Law on groundwater. Country/Territory Switzerland Territorial subdivision Ticino Document type Legislation Date 1978 (2010) Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Water Keyword Basic legislation Pollution control Freshwater pollution Groundwater Registration Water charges Water quality standards Concession Geographical area Alps, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, North-East Atlantic, Western Europe Entry into force notes The present Law enters in force on 1 April 1979. Abstract The present Law lays down provisions relating to groundwater. In particular, it makes provision for the assessment and use of such waters. Article 2 establishes that the competent office has to keep and update a register of groundwater for the whole territory of the Canton. Except in case of acquired rights, extracting groundwater is conditioned to the granting of a concession or a permit according to the existing regulations. In case of emergency, temporary catching of groundwater above fifty litres per minute is subject to an authorization by the competent Department. A fee must be paid by the licensee. The text consists of 34 articles divided into 5 chapters as follows: General provisions (I); Register of groundwaters (II); Concessions and authorizations (III); Various provisions, penalties (IV); Final provisions (V). Full text Italian Website www.ti.ch References - Legislation Implemented by Ordinance implementing the Law on groundwaters. Legislation | Switzerland | 1979 (2003) Keyword: Groundwater, Inland waters, Concession, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties Source: FAO, FAOLEX