WHO NEED TO REGISTER A BOREHOLE (SOUTH AFRICAN LAW)

All the information a user needs to know about registering and licensing is available on the DWAF website http://www.dwaf.goc.za/projects/WARMS

ACCORDING TO THE WEBSITE:

Who must register their water use?
All water users, who do not receive their water from a service provider, local authority, water board, irrigation boards, government water scheme or other bulk supplier and who ware using water for:

Irrigation
Mining purposes
Industrial use
Feedlots, or
In terms of a General Authorisation

This covers the use of surface and groundwater.

Other uses which must be registered, include:

Diversion of rivers and steams
Discharge of waste and water containing waste
Storage. Any person or body storing water for any purpose (including irrigation, domestic supply, industrial use, mining, aqua culture, fishing, water sport, aesthetic value, gardening, landscaping, golfing, etc) from surface runoff, groundwater or fountain flow in excess of 10,000 cubic metres or where the water area at full supply level, exceeds 1 hectare in total on land owned or occupied by that person or body and not in possession of a permit or permission.
Stream flow redcution activities (Afforestation). All afforestation (tree planting) for commercial purposes, including communal forestry for commercial gain, that took place prior to 1972, must be registered. Forest owners who have permits issued under the Forestry Act need not register, as we will send them completed registration documents, compiled from our records, to amend if required, to sign and return.
Local authorities and other bulk suppliers with their own water sources and purification works.
Controlled Activities, such as irrigating with waster, power generation with water, atmospheric modification or recharging an aquifer.

Who does NOT need to Register?
If you receive water from a local authority, a water board, an irrigation board or another bulk water supplier, you do not need to register that use. The Department will register you if required and send you a certificate or a semi-completed application to fill in.

The National Water Act allows a person to take water for reasonable domestic use directly from any water resouce to which he or she has lawful access. No licence or registration is required for this. It also allows a person to take water for small gardening (not for commercial purposes) and the watering of animals (excluding feedlots) on land owned or occupied by that person, from any water resource which is situated on or forms a boundary of that land, if the use is not excessive in relation to the capacity of th ewater resource and the needs of other users. This meanss that most users using groundwater in towns and citites and those users with 'windmills' (windpumps) on their own properties, need not register!

Give us a chance to answer any questions you may have (click here)

Tel: +27 13 661-1300/1/2

Fax: +27 13 661-1304

Physical Address

Ground Water
Witbank Road
Sundra
Mpumalanga
South Africa

Postal Address

P.O.Box 107
Sundra
2200
Mpumalanga
South Africa

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