National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998)

In these Regulations any word or expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the·Act shall have the meaning so assigned, and unless the context otherwise indicates—

"ecological category"

means the assigned ecological condition by the Minister to a water resource that reflects the ecological·condition of that water resource in terms of the deviation of its biophysical components from a predevelopment condition;

"ecologically sustainable base configuration scenario"

means the lowest acceptable level of protection required for the sustainable use of the entire integrated unit of analysis;

"ecological water requirements"

in relation to a water resource, means the quantity and quality of water of that resource that is required to maintain the said water resource in its assigned ecological category;

"ecosystem goods, services and attributes"

means the goods, services and attributes that ecological systems provide that are critical to the functioning of the earth's life-support system, and which contribute both directly and indirectly to human welfare, and therefore have economic value;

"integrated unit of analysis"

means a water resource catchment that incorporates a socio-economic zone, but is defined by a watershed;

"pre-development condition"

in relation to a water resource, means the condition of that resource prior to significant alteration to its biophysical components by human impact;

"the Act"

means the National Water Act, 1998 (Act No. 36 of 1998);

and

"watershed"

means a line of separation between water resources.