Water and Sewerage Act Chapter 9.03.

This Act sets forth provisions on the establishment, duties and authorities of the Water Resources Management Agency, National Water and Sewerage Commission. The Agency may collect application fees, license fees and permit fees and other charges under this Act and these fees will be allocated to the Consolidated Fund. This Act underlines that the right to water shall be exercised with special emphasis on protection of water, efficient use and management of water resources for domestic, industrial, commercial, hydro-electrical, geothermal purposes and fishing and agricultural activities, preservation of flora and fauna, and prevention and mitigation of the effects of erosion, drainage, pollution and flood. The abstraction of water shall be carried out through certification. According to the ecology, hydrology and hydrogeology factors and water demands and availability in the area, that area may be declared as a water control area. In addition to that, the Minister may declare an area as a waste control area for the protection of the water resources from pollution or reduction in water quality. The permit shall be granted for abstract or use water in a water control area or discharge waste in a waste control area. Water supply and sewerage services shall be carried out only by the holder of a valid service license granted under this Act. The service license shall be in accordance with the minimum standards for the quality of potable water set by the Ministry responsible for health and the Bureau of Standards under the Public Health Act and the Standards Act. Finally this Act sets forth provisions on consumer protection, Tariff Scheme, Subsidies and Levy, breaches, offences and penalties, and procedures of jurisdictional proceedings.