Full Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, Issue ...

28UNIVERSITIES COUNCIL ON WATER RESOURCESJOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY WATER RESEARCH & EDUCATIONISSUE 135, PAGES 28-35, DECEMBER 2006Exploring the Government, Society, and Science Interfacesin Integrated Water Resource Management in South AfricaPeter J. Ashton, Anthony R. Turton, and Dirk J. RouxCouncil for Scientifi c and Industrial Research, Natural Resources and the Environment, Pretoria, South AfricaMost modern approaches to water resourcemanagement acknowledge that theentire river basin or catchment shouldform the basic management unit if water resourcesare to be managed effectively and efficiently. Inaddition, since surface and ground water areinextricably linked via the hydrological cycle, it isalso logical for water resource managers to seekto manage all forms of water as a single resourcewithin the management unit. These two technicalprinciples form the foundation for integrated waterresource management (IWRM), and it is widelyaccepted that if they are implemented effectively,the outcome should be prudent water resourcemanagement within the river basin (Biswas et al.2005).Another important component of the IWRMphilosophy is the need to engage all stakeholdersin decision-making processes (Global WaterPartnership 2000). Indeed, while effective andefficient water management institutions areusually regarded as “technocratic,” they rely ongood governance processes to ensure that allgovernment and civil society stakeholders areengaged effectively 1 . In its ideal form, therefore,the IWRM approach to catchment or river basinmanagement comprises a guiding philosophy, apractical and agreed framework for action, and aset of desired outcomes. These three characteristicsare inclusive rather than exclusive, therebyreinforcing and extending the suite of advantagesto be gained from the practical implementation ofIWRM (Ashton in press).Importantly, very few of the stakeholdersor roleplayers that are engaged in technical,social or economic activities within a river basinacknowledge that IWRM decision-making is apolitical process (Allan 2005). In addition, muchof the IWRM decision-making tends to ignore thesocial, cultural and political context, as well as thehistorical aspects within which these are embedded(Ashton in press). Taken together, these processesand contexts shape the dimensions of governanceand determine the success or failure of IWRMinitiatives. This paper reviews the evidence thatnew and more supportive government, society,and science interfaces and processes are helping toensure the effective allocation and management ofwater resources in South Africa.Drivers of ChangeIn 1994, the South African government starteda comprehensive process of reform throughoutthe water sector; this process will still continuefor several years. The focus for the South Africanwater sector reform is driven by the need to redressthe inequities of previous political dispensations,coupled with the urgent need to ensure thatsufficient supplies of wholesome water continueto be made available to meet the rapidly growingneeds of communities that are fueled by increasedrates of urbanization and industrialization. Thearid to semi-arid nature of much of South Africaand the growing scarcity of water resources makethe resolution of these problems particularly acute(Basson et al. 1997).Despite these challenges, South Africa’sNational Water Act (Republic of South Africa 1998)is widely regarded as one of the most progressivepieces of environmental legislation in the worldUCOWRJOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY WATER RESEARCH & EDUCATION