Getting
out of the Water Crisis
5 April 2004
In the past weeks we discussed
various water challenges in Swaziland. These include among others drought,
floods, diseases, water as a basic human right and water management.
Responses
Responses on these issues
indicate that we a have serious water crisis due to mismanagement of this
finite resource. Water mismanagement is occurring in different forms, which
include among others, inequitable distribution, pollution, wastage due
to leakages and unsustainable irrigation technologies. The Water Act of
2003 and the Environment Management Act of 2002 (EMA) seem to be a solution
to water mismanagement. However, monitoring and enforcement of these legislations
is a challenge to ensure sustainable management.
Who is benefiting most?
A large proportion of our
water resources have been dammed and or channelled to sustain industries
and commercial agriculture at the expense of communities. Further, industries
are discharging untreated effluent into water sources. The case of the
Usushwana River around Matsapha Industrial Sites and the Great Usuthu River
in Big Bend are a good example.
Legal framework
The Water Act gives precedence
to basic human needs when there is water scarcity. The minimum human
need is the amount needed to maintain survival, to meet basic needs for
drinking, cooking and fundamental domestic uses. The EMA allows for public
participation and civil action against violation for example when water
is being polluted. Similarly, the Water Act provides for the control of
pollution through issuing of effluent control permits and monitoring compliance
to permits. Further, the Act provides for the establishment of River Basin
Authorities whose responsibilities include among others monitoring availability
and quality of water, issue, amend and renew water permits, impose water
restrictions on all users in times of shortages, enforce regulations and
others. Effective implementation of the EMA and Water Act will greatly
improve the management of water resources in the country.
Responsibility
Water is essential to life
and we all have the responsibility to protect it. The legislation discussed
above empowers citizens to take action against violation of rights to clean
water. If there are cases where water is being mismanaged there are government
bodies such as the Swaziland Environment Authority and Water Resources
Branch who are responsible for environment and water issues. Further, there
are NGOs such as Yonge Nawe who are working environment and sustainable
development issues and could assist with addressing water mismanagement
issues.
Watch this column for more
articles on environment and development issues in Swaziland.
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