designed to minimise or even eliminate the use of water for cooling purposes. The adoption of water-efficient technologies and practices is similarly to be encouraged in all „wet‟ industries. 4.4.3. Policy: Member States will encourage the development of small-scale hydropower to service energy needs of rural communities. Small-scale hydropower generation could provide power for water pumping and rural industries, thus expanding income generation and employment opportunities for rural communities. The availability of electricity would also support schools, health and cultural activities to improve the quality of life in rural areas. Electricity is a catalyst for rural development, leading to the reduction of poverty, and assisting in stemming rural-urban migration. 4.5 Water for Industrial Development 4.5.1 Policy: Member States shall allocate water for industrial requirements (manufacturing, mining, tourism, navigation and afforestation) at economic value of the resource. Water is an economic factor of production in many industrial activities including manufacturing, agro-industries, mining, and tourism. Industrial water users should pay economic cost of services. Economic pricing of water encourages efficient water use, and enables the water resources institutions to collect sufficient revenue to sustain the provision of services. On the other hand inefficient allocation of water leads to wastage of the scarce resource. Water use for tourism and navigation is often non-consumptive and may be integrated with in-stream use and environmental water requirements; therefore the pricing mechanisms may require special considerations. However water for afforestation is consumptive, but forests enhance water conservation in catchments and improve environmental sustainability. Management of effluent from industrial activities, or even from navigational activities may have a significant impact on water quality of watercourses. This also requires appropriate monitoring and control of the potential pollution. 4.6 Water for Sports and Recreation 4.6.1 Policy: Water resources allocation at national and regional levels shall consider allocating water for Sport and Recreation. Water sports and recreation are legitimate uses of water in the watercourses in the SADC region. Therefore mechanisms for allocating water resources shall consider the necessary water requirements for sports and recreation. In most cases the water requirements for sports and recreation are non-consumptive, and may be included in in-stream use. In some situations, the water requirements for sport are consumptive. Regardless of the situation, allocation shall consider the legitimate uses of water for sport and recreation. - 29 -