Water Resources Act 1997 (Act No. 27 of 1997). Country/Territory Australia Territorial subdivision South Australia Document type Legislation Date 1997 (2003) Source FAO, FAOLEX Long titleAn Act to provide for the management of the State's water resources; to repeal the Catchment Water Management Act 1995, the Water Resources Act 1990 and other Acts; and for other purposes. Subject Water Keyword Basic legislation Surface water Groundwater Waterworks Water supply Water abstraction Well sinking/boreholes Authorization/permit Institution Basin/catchment/watershed Policy/planning Water charges Freshwater resources management Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Inland waters Geographical area Asia and the Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Indian Ocean, Oceania, South Pacific Abstract The object of this Act is to establish a system for the use and management of the water resources of the State (a) that ensures that the use and management of those resources sustain the physical, economic and social well being of the people of the State and facilitate the economic development of the State while- (i) ensuring that those resources are able to meet the reasonably foreseeable needs of future generations; and (ii) protecting the ecosystems (including their biological diversity) that depend on those resources; and (b) that, by requiring the use of caution and other safeguards, reduces to a minimum the detrimental effects of that use and management (sect. 6). Subject to this Act and to any other Act or law to the contrary, a person who has lawful access to a watercourse, lake or well may take water from the watercourse, lake or well for any purpose (sect. 7). Part IV provides for control of activities affecting water including the drilling of wells. A person must not take water from a prescribed watercourse, lake or well or take surface water from a surface water prescribed area: Full text English Website www.austlii.edu.au References - Legislation Implemented by Water Resources Regulations 1997. Legislation | Australia | 1997 (2005) Keyword: Groundwater, Well sinking/boreholes, Non-governmental entity, Authorization/permit, Water charges, Water supply Source: FAO, FAOLEX Repealed by Natural Resources Management Act 2004. Legislation | Australia | 2004 (2016) Keyword: Environmental fees/charges, Environmental planning, Institution, Ecosystem preservation, Education, Indigenous peoples, Policy/planning, Soil rehabilitation, Pests/diseases, Animal health, Plant protection, Basic legislation, Freshwater resources management, Freshwater pollution, Allocation/quota, Irrigation, Sustainable development, Pollution control, Framework law Source: FAO, FAOLEX