Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law approving the country’s new Water Code.

The document establishes the legal framework for the rational use and protection of water resources, water bodies, hydraulic structures, and land within the national water fund.

Under the Code, water is recognized as a national asset subject to rational use and protection by the state. It introduces two types of water use: general and special.

Water bodies include both surface and underground waters located within Uzbekistan, as well as transboundary resources crossing its borders. These may be used either individually or jointly.

To ensure effective decision-making in water resource management, the Code provides for the creation of Water Councils — advisory and collegial bodies at the national and basin levels, and, where necessary, at the regional level. A Republican Water Council will function under the Cabinet of Ministers.

The Code will come into force three months after its official publication. It stipulates that water bodies may be granted for permanent or temporary use, including through public-private partnership agreements. Temporary use is set for a period ranging from three to 49 years.

General water use includes the extraction of water for personal drinking and domestic needs, bathing, livestock watering, and amateur or sports fishing. These activities are allowed freely and without special permits. Special water use requires official authorization in cases defined by the Code.

The Code also introduces the concept of water servitude, which may be established for general use purposes such as pedestrian and vehicle passage, livestock watering and driving, and ensuring free access to coastal areas. Such servitudes may be either public or private.

For violations of water use regulations, the Code imposes financial penalties on legal entities. In particular, exceeding water intake limits will result in a fine of 20% of the basic estimated valuefor each 1,000 cubic meters; water extraction without contracts — 30%; without measurement and control equipment — 5%; and without special permits — 40% of the basic estimated valueper the same volume.

Repeat violations within one year will result in fines multiplied fivefold.