Law N. 49 of 2018 Determining the Use and Management Water Resources in Rwanda.

This Law, which comprises 7 Chapters subdivided into several sections and 42 articles, governs the use and management of water resources in Rwanda. Chapter I sets out the general provisions, including the purpose of this law and definitions. Chapter II defines natural and artificial water (natural water, the boundaries of natural water, and artificial water).
Chapter III governs the management and use of water resources. It sets out the guiding principles (protection and use of water resources, and guiding principles); the institutions responsible for managing water resources (Office, National Water Advisory Committee, watershed committees, responsibilities of decentralized administrative entities, obligations of the population); water resources planning (National Water Resources Master Plan, watershed management plans, cooperation of States on shared water resources, water resources monitoring, water resources information system, ownership and control of water resources, priority for water allocation, watershed-based water resources management, use of water resources and water-related activities subject to water use permits, water use fees).
Chapter IV defines the protection of water resources, including protected areas, protection perimeters, reuse of wastewater, water reserves, groundwater protection zones, information on accidentally found groundwater.
Chapter V, related to flood and drought management, sets out measures for flood and drought prevention, the technical committee on dams, and dam safety.
Chapter VI provides for administrative sanctions, offences, and penalties, including administrative sanctions (providing false information, prohibited activities in protection perimeters or groundwater protection zones, obstruction of an official on duty, additional sanctions); offences and penalties (use of water or water-related activity without a water use permit, water pollution, penalties related to immersion, discharges, or deposits of anything that pollutes water resources).
Chapter VII determines the transitional and final provisions (existing declarations, authorizations, and concessions, initiation, review, and adoption of this law, repealing provision, entry into force).