Legislative Decree No. 3/2015 approving the Water and Sanitation Code (CAS).

This Water and Sanitation Code (CAS), consisting of 11 Titles, concerns the definition of the fundamental principles for water resources, setting standards that guarantee their preservation, quality, sustainability and rational use. In addition it establishes the definition of public systems of water supply and sanitation as well as the mechanisms of economic and financial sustainability and the establishment of enforcement mechanisms of water resources and is applicable to all existing water resources in the soil, subsurface and atmosphere of the Cape-Verdean territory. It includes inland surface and ground water and water produced by desalination, as well as to all public systems supply and sanitation and the reuse of waste water and the treated sludge. It also regulates the institutional framework, the ownership of water resources, their respective planning and their use, water quality, hydraulic works, economic and financial regime of water resources, including the payment of taxes, fees and charges, and gross public systems supply and sanitation as well as relationship with consumers, establishing the respective offences and penalties for illegal activity.
This Code does not apply to internal sea waters, the archipelagic waters, the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone, unless and to the extent that in any way could interfere with other water resources.