Stringent laws on water quality to be gazetted
A public meeting was held earlier this week to discuss the resource quality objectives of the Olifants River.
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The Department of Water Affairs has commissioned a process to determine resource quality objectives (RQO’s) for all the water resources of the Olifants River.
The purpose is to establish clear goals relating to the quality of the water resources.
Several stakeholders, including a group of residents who formed the ‘Save the Olifants River’ campaign and concerned residents living on the banks of the river, attended the meeting that was held on Monday, March 31 at the Protea Hotel.
Mr Chris Dickens from the Institute of Natural Resources said through the RQO determination process clear goals will be gazetted and become legally binding on all users and regulators alike, relating to the quality of water resources will be established as required in the National Water Ac.
“These RQO’s will give effect to the balance between the need to protect and sustain water resources and the need to develop and use them,” he said.