The Classification SystemThe Classification SystemRequirementsRequirements

The Why, What and HowThe Why, What and How

Jason HallowesJason Hallowes

Structure of presentationStructure of presentation Why do we need the classification Why do we need the classification

system?system? What is the classification system?What is the classification system? What is the conceptual framework What is the conceptual framework

for a classification systemfor a classification system What are the modelling What are the modelling

requirements of the classification requirements of the classification systemsystem

DemonstrationDemonstration

Classification system Classification system (Why?)(Why?)

The ProblemThe Problem: “The previous Water Act of 1956 : “The previous Water Act of 1956 only dealt with water in public streams and did only dealt with water in public streams and did not deal seriously with not deal seriously with environmental issues, environmental issues, equity issues and downstream requirementsequity issues and downstream requirements” ” (Seetal and Perkins, 2003)(Seetal and Perkins, 2003)

Retaining the Riparian rights system…Retaining the Riparian rights system… Would enforce the “status quo” ……thus influencing Would enforce the “status quo” ……thus influencing

equity considerationsequity considerations Would introduce economic inefficienciesWould introduce economic inefficiencies Would compromise sustainability and reduced Would compromise sustainability and reduced

ecosystem services ecosystem services

Classification system Classification system (Why?)(Why?)

The The changeschanges in the South African Government in in the South African Government in 1994 and associated political and social 1994 and associated political and social environment provided an opportunity to move to environment provided an opportunity to move to a different system of allocating entitlements to a different system of allocating entitlements to water.water.

The system is referred to as a The system is referred to as a Licensing Licensing SystemSystem, whereby entitlements to use water are , whereby entitlements to use water are issued by a water management authority.issued by a water management authority.

The “licensing system” can address the The “licensing system” can address the shortcomings of the old Riparian Rights System, shortcomings of the old Riparian Rights System, thus leading to thus leading to improved beneficial allocation improved beneficial allocation and useand use of water in South Africa. of water in South Africa.

Classification system Classification system (Why?)(Why?) Uncontrolled developments could have lead to Uncontrolled developments could have lead to

the compromising of the ecosystem integrity the compromising of the ecosystem integrity which would have resulted in loss of ecosystem which would have resulted in loss of ecosystem services thus compromising the services thus compromising the long term long term sustainabilitysustainability of a water resource system of a water resource system

Thus, there is more emphasis on the Thus, there is more emphasis on the improved improved management and allocationmanagement and allocation of water resources of water resources which recognises:which recognises: The importance of The importance of ecosystem integrityecosystem integrity ( (ProtectionProtection) in ) in

maintaining the assurance of supply in terms of maintaining the assurance of supply in terms of quantity and qualityquantity and quality

The importance of utilising resources in the interests The importance of utilising resources in the interests of public benefit (of public benefit (DevelopmentDevelopment). ).

Classification system Classification system (Why? (Why? What?)What?)

The National Government, as custodian of The National Government, as custodian of the nation’s water resources, is mandated to the nation’s water resources, is mandated to ensure the ensure the protection, use, development, protection, use, development, conservationconservation, management and control of the , management and control of the nation’s water resources is achieved in a nation’s water resources is achieved in a sustainablesustainable and equitable manner, for the and equitable manner, for the benefit of benefit of all South Africansall South Africans..

Classification System Classification System (what?)(what?) The The first stagefirst stage of the PROTECTION process of the PROTECTION process

(NWA)(NWA) Provides a Provides a frameworkframework (Definitions, guidelines (Definitions, guidelines

and procedures) for and procedures) for negotiatingnegotiating the the classesclasses of a of a resource and setting the RQOs for all or parts of resource and setting the RQOs for all or parts of a significant resourcea significant resource

The classification system encompasses the The classification system encompasses the process whereby the resource is codified (into process whereby the resource is codified (into classes) through a classes) through a consultative processconsultative process into both into both the the presentpresent and and future desired statefuture desired state

The selection of a class reflects the negotiated The selection of a class reflects the negotiated importance given to protection and development importance given to protection and development for a given resourcefor a given resource

Classification system Classification system (What)(What)

RQO:RQO: Set clear goals for resource quality (Set clear goals for resource quality (quantityquantity, , qualityquality, ,

habitat integrityhabitat integrity etc) etc) CRUX: A balance is needed between CRUX: A balance is needed between protectionprotection and and

developmentdevelopment Statement of intent (influences the Statement of intent (influences the allocatable allocatable

resourceresource and and individual license usersindividual license users)) The classification system thus, once developed, The classification system thus, once developed,

provides a provides a frameworkframework that can be used by all that can be used by all parties in the parties in the managementmanagement and use of water and use of water resources according to the resources according to the Class and Class and established RQOsestablished RQOs

Classification system Classification system (What)(What) The classification system seeks to develop a meaningful The classification system seeks to develop a meaningful

framework which allows stakeholders to negotiate a framework which allows stakeholders to negotiate a desired class.desired class.

The class reflects the importance given to The class reflects the importance given to protectionprotection and/or and/or development.development.

The class will influence the nature and number of The class will influence the nature and number of entitlements issued against different water resources. entitlements issued against different water resources. (i.e. who gets entitlements, and with what conditions (i.e. who gets entitlements, and with what conditions attached).attached).

The classification system therefore influences the The classification system therefore influences the allocatable resourceallocatable resource

Provides a framework against which Provides a framework against which individual licensesindividual licenses can be assessed in terms of water can be assessed in terms of water quantity quantity and and qualityquality

The Reserve and associated IFR, EFR etc form The Reserve and associated IFR, EFR etc form part of part of the classification system the classification system

Conceptual frameworkConceptual framework

Management objectivesISO 14000

Rules for Impact modification

Activities/impacts Modified impacts

Classification process

2. Define Current

State

4. Management classification

3. Define futureDesired State

(RQO, Reserve)

Environmental

Social Economic2. Combined

CurrentClass

1.Classification

System

EnvironmentalElements

BiophysicalElements

3.Combined

FutureClass

EnvironmentalElements

BiophysicalElements

Framework to assess tradeoffsFramework to assess tradeoffs CommunicateCommunicate with regional DWAF, CMA and more with regional DWAF, CMA and more

specifically actual individual stakeholdersspecifically actual individual stakeholders RiskRisk Common languageCommon language

Water as a factor of production for:Water as a factor of production for: AgriculturalAgricultural

Risk crop failure (Poor quality, low quantity)Risk crop failure (Poor quality, low quantity) How often? How severe?How often? How severe?

IndustryIndustry Risk process shutdown (Poor quality, low quantity)Risk process shutdown (Poor quality, low quantity)

How often? How severe?How often? How severe? Water required for survival of:Water required for survival of:

PeoplePeople Risk people ill or dead from thirst or disease (Poor quality, low quantity)Risk people ill or dead from thirst or disease (Poor quality, low quantity)

How often? How severe? How often? How severe? EcologyEcology

Ecosystem failure species die (Poor quality, low quantity)Ecosystem failure species die (Poor quality, low quantity) How often? How severe?How often? How severe?

Environmental needs

Water Users Needs

FRAMEWORK TO CAPTURE TRADE OFFS

Risk Analysis

Hazard threshold

Hazard threshold

Combined Needs

COMBINED SCORECOST BENEFIT TRADEOFF

Water Users S/E Benefits Water Users S/E Costs

Environmental S/E Benefits

Water Users Impacts

Want

GET

Modelling requirementsModelling requirements

SustainabilitySustainability Need a framework that can assess the Need a framework that can assess the impactsimpacts that that

various users have on the various users have on the entire resourceentire resource. Therefore . Therefore we need to consider the we need to consider the groundwater - surface water groundwater - surface water interactioninteraction as well as as well as water quantity and qualitywater quantity and quality (All (All elements Not Just Salinity)elements Not Just Salinity)

Balance and tradeoffBalance and tradeoff Need system that not only can model the impacts but Need system that not only can model the impacts but

can also assess the can also assess the socialsocial and and economiceconomic benefitsbenefits and and costscosts in terms of in terms of protectionprotection and and development.development.

MCDA MCDA framework linked into GIS is perhaps the most framework linked into GIS is perhaps the most effective effective

Modelling requirementsModelling requirements TransparencyTransparency

Negotiated, consultative solution.Negotiated, consultative solution. Therefore inputs and outputs Therefore inputs and outputs need to be communicated and understood by the users, need to be communicated and understood by the users, catchment managers and third party stakeholders. (Risk)catchment managers and third party stakeholders. (Risk)

GIS GIS represents a framework within which users can interact represents a framework within which users can interact effectively (Promotes understanding)effectively (Promotes understanding)

ImplementabilityImplementability Transaction costs need to be lowTransaction costs need to be low Setup timeSetup time needs minimized needs minimized Scenario changes Scenario changes setupsetup must be quick must be quick Water managers and licensing officialsWater managers and licensing officials need to be able to set up need to be able to set up

and run scenario changes according to needand run scenario changes according to need Inputs and outputs must be Inputs and outputs must be understood understood by participating and by participating and

influenced stakeholdersinfluenced stakeholders

DemonstrationDemonstration