Law of Georgia on Water User Organizations (No. 5609-RS of 2019)

This Law regulates water user organizations in irrigation, their activities and relations with individuals, entities and state agencies. This Law does not apply to the land owned by the state, an autonomous republic or municipality that is not allotted for use. The Law consists of 30 articles: Scope of regulation of the Law (1); Purpose and objectives of the Law (2); Definitions (3); Primary water user (4); Tariff for the service provided by the primary water user (5); Legal status of a water user organization (6); Founding a water user organization (7); Registry of water user organizations (8); Documents required for registration with the registry of water user organizations (9); Functions of water user organizations (10); Membership of a water user organization (11); Rights and duties of a member of a water user organization (12); Statute of a water user organization (13); Management and internal control bodies of water user organization (14); General meeting of a water user organization (15); Functions of the board of a water user organization (16); Composition of the board of a water user organization (17); Chairperson of the board of a water user organization (18); Meetings of the board of a water user organization (19); Review and dispute resolution commission of a water user organization (20); Financing source of a water user organization (21); Water use fee (22); Wholesale supply of water (23); Accounting (24); Grounds for a water user organization to cease its activities (25); Authority of the Ministry in the field of irrigation (26); Authority of the national commission in the field of irrigation services (27); Deliberation and resolution of a dispute (28); Transitional provisions (29); and Entry into force of this Law (30). The National Commission shall, within 6 years from the entry into force of this Law: (a) approve the methodology for setting tariffs for services provided by the primary water user to the water user organization/other water user; (b) establish the tariffs for services provided by the primary water user to the water user organization/other water user; and (c) determine the amount of the regulation fee and approve the procedure for paying this fee. Other water user shall be intended a water user who receives water from the primary water user through the irrigation system and is not a member of a water user organization. A primary water user may be a legal entity under public law, or a legal entity established with the share participation of the state, which owns, operates and manages the main irrigation infrastructure, as well as carries out its maintenance and water supply. The National Commission shall establish the tariffs for services provided by the primary water user to the water user organization and other water users.