Imo State Water Law, no. 42 of 2019.

This Law establishes a regulatory body for the purpose of promoting and facilitating access to water services in urban areas, small towns and rural areas of the State. The Law therefore defines the following relevant terms: catchment area; Imo State Water Supply and Sewerage Corporation; customers; dwelling house; excess consumption of water; private and public supply; sewage; public fountain; waterworks. The Law covers the following matters: establishment of the corporation and of its governing board; definition of the following functions of the board: making strategic decisions on the activities and mandate of the Corporation; review and approval of the Corporation’s business plans, budget and performance; approval of pre-qualified private sector contractors; monitoring the implementation of the State water and sanitation services Policy in its areas of operation; ensuring compliance with regulations and standards on the matter; proposing urban water tariffs; providing general guidelines for the execution of all functions of the Corporation. Concerning objectives, powers and functions of the Corporation, the Law specifies the following matters, in order to achieve a sustainable water system development: ensuring for the present and future generations, efficient supply of potable water including domestic, commercial, industrial and scientific use; developing new sewage infrastructure; producing sufficient portable water to urban residents for improved health and well-being of the population; ensuring control and management of all waterworks vested in the Corporation; strengthening adequate supply of water at a reduced tariff for poor households; conducting research in respect of water supply, water development and matters connected; establishing and defining water tariffs for each specific service; maintaining and operating water works, public fountains and all other stations, building and works necessary for the discharge of the Corporation's functions; abstracting water from any lake, river, stream or other natural sources; extracting water from underground sources by means of sinking boreholes, wells or artisan wells; determining water productive quality and quantity; entering any land or premises after giving notice to the owner or occupier, for inspection purposes, controlling the supply of water, ascertaining the amount of water used; purchasing and holding any movable or immovable property.
Further matters covered by this Law include: establishment of targeted and specific committees; engagement of consultants and other staff of the Corporation; liabilities of the Corporation; funds and financial resources; borrowing power of the board and financial security measures; definition of water charges and relating rates and scales; power to levy general water rate to tenants or persons; purchase and sale of water; expenses for alteration of waterworks; keeping records of the location and other relevant particulars of every public sewer; role of the Court and legal proceedings; issuance of permits for construction of waterworks; penalties for damaging waterworks and for altering or misusing water.
Part II of the Law concerns the provisions relating to the establishment of the State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency. This Part covers the following matters: definition of relevant and useful terms; establishment of the Agency and specification of its objectives; appointment of the Board and duties of the Board; functions of the Agency, including: planning, designing and constructing all small towns water supply and sanitation facilities, assisting communities in the small towns to form Water Consumer Associations and provide technical and other advisory services; powers and functions of other staff of the Agency; Agency's responsibility to customers for continuous supply of water; prohibition of sale of water supplied by the Agency; payment for water rates and charges; maps of waterworks and relating infrastructures; creation of water consumers associations to manage water schemes serving the immediate community's needs. Part III concerns provisions relating to the establishment of the State Water Supply and Sewerage Services Regulatory Commission. This Part covers the following matters: definition of relevant and useful terms; establishment of the Commission and specification of its powers, duties and objectives, including: promoting viable and sustainable water and wastewater services, while ensuring the protection of the long-term interests of customers with respect to price, quality and reliability of service; funds of the Commission. Part IV concerns the establishment of the State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency, and its powers, functions, objectives.