Table 1: Comparison of SADC Water Sector Status with Other World Benchmarks/Indicators
SECTOR
Water
abstraction
SADC STATUS
3
170 m /capita/year
Surface water 14% of ARWR stored
storage
WORLD AVERAGES
3
DEVELOPED WORLD STATUS
570 m /capita/year
1 330 m3/capita/year
25% of ARWR stored
70% to 90% of ARWR stored
Irrigated land
7% irrigated of available irrigable 20% irrigated of available of 70% irrigated of available of
land
available irrigable land
available irrigable land
Water supply
61% of the SADC population has 87% of the world population 100% of the population has
access to an adequate and safe (2006) has access to an adequate access to an adequate and safe
water supply
and safe water supply
water supply
Sanitation
39% of the SADC population has 62% of the world population 100% of the population has
access to an adequate sanitation (2006) has access to an adequate access to an adequate
service
sanitation service
sanitation service
Figure 1: Comparison of SADC Water Sector Status with Other World Benchmarks/Indicators
2.2
Enabling Environment
2.2.1
International Regulatory / Guiding Framework
At international level, the SADC Water Sector is guided by a number of international water laws and
declarations, which have greatly influenced the development of the SADC Water Sector’s regional
regulatory and legal framework. The pertinent international regulatory and guiding framework can
be summarised as follows:
2.2.1.1
The Copenhagen Declaration
The Copenhagen Declaration of 1991 on the implementation mechanisms for integrated water
resources development and management gives two key principles, which are considered to be prime
components of future water resources management, particularly for rural communities. These two
key principles are considered appropriate at all levels and state that:
Water and land resources should be managed at the lowest appropriate levels; and
Water should be considered as an economic good, with a value reflecting its most valuable
potential use.
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