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Water Resources: Government Information: Library Guide: Water rights, Water security & Water allocation reform

This guide directs you to government sources on water resources from international to local level.

Water allocation reform

Department of Water Affairs. Water Allocation Reform (WAR)

G 68 E.HSRC.12.FLUI   Movik, Synne.  Fluid rights : water allocation reform in South Africa. --    Cape Town : HSRC Press, 2012.

G 68 JWRC 1855/1/11   Msibi, Mandla I.    Water allocation reform in South Africa :   history, processes and prospects for future implementation : report to the Water Research Commission /    [Gezina, South Africa] :   Water Research Commission,   2011.

G 68 JWRC 1569/1/08   Towards the establishment of water market institutions for effective and efficient water allocation in South Africa.   Gezina, South Africa :   Water Research Commission,   2008.

South Africa. Department of Water Affairs and Forestry. Chief Directorate: Water Use. Water allocation reform strategy. Pretoria: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, September 2008.

Seetal, Ashwin R. (2006). Progress with water allocation reform in South Africa. In:Water and agriculture: sustainability, markets and policies. Paris : OECD Publishing. 

G 68 E.WATE.07.GUID
South Africa. Dept. of Water Affairs and Forestry (1990-2010).
   A guide to water allocation reform and compulsory licensing / Department: Water Affairs and Forestry, Republic of South Africa. --    [Pretoria : Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, 2007?].

   22 p. : col. ill., maps ; 30 cm. ( Water allocation reform and compulsory licensing series ; 1 ) 

G 68 E.WATE.05.DRAF

South Africa. Dept. of Water Affairs and Forestry (1990- ). Directorate: Water Allocations.
   A draft position paper for water allocation reform in South Africa : towards a framework for water allocation planning : discussion document / Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Directorate: Water Allocations, Republic of South Africa. --    [Pretoria : Department of Water Affairs and Forestry] , 2005.
   19 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.

Water rights

South African Human Rights Commission. KZN water inquiry report, Durban, August 2022. 

South African Human Rights Commission. Report on the right to access sufficient water and decent sanitation in South Africa, 2014 Shelf no. G 68 E.HUMA.14. WATE

G 68 E.HSRC.12.FLUI   Movik, Synne.  Fluid rights : water allocation reform in South Africa. --    Cape Town : HSRC Press, 2012.

G 68 JWRC TT 554/13   Linking property rights, ecosystem services and water resources :   an introduction : report to the Water Research Commission /    Gezina [South Africa] :   Water Research Commission,   2013.   

G 68 JWRC 2073/1/13   Embedding property rights theory in cooperative approaches to the management of aquatic ecosystem services in South Africa :   report to the Water Research Commission /    Gezina [South Africa] :   Water Research Commission,   2013.

G 68 JWRC 870/1/99   Armitage, R. M    An economic analysis of surface irrigation water rights transfers in selected areas of South Africa.   [Pretoria :   Water Research Commission,   1999].

G 68 JWRC 406/1-2/96   Uys, Maritza    A structural analysis of the water allocation mechanism of the Water Act 54 of 1956, in the light of the requirements of competing water user sectors :   with special reference to the allocation of water rights for ecobiotic requirements, and the historical development of the South African water law /    [Pretoria :   Water Research Commission,   1996].

G 68 EWP B/95   South Africa. Dept. of Water Affairs and Forestry (1990-2010)    You and your water rights :   South African law review : a call for public response /    [Pretoria :   The Dept.],   1995.

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996

"24. Environment

Everyone has the right –
(a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being;

27. Health care, food, water and social security

(1) Everyone has the right to have access to –

(a) health care services, including reproductive health care;
(b) sufficient food and water; and
(c) social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, 
appropriate social assistance."

Water security

Academy of Science of South Africa. Statement on Water Security in South Africa. Lynnwood Ridge, Pretoria: Academy of Science of South Africa, 14 March 2023. 

Academy of Science of South Africa. Water Security Seminar: Sustainable Development Goal 6: Access to Water and Sanitation for All (14 March 2023). Proceedings report, 14 March 2023. Lynnwood Ridge, Pretoria: Academy of Science of South Africa, July 2023. 

Jewitt, GPW, C Sutherland, M Browne, S Stuart-Hill, S Risko, P Martel, J Taylor and M Varghese. Enhancing Water Security Through Restoration and Maintenance of Ecological Infrastructure: Lessons From the Umngeni River Catchment, South Africa: report to the Water Research Commission. Gezina: Water Research Commission, April 2020. (WRC Report No. TT 815/20)

Muller, M. et al. 2009. Water security in South Africa. Development Planning Division. Working Paper Series No.12, DBSA: Midrand.

Schreiner, B., Pegram, G. & von der Heyden, C. 2009. Reality check on water resources management: are we doing the
right things in the best possible way?Development Planning Division. Working Paper Series No.11, DBSA: Midrand.

Smith, L. 2009. Municipal compliance with water services policy: a challenge for water security. Development Planning Division.
Working Paper Series No.10 , DBSA: Midrand.

South Africa. Ministry of Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs. SIP 19: Ecological Infrastructure for Water Security. Minister's Approved Draft for Submission to the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission Revision 6.1, Friday 31 October 2014. 

South Africa. National Planning Commission. National water security framework for South Africa: summary, principles and recommendations. Pretoria: National Planning Commission, July 2020. 1st edition. Extended version.

South Africa. National Planning Commission. National water security framework for South Africa: summary, principles and recommendations. 1st edition. Pretoria: National Planning Commission, July 2020. 

South Africa. National Planning Commission. National water security framework. Discussion document for public comments. Pretoria: National Planning Commission, 15 January 2019.

Van der Merwe-Botha, M. 2009. Water quality: a vital dimension of water security. Development Planning Division. Working Paper Series No.14 , DBSA: Midrand.

International Water Security Network

International Water Security Network

"This project brings together the University of the West of England, Monash South Africa and the University of Arizona to investigate issues around water security."

Journal article

Adom, Richard Kwame, and Mulala Danny Simatele. Analysis of public policies and programmes towards water security in post-apartheid South Africa. Water policy, 23 (2021) 503–520.