NWA 1998

The National Water Act, 1998 (Act 36 of 1998) requires water resources management be driven at a local level, in keeping with the local nature of water systems. Polokwane Local Municipality (PLM) as the Water Services Authority, is responsible for supplying adequate domestic water to 16 Rural Water Schemes and Groundwater Schemes.

Unconventional gas development in South Africa consists of but not limited to shale gas extraction commonly known as “fracking”, Underground Coal Gasification (UCG), Coalbed Methane (CBM), to extract natural gas from geological formations is a new, rapidly expanding industry in the world and in South Africa. However, there are general concerns that these operations could have large negative impacts such as groundwater contamination.