Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997)Chapter VI : Water Boards34. Parameters for functions of water boards |
| (1) | In performing its activities, exercising its powers and carrying out its duties a water board must achieve a balance between— |
| (a) | striving to provide efficient, reliable and sustainable water services; |
| (b) | optimally using available resources; |
| (c) | striving to be financially viable; |
| (d) | promoting the efficiency of water services authorities; |
| (e) | taking cognisance of the needs of water services institutions, consumers and users; |
| (f) | taking into account national and provincial policies, objects and developments; |
| (g) | acting in an equitable, transparent and fair manner; |
| (h) | complying with health and environmental policies; and |
| (i) | taking reasonable measures to promote water conservation and water demand management, including promoting public awareness of these matters. |
| (2) | For the purpose of subsection (1)(c) a water board is financially viable if it is able to— |
| (a) | repay and service its debts; |
| (b) | recover its capital, operational and maintenance costs; |
| (c) | make reasonable provision for depreciation of assets; |
| (d) | recover the costs associated with the repayment of capital from revenues (including subsidies) over time; and |
| (e) | make reasonable provision for future capital requirements and expansion. |