(Virtual Showroom): The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has classified South Africa into quaternary catchments pertaining to groundwater abstraction in terms of the Government Notice (GN) 538 of 2016 of the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998), as amended (NWA). GN 538 of 2016 is applicable to the taking of water from a water resource and the storing of water.

In terms of this Notice, the volume of groundwater that may be abstracted annually per hectare of property is allocated to each quaternary catchment.  Provided that the water user abstracting water from a groundwater resource adheres to conditions and the limits specified in the GN 538 of 2016, the water use can be registered with the DWS to obtain a General Authorisation (GA).

In terms of GN 538 of 2016, certain limitations and exceptions apply to the volume of groundwater abstraction that can be registered to prevent depletion of South Africa's valuable groundwater resources:

• A person taking 10 cubic metres (m³) of water from a groundwater resource per day on average per annum on a property or piece of land in terms of this authorisation must register the water use with the DWS.
• The abstraction of groundwater in terms of GN 538 of 2016 will only be considered registered when DWS has issued a document that proves that the application for registration has been received.
• Up to the maximum annual volume of groundwater given for the resource in Table 2: Groundwater Abstraction Rates in Appendix B of GN 538 of 2016 may be taken in terms of this Notice for use on one property or piece of land, based on the size of the property or piece of land on which the water is taken. Note: The volume of water that may be taken is capped to 40 000 cubic metres per annum on a property. 
• No water may be taken within a 500-metre radius from the boundary (delineated edge) of a wetland, pan or estuary.
• No water may be within a 100-meter radius from the delineated riparian edge of a water course or a state dam.
• No water may be within a 500-metre radius from the high-water mark of the ocean.
• A water user who takes groundwater at more than two (2) litres per second on a property or piece of land must measure and record the volume of water that is taken. The volume of water taken must be measured and recorded at the end of each month, and records must be kept for a minimum of five years and must be made available to officials of the DWS upon request.
• GN 538 of 2016 does not and cannot exempt any water user from compliance with any provision of the NWA or any other legal requirement.   

According to GN 538 of 2016, the DWS must acknowledge receipt of the application for registration within 30 working days from date of submission. 

ENVASS has a qualified team of specialists’ and registered Environmental Assessment Practitioners (EAP) that can assist various industry sectors and the public with the GA registration process in terms of GN 538 of 2016.