View/Open - University of Zululand Institutional Repository

10.18.4 River diversions
122
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry/the two water boards for
details of new schemes and amendments to existing schemes.
(iii) An inter-basin transfer refers to the mass transfer of water from one
geographically distinct river basin to another. Inter-catchment
transfer involves the transfer of water from one tributary river
catchment to another for a given river - but not from one river basin
to another (Petitjean and Davies, 1988)*.
A permit is required from the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry for the diversion of
the natural course of a public stream (in terms of Section 20 of the Water Actl. The
number of permits being issued is increasing due to the coal mining industry, and the use
of open cast and other high yielding mining methods. Several river diversions have been
undertaken by the Department in the environs of Dundee. The diversions form part of a
programme to rehabilitate old coal mine dumps in order to prevent or to reduce the
pollution of certain rivers in the Dundee area.
10.18.5 Water boards
Water boards derive their authority in terms of Sections 107 - 138 and 178 of the Water
Act. Water boards are autonomous statutory bodies involved in the supply of bulk water
(both raw and treated) to local authorities, any Government department, the Natal
Provincial Administration and Joint Services Boards, as well as private individuals. Water
boards also undertake wastewater treatment and water purification. There are two water
boards in Natal/KwaZulu, namely, Umgeni Water, PO Box 9, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, and
Mhlatuze Water, P 0 Box 1264, Richards Bay, 3900. Besides the four dams owned by
Urngeni Water (Table J35), the following waterworks are also the property of the
organization: Ixopo; Howick; Mill Falls; D.V. Harris; H.D. Hill; Umlaas Road; Durban
Heights; Hazelmere; Wiggins, and Amanzimtoti. Sewage works owned by Umgeni Water
include Ixopo; Hammarsdale; Darvill; Mpumalanga; KwaMakhutha; Mpophomeni;
KwaDabeka; Isipingo (Umlazi); KwaNdengezi, and J. Ponds (Umlazi). The initial supply
* See Petitiean, M.O.G. and Davies, B.R., 1988. A review ofthe ecological and environmental impacts
of inter-basin water transfer schemes in southem Africa: synthesis (Part 11 and international
bibliography (Part 21. Ecosystem Programmes Occasional Report Series No. 38, Foundation for
Research Development, CSIR, Pretoria, 106 p.