Water and Sewerage Act (Cap. 43:40).

In keeping with the stated policy of seeing to the orderly development, use and conservation of water resources, and providing the public with dependable supply and sewerage services (sect. 3), the statute (a) provides a framework of rules for the management of the country's abundant stock of water resources, and (b) divests the government of the water supply and sewerage utility function and vests this function in a limited liability company, namely, the Water and Sewerage Company Limited (WASCO). Accordingly, Parts III, IV and V of the statute lay down substantive rules governing the provision of water supply and sewerage services by WASCO. Substantive rules for the management of water resources are found in Parts VI and VII.
Part I contains introductory provisions. Part II lays down the national policy for water as stated above, and provides for the licencing of WASCO in the form of a twenty-five year franchise (sect. 5). In addition, a Water and Sewerage Advisory Council may be appointed by the Minister responsible for water resources, to function in an advisory capacity on all matters relating to the management of Dominica's water resources (sect. 4).
WASCO is vested with standard functions and powers with respect to the provision of water supply and sewerage utility services to the public. In addition, WASCO is to undertake general water sector planning (sect. 10), and to see to the protection of its own water supply catchments.
To this latter effect WASCO's catchments can either be protected under the existing forest legislation, or designated as water controlled areas under the relevant provisions of the Act (sect. 11). For additional protection, buffer zones can also be designated around WASCO's catchments, wherein nominated activities are restricted or prohibited (sect. 13). Even though WASCO is to operate as a private company the government retains direct control over its affairs - including, in particular, accounting and auditing (sect. 33), and the fixing of water supply and sewerage rates and charges (sect. 35). In addition, the government has the authority to review the licence under which the company operates and to revoke it on the expiration of the first five years of operation (sect. 64).