Water Resources Management Act, 2004 (No. 284 of 2004).

This Act provides for the management and conservation of all water resources of Namibia, including inland waters, the sea and meteoric water, i.e. water that occurs in or is delivered from the atmosphere. The Act regulates the abstraction, use and supply of water, lays down rules relative to water pollution, defines water rights and sets up an administrative framework to implement the purposes of the Act.
The Act consists of 138 sections divided into 19 Parts.
Sections 2 defines the objective of the Act, whereas section 3 sets out the fundamental principles of water resources management and conservation. Part II (sects. 5-10) defines the functions and powers of the Minister. The Minister shall establish the Water Resources Management Agency and may declare irrigation areas and establish irrigation boards for such areas. Part III concerns the Water Advisory Council established under section 11. The Minister may establish Basin Management Committees under Part IV (sects. 12-15) for purposes of proper management of water resources of basins in Namibia. The management of rural water supply (Part V; sects. 16-22) shall the prime responsibility of water point user associations and local water user associations. Part VI (sects. 23-24) concerns the National Water Master Plan. Part VII regulates the use, abstraction for domestic use and reliable public supply of water. Part VIII deals with licences for the abstraction and use of water, including the abstraction of brackish and marine water. Part IX provides for the protection and control of groundwater and regulates drilling and the use of aquifers. Part X concerns internationally-shared water resources. Part IX prescribes rules relative to the prevention of water pollution and in particular the discharge of effluent water and wastewater and their treatment. Other matters provided for by this Act include, among other things: declaration of water management areas (sect. 72); dam safety and flood management (Part XIV; sects. 78-84); the (establishment of) the Water Regulatory Board (Part XV; sects. 85-104); servitudes (Part XVII; sects. 108-117); the Water Tribunal and dispute resolution (Part XVIII; sects. 118-123); and matters of miscellaneous character including the definition of offences (Part XIX; sects. 124-138).