National Water Act (No. 49 of 2011).

This Act makes provision for the conservation and development of water resources in Somaliland. Water is defined in article 1. The Act consists of 81 sections (divided into 16 Chapters), which define the objectives and general principles of the Act and provide with respect to, among other things: improvement of access to water resources; water distribution services; promotion of public and private partnership; duties and responsibilities of the Ministry responsible for water; duties and rights of water users; ownership of water; registration of water rights; settlement of disputes related to water rights; water user associations; water production licenses; urban water supply; rural water supply; water need priorities; livestock watering; waterworks; environmental protection and water resources; water conservation zones; water quality standards and quality of drinking water; agricultural water rights; highlands water conservation; groundwater protection; water pollution.
The Act makes the Ministry of Water Development (MoWRD) solely responsible for the water resources development and management of national water resources and it is mandated to act on behalf of Government of Somaliland in all matters relating to the Water Resources. Ministry’s strategic purposes are included: 1) development of underground and surface water resources, 2) improvement of regulatory framework and oversight of water sector and sustainable management, 3) strengthening capacity of MoWRD and its constituent bodies, 4) coordination and information management of the sector in Somaliland, 5) converting floods from forces of disaster into livelihoods, and 6) mitigation of droughts and impacts of climatic and environmental changes to national water resources.