Water Code of the Republic of Armenia (Law No. HO-373-N).

Country/Territory: Armenia
Document type: Legislation
Date: 2002 (2023)
Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Subject: Fisheries, Water
Keyword: Fishery management and conservation Aquaculture Framework law Basic legislation Freshwater resources management Water abstraction Well sinking/boreholes Authorization/permit Surface water Groundwater Industrial water use Potable water Priorities Water charges Water conservation zone Water supply Water users' associations Climate change Water rights Right to water Human rights
Geographical area: Asia, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Europe, Europe and Central Asia, Landlocked Developing Nations, Western Asia
Entry into force notes: The Law enters into force from the date of its official publication.

Abstract: The Law consists of 17 Chapters composed of 121 articles. The basic principles of management, use and protection of water resources and water systems in the Republic of Armenia are: 1) satisfaction of the basic vital needs of the present and future generations; 2) maintenance and increase of volumes of the national water reserve; 3) protection of aquatic and related ecosystems and their biological diversity as well as recognition of integrated and interconnected relations of land, air, water and biological diversity; 4) water use shall be regulated through water use permits. The purpose of this Water Code is the protection of the national water reserve, usable water resources meeting the demands of citizens and the economy through effective and comprehensive management, ensuring the ecological stability of the environment, as well as provide the legal basis to achieve the objectives of this Code (art. 6). The objectives of this Code include also maintenance in good state underground water bodies, surface waterbodies and securing good status for severely altered waterbodies (art. 7). Water Board shall have as its duty promotion of more efficient targeted and decentralized management of water resources (art. 10). The objective of the climate change adaptation program in the field of water resources is to develop and carry out negative impacts on water resources and aquatic ecosystems as a result of climate change measures aimed at mitigation and reduction of impacts and losses and damages as a result of them, as well as ensure the inclusion of climate change adaptation considerations in water resource strategies, programs and watershed management plans. The climate change adaptation program in the field of water resources is approved by the Government (art.16.1). Article 23 specifies that any person with recreation purposes has the right to use banks and shores of natural surface water resources, unless the Government or its authorized body determines that such use may be detrimental to human health or safety or contrary to the public interest. The use of water systems must ensure efficient water use (art. 37). The requirements for drainage are: 1) it is prohibited to discharge industrial wastewater into the water resource, if the quantitative and qualitative standards of the given wastewater do not meet the general and individual requirements of the permissible limits; 2) in case of sufficient capacity of the centralized drainage system, the discharge of industrial wastewater into the centralized drainage system is allowed, if the composition and characteristics of the given wastewater meet the established requirements; 3) it is prohibited to discharge waste water into the flood drainage system, except flood waters; 4) it is prohibited to receive flood (flood) water into the centralized drainage system, if it is not intended for the design of construction and reconstruction works of the drainage system substantiated by documentation; 5) it is prohibited to receive ground (drainage) water into the centralized drainage system (art. 62.1). Chapter 1 (arts. 1–7) lays down the general provisions, i.e., General concepts used in the Code (art. 1); Water legislation (art. 2); Governmental authorities (art. 3); Ownership (art. 4); Management, use and protection (art. 5); Sphere of application (art. 6); Objectives (art. 7). Chapter 2 (arts. 8–14) deals with water resources management bodies, i.e. National Water Council (art. 8); Dispute Resolution Commission (art. 9); water resources management and protection body (art. 10). water basin management authorities (art. 11). water systems management body (art. 12). water users’ associations and federations of water users’ associations boards (art. 13). regulatory commission (art. 14). Chapter 3 (arts. 15-20) deals with strategic water use, protection and information systems, i.e., national water policy (art. 15); national water program (art. 16); water basin management plans (art. 17); national water reserve (art. 18); water resources monitoring and information system (art. 19); and public participation (art. 20). Chapter 4 regards water use permits (arts. 21–37). Chapter 5 regards water system permit (arts. 38–47). Chapter 6 regards use and management of state-owned water systems (arts. 48–62). Chapter 7 regards regulation of the use of transboundary water resources (arts. 63–65). Chapter 8 determines water quality standards (arts. 66–70). Chapter 9 regards water users unions (arts. 71–73). Chapter 10 regards recording of legal documents in water relationship (arts. 74 and 75). Chapter 11 deals with economic incentives and the system of payment in water relations (arts. 76-81). Chapter 12 regards safety of HTS (arts. 82–90). Chapter 13 regards prevention and eradication of waters harmful impact (arts. 91 and 92). Chapter 14 deals with water systems use and maintenance in emergency situations (arts. 93-97). Chapter 15 regards protection and state supervision of water resources (arts. 98-108). Chapter 16 (arts. 109-118) deals with dispute settlement evolved in water relations and establishes liability for the infringement of water legislation. Chapter 17 (arts. 119-121) lays down closing and transitional provisions. A closed circulation system in fish farms that use underground fresh water through a well is a water-saving system that will ensure the reuse of at least 40 percent of the fish farm's output water in the same basins of the same fish farm after cleaning, by taking water from the well to the maximum amount of 60 percent of the volume of water intake defined by the water use permit and ensuring the input water of the fish farm at least 40 percent water saving.
Full text: Armenian/English
Website: www.parliament.am

References - Legislation

Repeals

Water Code of the Republic of Armenia.

Legislation | Armenia | 1992

Keyword: Basic legislation, Institution, Water supply, Irrigation, Industrial water use, Freshwater pollution, Effluent waste water/discharge, Dispute settlement, Policy/planning, Waterworks, Groundwater, Freshwater resources management, Water quality standards, Pollution control

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amended by