WATER USE LICENCE ASSOCIATES
WATER USE AUTHORISATIONS:
Water Use Licence Associates (Pty) Ltd has vast experience in the successful compilation of water use authorisation applications in terms of the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998) (NWA). Water Use Licence Associates (Pty) Ltd sector coverage includes mining, industrial and development projects across South Africa. The team consists of highly skilled scientists who can guide projects from concept through to closure, specialising in: Integrated Water Use Licence Applications (IWULA)
- Water Use Licence Applications
- General Authorisation applications.
- Water Use Licence Amendment Applications
- Water Use Licence Compliance Monitoring.
The NWA was promulgated to ensure that South African water resources are protected, used, developed, conserved, managed and controlled. This applies to all watercourses, including rivers, springs, natural channels in which water flows regularly or intermittently, wetlands, lakes or dams into which or from which water flows. In order to manage and control activities, the NWA sets out a list of water uses, as per Section 21 for which an operation must apply for a licence.
Section 21 activities include:
a. taking water from a water resource.
b. storing water.
c. impeding or diverting the flow of water in a watercourse.
d. engaging in a stream flow reduction activity.
e. engaging in a controlled activity
f. discharging waste or water containing waste into a water resource through a pipe, canal, sewer, sea outfall or other conduit.
g. disposing of waste in a manner which may detrimentally impact a water resource
h. disposing of in any manner of water which contains waste from, or which has been heated in any industrial or power generation process
i. altering the bed, banks, course or characteristics of a watercourse
j. removing, discharging or disposing of water found underground if it is necessary for the efficient continuation of an activity or for the safety of people
k. using water for recreational purposes
Water Use Licence Associates (Pty) Ltd has established a strong professional relationship with the Department of Water and Sanitation, both nationally and regionally and strive to ensure client satisfaction by providing guidance on the process and producing high-quality documentation that are concise and meets all requirements of the Department.
Water Uses that can be applied for:
Water Use Licence Associates (Pty) Ltd has undertaken water use authorisation applications since 2012 with the focus on the following:
- Ground and surface water abstractions in all sectors.
- Irrigation of and storing of water.
- Infrastructure associated with small to large scale developments.
- Linear developments.
- Roads, power lines and pipelines.
- Wind energy facilities and solar plants.
- Wastewater treatment plants.
- Integrated Water and Waste Management Plans (IWWMP).
- General Authorisations and Emergency Applications (as defined in Notice 509 of 2016).
- Risk assessment matrix compilation by an accredited SACNASP Professional Member as per DWS requirements.
- Application for emergency incidents that require immediate intervention.
- Rehabilitation, Maintenance and Monitoring Plans.
- Plant species and Landscaping plans.
Compliance Monitoring & Auditing
Water Use Licence Associates (Pty) Ltd has knowledge and experience to undertake compliance monitoring and auditing focussing on the following assessment spheres:
- Industrial, commercial & residential developments.
- Infrastructure development.
- Rehabilitation activities.
- Mining operations.
MEET OUR TEAM
Afika Nwelana
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Afika is a holder of a BA degree in Environmental Management from the University of South Africa, currently pursuing an honours degree in BSc Geography.
In 2022, Afika became a member of Water Use Licence Associates (Pty) Ltd, contributing one year of valuable experience in the realm of environmental consulting and research. She possesses a profound understanding of environmental legislation. Afika’s exposure to this industry has honed her abilities to adeptly identify, analyze, and manage project opportunities and associated risks. Her exceptional communication skills further enhance her proficiency in this field.
Afika has been actively involved in a range of responsibilities pertaining to Water Use Authorisation (WUA) applications and monitoring compliance as an Environmental Control Officer (ECO).
Bianca Bleurer
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Bianca Bleuler is an environmental practitioner with over four years of experience in environmental management and water compliance. Bianca holds a MPhil degree dedicated to understanding the dynamics of and impacts to urban river systems in the Western Cape. She obtained her BSc (2016) and BSc Hons (2017) degree in Biodiversity and Ecology at Stellenbosch University.
Bianca worked as an environmental assessment practitioner where she obtained knowledge on environmental legislation, with a focus on legislation related to environmental authorisations and water use licence applications before joining Freshwater Ecologist Network (FEN) Consulting in 2023.
At FEN Consulting, Bianca is involved in a variety of projects, particularly pertaining to freshwater ecosystem assessments, offset programs and water use licences within Southern Africa.
Bianca has working knowledge and experience in the corporate environment which assists her in providing turnkey advice to clients.
Jacky Burke
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Jacky has a BSc honours in biochemistry (1989) and Graduate Diploma in Engineering (1999), focused in the field of environmental management.
Jacky began her career in water by working for local government in their scientific services laboratory and then as a water pollution control officer. In 2003 she joined a private consulting firm where she gained twenty years of experience across various sectors in Water Use Licence Applications (WULA), General Authorisation (GA) Applications, water use licence compliance planning and auditing.
Specific experience gained in water use authorisations and compliance includes integrated water and waste management plans, rehabilitation strategy and implementation programs, integrated water resource management, water resource quality assessment, pollution source identification and control. Her skills include training and capacity building in all these areas. In addition to her water related expertise, Jacky also gained experience in the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), specifically focused on the environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects of the GISTM.
In April 2023 Jacky took early retirement but is providing part-time review and advisory services in water use authorisations, auditing and compliance. During her career of more than 30 years, Jacky has presented at numerous conferences on her fields of expertise. Prior to retirement she was SACNASP registered as an environmental scientist from 1992 to March 2023 (no. 400042/92) and a Fellow Member of the Water Institute of South Africa (WISA), no. 20891.
Kristen Coertze
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SACNASP REG.NO: 146386/23
Kristen Coertze has a master’s degree in Botany (University of the Free State, 2023) in the field of wetland ecology with a focus on determining wetland health using plant and soil indicators. Kristen completed an undergraduate degree in Geography and Environmental Science in 2018 followed by an Honours degree in Geography in 2019 both at the University of the Free State.
Kristen began her career at SAS in 2021 as a junior wetland ecologist. While at SAS, Kristen has been exposed to numerous projects in the urban development, renewable energy and mining sectors. She has experience in freshwater ecosystem delineation, rehabilitation and management plans, landscape plans and wetland offsets.
Kristen has also expanded her abilities within the environmental management field by conducting processes such as Water Use License Applications (WULA) and General Authorisation (GA) Applications.
Kristen is registered as a Candidate Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and she is also a member of the Grassland Society of South Africa (GSSA).
Lesley Moremi
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SACNASP REG.NO: 119783/18
Lesley has a master’s degree in Environmental Science, in the field of radioactivity and water resource management.
Lesley began building his career by working at the Department of Water and Sanitation, responsible for reviewing and commenting on the Basic Assessments reports, Environmental Impact Assessments reports and assessing the completeness of the water use licence applications for various projects in different sectors.
Lesley expanded his abilities within the water resource management field by conducting WUL compliance inspections and audits, conducting both routine and special investigations, opening criminal cases and applying for court interdicts against the NWA transgressors. He further contributed to protecting the water resources by conducting Blue-drop and Green-drop assessments.
Lesley joined SAS as an Environmental Scientist in September 2023 responsible for processes such as Water Use License Applications (WULA), General Authorisation (GA) Applications, validation and verification applications and environmental and water use licence audits.
Lesley is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP).
Nelanie Cloete
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SACNASP REG.NO: 400503/14
Nelanie has a master’s degree in Botany and Biotechnology (2006) and in Environmental Management (2013), in the field of water quality and factors influencing the quality during the purification process.
Nelanie began building a career by working at an environmental consultancy, specialising in Ecological studies, Basic Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments. Since 2008 she acted as a specialist consultant on floral assessments and other environmental processes and applications.
Nelanie expanded her abilities within the environmental management field by conducting processes such as Water Use License Applications (WULA), General Authorisation (GA) Applications, validation and verification applications and environmental and water use licence audits, performance assessments and fulfilling the duties of an Environmental Control Officer (ECO) for both Environmental Management Programmes and Approved Water Use Licences.
Nelanie also gained extensive experience in protected tree and floral removal permit applications in numerous provinces. Nelanie attended numerous courses pertaining to Enforcements and Compliance to Environmental Management, Water Management Resources and Water Use Licence Application Processes. Nelanie is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP).
Nelanie is also a professional member of the Grassland Society of South Africa (GSSA), the Botanical Society of South Africa (BotSoc), South African Association of Botanists (SAAB), a member of the International Affiliation for Impact Assessments (IAIAsa) group and a member of the Gauteng Wetland Form (GWF).
Prudance Mabokela
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SACNASP REG NO: 120521/19
Prudance has a master’s degree in environmental management (2021) with special focus in the field of water quality assessment and water quality monitoring of industrial discharges into the receiving environment.
Prudance began building her career by working at a government institution as a Candidate Scientific Technician specializing in water quality assessment by means of water sample collection and analyzing as well as water quality compliance monitoring of various industries such as mines, steel manufacturing companies, wastewater treatment plants and farms in South Africa.
Prudance joined Water Use Licence Associated (Pty) Ltd in 2022 and continues to build her career and expanding her abilities within the water resource science field by conducting processes such as Water Use License Applications (WULA), General Authorization (GA) Applications, Environmental and Water Use Licence audits and fulfilling the duties of an Environmental Control Officer (ECO) for both Environmental Authorization (EA) and Environmental Management Programme (EMP) and Approved Water Use Licences.
Prudance also gained experience in compiling Watercourse Rehabilitation and Management Plans (WRMPs) and attended a short course in Introduction to Wetland Assessment and several other courses on Water Use Licence Application Processes in terms of the National Water Act 36 of 1998.
Prudance is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP and is a voluntary member of the Water Institute of Southern Africa as well as the Land Rehabilitation Society of Southern Africa.
Stephen van Staden
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SACNASP REG.NO: 400134/05
Stephen van Staden completed an undergraduate degree in Zoology, Geography and Environmental Management. He then undertook an honours course in Aquatic health. In 2002 he began a Master’s degree in environmental management, including his mini dissertation in the field of aquatic resource management. Stephen began building a career at a firm specialising in town planning developments, after which he moved to a larger firm in late 2002 where he managed the monitoring division and acted as a specialist consultant on water resource management issues and other environmental processes and applications. In 2003, Stephen started consulting independently specialising in water resource management. In addition to aquatic ecological assessments, clients enquired about terrestrial ecological assessments and biodiversity assessments, which developed into a very significant part of the business. Stephen started working in the wetland consulting arena and has become recognised as a national expert in this regard combining science (ecology and hydrology), engineering principles and an in-depth understanding of the legislative framework to provide turnkey advisory services. Stephen has launched soil and land capability assessment and visual impact assessment services with other specifically qualified specialists. Stephen is registered by the SA RHP as an accredited aquatic biomonitoring specialist and is also registered as a Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP in the field of ecology. Stephen is also a member of the Gauteng Wetland Forum, the South African Soil Surveyors Organisation (SASSO) and IAIA.