Groundwater Act, B.E. 2520 (1977).

This Act, consisting of 46 Sections divided into 6 Chapters, provides for the proper development and utilization of groundwater.
There shall be a committee called the “Groundwater Committee” with the Director-General of the Department of Groundwater Resources as Chairperson. The Committee shall provide opinions and advice to the Minister with respect to the issuance of Ministerial Regulations or Notifications and provide opinions and advice to the Director-General with respect to the execution of this Act. The Minister shall have the power, with the advice of the Committee, to prescribe Groundwater Areas under this Act, designate the areas in which the draw of groundwater is prohibited. In order to carry out any groundwater operations in any of the Groundwater Areas, a license issued by the Director-General or a person appointed by the Director-General for that purpose shall be obtained. There shall be established a Groundwater Development Fund in the Department of Groundwater Resources to fund studies, research, development and conservation of groundwater resources and environment. The competent official has the power to inspect the drilling of groundwater wells, use of groundwater, or release of water into a groundwater well, at a time between sunrise and sunset, or during official working hours. The Act further make provisions, for: license application and issuance of license for groundwater operations, amendment and revocation of a license, duties of the licensee in respect to groundwater operations, offences and penalties, etc. The licensee of groundwater usage shall pay the groundwater usage fee and the groundwater conservation fee at the rates as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation. There shall be settlement committees (for the settlement of offences) in Bangkok Metropolitan and other provinces as necessary.