As South Africa pays closer attention to managing its scarce water resources, applying for water use licences has inevitably become more complex; however, experts provide support through this process.
“For the best results, the water use licence application (WULA) process needs close and constant engagement with the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), as well as the various technical specialists who conduct studies for the application,” said Avril Owens, principal environmental scientist and associate partner at SRK Consulting. “Specialised consultants can help applicants to streamline this process.”
For instance, there is often insufficient information at the early stages of a project to meet application requirements, but the process is generally initiated early because it can be lengthy. To deal with this challenge, environmental experts can be consulted in the concept phase, and can start the WULA process with detailed information gathering and review. This assessment of available data helps determine the best way forward, including detailed schedules with clear permitting milestones, roles and responsibilities and action plans to close identified information gaps.
Owens noted that the DWS Electronic Water Use Licence Application and Authorisation System (e-WULAAS) has been a significant step forward in streamlining the application process.
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