ABSTRACT
Abstract South Africa has become a water-stressed country which, after providing for basic human needs, environmental protection and international sharing, is replacing riparian water rights with a system of dynamic, competitive water allocations of limited duration to achieve optimum economic growth and social equity. Under growing competition from other water users, a new policy for the irrigation sector, the largest user of water, is being developed through public consultation. Keywords: South Africa, water scarcity, law, irrigation, economic optimisation, social equity, environmental protection.
