Government Waterworks: Input Sought on Draft Regulations

Posted 07 January 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Water & Sanitation

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: Stakeholders have been invited to provide preliminary input on draft regulations governing government waterworks before their formal gazetting.

In terms of the National Water Act, No. 36 of 1998, the Department of Water and Sanitation is developing a revised regulatory framework for the management and operation of government waterworks. These draft regulations, which are currently in a pre-publication consultation phase, aim to refine the procedures for water allocation and infrastructure cost recovery.

The draft regulations focus on several key areas of water resource management:

  • Procedures for the application and granting of water use rights from government-owned infrastructure;
  • The methodology for determining tariffs and charges related to the operation and maintenance of government waterworks;
  • Technical standards for the protection of water infrastructure against damage or unauthorised access; and
  • Reporting requirements for bulk water users and irrigation boards.

Interested parties are advised to engage with the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure that the practicalities of water management on the ground are reflected in the final regulatory text.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: Monitor the Department’s official notices for the formal publication of these regulations to maintain professional competency in environmental and water law.
  • For your business: Assess the firm’s capacity to provide specialised legal or environmental audits once the new tariff structures and compliance standards are implemented.
  • For your clients: Clients using bulk water from government schemes should prepare for potential changes in reporting requirements and tariff structures by reviewing current water use licenses.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/government-waterworks-input-sought-on-unpublished-draft-regulations

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