In South Africa, the Department of Water Affairs (DWS) has implemented its plan for a 90-day turnaround on applications for water use licences (WUL).
The DWS announced last year a revision to its regulations on WULA procedures, reducing the targeted timeframe from 300 days. All submissions after 1 April 2021 will follow the 90-day review and decision process while applications initiated before 1 April 2021 will still follow the 300-day process.
WULA submissions must now include detailed engineering specifications, in accordance with the DWS’s technical advisory notes (TANs) and design checklists, advised Jacky Burke, principal scientist at SRK Consulting.
This move by the DWS is in line with global best practice, which is moving toward closer integration of engineering aspects with environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and financial sustainability in all projects.
According to Megan Kim Govender, SRK Consulting environmental scientist: “By speeding up the process, it is hoped that applications can be adjudicated faster, and licences issued more quickly – allowing developers to initiate projects sooner.
“However, more detailed studies and preparation must be conducted upfront to ensure a complete submission that meets all DWS requirements.”
SRK Contributors:
Jacky Burke, Megan Govender
Read the full article in Green Building Africa
