Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation (No. 197/2000).

The purpose of this Proclamation is to ensure that all surface and ground waters of Ethiopia are properly protected and managed.
The text consists of 33 articles divided into 9 Parts: General provisions (1); Supervising body (2); Inventory of water resources and registry of actions (3); Permits and professional licenses (4); Fees and water charges (5); Servitude (6); Water banks and harmful effect of water (7); Association of water users (8); Transitory provisions (9).
All water resources of Ethiopia are declared common property (art. 5). Article 6 sets out the fundamental principles of water management and administration. Use of water for domestic purposes shall have priority over all other water uses. Article 8 sets out the powers and duties of the Supervising Body, i.e. the Ministry of Water Resources at national level or any other organ delegated by the Ministry pursuant to comma 2 of article 8. The Supervising Body shall prepare or cause to be prepared an inventory of water resources in accordance with article 10. Supply of water, transfer of water, release or discharge of water or construction of waterworks requires a permit to be issued by the supervising Body in accordance with articles 11 to 18. Article 12 lists water uses for which no permit is required. The Supervising Body mat promote creation of water user’s associations and shall issue further Regulations regarding such associations (art. 27). (33 sections)