Factsheet #66

Water use licenses

Instrument Type

formal

Governance Level

local
regional/basin
national

Governance Mode

hierarchical
market
hybrid

Water management topics addressed

Drought & water scarcity
Water abstraction for irrigation and other economic activities

Implementation requirements

Financial capacity

low

Human capacity

low

Political buy-in

medium

Timeframe for implementation

short

#66: Water use licenses

Description

Water use licences implement general authorisations for water withdrawal and discharge of waste water. 

Function

Water Use Licences can be applicable to all persons and sectors within the country. Water uses that require the licencing need to be specified. This licencing can be achieved through a Water Use Licence or General Authorisation. Topics covered include water withdrawal and discharge of wastewater.

Example: Licensing for specific water uses in South Africa

In South Africa, licenses for water use can be required by competent authorities of actors conducting activities that may lead to the discharge of waste or wastewater into water resources, or other activities in such a manner that would eventually lead to the detriment of the resource. 

Source

STEER (2019). Assessment of variables in the five in-depth case studies of the STEER project. Internal Report. (p. 434)

South African Government Gazette (1998). National Water Act https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/a36-98.pdf Retrieved on 22 September 2020

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