Cabinet Resolution No.8 of 2020 on the system of licensing the drilling and rehabilitation of wells, the extraction of groundwater and the contracting of drilling wells.

This Resolution consisting of 37 articles aims at (i) organizing and controlling the drilling and rehabilitation of wells, the extraction of groundwater, and the contracting of drilling wells through the issuance of the necessary licenses; (ii) controlling the quantities of water extracted under the license to ensure justice and sustainability of water resources. These operations are possible only after obtaining a license from the Palestinian Water Authority. The Resolution establishes as a general principle that groundwater stored underground is considered public property, and the license granted to the owner of the land is permitted to use it within the limits of the license only (art.4). The articles provide for the issuance of a license for the following (i) drilling (two years); (ii) qualification (one year); (iii) extraction (renewable annually at the beginning of each year) and the quantities of groundwater allowed to be extracted from the licensed well are determined under the requirements of the public interest; (iv) well-drilling contract (one year). The obligations of the licensee to extract are provided in article 11, while well-drilling contractor terms and obligations are provided respectively in articles 15 and 16. The well-drilling contractor shall inform the Authority when any of the following emergencies occur (i) saline groundwater is found during drilling; (ii) contamination of surface water or groundwater; (iii) any risks that affect water resources; (iv) quantity of gas found that would prevent the completion of the drilling work safely or might cause adverse effects on the environment, public health, or property during the drilling process (art.17). Abandoned wells require some procedures, as per article 18. The Authority collects the license fees to carry out the following activities (i) drilling wells, rehabilitating wells, and digging an alternative well; (ii) extraction of groundwater; (iii) well-drilling contract (art.24). As for the controls, the Authority has the right to (i) monitor wells, drilling rigs, and licenses conditions, and conduct any examinations deemed necessary; (ii) examine and inspect records and other documents that include information on evaluating compliance with the provisions of this Resolution and the conditions of the license issued under it (art.30). Article 32 establishes that if groundwater appears during the implementation of works not intended to extract water on land, it is necessary to inform the Authority in writing within a period not exceeding seven days from the date of its appearance.