Water users are being urged to register or update their water use information as part of a nationwide effort to strengthen the management and protection of South Africa’s water resources.

The 90-day registration period started on April 24 for all water users who are not registered or whose details are outdated.

“Water users are strongly encouraged to act within this window to avoid penalties and ensure compliance,” the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) warned.

Accurate registration enables the DWS and catchment management agencies to understand who is using water, where it is being used, how much is being used and for what purpose.

This is critical to ensuring sustainable, equitable and efficient allocation of water, while supporting economic growth, development and social equity.

“Failure to register water use continues to pose a serious risk to effective water resource management, as unregistered users create critical data gaps that undermine planning and decision-making, disrupt fair distribution and place additional strain on already limited water supplies.

“In a water-scarce country such as South Africa, this not only threatens long-term water security but also has broader implications for economic stability and growth,” the department said.

The water users who should register include individuals and entities who have acquired property from registered water users without updating ownership details, those who obtained land through restitution processes without notifying authorities, and those leasing property where water use has not been formally registered.

It also applies to users who have changed their contact or registration details without informing the department, as well as those operating boreholes for commercial purposes that have not been declared.

In addition, water users who have registered agricultural water use but have since expanded into industrial activities are required to ensure that all such uses are properly recorded.

Any groundwater use for commercial purposes, including boreholes, must be registered with the responsible authority.

Certain categories of water users are exempt from registration, including water users who fall within the area of operation of a water user association, provided their water use is registered through that structure, as well as schedule 1 water users, as defined in terms of the National Water Act.

“Beyond supporting national water resource management, the department emphasises that registration is in the direct interest of water users themselves. Compliance strengthens security of access and promotes fair allocation, particularly during periods of water scarcity.”

It also provides greater planning certainty for farmers, businesses and households, while also enabling their water needs to be formally recognised in decision-making processes.

“This registration period provides an opportunity for all unregistered water users to disclose their water use, avoid penalties and safeguard their ongoing water use for economic and domestic activities,” the DWS continued.

While no fees will be charged for applications submitted within the 90-day registration period, a late registration fee of R300 a property may be applied to applications submitted after the 90 days.

“Non-compliance with this directive constitutes an offence. Any person who fails to register or update their water use information within the stipulated period may, upon conviction, be liable to a fine or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years,” the department concluded.