Duties and responsibilities of the District Local Government Organization for water supply

Under the provisions of the District Local Government Organizations Law of 2022 (37(I)/2022), as well as the provisions of the Unified Water Management Law, it is the duty of every District Local Government Organization, for the whole area under its jurisdiction, to:

(a) provide and maintain a good and adequate water supply and keep, or ensure that there are kept, all waterworks connected therewith clean and in good condition;

(b) ensure that every dwelling house and other buildings have an adequate water supply available, to the extent that this is reasonably practicable and subject to the relevant regulations regarding the laying of mains and connections thereto;

(c) ensure the uninterrupted supply of water and take immediate necessary action in the event of any interruption, breakdown or other problem concerning the water supply:

Provided that, for this purpose, every District Local Government Organization shall maintain or secure standby and breakdown response services at such points as to make possible and/or facilitate its immediate response; and

(d) provide the Council of Ministers with such information regarding the water supplies in its service area, or the water resources therein or available for that area, as the Council of Ministers may require.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), every District Local Government Organization may:

(a) conduct a review of the existing water supplies in its service area and the water resources therein or available for that area, as well as the existing water consumption and demand;

(b) prepare an assessment of the water needs of the service area;

(c) take, from time to time, such measures as are necessary to ascertain the adequacy and completion of the water supplies and generally for the effective carrying out of operations under the provisions of this Law;

(d) supply, within the service area, water for any purposes other than domestic purposes, provided that such supply is not likely to reduce or affect the supply of water for domestic purposes within the service area; and

(e) supply water for any purpose in any area outside the service area, provided that such supply is not likely to significantly reduce or affect the water available within the service area.

(3) Every District Local Government Organization, for the purpose of supplying water within its area, may:

(a) construct, acquire or lease, or, with the approval of the Minister, purchase by agreement any waterworks, wherever situated;

(b) purchase, with the approval of the Minister, by agreement, any immovable property, waterworks or undertaking of any water supplier, wherever situated;

(c) impose water rates or charges for the supply of water and for any services provided in connection therewith; and

(d) enter into contracts with any person for the supply of water.