Water Supply and Sanitation (Registration and Operations of Community Based Water Supply Organisations) Regulations, 2019.

These Regulations comprise 45 articles organized into VIII Parts. Part II outlines the establishment and registration of Community-Based Water Supply Organizations. It mandates the creation of these organizations for effective water supply and sanitation management, allowing them to take various legal forms (e.g., associations, trusts, cooperatives). The process involves the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) and local government authorities convening meetings to establish these organizations and appoint interim committees to draft their constitutions. Once established, these community organizations must register with the Registrar (typically the RUWASA District Manager), submitting an application with required documents and paying a fee. The Registrar then reviews applications within 30 days, can refuse registration for specific reasons (e.g., false information, existing service in the area), and, upon approval, issues a certificate of registration. A central register of these organizations is maintained at the district, regional, and national levels. The Registrar may suspend or cancel a certificate of registration if certain conditions are violated, such as non-compliance with the certificate's terms or the organization's constitution, cessation of existence, public recommendation for suspension, clustering of organizations, or the establishment or extension of water authority services in their jurisdiction (article 21).
Part V outlines the following obligations of Community Organizations in managing and operating water and sanitation schemes (I) providing services within their registered service areas, which includes collaborating with Basin Water Boards to protect and conserve water sources; (II) controlling a two-meter wayleave for water distribution pipes and must acquire title to land where water infrastructure is located; (iii) proposing water tariffs and other charges according to RUWASA guidelines, with final approval from the RUWASA Board; (iv) submitting quarterly, semi-annual, and annual performance reports to RUWASA. Part VI details RUWASA's role in monitoring and regulating Community Organizations. This involves developing oversight guidelines, preparing annual performance reports for the Minister, and categorizing organizations by performance to identify support needs. Additionally, RUWASA is responsible for approving arrangements between community organizations and service providers, and for submitting regular performance reports to the Minister.