Law on Water and Water Resources (amended)
水与水资源法（修订版）
ກົດໝາຍວ່າດ້ວຍ ນ້ຳ ແລະ ຊັບພະຍາກອນນ້ຳ (ສະບັບປັບປຸງ)
Summary
This Law prescribes rules for the management, protection, development, and utilization of water and water resources, aiming to ensure the sustainable use of water resources and to meet the needs of socio-economic development. This Law applies to all water bodies and related activities within the territory, defines the responsibilities of competent authorities, regulates water use permits, water quality protection, and pollution prevention measures, prohibits acts that harm the ecology of water resources, and promotes fair and reasonable water use.
Articles
Article 1
Article 1 Purpose (Amended)
This Law prescribes principles, regulations, and measures concerning the management, administration, protection, development, and utilization of water and water resources, prevention of losses from water-related disasters, and restoration and remediation of affected areas, in order to ensure the quality and quantity of water and water resources and their sustainability, aiming to meet the water needs for people’s livelihoods, agricultural production, industry, and services, to safeguard society and the protection of the natural environment, to develop in a green and sustainable direction, to maintain long-term national stability, to align with regional and international standards, and to contribute to the protection and development of the economy and society.
Article 2
Article 2 Water and Water Resources (Amended)
Water is a liquid natural resource and constitutes the most fundamental and core component of water resources.
Water resources are natural resources composed of water, water sources, and living or non-living things within water sources, such as aquatic plants, aquatic animals, minerals, ores, sand, silt, mineral substances, and the like.
Article 3
Article 3 Interpretation of Terms (New)
The terms used in this Law shall have the following meanings:
1. Water source means a place where water, whether natural or artificial, existing on the surface, underground, or in the air, accumulates, resides, or flows, either permanently or temporarily;
2. Surface water source means water located on the earth’s surface, such as rivers, streams, mountain torrents, ditches, canals, lakes, swamps, ponds, pits, waterfalls, reservoirs, subsurface runoff, rock springs, and the like;
3. Groundwater source means water located underground, in the form of layers, pockets, veins, or mixed with soil and rock, such as well water, spring water, mineral water, confined water, underground runoff, and the like;
4. Atmospheric water source means rainwater, snow, dew, frost, and the like;
5. Reservoir means a system for storing water by excavation or by damming mountain torrents or rivers, in order to maintain sufficient water reserves to meet the water needs for people’s livelihoods, agricultural production, and the stability of natural and social ecosystems;
6. Dam or weir means a structure built by impounding or storing water for the purpose of generating electricity, irrigation, or other uses;
7. Wastewater means water containing pollutants exceeding standards, or water whose quality has changed after use, such as water used in households, agriculture, industry, and other activities;
8. Integrated water resources management means the process of coordinating, balancing, and uniformly managing and developing water and water resources, land, forests, and other resources, in order to ensure that the management and development of these resources achieve the highest overall economic, social, and environmental benefits;
9. Soil erosion prevention means preventing and stopping erosion and scouring in catchment areas, reservoirs, and riparian zones;
10. Fish sanctuary means an area in a water source or a section of a river designated as a year-round fishing prohibition zone, serving as a safe habitat and breeding ground for aquatic animal resources;
11. Household means a home of a person or group of persons who share meals, living quarters, and daily activities; a household may consist of one or more families or one or more nuclear families;
12. Ecosystem means the relationship of mutual positive and negative interactions and stable coexistence between living and non-living things in nature;
13. Wastewater treatment pond means a treatment pond that eliminates or reduces pollutants in wastewater to a minimum, meeting standards and not causing environmental pollution.
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