The Purpose

To provide strategic support guidance with the management , control, and roll out of Water Use Efficiency across water use sectors, water management institutions, including but not limited to agricultural, industrial, mining, power generation, water utilities, municipalities etc.

Description of functions

The Directorate Water Use Efficiency (WUE) was established during 1998, with the promulgation of the National Water ACT (NWA), 1998, (Act N0.36 of 1998). The Directorate was established primarily to facilitate the realisation of the National Water Act, 1998, to promote effective and efficient use of water, to contribute to sustainable water resources management, to facilitate the realization of the Water Services Act (WSA), 1997 ( Act No. 106 of 1997), to promote effective and efficient use of water and to contribute to sustainable water resources management.

The Directorate comprises of five sub-directorates that champion the promotion of water conservation and water demand management programmes to fulfill the purpose of the NWA and WSA respectively. These are:

Strategy and Oversight

• To develop and provide inputs on national policies, strategies, guidelines, procedures, conditions, standards, benchmarks, key performance indicators, regulations and best management practices of water use efficiency, in support of water conservation and water demand management implementation programmes.
• To coordinate D:WUE strategic business planning and reporting

Water Management Institutions and Local Government

• To support and facilitate the implementation of WCWDM programmes by water management institutions and local government to achieve efficient use of water.
• To facilitate business process that supports the minimization of water losses, wastages and inefficient use within the sector

Industries, Mining and Power Generation

• To support and facilitate the implementation of WCWDM programmes by IMP sector to achieve efficient use of water within the sector.
• To facilitate technological research into water-saving devices and equipment to support the minimization of water loss, wastages and inefficient use within the sector.

Agricultural Water Loss Control and Water Demand Management

• To support and facilitate the implementation of WCWDM and programmes by the agricultural sector to achieve efficient use of water.
• To facilitate technological research into water-saving devices and equipment to support the minimization of water loss, wastages and inefficient use within the sector.

Education and Awareness

• To promote among all water use sectors and the general public, the understanding of and implementation of WCWDM policies, strategies, guidelines, KPIs, BMPs and regulations.
• To communicate with the water sector s and communities and educate them on the need for as well as the importance of WCWDM as a strategy and imperative to cope with water scarcity in semi-arid South Africa.
• To establish and manage an information to hub for WCWDM programmes, projects, devices and legislation to support efficient use of water by all South Africans.