Water Services Act, 1997 (Act No. 108 of 1997)

RECOGNISING the rights of access to basic water supply and basic sanitation necessary to ensure sufficient water and an environment not harmful to health or well-being;

ACKNOWLEDGING that there is a duty on all spheres of Government to ensure that water supply services and sanitation services are provided in a manner which is efficient, equitable and sustainable;

ACKNOWLEDGING that all spheres of Government must strive to provide water supply services and sanitation services sufficient for subsistence and sustainable economic activity;

RECOGNISING that in striving to provide water supply services and sanitation services, all spheres of Government must observe and adhere to the principles of co-operative government;

ACKNOWLEDGING that although municipalities have authority to administer water supply services and sanitation services, all spheres of Government have a duty, within the limits of physical and financial feasibility, to work towards this object;

RECOGNISING that the provision of water supply services and sanitation services, although an activity distinct from the overall management of water resources, must be undertaken in a manner consistent with the broader goals of water resource management;

RECOGNISING that water supply services and sanitation services are often provided in monopolistic or near monopolistic circumstances and that the interests of consumers and the broader goals of public policy must be promoted; and

CONFIRMING the National Government's role as custodian of the nation's water resources;

BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa as follows:—