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Groundwater By-Law No. 85 of 2002.

Country/Territory
Jordan
Document type
Regulation
Date
2002
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Water
Keyword
Groundwater Institution Irrigation Pollution control Research Royalties/fees Water charges Water rights Well sinking/boreholes Concession Registration Authorization/permit Offences/penalties Freshwater pollution
Geographical area
Asia, Middle East, Near East and North Africa, Red Sea & Gulf of Aden, Western Asia
Entry into force notes
This Regulation enters into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Abstract

This Regulation is composed of 44 articles. Articles 1 and 2 deal with terms and definitions. Article 3 decrees that the underground water shall be owned and controlled by the State and the extraction or utilization thereof shall be prohibited unless previous licences. This Regulation further decrees that the ownership of land does not necessarily imply the ownership of the underground water. Licences for the extraction of water shall be considered merely as a permit to utilize water at conditions specified within licences. Article 4 defines duties of the competent authorities which are: (a) the Minster shall undertake technical studies, discover water resources, monitor the quality and quantity thereof, identify of the resources and the utilization thereof; (b) the Authority’s Board of Directors shall determine the maximum quantity of underground water allowed to be extracted annually from each underground water basin within the limits of safe yield; and, (c) the Authority’s Board of Directors shall determine the regulatory measures for ensuring safe extraction from any water basin. Article 5 defines rights of the Competent Officials, nominated by the Minister or the Secretary General, to enter any land in order to conduct studies, investigate or collect information related to underground water or to carry out any measures required by this By-Law. Article 6 entrust the Council of Ministers the right to define areas where it shall be prohibited to drill wells. Article 7 decrees that the rules governing the construction of public and private water wells, methods of the use of the extracted underground water, and quantities thereof shall be fixed by resolutions from the Board upon the submission of the Minister. Articles 8-10 deals with licences for well drilling and water extraction. Article 11 specifies prohibited activities by owners or possessors of private wells which are: (a) to irrigate or use water for purposes not specified extraction licences or to sell water for irrigation purposes; and, (b) to sell water extracted from wells by water-tankers for drinking purposes or any other purpose without obtaining a prior written approval from the Secretary General, or his delegate, and according to conditions outlined for this purpose. Articles 13 and 14 provides for rights of the Water Authority. Article 16 defines measures and steps to be taken by the Authority’s Board of Directors in case of pollution or depletion of any area. Article 17 lists decisions that may be taken by the Authority’s Board of Directors, in particular: (a) cancellation and revocation of drilling or extraction licences; and, (b) cancellation or amendment of licence conditions. Article 18 defines measures to be taken against owners who do not abide by licence’s conditions. Article 21 deals with applications for drilling-licences. Article 24 prohibits the issuance of licences for drilling wells for industrial or tourist purposes. Articles 25-27 define distances between wells, between wells and springs, and requirements for substituting old wells with new ones. Article 29 contains information and conditions for the issuance of licences for water extraction including: maximum quantity of water to be extracted; purpose of the water use; maximum area to be irrigated; installation costs to be at the expense of the owner of the well; and, the keeping of a register by the licensee. Article 33 establishes the validity of a licence to be one year, renewable. Articles 37-39 deal with licence fees, water prices and service charges. Articles 40-44 contain final and transitional provisions.

Full text
English/Arabic
Website
www.mwi.gov.jo

References - Legislation

Implemented by

Foundations for drilling saline ground wells in the Jordan Valley region of 2022 issued pursuant to paragraph (f) of Article 10 of the Water Authority Law No.18 of 1988 and its amendments, and Articles 7 and 25 of the Groundwater Monitoring System No.85 of 2002 and its amendments.

Legislation | Jordan | 2022

Keyword: Authorization/permit, Irrigation, Groundwater, Water abstraction, Well sinking/boreholes

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amended Guideline of the Water Resources Protection for 2019.

Legislation | Jordan | 2019

Keyword: Water shortage/drought, Saltwater intrusion/siltation, Protected area, Protection of environment, Groundwater, Surface water, Waterworks, Well sinking/boreholes

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amended by

By-Law No.64 of 2015 amending of the Groundwater Control By-Law.

Legislation | Jordan | 2015

Keyword: Well sinking/boreholes, Authorization/permit, Royalties/fees, Water abstraction

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

By-Law No.75 of 2019 amending of the Groundwater Control By-Law.

Legislation | Jordan | 2019

Keyword: Groundwater, Well sinking/boreholes, Authorization/permit

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

By-Law No.25 of 2018 amending the Groundwater Control By-Law.

Legislation | Jordan | 2018

Keyword: Groundwater, Authorization/permit, Water abstraction, Well sinking/boreholes

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

By-Law No.92 of 2017 amending of the Groundwater Control By-Law.

Legislation | Jordan | 2017

Keyword: Groundwater, Royalties/fees, Water charges

Source: FAO, FAOLEX