This is the version of this Legal Notice as it was from 16 April 2021 to 30 December 2022. Read the latest available version.
The Water Resources Regulations, 2021
Related documents
- Is amended by 24th Annual Supplement
LAWS OF KENYA
WATER ACT
THE WATER RESOURCES REGULATIONS, 2021
LEGAL NOTICE 43 OF 2021
- Published in Kenya Gazette Vol. CXIII—No. 75 on 16 April 2021
- Commenced on 7 April 2021
Part I – PRELIMINARY
1. Citation
These Regulations may be cited as the Water Resources Regulations, 2021.2. Interpretation
3. Application of Regulations
Part II – PRESCRIPTION OF WATER USE ACTIVITIES
4. Schedule of activities
Without prejudice to the generality of section 2 of the Act, the activities set out in Part 1 of the First Schedule carried out on or in relation to a water resource shall be regarded as water use activities requiring a water use permit.5. Requirement for a permit for water use activities
The activities listed in Part 2 of the First Schedule are water use activities in respect of which an application for variation of permit shall be required.6. Categorization of water resource use applications
Part III – APPLICATION FOR A PERMIT OR OTHER AUTHORITY FOR WATER USE
7. Application for a permit
8. Permit for temporary use
Where the activity for which the water is intended to be used is temporary in nature, the application shall be for a permit for a period of one year or such longer period, not exceeding two years, as may be determined by Authority.9. Water use to be appurtenant to land
10. Easements, wayleaves, etc.
11. Consent of owner of works
12. Use of existing works in the public interest
13. Category A applications
14. Category B, C and D applications
15. Maps to accompany applications
16. Technical report
17. Recommendations by Associations on applications
18. Public notification
19. Objection to permit application
20. Guidelines and procedures for permits of temporary nature
The Authority shall administratively make guidelines and procedures for the application for permits for a temporary period.21. Open meeting
22. Rejection of application
23. Authorisation to construct works
24. Limitation on authorization
An Authorization to Construct Works does not authorise an applicant to commence abstraction or the proposed use of the water before the conditions governing the authorisation are certified as having been met.25. Extension of Authorization
26. Register of authorizations and permits
27. Completion certificates
28. Application for water use permit for surface and groundwater
Within thirty days of the date of the completion of the works, the applicant shall apply to the Authority for a water use permit in relation to surface water and ground water.29. Water use permit validity
A water use permit granted under regulation 28 shall be issued for a period of five years but may be renewed or extended for a similar or shorter period following an application by the permit holder.30. Water resource user identification number
A water use permit shall bear a unique water resource user identification number or security code which shall whenever practicable identify the basin or sub-basin area in which the water use occurs.31. Permit fees
32. Conditions of Permit
33. Transfer of permit by permit holder
A permit holder may apply to the Authority for the transfer of the permit to another person in the Form WRA 012 set out in the Thirteenth Schedule.34. Variation of permit by permit holder
35. Variation or cancellation of permit by the Authority
36. Renewal of permits
37. Register of approved water users, water uses and permits
38. Permit of authorisation not a defence
The issue by the Authority of an authorisation or permit shall not be a defence to any civil action or to a criminal prosecution.39. Public notification of authorisations and permits
40. Compliance with other laws
The right of a permit holder shall, notwithstanding anything contained in his or her authorisation or permit, be subject to and conditional to his or her compliance with the provisions of the Act and any other applicable laws.Part IV – SURFACE WATER
41. Surface water allocation plan and guidelines
42. Declaring of a water course
43. Boundary of properties defined by a watercourse
If, owing to any natural events or authorised or unauthorised works being constructed on a water body, a body of water which constitutes the boundary of two or more properties ceases to flow between or to separate such properties or has changed into a new course, the boundaries of such properties shall, unless readjusted by mutual agreement between the parties concerned, remain as before.44. Wetlands
45. Land reclamation
46. Requirement to obtain permit after land reclamation
47. Allocation of water for irrigation
48. Hydro Power
49. Works associated with fish movement for protection and control of fish
50. Water resources data
Part V – GROUNDWATER
51. Authorisation of groundwater development
52. Regulation of groundwater development
53. Borehole and well test pumping
54. Supervision of works
A borehole and well that is to be equipped with a motorised pump shall be constructed under the supervision of a qualified and licensed water sector professional.55. Borehole or well completion record
56. Issue of permit or approval
57. Groundwater conservation
58. Artificial ground water recharge
59. Groundwater data
The Authority may, from time to time and in carrying out its responsibilities in respect to groundwater resources protection and regulation, require any person or entity, permit holder or operator, to provide the Authority with abstraction, water levels, water quality or any other specified information within a reasonable time or on a regular basis as it may specify including the requirement to observe protection measures as shall be prescribed by the Authority.60. Groundwater allocation Guidelines
Part VI – WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND WASTE DISPOSAL
61. Control of water pollution
62. Waste disposal control plan
63. Water quality requirements
In determining the water quality standards for a waste disposal permit, the Authority shall be guided by the following criteria—64. Liquid Waste Disposal Records
65. Consideration of category waste disposal applications
66. Issuance of waste disposal permits
67. Spillage
68. Water quality monitoring
69. Water quality, liquid waste disposal and effluent discharge data
70. Water quality sample procedure
71. Pollution control enforcement
The Authority may, with good cause, order any person or entity being the landholder or occupier or having charge over a piece of land to put in place adequate measures for the safe disposal of solid or other wastes including agricultural chemicals present on the land which may present a risk to the water resource quality.Part VII – WORKS
73. Inspection of works prior to, during and post construction
The Authority may undertake an inspection or series of inspections of the site associated with a proposed, ongoing, existing or abandoned water works.74. Temporary works
75. Abandoned Works
Part VIII – CONDITIONS OF AUTHORISATION, PERMITS AND APPROVED WATER USES
76. Compliance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act
The Authority shall require an applicant as a condition to the grant of a water resource use permit to—77. Inspection
78. Controlling and measuring devices
79. Limitation of flow or quantity
80. Collection and submission of abstraction, water quality and effluent discharge data
81. Airline
82. Water resources inspector
83. Water resources data
84. Register of water bodies
Part IX – WATER USE CHARGES
85. Water use charges
86. Annual adjustment of water use charges
The Authority shall adjust the water use charges annually in order to give effect to indexation by reference to the officially published annual inflation index.87. Review of water use charges
The Authority may at any time, following public consultation, review and gazette new water use charges on the basis of—88. Automated measuring device
89. Time limitation on arrears
90. Groundwater conservation charge
An additional 10 percent shall be added to the water use charges payable for any water use within a groundwater conservation area or protected area gazetted under the Act to cover for the cost of enhanced regulation required in such areas.91. Penalty for overabstraction
In the event that the water abstracted exceeds the permitted amounts by over 5 percent, the excess shall be charged at a penalty rateof ten shillings per cubic metre.92. Waiver of premium payable
93. Penalty for failure to use automated measuring device
If the assessment of the water used is not based on continuous measurement by means of an automated and appropriately sealed flow measuring device, a penalty of 10 per cent shall be charged on the full amount of water used.94. Revenue collection agents
The Authority may appoint revenue collection agents and shall pay for the cost of the services rendered.95. Modes of payment
Water use charges shall be paid directly to the Authority or where applicable to a revenue collection agent.96. Interest for late payment
Late payment of water use charges shall attract a simple interest charge of 2 percent per month until the whole amount is paid in full.97. Failure to pay water use charges
Part X – WATER RESOURCE USERS ASSOCIATIONS
98. Registration and Operation of associations
Part XI – BASIN WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEES
99. Consideration of Category B, C and D applications
100. Quorum of basin water resource committee
101. Regional offices
102. Publication of committee report
Part XII – PROTECTED AREAS AND GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION AREAS
104. Identification of protected or designated groundwater conservation areas
105. Management Regulations
106. Public Consultation
The Authority shall undertake public consultation with respect to the establishment of areas to be protected or designated as groundwater conservation areas and the management regulations or plans that shall apply with respect to these areas.Part XIII – THE RESERVE
107. Composition of the Reserve
The Reserve in all instances shall comprise of one element related to the quantity of the resource and the respective probability associated with that quantity and a second element related to the quality of the resource.108. Reserve Quantity
109. Information on and protection of the Reserve Quantity
Part XIV – REGISTRATION OF WATER SECTOR PROFESSIONALS
110. Categories of qualified water sector professionals
The categories of qualified water sector professionals shall be as shown in the Ninth Schedule.111. Licensing of qualified water sector professional or qualified
112. Qualification for application for licence
The following persons shall be entitled to apply for a qualified water sector professional licence—113. Professionals holding non-Kenyan qualifications.
114. Application for a licence
Any individual who provides or is proposing to provide professional services related to water resources or the provision of water or sewerage services shall apply for a licence as a qualified water sector professional under the appropriate area of specialisation to the Cabinet Secretary in Form WRP 001 as prescribed in the Thirteenth Schedule.115. Professional interview
The Cabinet Secretary, after receiving an application for a qualified water sector professional licence, may require the attendance of the applicant before the Technical Advisory Committee, and the Committee may examine or question him or her on any matter relevant to the application.116. Qualified water sector professional licence
117. Codes of Practice for qualified water sector professionals
118. Register of qualified water sector professionals
119. Complaints
120. Validity of certificates, documents or plans
121. Misrepresentation as licensed qualified water sector professional
Any person who wilfully and falsely takes or uses any name, title or addition implying that he or she is a qualified water sector professional licensed under these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on conviction to the penalties prescribed under section 147 of the Act.Part XV – LICENSING OF CONTRACTORS
122. Categories of qualified contractors
The categories of qualified contractors shall be as shown in the Ninth Schedule.123. Criteria for qualified contractors
124. Application to register as qualified contractor
125. Qualified contractor licence
126. Verification of necessary and valid authorisations
127. Code of Practice for qualified contractors
128. Complaints
129. Register of qualified contractors
130. Misrepresentation as qualified contractor
Any individual, corporate entity, non-governmental or charitable organisation, or public body who wilfully and falsely takes or uses any name, title or addition implying that he, she or it is a qualified contractor licensed under these Regulations commits an offence.Part XVI – MISCELLANEOUS
131. Recognized water quality laboratories
A water quality laboratory which is registered, accredited or gazetted by the National Environment Management Authority shall be recognised by the Authority.132. Orders
133. Emergency Order
134. Complaints mechanism
135. Penalties
136. Revocation of LN No 171 of 2007
The Water Resources Management Rules, 2007, are hereby revoked.History of this document
31 December 2022
Revised by
24th Annual Supplement
Read this version
16 April 2021 this version
07 April 2021
Commenced


