Water Code.

This Water Code regulates relations in the field of sustainable and rational use of water in order to meet the needs of legal entities and individuals for water resources and is aimed at increasing the importance of water resources, ensuring the protection of water from pollution, pollution and depletion, prevention and elimination of the negative impact of water, restoration and improvement of the condition of waterbodies. The relations arising in the field of potable water water use and potable water supply shall be regulated by this Water Code and the legislation of Turkmenistan on potable water. The relations arising in the field of use and protection of sea and transboundary waters shall be regulated by this Water Code and international treaties of Turkmenistan. The objectives of water legislation of Turkmenistan shall be to achieve and maintain an ecologically safe and economically optimal level of water use and to ensure water protection in order to improve the living conditions of the population and preserve the environment. The tasks of water legislation of Turkmenistan shall be as follows: (a) implementation of the state policy in the field of use and protection of water fund, water supply and sewerage; (b) provision of the legal basis for support and development of sustainable water use and protection of water fund, water supply and sewerage; (c) management of relations in the field of study, exploration, rational and integrated use and protection of water resources, irrigation and drainage systems and waterworks; (d) determination of the directions of development of the water sector and improvement of land reclamation; and (e) protection of the population, territory and business facilities from emergency situations at waterworks and consequences caused by them. Water legislation of Turkmenistan shall be based on the following basic principles: (a) acknowledgement of the state importance of water, which is the basis for socio-economic development of the country and preservation of public health; (b) state management and state control in the field of water use and protection; (c) provision of equal access to water for the population; (d) sustainable and rational use of water resources; (e) integrated water resources management; (f) combination of administrative-territorial and basin principles of water resources management; (g) creation of optimal conditions for water use, preservation of environmental sustainability and sanitary-epidemiological safety of the population; (h) priority of fresh water use for potable water needs in accordance with quality standards; (i) prevention of pollution, siltation and depletion of water; (j) participation of citizens and public associations in addressing issues related to the use and protection of waterbodies, in the preparation of solutions; (k) public participation in decision-making related to water management; (l) payment for special water use, with the exception of certain types of special water use established by the Cabinet of Ministers; (m) liability for violations of water legislation; (n) compensation for damage caused as a result of violations of water legislation; and (o) international cooperation in the field of water use and protection, including through the regulation of water relations within the basins of transboundary water bodies. Water fund of Turkmenistan is the exclusive property of the State. The right to own, use and manage water fund belongs to the Cabinet of Ministers. This Water Code consists of XXV Chapters divided into 120 Articles. Chapter I lays down general provisions. Chapter II regards state management in the field of use and protection of water. Chapter III establishes state control in the sphere of use and protection of water. Chapter IV regards state planning in the sphere of use and protection of water. Chapter V regards state registration and state monitoring of water. Chapter VI establishes water rights and classifies water uses. Chapter VII establishes rights and duties of water users. Chapter VIII establishes the grounds and the procedure for cessation of water rights. Chapter IX establishes the procedure for the use of waterbodies for potable water supply and water supply for municipal services. Chapter X establishes the procedure for the use of water for healthcare, medicinal and recreational purposes. Chapter XI regards use of waterbodies for agriculture. Chapter XII regards use of water for industrial purposes and energy sector. Chapter XIII regards use of water for fisheries, hunting, forestry and use of waterbodies located in protected areas. Chapter XIV regards use of water for transport and fire-extinguishing purposes. Chapter XV regards use of water bodies for effluent waste water discharge and discharge of drainage water. Chapter XVI regards management of water reservoirs. Chapter XVII regards use of rivers. Chapter XVIII regards protection of waterbodies. Chapter XIX regards water protection areas and coastal areas of waterbodies. Chapter XX regards prevention and mitigation of negative consequences of negative impact of water and accidents at waterbodies. Chapter XXI establishes requirements for location, projecting, construction, reconstruction and putting in operation of facilities, works and other objects causing impact on the state of water. Chapter XXII regards rate setting and standardization in the field of use and protection of water. Chapter XXIII regards regulation of water uses by economic methods. Chapter XXIV regards dispute settlement. Chapter XXV establishes liability for the infringement of water legislation. Chapter XXVI regards international cooperation.