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To further improve communication between the Government and potential applicants for Water Use Licences (WULAs), the National Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) at Western Cape is hosting webinars on 23 July and 30 July, 2021, to explain and discuss the processes for Water Use Licences (WULAs). These WULA webinars are targeted at agriculture and other sectors and aim to;

• Educate potential applicants at Western Cape about water use and different permit types,
• Explain the 90-day WULA and appeal period, including the different phases and requirements for current and potential water users,
• Communicate the responsibilities of potential applicants in the application process.

The National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) provides for only one right to water, namely the reserve. This is the water needed to sustain the ecosystem and basic human needs. With the exception of water needed for this reserve and basic human needs, all other uses of water must be approved by DWS or a Catchment Management Agency (CMA).

DWS has identified lack of information from applicants and lack of comments from professionals as some factors that delay the issuance of water use licences (WUL). Moreover, in recent months, the government has highlighted (WUL) as one of the catalysts to revive the economy from the ashes of the COVID -19 pandemic.

Accelerating the WUL process is at the heart of DWS's strategy to promote growth. Accordingly, DWS recently revised its regulations on procedural requirements for water use licence applications and appeals to allow them to be processed within 90 days.

As opposed to the previously required 300 days for processing, the time frames have been significantly revised. The revised timeframes for finalising the water use licence application ensure that DWS is an active and responsible participant within the economic and social sector. The new reforms in the water use licence process can only be effective if there are solid and efficient lines of communication between the government and potential water use licence applicants.

During the WULA webinars there will also be a panel discussion allowing attendees to engage and ask questions. Further to this DWS will also develop a document which answers the frequently asked questions.

Dates for WULA Webinars

The WULA webinar for the agriculture sector is scheduled for July 23, while the other sectors will be held together on July 30, 2021. As DWS, DWS want to ensure the quality of the virtual sessions, so each WULA webinar is limited to a limited number of 200 people. Therefore, it is critical that interested parties confirm their attendance as soon as possible to receive the Microsoft invitation link. Only the first 200 people to register will receive an email with the link to the webinar.

The department encourages all the identified sectors to take advantage of the opportunity to interface with the department on WULA.