).

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Manure stockpiles in the case of a feedlot (Section 21g).

Section 21 (f)

Discharging of effluent from septic tanks into a watercourse (Section 21f).

      

Discharging of effluent from dirty runoff water that flowed over a feedlot pad (Section 21f).

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Section 21 (g)

A feedlot pad (Section 21g).

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A pollution control dam into which dirty runoff water flows at the base of a feedlot pad (Section 21g).

Typical activities related to Residential and Mixed Use developments that require authorisation in terms of Section 21 of the National Water Act (Act 36 of 1998).

Section 21 (c) & (i)

Any development footprint within a 500m radius of a wetland (Section 21c and i) ​ Any development footprint within the 1:100 year flood line of a watercourse (Section 21c and i) ​ Any road crossings over a watercourse (Section 21c and i). ​ Any reticulation pipelines that cross over a watercourse (Section 21c and i). ​ Any storm water discharge structures that are constructed within the 1:100 year flood line of a watercourse (Section 21c and i).
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Section 21 (a) & (b)

Abstraction of water from boreholes or rivers for the development’s domestic use if no municipal water supply is available (Section 21a). ​ Storage of water in reservoirs if the development is located far away from municipal water supplies (Section 21b). ​ Storage of water in storm water attenuation dams as part of the development’s storm water management plan (Section 21b).

Section 21 (e), (f) & (g)

Irrigation with effluent from septic tank systems if no municipal sewage services are available (Section 21e). ​ Discharge of effluent from septic tank systems into a watercourse (Section 21f). ​ Septic tanks systems (Section 21g).