Implementation of IWRM is best done in a step-by-step process, with some changes taking place immediately and others requiring several years of planning and capacity building.
6.1 Policy and legal framework
Attitudes are changing as officials are becoming more aware of the need to manage resources efficiently. They see too that the construction of new infrastructure has to take into account environmental and social impacts and the fundamental need for systems to be economically viable for maintenance purposes. However, they may still be inhibited by the political implications of such a change. The process of revising water policy is therefore a key step, requiring extensive consultation and demanding political commitment.
Water legislation converts policy into law and should:
• Clarify the entitlement and responsibilities of users and water providers;
• Clarify the roles of the state in relation to other stakeholders;
• Formalise the transfer of water allocations;
• Provide legal status for water management institutions of government and water user groups;
• Ensure sustainable use of the resource.