The Department has initiated the Institutional Reform and Re-alignment project with the aim of enhancing institutional readiness to fast-track service delivery and handle water challenges and management of water resources both at present and in the future. The Institutional Reform and Realignment Process was finalised in the course of the work of the 4th Parliament and one of the key issues that emerged was the process of consolidating water boards from 12 to 9. The consolidation of water boards is well underway which will extend gazetted areas of these water boards and expand their functions. The institutional framework to improve water resource management is another initiative, which commits to the establishment of nine (9) catchment management areas within three years and to formalise the nine regional entities to provide regional bulk infrastructure and to support municipalities on bulk water provision. The process to establish nine (9) catchment management areas is also progressing smoothly and will be instrumental in managing water resource management into the future.