BLOEMFONTEIN – South African water users have until tomorrow 23 July to register with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) or face penalties.
The declaration applies to users of farming land, water for industrial activities and commercial boreholes on the department’s website.
Department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa said all water users should register or update their water use information as part of a process to manage and protect South Africa’s water resources.
The registration period started on 24 April and was open for 90 days.
“Failure to register water use continues to pose a serious risk to effective water resource management. Unregistered users create critical data gaps that undermine planning and decision-making, disrupt fair distribution and place additional strain on already limited water supplies,” Mavasa said.
Kempen Nel, an irrigation farmer on the Riet River and chairperson of Free State Agriculture’s Natural Resource Committee, said it is important that farmers adhere to these regulations.
However, he expressed concern that the department does not have the resources to police those who do not comply.
The department is calling on all water users who are not registered or whose details are outdated to come forward without delay. This includes individuals and entities who bought property from registered water users without updating ownership details, those who obtained land through restitution processes without notifying authorities, and those leasing property where water use has not been formally registered.
Certain categories of water users are exempt from registration. These include water users who fall within the area of operation of a water user association, provided their water use is registered through that structure. However, any groundwater use for commercial purposes, including boreholes, must still be registered with the responsible authority.
The department said no fees will be charged for applications submitted within the 90-day registration period. However, a late registration fee of R300 per property may be applied to applications submitted after 90 days.
Non-compliance with this directive constitutes an offence. Any person who fails to register or update their water use information within the stipulated period may, upon conviction, be liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.
Water users can register on the Department of Water and Sanitation’s website.
