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Application of a district management approach to Southern African river basin systems: the case of the Umbeluzi, Incomati and Maputo river basins

Juizo, Dinis and Hjorth, Peder LU (2009) In Water Policy 11(6). p.719-730
Abstract
In recent years, the 'river basin as a management unit' approach has been adopted as a solution to water management. The situation between Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa regarding managing the water resources of the Incomati, Maputo, and Umbeluzi shared river basins is an interesting case that might need a different approach. These rivers flow downstream to the Maputo estuary where their waters are needed for urban water supply (Maputo city) and fresh water pulses for the estuary. The Incomati and Umbeluzi are heavily committed upstream while the Maputo appears still to have a relative abundance of untapped water resources. At basin level, the three countries fail to reach a consensus on the best strategies to accommodate multiple... (More)
In recent years, the 'river basin as a management unit' approach has been adopted as a solution to water management. The situation between Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa regarding managing the water resources of the Incomati, Maputo, and Umbeluzi shared river basins is an interesting case that might need a different approach. These rivers flow downstream to the Maputo estuary where their waters are needed for urban water supply (Maputo city) and fresh water pulses for the estuary. The Incomati and Umbeluzi are heavily committed upstream while the Maputo appears still to have a relative abundance of untapped water resources. At basin level, the three countries fail to reach a consensus on the best strategies to accommodate multiple demands, particularly in the downstream area. The IncoMaputo agreement that was concluded by the three governments is unique in that it comprises two basins (Maputo and Incomati), allowing a multi-basin approach to the problem. However, the Umbeluzi was left out of the agreement. This paper discusses the possible benefits of a multi-basin approach to water resources for the three rivers discharging into Espirito Santo Estuary in Maputo. Using the provisions set out in the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) it is found that the three rivers of this study may well be suitable for implementing the District Water Management approach as proposed in the WFD. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Swaziland, Africa, South, SADC, Multi-basin water management, Benefit sharing, Mozambique, Transboundary rivers, Water Framework Directive
in
Water Policy
volume
11
issue
6
pages
719 - 730
publisher
IWA Publishing
external identifiers
  • wos:000272199200005
  • scopus:77149151552
ISSN
1366-7017
DOI
10.2166/wp.2009.301
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1adbcc2f-7e5a-4f78-8dfb-996bbbdbaf72 (old id 1517533)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:29:59
date last changed
2022-02-26 21:35:57
@article{1adbcc2f-7e5a-4f78-8dfb-996bbbdbaf72,
  abstract     = {{In recent years, the 'river basin as a management unit' approach has been adopted as a solution to water management. The situation between Swaziland, Mozambique and South Africa regarding managing the water resources of the Incomati, Maputo, and Umbeluzi shared river basins is an interesting case that might need a different approach. These rivers flow downstream to the Maputo estuary where their waters are needed for urban water supply (Maputo city) and fresh water pulses for the estuary. The Incomati and Umbeluzi are heavily committed upstream while the Maputo appears still to have a relative abundance of untapped water resources. At basin level, the three countries fail to reach a consensus on the best strategies to accommodate multiple demands, particularly in the downstream area. The IncoMaputo agreement that was concluded by the three governments is unique in that it comprises two basins (Maputo and Incomati), allowing a multi-basin approach to the problem. However, the Umbeluzi was left out of the agreement. This paper discusses the possible benefits of a multi-basin approach to water resources for the three rivers discharging into Espirito Santo Estuary in Maputo. Using the provisions set out in the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) it is found that the three rivers of this study may well be suitable for implementing the District Water Management approach as proposed in the WFD.}},
  author       = {{Juizo, Dinis and Hjorth, Peder}},
  issn         = {{1366-7017}},
  keywords     = {{Swaziland; Africa; South; SADC; Multi-basin water management; Benefit sharing; Mozambique; Transboundary rivers; Water Framework Directive}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{719--730}},
  publisher    = {{IWA Publishing}},
  series       = {{Water Policy}},
  title        = {{Application of a district management approach to Southern African river basin systems: the case of the Umbeluzi, Incomati and Maputo river basins}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wp.2009.301}},
  doi          = {{10.2166/wp.2009.301}},
  volume       = {{11}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}