PUNJAB WATER ACT 2019

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THE PUNJAB WATER ACT 2019 
(XXI of 2019) 
CONTENTS 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
CHAPTER II 
PUNJAB WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION 
 
3. Punjab Water Resources Commission  
4. Power and duties of the Commission 
5. Working of the Commission 
6. Director General of the Commission 
CHAPTER III 
REGULATIONS OF WATER AND SEWERAGE SERVICES 
 
7. Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority  
8. Duties and powers of the Authority 
9. Director General of the Authority 
CHAPTER IV 
WATER UNDERTAKERS AND SEWERAGE UNDERTAKERS 
 
10. Water Undertakers and Sewerage Undertakers 
11. Enforcement orders 
12. Register of undertakers  
13. Power to assign services  
CHAPTER V 
WATER SUPPLY 
 
14. Duties of water undertakers 
 
 
15. Duty to provide supplies for domestic purposes  
16 Supply of water for industrial purposes  
17. Duty to supply water for other public purposes 
18. Constancy and pressure of water supplies 
19. Quality and sufficiency of water supplies 
20. Power to require additional measures for ensuring quality of water 
21. Power to disconnect service pipes and cut off supplies 
22. Offence of supplying water unfit for human consumption 
23. Provision of water where piped supplies are insufficient or are 
 unwholesome 
24. Permission to abstract water directly 
25. Offences of contaminating, wastage and misuse of water 
26. Prevention of contamination and waste etc 
27. Powers to prevent damage, contamination and waste etc  
28. Standards of wholesomeness of water  
29. Maps of water mains etc 
CHAPTER VI 
PROVISION OF SEWERAGE SERVICES 
 
30. Sewerage functions 
31. Standards of performance 
32. Supply of sewerage services for domestic purposes 
33. Performance of sewerage functions by local authorities etc 
34. Trade effluent  
35. Power to disconnect connection for trade effluent 
36. Permission to dispose of waste water or trade effluent directly 
37. Sewer maps 
CHAPTER VII 
CHARGING FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY UNDERTAKERS 
 
 
 
38. Powers of the undertakers to charge 
39. Liability of occupiers etc. to pay charges 
40. Provisions relating to charging by volume 
41. Power of the Authority to modify charges 
42. Offence of tampering with meters etc 
CHAPTER VIII 
ABSTRACTION AND DISPOSAL LICENSES 
 
43. Abstraction licenses 
44. Disposal licenses 
45. Terms and conditions of licenses  
CHAPTER IX 
WATER CONSERVATION DURING DROUGHTS 
 
46. Drought orders 
47. Offences with regard to drought orders 
CHAPTER X 
DUTIES WITH REGARD TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECREATIONAL 
PURPOSES 
 
48. Environmental and recreational duties 
CHAPTER XI 
CONTROLLED WATERS 
49. Controlled waters 
50. Offences relating to controlled waters etc 
51. Water protection zones 
52. Offences related to deposits and vegetation 
CHAPTER XII 
MISCELLANEOUS 
53. Power to investigate 
54. Prosecution of offences 
55. Amendments 
 
 
56. Rules  
57. Regulations 
58. Removal of difficulties 
First Schedule 
(see section 43) 
 
Second Schedule 
(see section 44) 
 
Third Schedule 
(See section 54) 
 
Fourth Schedule 
(see section 55) 
 
 
 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB WATER ACT 2019 
(XXI of 2019) 
    [13th December, 2019] 
An 
Act 
to comprehensively manage and regulate water resources in the 
Punjab in the interest of conservation and sustainability. 
It is expedient to provide for comprehensive management of all water resources in 
the Punjab and to regulate their use in the interest of  conservation and sustainability 
and matters connected with and ancillary thereto. 
Be it enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
CHAPTER I 
PRELIMINARY 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .— (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Water Act, 2019. 
(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once. 
2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, the following 
expressions shall have the meanings as respectively assigned to them: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Water Act, 2019; 
(b) “Authority” means the Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority 
established under section 7 of the Act; 
(c) “authorized functionary” means a public servant authorized by the 
Commission for the purpose of section 17 or 28 of the Act; 
(d) “Commission” means the Punjab Water Resources Commission 
established under section 3 of the Act; 
(e) “company” means a company established under the Companies Act, 
2017 (Act XIX of 2017) or any other law for the time being in force; 
(f) “controlled waters” means  the waters as defined in section 49 of the 
Act; 
(g) “Government” means the Government of the Punjab; 
(h) “local authority” means a: 
(i) land control authority established by law for the time being in 
force to regulate or manage land use; 
 
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 20 November 2019; assented to by the Governor of the Punjab 
on 10 December 2019; and, was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 13 December 2019, pp.2507-2529. 
 
 
(ii) a local government; or 
 (iii) company set up by the Government to provide land  related 
services; 
(i) “local government” means a local government established under the 
Punjab Local Government Act, 2019 (XIII of 2019) or any other law for  
the time being in force; 
(j) “meter” means any approved apparatus for measuring or showing the 
volume of water supplied to, or of effluent discharged from any 
premises; 
(k) “person” includes an undertaker, an authority or a company; 
(l) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules or the regulations made or 
framed under the Act; 
(m) “rules” means the rules made under the Act; 
(n) “regulations” means the regulations framed under the Act; 
(o) “technical assessor” means a person appointed as technical assessor 
under section 53 of the Act; 
(p) “trade effluent” means the effluent from industrial premises as defined 
in section 34 of the Act; 
(q) “undertaker” means a provider of water or sewerage services or,  as the 
case may be, both services appointed under section 10 of the Act; and 
(r) “wholesome” in relation to water means a water which meets the 
standards as laid down under section 28 of the Act. 
CHAPTER II 
PUNJAB WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION 
3. Punjab Wate r Resources Commission .— (1) As soon as may be , but not 
later than six months  of the comme ncement of th e Act, the Government shall 
establish  the Punjab Water Resources Commission to carry out functions assigned 
or transferred to it under the Act. 
(2) The Commission shall comprise the following: 
(a)  Chief Minister Chairperson 
(b)  Minister for Irrigation Punjab; Co-Chairperson 
(c)  Minister for Environment Protection Punjab; Member 
(d)  Minister for Housing, Urban Development and 
Public Health Engineering Punjab;  
Member 
(e)  Minister for Agriculture Punjab; Member 
(f)  Minister for Industries, Commerce and Investment 
Punjab; 
Member 
(g)  Minister for Local Government and Community 
Development Punjab  
Member 
(h)  Minister for Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Punjab; Member 
(i)  Chief Secretary Punjab; Vice- Chairperson 
(j)  Secretary to the Government, Irrigation Department; Member 
(k)  Secretary to the Government Housing, Urban 
Development and Public Health Engineering 
Member 
 
 
Department; 
(l)  Secretary to the Government, Local Government 
and Community Development Department;  
Member 
(m)  Secretary to the Government Environment 
Protection Department; 
Member 
(n)  Secretary to the Government, Agriculture 
Department; 
Member 
(o)  Secretary to the Government, Primary and 
Secondary Healthcare Department; 
Member 
(p)  Secretary to the Government, Forestry, Wildlife and 
Fisheries Department; 
Member 
(q)  Secretary to the Government, Industries, 
Commerce and Investment Department; 
Member 
(r)  Secretary to the Government, Finance Department; Member 
(s)  two water quality experts to be appointed by the 
Government; 
Members 
(t)  one environmental expert to be appointed by the 
Government; 
Member 
(u)  one public health expert to be appointed by the 
Government; and 
Member 
(v)  Director General of the Commission; Member/Secretary 
 
(3) All expert members of the Commission shall be appointed in the 
prescribed manner. 
(4) Every member of the Commission shall attend the proceedings of the 
Commission in person.  
4. Power and duties of the Commission .— (1) It shall be the duty of the 
Commission to take all such actions as it may, from time to time, consider necessary 
or expedient for the purpose of: 
(a) conserving, redistributing or otherwise augmenting water 
resources in the Punjab; 
(b) allocating water resources for domestic, agricultural, ecological, 
industrial or other purposes in different areas of the Punjab; and 
(c) of securing the proper use of water resources in the Punjab. 
(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as relieving any water 
undertaker of the obligations to develop water resources for the purpose of any duty 
imposed on it by virtue of the Act. 
(3) Without any prejudice to the p rovisions of sub -section (1) above, t he 
Commission shall also: 
(a) maintain, improve and develop wildlife and fisheries in bodies of 
water from which water is drawn or into which it is discharged; 
(b) establish an Advisory Committe e, having such composition as 
may be prescribed, for advising it on maintenance and 
development of water resources, wildlife, fisheries, flora and 
fauna. 
(4). Subject to the Act and the rules, the Commission shall determine its 
own procedure. 
 
 
5. Working of the Commission.— (1) The Commission shall meet at least once 
every six months. 
(2) The meetings of the Commission shall be chaired by the Chairperson 
and in his absence by the Co -Chairperson or the Vice Chairperson as the case may 
be. 
(3) The Co mmission shall, on yearly basis, determine the allocation of 
water for domestic, agricultural, industrial, ecological and other purposes. 
(4) The quorum for a meeting of the Commission shall be twelve members 
out of which at least three shall be the experts. 
6. Director General of the Commission .— (1) The Commission shall have a 
Director General who shall be appointed in the prescribed manner. 
(2) The Director General shall be responsible for the due discharge of the 
functions of the Commission under this Act. 
(3) The Director General shall be assis ted in his work by such number of 
officers and staff as the Government may, from time to time, determine. 
CHAPTER III 
REGULATIONS OF WATER AND SEWERAGE SERVICES 
7. Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority.— (1) As soon as may be, but 
not later than six m onths of the commencement of the Act, the Government shall 
establish Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority for the purposes of carrying 
out the functions conferred on it by th e Act or by any other law f or the time being in 
force. 
(2) The Authority shall consist of the following:  
(a)  Chief Secretary Punjab Chairperson 
(b)  Secretary to the Government, Housing, Urban 
Development and Public Health Engineering 
Department; 
Member 
(c)  Secretary to the Government, Local Government 
and Community Development; 
Member 
(d)  Secretary to the Government, Irrigation 
Department; 
Member 
(e)  Secretary to the Government, Environment 
Protection Department; 
Member 
(f)  Secretary to the Government, Industries, 
Commerce and Investment Department; 
Member 
(g)  Secretary to the Government, Primar y and 
Secondary Healthcare Department; 
Member 
(h)  a water quality expert; Member 
(i)  a public health expert; and Member 
(j)  Director General of the Authority Member/Secretary 
 
8. Duties and powers of the Authority.— (1) The Authority shall: 
 
 
(a) ensure that the  undertakers discharge their  duties and perform 
their functions in accordance with th e Act or any other law for 
the time being in force; 
(b) revise tariffs set by water and sewerage undertakers,  if deemed 
necessary, as per the prescribed procedure. 
(2) The Authorit y shall exercise powers and perform duties mentioned in 
subsection (1) in a well calculated manner which may be prescribed: 
(a) to further the consumer objective; 
(b) to ensure that the functio ns of water undertaker and of a 
sewerage undertaker are properly carried out; 
(c) to secure that bodies or companies holding appointments as 
water undertaker or sewerage undertaker are able to finance the 
proper carrying out of water and sewerage services unde r this 
Act; and 
(d) to ensure that the activities authorized under the license of water 
abstraction or license of water disposal are properly carried out 
in addition to any other duty imposed for the said purposes 
under any other law for the time being in force. 
(3) For the purpose of clause (a) of subsection (2), the Authority s hall have 
regard to the interests of among other persons:  
(a) those who are disabled or chronically sick or of an old age; 
(b) those with low incomes; 
(c) those residing in rural areas; and 
(d) customers of companies, holding an appointment of undertaker, 
whose premises are not eligible to be supplied by a licensed 
water supplier. 
 (4) Subject to subsection (2), the Authority shall exercise powers and 
perform duties mentioned in subsection (1) ) in a w ell calculated manner which may 
be prescribed to: 
(a) promote economy and e fficiency on the part of bodies or 
companies holding an appointment as an undertaker; 
(b) secure that no undue preference is shown, and that there is no 
undue discrimination in the fixing, by such companies, of water 
and drainage charges; 
(c) ensure that the inter ests of every person who is a customer or , 
as the case may be,  potential customer are protected as 
respects the fixing and recovery by that undertaker of:  
(i) charges in respect of  any services provided in the course 
of carrying out functions of an  undertaker; and 
(ii) amounts of any other description which such an 
undertaker is authorized by or under any law to require 
such person to pay; and 
 
 
(d) to ensure that the interests of every such person are protected 
as respects the other terms on which any services are prov ided 
and as respects the quality of those services. 
9. Director General of the Authority .— (1) The Authority shall have a Director 
General who shall be appointed in the prescribed manner. 
(2) The Director General shall be responsible for the due discharge of the 
work of the Authority. 
(3) The Director General shall be assisted in his work by such number of 
officers and staff as the Government may, from time to time, determine. 
CHAPTER IV 
WATER UNDERTAKERS AND SEWERAGE UNDERTAKERS 
10. Water Undertakers and S ewerage Undertakers .— (1) The Commission 
may appoint a company, a local government or a statutory authority to be the water 
undertaker or sewerage undertaker for any area.  
(2) Where the Commission appoints a company or a statutory authority, 
not under the  control of the relevant local government, to be an undertaker for any 
area, it shall obtain prior permission from the relevant local government. 
(3) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (4) below, the appointment of a 
company, local government or a st atutory authority to be a n undertaker shall be by 
an instrument in writing containing the appointment, including the terms and 
conditions thereof, and describing the area for which it is made: 
(4) No company, local government or statutory authority shall be appointed 
as an undertaker beyond the area in which it may by law operate. 
11. Enforcement orders .— (1) Where in the case of any  undertaker, the 
Authority is satisfied that: 
(a) such undertaker is contravening any condition of its appointment 
or any statutor y requirement which is enforceable, and in 
relation to which it is the enforcement authority; or 
(b) such undertaker has contravened any such condition or 
requirement and there is an apprehension that such undertaker 
may repeat the contravention, 
the Authority  shall by a provisional order make such provision s as may be 
required for the purpose of securing compliance with that condition or requirement. 
(2) Where an order has been passed under subsection (1), and i ts 
noncompliance is likely to have a serious impa ct on the provision of water or 
sewerage services including impact on health and hygiene of the public, the 
Authority shall inform the Government of such order and the consequences of its 
non-compliance. 
(3) Before making a final order or confirming a prov isional order, the 
Authority shall give a notice to the undertaker: 
(a) stating that it proposes to make a final order or confirm the 
provisional order and setting out the effect of the order; and 
 
 
(b) setting out: 
(i) the conditions or requirements for the purpose of 
securing compliance of such order;  
(ii) the acts of omission or commission which in its opinion 
constitute or would constitute contravention of such 
conditions or requirements; and  
(iii) any other fact which in its o pinion justify the passing of 
such order. 
(4) A final or provisional order: 
(a) shall require the undertaker, to which it relates, to do or not to do 
such things as are specified in the order;  
(b) shall take effect at such time, being the earliest practicable tim e, 
as is determined by or under the order; and 
(c) may be revoked or modified by the Authority or the Government. 
(5) The obligation to undertaker with a final or provisional order shall be a 
duty owed both to the Authority as well as to any person who may be affected by the 
contravention of such order. 
12. Register of undertakers .— The Authority shall, in the prescribed manner, 
maintain in paper as well as in electronic form, a register of the following information: 
(a) every appointment made under this Chapter; 
(b) every termination of any such appointment; 
(c) every v ariation of the area for which any undertaker holds any such 
appointment; 
(d) the conditions of any appointment; 
(e) enforcement orders; 
(f) every undertaking given to and accepted by the Authority or the 
Government; and 
(g) details of abstraction licenses or disposal lic enses granted to water 
undertakers and sewerage undertakers by the Commission.  
13. Power to assign services.— (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) 
below, an undertaker may assign water  or sewerage or, as the case may be, both 
services to a comp any registered for the purpose of provision of water or sewerage 
services or a local authority, temporarily or for a specified period, by way of a written 
agreement executed with the Authority. 
(2) An undertaker shall obtain prior permiss ion of the Authori ty and the 
relevant local government before making an assignment where the undertaker is not 
the local government itself. 
(3) An assignee shall act on behalf of the undertaker, and the undertaker 
shall continue to be responsible for the d ue discharge of services in accordance with 
the provisions of the Act.  
 
 
(4) Notwithstanding anything contained in the written agreement, the 
Authority may require the undertaker to perform the services directly where it 
determines that the assignee is like ly to fail or has failed to act according to the 
provisions of the Act.  
CHAPTER V 
WATER SUPPLY 
14. Duties of water undertakers.— (1) Every water undertaker shall develop and 
maintain an efficient and economical system of water supply within its area and t o 
ensure that all such arrangements have been made for: 
(a) providing supplies of water to premises in that area and for 
making such supplies available to persons who demand them; 
and 
(b) for maintaining, improving and extending the water mains and 
other pipes. 
(2) The Commission may, by regulations, prescribe such standards of 
performance in connection with the provision of water as in its opinion ought to be 
achieved, and such regulations may provide that if a water undertaker fails to meet a 
prescribed standard it shall pay such amount, as may be prescribed, to any person 
who is affected by the failure. 
 
15. Duty to provide supplies for domestic purposes .— (1) Every water 
undertaker shall provide a water main to be used for supplies of water to a premises 
in a particular locality in its area, if the water undertaker is required to provide such 
water main, by a notice, served upon the water undertaker by one or more persons 
who are entitled under subsection (2) to receive water supply through such mains. 
(2) The following persons shall be entitled to require the provision of water 
supply under subsection (1): 
(a) the owner of premises approved by the local authority; 
(b) a housing society duly approved by the local authority; 
(c) the concerned local government; or 
(d) any other person as specified by the regulations. 
(3) The water undertaker shall not be in breach of his obligations under 
subsection (1) if the applicant does not provide an un dertaking to pay, to the water 
undertaker, costs reasonably incurred in providing the main over a prescribed p eriod 
of time. 
(4) Any dispute between a water undertaker and any other person 
regarding costs to be paid shall be referred to the arbitration of a single arbitrator by 
agreement between the water undertaker and that person and in default of such 
agreement the dispute shall be finally and conclusively decided by the Authority.  
16. Supply of water for industrial purposes.— (1) Every water undertaker shall 
provide a water main to be used for providing supplies of water to duly approved 
industrial premises in  a particular locality if the water undertaker is required to 
 
 
provide the main, by a notice, served upon the water undertaker by one or more 
persons who are entitled under subsection (2) to get water supply through the mains. 
(2) The following persons shall be entitled to require the provision of water 
under subsection (1): 
(a) the owner of an industrial premises duly approved by the local 
authority; 
(b) an industrial estate established by the Government; and 
(c) the relevant local government. 
(3) A water u ndertaker shall not be required by virtue of this section to 
provide a new supply to industrial premises if: 
(a) the supply of water requires him to incur unreasonable 
expenditure in carrying out works; 
(b) it puts at risk the ability of the water undertaker to meet any of its 
existing or probable future obligations to supply water for 
domestic or other purposes; 
(c) there is a contravention in relation to the water fittings used or to 
be used in connection with the supply of water to those 
premises or with the use of water in those premises; and 
(d) if arrangements of industrial premises for disposal of waste 
water or t rade effluent from such premises are not in 
accordance with the provisions of this Act or the regulations 
made thereunder. 
(4) The water und ertaker shall not be in breach of his obligations under 
subsection (1) if the applicant does not provide an undertak ing to pay, to the water 
undertaker, costs reasonably incurred in providing the main over a prescribed period 
of time. 
(5) Any dispute betwe en a water undertaker and any other person 
regarding costs to be paid shall be referred to the arbitration of a sing le arbitrator by 
agreement between the water undertaker and that person, and in default of such 
agreement by the Authority.  
17. Duty to sup ply water for other public purposes .— (1) A water undertaker 
shall, at the request of a sewerage undertaker, local a uthority, an authorized 
functionary or the Authority, provide for such of its pipes as are of an appropriate 
capacity to supply water for cl eansing sewers and drains, for cleansing and watering 
highways, for supplying any public pumps, baths or wash houses , for maintaining 
parks and green areas and for such other public purposes as may be necessary. 
(2) A supply of water provided by a water un dertaker under this section 
shall be provided upon such terms as may be reasonable. 
(3) The obligations of a water u ndertaker under this section shall be 
enforceable through an enforcement order under section 11 of the Act. 
18. Constancy and pressure of wa ter supplies .— (1) It shall be the duty of 
every water undertaker to cause the water in such of its water mains and other 
pipes, which are used for providing supplies of water for domestic purposes, to be 
 
 
run with such constancy and at such pressure as sha ll be required to maintain its 
wholesomeness or to cause it to reach such height as may be required by the 
Authority. 
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) shall impose any duty on a water undertaker 
to maintain the constancy or pressure of any supply of water dur ing any period 
during which it is reasonable for that supply to be cut off or get reduced for the 
purposes of the carrying out any necessary works.  
(3) The obligations of a water undertaker under this section shall be 
enforceable under section 11 of the Act. 
(4) Where a water undertaker is in breach of a duty under this section, the 
water undertaker shall be guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction, to a fine 
which may extend to rupees five hundred thousand. 
(5) In any proceedings against any water  undertaker for an offence under 
subsection (4), it shall be a defence for that undertaker to show that it took all 
reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the 
offence. 
19. Quality and sufficiency of water supplies .— (1) It shall be the duty of a 
water undertaker that: 
(a) while supplying water to any premises for domestic purposes to 
supply only water which is wholesome at the time of supply; and  
(b) so far as reasonably practicable, to ensure, in relation to each 
source or combination of sources from which it supplies water to 
premises for domestic purposes, that there is in general no 
deterioration in the quality of water. 
(2) For the purposes of this section, water supplied by a water undertaker 
to any premises shall not be regarded as unwholesome at the time of supply where it 
has ceased to be wholesome only after leaving the pipes laid and maintained by the 
water undertaker. 
(3) The obligations of a water undertaker under this section shall be 
enforceable under section 11 of the Act.  
(4) Where a water undertaker is in breach of a duty under this section, the 
water undertaker shall be guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction, to a fine 
which may extend to rupees five hundred thousand. 
20. Power to require additional measures for ensuring quality of water.— (1) 
The Commission may, by regulations, require a water undertaker to take all 
necessary steps for securing compliance with section 19 of the Act. 
(2) Without any prejudice to the generality of the powers conferred under 
subsection (1), the Commission may impose an obligation on a water undertaker to: 
(a) take all necessary steps for monitoring and recording whether 
the water which that water undertaker supplies to premises for 
domestic purposes is wholesome at the time of supply; 
(b) take all necessary steps for monitoring and reco rding the quality 
of water from any source, or combination of sources which that 
 
 
water undertaker uses or is proposing to use for supplying water 
to any premises for domestic purposes;  
(c) ensure that a source whi ch that water undertaker is using or is 
proposing to use for supplying water for domestic purposes is 
not so used until all requirements for establishing the quality of 
water which may be supplied from that source have been 
complied with; 
(d) keep records of localities within which all premises supplied w ith 
water for domestic purposes by that water undertaker are 
normally supplied from the same source or combination of 
sources; and 
(e) analyze water samples and to put in place internal 
arrangements in this respect and report such analysis. 
21. Power to discon nect service pipes and cut off supplies .— (1) Subject to 
the provisions of this section, a water undertaker may disconnect a service pipe, 
which, for the purposes of providing supply of water to any premises, i s connected 
with any water main of that water undertaker or may otherwise cut off a supply of 
water to any premises if: 
(a) it is reasonable for the disconnection to be made or the supply 
of water be cut off for the purposes of carrying out any 
necessary works; 
(b) the occupier of the premises is liable to pa y charges, due to the 
water undertaker, in respect of the supply of water to such 
premises and has failed to pay such charges within a period of 
fifteen days of service of the notice requiring him to pay such 
charges; or 
(c) the occupier of the premises is fou nd liable for willful waste of 
water and has failed to adopt remedial measures to rectify the 
prevailing situation with respect to waste of water within a period 
of ten days beginning with the day after he is s erved with the 
notice requiring him to correct such situation. 
(2) Where a water undertaker exercises its power by virtue of clause (a) of 
sub-section (1), and effects a disconnection for the purpose of carrying out any 
necessary works, it shall owe a duty to the occupier of the premises to ensure: 
(a) that such necessary works are carried out with reasonable 
dispatch; and  
(b) that, only after an emergency water supply has been made 
available, whether or not through pipes, for domestic purposes, 
and any supply  of water to such premises is not interrupte d for 
more than twenty-four hours for the purpose of carrying out of 
those necessary works. 
(3) Where a water undertaker has served a notice under clause (b) of 
subsection (1) on a person, who within the period of fi fteen days of the receipt of 
such notice, furnishes a reply to such notice disputing his liability to pay the charges 
demanded, the water undertaker shall not exercise its power to disconnect the water 
 
 
supply unless so authorized by the Authority after det ermination of liability or by 
order of a court. 
(4) Where a water undertaker has cut off supply of water under subsection 
(1)(c), it shall restore such supply upon an undertaking by the occupier of the 
premises that he was not involved in willful waste of wate r or, as the case may be, 
he shall not indulge in willful waste of water in future.  
(5) Before restoring a supply under subsection (4), t he water undertaker 
may, after giving him a reasonable notice,  make an inspection of the premises of the 
occupier to assur e that sufficient remedial measures have bee n taken to prevent 
waste of water.   
(6) If a water undertaker disconnects a service pipe or otherwise cuts off 
supply of water to any premises in a case in which it has no power to do so under 
this section or fails to connect such service pipe or restore such  supply, it shall be 
guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction, to a fine which may extend to rupees 
one hundred thousand. 
22. Offence of supplying water unfit for human consumption .— (1) Subject to 
subsection (2), where a water undertaker supplies water by means of pipes to any 
premises and that water is unfit for human consumption, the water undertaker shall 
be guilty of an offence  and liable, upon conviction, to a fine which may extend to  
rupees five hundred thousand. 
(2) Where a person a uthorized to stop a supply of water finds that the 
supply is unfit for human consumption and continues to authorize supply of such 
unfit water, the person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction,  to a 
fine which may extend to rupees fifty thousand or imprisonment which may extend to 
three months or both. 
(3) In any proceedings against a water undertaker for an offence under 
this section, it shall be a defense for that undertaker to show that it: 
(a) had no reasonable grounds for suspecting tha t the water was to 
be used for human consumption; and 
(b) took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence in 
securing that the water was fit for human consumption on 
leaving its pipes or was not used for human consumption. 
23. Provision of water wher e piped supplies  are insufficient or are 
unwholesome.— (1) Where: 
(a) it is not practicable, at reasonable cost, for a water undertaker to 
provide wholesome water in pipes or to maintain such a supply 
of wholesome water, to a ny particular premises in its area as is 
sufficient for domestic purposes; 
(b) it is practicable, at reasonable cost, for the water undertaker to 
provide such a supply of wholesome water for domestic 
purposes to those premises otherwise than in pipes; 
(c) the insufficiency or unwholesomeness of the supply of water for 
domestic purposes is such as to cause a danger to life or health; 
and 
 
 
(d) the local authority in whose area those premises are situated 
notify the water undertaker of that danger and require the water 
undertaker to provide a supply otherwise than in pipes; 
it shall be the duty of the water undertaker, for such period as may be 
required by the local authority and where it is practicable at reasonable cost, to 
provide water otherwise than in pipes.  
(2) In t his section, reference to the provision of a supply of water to any 
premises otherwise than in pipes shall have effect, in a case in which it is practicable 
for the water undertaker to provide a supply of water, whether or not in pipes, at 
reasonable cost,  to a place w ithin a reasonable distance of those premises, as 
including reference to the provision of a supply of water to those premises. 
24. Permission to abstract water directly.— (1) Where: 
(a) it is not practicable, at reasonable cost, for a water undert aker to 
supply water in pipes;  
(b) ground water is not unwholesome such as to cause any danger 
to life or health of a person; 
the water undertaker may allow a person, through a sub -license, to 
abstract water from within his premises or from an area in close p roximity thereof for 
his domestic purposes only. 
(2) A sub -license issued under subsection (1) shall be granted in 
accordance with any conditions that the Commission may impose on such sub -
licenses specifically or generally. 
(3) Water abstracted under a su b-license under subsection (1), shall form 
part of the overall abstraction limit granted to a water undertaker under an 
abstraction license issued by the Commission. 
25. Offences of contaminating, wastage and misuse of water .— (1) If any 
person who is the owner or occupier of any premises to which a supply of water is 
provided by a water undertaker, intentionally or negligently, causes or suffers any 
water fitting for which he is responsible to be or remain so out of order, so in need of 
repair or so constructed or adapted or to be used: 
(a) that water in a water main or other pipes of a water undertaker 
or in a pipe connected with such water main or pipe, is or is 
likely to be contaminated by the return of any substance from 
those premises to that main or pipe; 
(b) that water that has been supplied by the water undertaker to 
those premises is or is likely to be contaminated before it is 
used; or 
(c) that water so supplied is or is likely to be wasted, or having 
regard to the purposes for which it is supplied, misused or  
unduly consumed; 
that person shall be guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction, to 
a fine not exceeding rupees one hundred thousand. 
 
 
(2) Any person who uses any water supplied to any premises by a water 
undertaker for a purpose other than the one for which it is supplied shall, unless the 
other purpose is the extinguishment of fire, be guilty of an offence and liable, upon 
conviction, to a fine not exceeding rupees two hundred thousand. 
26. Prevention of contamination and waste etc.— (1) The Commission may, by 
regulations, make such provisions as it considers appropriate for any of the following 
purposes: 
(a) securing that water in a water main or other pipes of a water 
undertaker is not contaminated, and that its quality and 
suitability for particular purposes is not prejudiced, by the return 
of any substance from any premises to that main or pipe; 
(b) preventing the wastage, undue consumption and misuse of any 
water at any time after it has left the pipes of a water undertaker 
for the purpose of being supp lied b y that water undertaker to 
any premises; and 
(c) securing that water fittings installed and used by persons to 
whom water is or is to be supplied by a water undertaker are 
safe, minimize wastage  and do not cause or contribute to 
erroneous measurement of any wa ter or the reverberation of 
any pipes. 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power contained in 
subsection (1), regulations made under this section may also make provision for the 
following matters:  
(a) forbidding installation, connection or use of pipe related fittings if 
they have not been approved under the regulations or if they 
contravene the regulations; 
(b) requiring the fittings for the purpose of provision made by virtue 
of sub section (2)(a) to be of such a size, nature, strength or 
workmanship, to be made of such materials or in such a manner 
or to conform to such standards as may be prescribed or 
approved under the regulations; 
(c) imposing such other requirements as may be prescribed with 
respect to the installation, arrangement, connection,  testing, 
disconnection, alteration and repair of the fittings and with 
respect to the materials used in their manufacture; 
(d) according, refusing and revoking, by authorized persons, of the 
approvals required for the purposes of regulations; and 
(e) such approva ls and  revocations as capable of being made 
under the Act. 
(3) Without any prejudice to the provisions of  sub section (1) and (2), 
above, the regulations under this section may also: 
(a) impose separate or concurrent duties with respect to the 
enforcement of regulations; 
 
 
(b) confer powers on a water undertaker or a local authority to carry 
out works and take other steps, in prescribed circumstances, for 
remedying any contravention of the regulations; 
(c) provide for the recovery by a water undertaker or local authorit y 
of expenses reasonably incurred by the water undertaker or 
local authority in the exercise of any powers conferred under 
sub section (3) (b) above; 
(d) provide that contravention of a regulations shall constitute an 
offence punishable with fine not exceeding  rupees one hundred 
thousand or any other smaller sum;  
(e) require the disputes arising because of application of a 
regulation be referred to arbitration in suitable cases; and   
(f) provide for a right of appeal in appropriate cases. 
27. Powers to prevent damage , contamination and waste etc .— (1) Without 
prejudice to any power conferred upon the water undertaker by regulations made 
under section 20 of the Act, where a water undertaker providing a supply of water to 
any premises, has reason to believe that: 
(a) the dam age to person or property is being or is likely to be 
caused by any damage to, or defect in, any water fitting used in 
connection with the supply of water to those premises which is 
not a service pipe belonging to the water undertaker;  
(b) the water in  a water main or other pipe of the water undertaker 
is being or is likely to be contaminated by the return of any 
substance from those premises to that main or pipe;  
(c) the water which is in any pipe connected with any such main or 
other pipe or which has be en supplied by the water undertaker 
to those premises is being or is likely to be contaminated before 
it is used; or  
(d) the water which has been or is to be so supplied is being or is 
likely to be wasted or, having regard to the purposes for which it 
is supplied, misused or unduly consumed;  the water undertaker 
may exercise the power conferred upon it by subsection (2) in 
relation to such premises.  
(2) The powers of the undertaker in relation to subsection (1) are: 
(a) where the case constitutes an emergency, po wer to disconnect 
the service pipe or otherwise to cut off the supply of water to 
those premises; and 
(b) in any other case, power to serve notice on the occupier of the 
premises requiring him to take such steps as may be specified in 
the notice as necessary t o secur e the system of the water 
undertaker and that damage, contamination, wastage, misuse or 
undue consumption ceases or, as the case may be, does not 
occur. 
 
 
(3) Where a water undertaker, in exercise of the power conferred under 
clause (a) of subsection (2), disconnects a service pipe to any premises or otherwise 
cuts off any supply of water to any premises, the water undertaker shall, as soon as 
reasonably practicable after the supply is disconnected or cut off, serve a notice on 
the person specifying th e steps  which that person is required to take before the 
water undertaker restores the water supply to that premises.  
(4) The steps specified in the notice under subsection (3) shall be the 
steps necessary to secure that, as the case may be: 
(a) the damage, contamin ation, wastage, misuse or undue 
consumption; or  
(b) the likelihood of damage, contamination, wastage, misuse or 
undue consumption, shall not recur if the supply is restored, and 
a water undertaker which fails, without reasonable excuse, to  
serve the notice in  accordance with the requirements of 
subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and liable, upon 
conviction through a summary trial, to a fine not exceeding 
rupees ten thousand.  
(5) A notice served for the purposes of clause (b) of subsection (2) shall: 
(a) specify the period, not being less than seven days of the service 
of the notice, within which the steps specified in the notice are to 
be taken by the consumer; and  
(b) set out the powers of the water undertaker under subsection (6) 
and (7). 
(6) Where a wate r undertaker has served a notice under clause (b) of 
subsection (2) in relation to any premises, and: 
(a) the case becomes an emergency; or 
(b) the premises appears to be unoccupied and the steps specified 
in the notice are not taken before the  expiry of the perio d so 
specified;  
the water undertaker may disconnect the service pipe to those 
premises or otherwise cut off the supply of water to those premises; 
and subsections (3) and (4) shall apply where a water undertaker 
exercises its power under this subsection as they apply where such an 
undertaker exercises its power by virtue of under clause (a) of 
subsection (2).  
(7) Where, in a case not falling within clause (a) or clause (b) of subsection 
(6), any steps specified in a notice served by th e water undertaker u nder clause (b) 
of subsection (2) have not been taken by occupier of the premises by the end of the 
period so specified, the water undertaker shall have power to take such steps itself, 
and subject to subsection (8), to recover any expe nses reasonably incu rred by the 
water undertaker in taking those steps from the occupier on whom the notice was 
served. 
(8) Where any steps are taken by virtue of subsection (7) and it is shown 
that, in the circumstances of the case, those steps were not n ecessary as mentioned 
in subsection (2) or, as the case may be, subsection (4), such water undertaker: 
 
 
(a) shall not be entitled to recover any expenses incurred by it in 
taking those steps; and  
(b) shall be liable to pay to any other person who took any of those  
steps an amount equ al to any expenses reasonably incurred by 
that person in taking any of those steps.  
28. Standards of wholesomeness of water .— (1) The Commission may, by 
regulations, make provisions that the water supplied to any premises is or is not to 
be regarded as wholesome for purposes of this Chapter, if it satisfies or, as the case 
may be, fails to satisfy such provisions as may be prescribed.  
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), regulations under 
this section may, for the purpose of determin ing the wholesomeness of any water 
shall: 
(a) provide general requirements as to the purposes for which the 
water is to be suitable;  
(b) provide specifi c requirements as to the substances that are to 
be present in or absent from the water, and as to the 
concentrations of substances which are or are required to be 
present in the water; 
(c) provide specific requirements as to other characteristics of the 
water;  
(d) provide that the question whether prescribed requirements are 
satisfied may be determined by reference to such samples;  
(e) enable the Commission to authorize such relaxations of and 
departures from the requirements  referred to in clause (a) 
above, and to m ake any such authorization subject to one or 
more conditions which it considers appropriate, and to modify or 
revoke any such authorization or conditions; and  
(f) enable the Commission to authorize a local authority, Authority 
or an authorized functionary to,  either instead of the 
Commission or concurrently with it, to exercise any power 
conferred on the Commission by regulations framed under 
clause (e) of subsection (2) above.  
29. Maps of water mains etc .— (1) Subject to subsection (4), it shall be the duty 
of the Authority and every water undertaker to keep record of: 
(a) every resource main, water main or discharge pip e used by the 
water undertaker; and 
(b) any other underground works, other than a service pipe, which 
are owned or operated by the water undertaker. 
(2) It shall be the duty of the Authority and of every water undertaker to 
ensure that the contents of any records for the time being kept by it under this 
section are updated and available, at all reasonable times, for inspection by the 
public free of charge at an office of the Authority or as the case may be of the water 
undertaker. 
 
 
(3) Any information which is required under this section to be made 
available, by the Authority or a water undertaker, for inspection by the public shall be 
so made available in the form of a map. 
(4) For the purposes of determining whether any failure to make a 
modification of any records kept un der this section constitutes a breach of the duty, 
imposed by sub section (1), above, that  duly shall be taken to require any 
modifications of the records to be made as soon as reasonably practicable after the 
completion of such works, which make the modi fication necessary; and where 
records kept under this section are modified, the date of the modification and of the 
completion of the works makin g the modification necessary shall be incorporated in 
the records. 
(5) The duties of a water undertaker under this section shall be 
enforceable under section 11 of the Act. 
CHAPTER VI 
PROVISION OF SEWERAGE SERVICES 
30. Sewerage functions.— (1) Every sewerage undertaker shall:  
(a) provide, improve, rehabilitate and extend such a system of 
public sewers, whether inside its area or elsewhere, and so to 
cleanse and maintain such sewers as to ensure that such area 
is and continues to be effectually drained; and 
(b) make provision for the emptying of those sewers and for 
effectually dealing by means or sewage disposal works or 
otherwise with the content of those sewers.  
(2) In performing its duty under subsection (1), the sewerage undertaker 
shall have regard to:  
(a) its existing and future obligations to allow discharge of effluent 
into its public sewers; and 
(b) the need to provide for the d isposal of effluent which is so 
discharged. 
31. Standards of performance .— (1) The Commission may by regulations 
prescribe the standards of performance for the provision of sewerage services. 
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred b y 
subsection (1), the regulations may: 
(a) include in a standard of performance , a requirement for a 
sewerage undertaker to inform persons of their rights and duties 
by virtue of any such regulations; and 
(b) provide for any dispute under the regulations to be referred to by 
either party to the Authority. 
32. Supply of sewerage services for domestic purposes .— (1) Every 
sewerage underta ker shall provide a public sewer to be used for drainage of 
premises in a particular locality in its area if the sewerage undertake r is required to 
provide the sewer by a notice served on the sewerage undertaker by one or more 
 
 
persons who are entitled unde r subsection (2) to require the provision of the sewer 
for that locality. 
(2) The following persons shall be entitled to require th e provision of a 
public sewer for any locality: 
(a) the owner of a premises in that locality; 
(b) a housing authority; 
(c) the concerned local government; and 
(d) any other person as specified by rules. 
(3) The sewerage undertaker shall not be in breach of his obligations  
under subsection (1) if the applicant does not provide an undertaking to pay, to the 
sewerage undertaker, costs re asonably incurred in providing the main over a 
prescribed period of time. 
(4) Any dispute between a sewerage undertaker and any other person in 
respect of cost to be paid shall be referred to the arbitration of a single arbitrator by 
agreement between the sewerage undertaker and that person and in default of such 
agreement the dispute shall be finally decided by the Authority. 
33. Performance of sewerage functions by local authorities etc .— (1) A local 
authority may, in accordance with any arrangement which  it has entered into for the 
purpose with any sewerage undertaker, carry out sewerage functions on behalf of 
that undertaker in relation to such area comprising the whole or any part of that local 
authority’s relevant area with parts of any adjacent releva nt areas of other relevant 
local authority, as may be specified in the arrangements.  
(2) Arrangements entered into for the purposes of this section may contain 
any such provision as may be agreed between the relevant authority and the 
sewerage undertaker but shall not affect the availability to any person, other than the 
relevant authority, of any remedy against the sewerage undertaker in resp ect of the 
carrying out of the sewerage undertaker’s sewerage functions or of any failure to 
carry them out.  
(3) Where arrangements entered into for the purposes of this section so 
provide, a relevant authority shall be entitled to exercise on behalf of a  sewerage 
undertaker any power which by or under the Act or any other law for the time being 
in force  is exercisabl e by the sewerage undertaker for the purposes of, or in 
connection with, the carrying out of the functions of the sewerage undertaker. 
34. Trade effluent .— (1) It shall be the duty of every sewerage undertaker to 
provide a sewer to be used for the drainage of trade effluent to premises in a 
particular locality in its area if the sewerage undertaker is required to provide the 
sewer by a notice s erved on the se werage undertaker by one or more persons who 
are entitled under subsection (2) to require the provision of the sewer for that locality.  
(2) The following persons shall be entitled to require the provision of a pipe 
for discharge of trade effluent: 
(a) owner of an industrial premises in a locality duly approved by 
the local authority; and 
(b) an industrial authority managing industrial estates; 
 
 
(3) The sewerage undertaker shall not be in breach of his obligations 
under subsection (1) if: 
(a) the person does  not provide an undertaking to pay, to the 
sewerage undertaker, costs reasonably incurred in providing the 
main over a prescribed period of time; 
(b) the trade effluent is of a nature that shall make it difficult for the 
sewerage undertaker to discharge it s obligations to domestic 
consumers; or 
(c) the trade effluent cannot be safely carried in the pipes of the 
sewerage undertaker or needs to be carried separately for 
specialized treatment. 
(4) Any dispute between a sewerage undertaker and an y other person 
regarding costs to be paid shall be referred to the arbitration of a single arbitrator by 
agreement between the sewerage undertaker and that person and in default of such 
agreement the dispute shall be finally decided by the Authority.  
35. Power to disconnect connection for trade effluent .— (1) A sewerage 
undertaker may disconnect a pipe which carries trade effluent if: 
(a) it is reasonable for the disconnection to be made for the 
purposes of carrying out any necessary works; or 
(b) the occupier of the premises is liable to pay charges due to the 
sewerage undertaker in respect of services to those premises 
and has failed to pay such charges within fifteen days beginning 
with the day after he is served with notice requiring him to do so. 
(2) Where a s ewerage undertaker exercises its power by virtue of clause 
(a) of subsection (1), it shall owe a duty to the consumer to secure: 
(a) that those works are carried out with reasonable dispatch; and 
(b) that no service is interrupted for more than seven days for the 
purpose of carrying out of those works. 
36. Permission to dispose of waste water or trade effluent directly .— (1) 
Where: 
(a) it is not practicable, at reasonable cost, for a sewerage 
undertaker to provide sewerage pipes; 
(b) it is practicable and safe for the owne r or occu pier of industrial 
premises to drain waste water or trade effluent in pipes not 
owned or operated by the sewerage undertaker; and 
(c) the local authority in whose area those premises are situated 
permits the sewerage undertaker to allow discharge of w aste 
water or trade effluent in pipes not owned or operated by the 
sewerage undertaker. 
the sewerage undertaker may allow a person, by a sub -license, to 
discharge waste water or trade effluent in those pipes.  
 
 
(2) A sub -license issued under subsection (1) shall be granted in 
accordance with any conditions that the Commission may impose on such sub -
licenses specifically or generally. 
37. Sewer maps.— (1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (5) below, it shall 
be the duty of the Authority and every sewera ge undertaker to keep records of the 
location and other relevant particulars of: 
(a) every public sewer or disposal main operated by the sewerage 
undertaker or other persons with the permission of the sewerage 
undertaker; and 
(b) any other underground works other than a service pipe which 
are owned or operated by the sewerage undertaker. 
(2) For the purposes of this section, the relevant particulars of a drain , 
sewer or disposal main, in addition to its location, shall also include particulars as to: 
(a) whether it is a drain, sewer or disposal main and of the 
description of effluent for the conveyance of which it is or is to 
be used, and 
(b) whether it is operated by sewerage undertaker or, if it is not, 
whether it is operated with the permis sion of sewerage 
undertaker. 
(4) The records kept by a sewerage undertaker under this section shall be 
kept separately in relation to the area of each local authority within whose area there 
is any drain, sewer, or disposal main of which that sewerage unde rtaker is required 
to keep records 
(5) It shall be the duty of every sewerage undertaker to:  
(a) provide to the local authorities, without any fee, the copies of the 
contents of records kept under this section, and with copies of 
any modifications of those re cords, so as to ensure that eve ry 
local authority to whose area any of the records relate are at 
all times informed of the contents of the record, for the time 
being, relating to their area; and  
(b) ensure that the contents of all the records for the time being kept 
by the sewerage underta ker under this section are available, 
at all reasonable times, for inspection by the public free of 
charge at any office of the sewerage undertaker. 
(6) Any information which is required to be kept by this section shall be so  
provided or made available in the form of a map. 
(7) For the purposes of determining whether any failure to make a 
modification of any records kept under this section constitutes a breach of the duty, 
imposed by sub section (1) above which make the modifi cation necessary; and 
where records kept under this section are modified, the date of the modification and 
of the completion of the works making the modification necessary shall be 
incorporated in the records.  
(8) The duties of a sewerage undertaker under  this section shall be 
enforceable under section 11 of the Act. 
 
 
CHAPTER VII 
CHARGING FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY UNDERTAKERS 
38. Powers of the undertakers to charge.— (1) Subject to the provisions of this 
chapter, the powers of every undertaker shall include the power to: 
(a) fix charges for a ny services provided in the course of carrying 
out its functions and, in the case of a sewerage undertaker, 
charges to be paid in connection with the carrying out of its trade 
effluent functions; and  
(b) demand and recov er charges fixed under this section fro m any 
person to whom th at undertaker provides services or in relation 
to whom it carries out trade effluent functions.  
(2) The powers conferred under subsection (1) shall be exercisable: 
(a) by undertakers:  
(i) in the case of supply of water after taking into 
consideration the cost of abstraction, improvement in 
quality of water and protection of water from 
contamination till it is supplied to premises; and 
(ii) in the case of sewerage or waste water after taking into 
consideration the cost of carrying it, treating it  and 
protecting soil and water from the waste water till it is 
treated; or 
(b) by or in accordance with agreements with persons to be 
charged. 
39. Liability of occupiers etc. to pay charges.— Except in so far as provision to 
the contrary is made by any agreement to which the undertaker is a party: 
(a) supplies of water provided by a water undertaker shall be treated for 
purposes of this Chapter as services provided to the occupiers, for the 
time being, of any premises supplied; and  
(b) sewerage services provided by a sewerage undertaker shall be treated 
for the purposes of this Chapter as provided to the occupiers, for the 
time being, of any premises which are drained by a sewer or drain 
connecting, either directly or thr ough an intermediate sewer or drain, 
with such a public sewer of the sewerage undertaker as is provided for 
sewerage water or surface water or both. 
40. Provisions relating to charging by volume .— (1) Where the Authority so 
requires, the undertakers shall install meters and make other provision in relat ion to 
the meters and the premises where these are installed.  
(2) The Commission  may, by regulations, make such provision as it 
considers appropriate with respect to the connection, disconnection, use, 
maintenance, authentication and testing of meters and  with respect to any  other 
related matter.  
 
 
(3) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2), the regulations 
may, among other things: 
(a) address the positioning, whether inside or outside of the buildi ng 
or other premises in relation to which the me ter is to be used, of 
any meter or of any pipes or apparatus appearing to any water 
undertaker or sewerage undertaker to be required for the 
purpose of facilitating the use of any meter; 
(b) make any other provis ion which appears to the Commission to 
be appropriate with respect to any such pipes or apparatus; 
(c) provide for a reading from a meter to be proved and for a 
reading from a meter to be such evidence of the volume of water 
supplied to, or of effluent discharged from, any premises;  
(d) fix the method of deter mining the amount of the charges to be 
paid where it appears that a meter has given, or may have 
given, an incorrect reading;  
(e) require a person who is not a n undertaker to pay the expenses 
incurred by a n undertaker in doing anything under the 
regulations or to pay contributions towards those expenses;  
(f) provide for the payment of compensation in respect of anything 
done by an undertaker under the regulations; and  
(g) require disputes arising under the regulations to be referred to 
arbitration. 
41. Power of the Authority to modify charges. — The Authority may, through a 
written order, modify the charges fixed or demanded by an undertaker under section 
38 of the Act where it finds that an undertaker:  
(a) has not spread costs over a reasonable period of time; 
(b) has charged consumers unfairly; 
(c) has not acted in support of the consumer objective;  
(d) has not applied aquifer charges; and 
(e) has not charged as prescribed or levied by the Government. 
42. Offence of tampering with meters etc.— (1) If any person: 
(a) so interferes with a m eter used by an undertaker in determining 
the amount of any charges fixed in relation to any premises to 
prevent the meter from showing or from accurately showing the 
volume of water supplied to or of effluent discharged from those 
premises; or 
(b) carries out  any works which he knows are likely to affect the 
operation of such a meter; 
he shall be guilty of an offence and l iable, on conviction, to a fine not 
exceeding rupees fifty thousand. 
 
 
(2) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under subsection (1) in 
respect of anything done by him with the consent of the undertaker who uses the 
meter. 
CHAPTER VIII 
ABSTRACTION AND DISPOSAL LICENSES 
43. Abstraction licenses.— (1) The license to abstract water may be one of the 
following three types: 
(a) a license to abstract water from one source of supply;  
(b) a license to abstract water form one source of supply fo r the 
purpose of transferring to another source of supply; and 
(c) a license to abstract water from one source of supply for the 
purposes of transferring to the same source of supply at another 
point. 
 (2) A license to abstract water from one source of supply shall be of one or 
more of the following seven types: 
(a) a license to abstract water for supply to consumers by a water 
undertaker; 
(b) a license to abstract water for agricultural purposes; 
(c) a license to abstract water for domestic purposes; 
(d) a license to abstract water for industrial purposes; 
(e) a license to abstract water for mining purposes; 
(f) a license to abstract water for ecological purposes; and 
(g) a license to abstract water for any purpose not listed above. 
(3) No person shall abstract water from controlled waters without a license. 
(4) Abstraction licenses shall be granted by the authorities listed in the 
First Schedule of the Act. 
44. Disposal licenses.— (1) The license for disposal of water may be one of the 
following four types: 
(a) a license for disposal of naturally clean water into controlled 
waters; 
(b) a license for disposal of sewage water into controlled waters; 
(c) a license for disposal of trade effluent into controlled waters; and 
(d) a license for disposal of any other water into controlled waters. 
(2) No person shall dispose water into controlled waters without a license. 
(3) A d isposal licenses shall be granted by the authorities liste d in the 
Second Schedule of the Act. 
 
 
45. Terms and  conditions of licenses .— (1) Every abstraction and disposal 
license under this Act shall be in the prescribed form and shall be valid for a fixed 
duration of time, which may or may not be extendable.  
(2) Every license shall be subject to such terms and c onditions as the 
Commission may prescribe. 
(3) Every license shall provide for the point at which abstraction and 
disposal shall take place. 
(4) The fee to be charged for an abstraction and disposal licence  shall be 
such as may be fixed by the Government from time to time. 
(5). Notwithstanding anything contained in this section, a disposal license 
shall include the following conditions that: 
(a) the disposed of water shall comply with applicable 
environmental standards; and 
(b) the samples of disposed of water shal l be collected  and tested 
at suitable intervals as fixed by the Authority from time to time. 
 (5) Any person who knowingly contravenes the terms and conditions of a 
license shall be guilty of an offence  and liable, upon conviction, to a fine which may 
extend to rupees two hundred thousand.  
CHAPTER IX 
WATER CONSERVATION DURING DROUGHTS 
46. Drought orders.— (1) Where the Commission  is satisfied that by reason of 
an exceptional shortage of rain, a serious defi ciency of water in any area exists or is 
likely to exist then it may, by order, make such provisions as are authorized by this 
section, which appear to be expedient, with a view to meeting the deficiency. 
(2) An order made under this section may contain on e or more of the 
following provisions authorizing: 
(a) the Authority, water undertaker or licensee to take water from 
any source specified in the order subject to any conditions or 
restrictions specified in it; 
(b) the Authority or the sewerage undertaker or licen see to 
discharge water to any place specified in the order subjec t to 
any conditions or restrictions specified in it; 
(c) the Authority to prohibit or limit the taking of water by a water 
undertaker or any other person from a source specified in the 
order if the Authority is satisfied that the taking of water from that 
source shall seriously affect the supply of water to the 
Commission, any water undertaker or any other person; 
(d) the Authority to suspend or vary or attach conditions to any 
consent specified in th e order for the discharge of any effluent 
by any person including  any water undertaker or sewerage 
undertaker; and 
 
 
(e) the Authority or water undertaker to prohibit or limit the use of 
water for such purpose as the Authority or, as the case may be, 
the water undertaker thinks fit. 
47. Offences with regard to drought orders.— (1) If any person: 
(a) takes or uses water in contravention of a prohibition or limitation 
imposed by or under an order referred to in section 46 of the Act 
or takes or uses water otherwise tha n in accordance with any 
condition or restriction so imposed; or 
(b) discharges water otherwise than in accordance with any 
condition or restriction imposed by or under such an order  
he shall be guilty of an offence under this section. 
(2) If any person: 
(a) fails to construct or maintain, in good order, a gauge or other 
apparatus for measuring the flow of water which he is required 
to construct or maintain under an order referred to in section 48 
of the Act; or 
(b) fails to allow some person authorized for the pu rpose by or 
under any such order to inspect and examine any such 
apparatus or any records made thereby or kept by that person in 
connection therewith or to take copies of any such record; 
   he shall be guilty of an offence under this section. 
(3) In any p roceedings against a person for an offence under this section, 
it shall be a defense for that person to show that he took all reasonable precautions 
and exercised all due diligence to avoid the commission of the offence. 
(4) A person who is guilty of an of fence under this section shall be liable , 
upon conviction, to a fine which may extend to rupees five hundred thousand. 
 
CHAPTER X 
DUTIES WITH REGARD TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECREATIONAL 
PURPOSES 
48. Environmental and recreational duties .— (1) It shall be the duty  of the 
Government and every authority established under th e Act to formulate or consider 
any proposal: 
(a) to further the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty 
and the conservation of flora and fauna and geological or 
physio-geographical features or special interest; 
(b) to have regard to the desirability of protecting and conserving 
buildings, sites and objects of archeological, architectural or 
historic interest; 
(c) to take into account any effect which the proposal would have 
on the beauty or amen ity of a ny rural or urban area or on any 
such flora, fauna, features, buildings, sites or objects; and 
 
 
(d) to have regard to the desirability of preserving and maintaining 
for the public freedom of access and visiting any place of natural 
beauty or building or site or object of archeological, architectural 
or historic interest. 
(2) Without prejudice to any other duty imposed by this Act, it shall be the 
duty of every authority to promote: 
(a) the conservation and enhancement of natural beauty; and 
(b) the conservation of flora or fauna which are dependent on rivers, 
streams and large bodies of water. 
CHAPTER XI 
CONTROLLED WATERS 
49. Controlled waters .— The following shall be  deemed to be  the controlled 
waters for the purpose of this Act: 
(a) waters in rivers and their tributaries, nullahs and streams flowing in the 
Punjab; 
(b) canals falling within the definition of the Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 
(VIII of 1873); 
(c) waters in lakes or other natural reservoirs, as well as man -made 
reservoirs with a surface area larger than five square acres; 
(d) ground and subsoil waters; 
(e) storm water in drains; and 
(f) any other water declared as such by the Commission. 
50. Offences relating to controlled waters etc .— (1) Contravention of this 
section shall include causing or knowingly permitting: 
(a) any poisonous, no xious or polluting matter or any solid waste 
matter to enter into any controlled waters; 
(b) any matter to enter controlled waters by being discharged from a 
drain or sewer without the requisite treatment; 
(c) any trade efflu ent or sewage effluent to be discharged , in 
contravention of any relevant prohibition from a building or from 
any fixed plant onto or into any land; and 
(d) any action which tends, either directly or otherwise, to impede 
the proper flow of the waters including flood waters. 
(2) A person who contrav enes any provision of this section shall be guilty 
of an offence and liable, upon conviction, to imprisonment which may extend to three 
months or to a fine which may extend to rupees five hundred thousand or both. 
(3) A person shall not be guilty of an off ence under subsection (1) if the 
entry occurs or the discharge is made in accordance with the terms of a license for 
disposal of water. 
 
 
51. Water protection zones .— (1) The Government may declare a particular  
area as water protection zone to: 
(a) prevent o r control the entry of any poisonous, noxious or 
polluting matter into the controlled waters;  
(b) prohibit or restrict the carrying on in a particular area of activities 
which it may consider likely to resul t in the pollution of any such 
waters. 
(2) The Commission may by regulations determine the circumstances in 
which the carrying on of any activities is prohibited or restricted and to determine the 
activities to which any such prohibition or restriction applies. 
52. Offences related to deposits and veget ation.— (1) A person shall be guilty 
of an offence under this section if he, without the approval of the respective Canal 
Officer, removes from any river, nullah, stream, lake, canal, reservoir or any other 
water body, except a water body which is privately owned. 
 (2) A person shall be guilty of an offence under this section if without 
consent of the Canal Officer he causes or permits a substantial amount of vegetation 
to be cut or uprooted in any river, nullah, stream, lake, canal, reservoir or any other 
water body except a water body which is privately owned or to be cut or uprooted 
adjacent to any such water body. 
 (3) The Government may by rules determine conditions and manner in 
which approval may be granted by a Canal Officer under this section. 
CHAPTER XII 
MISCELLANEOUS 
53. Power to investigate.— (1) The Authority may appoint one or more persons 
as technical assessors for the purpose of conducting an investigation as to whether 
any duty or other requirement imposed on an undertaker by or under this Ac t is 
being, has been or is likely to be contravened.  
(2) It shall be the duty of every undertaker to provide such assistance as 
may be required by a technical assessor for the purposes of an investigation under 
this section. 
(3) Any technical assessor may, for the purpose of this section: 
(a) enter any premises; 
(b) carry out such inspections, measurements and tests on 
premises and take away such samples of water or of any land 
and such fittings and other articles as may be required; and  
(c) at any reasonable time re quire any water undertaker to supply 
him with copies of, or extracts from the contents of any record 
kept for the purpose of complying with any duty or other 
requirement imposed on that undertaker. 
(4) Any undertaker which fails to c omply with the duty imp osed under 
subsection (2) above shall by guilty of an offence and liable, upon conviction to a fine 
which may extend to rupees two hundred thousand. 
 
 
54. Prosecution of offences .— (1) Offences under this Act shall be cognizable 
on the complaint of the persons mentioned in the Third Schedule of the Act. 
(2) A prosecution for an offence under this section shall not be instituted 
except by the public prosecutor. 
55. Amendments.— The provisions contained in other laws  mentioned in the 
Fourth Schedule shall stand amended as indicated therein. 
56. Rules.— The Government may by notification in the official Gazette make 
rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act.  
57. Regulations.— Subject to the provisions of the Act an d the rules, the 
Commission may by notifica tion in the official Gazette make regulations for carrying 
out the purposes of the Act. 
58. Removal of difficulties.— The Chief Minister may make such provisions and 
pass such orders as may be necessary or expedien t for removal of any difficulty or 
doubt in giving effect to the provisions of the Act. 
 
 
 
First Schedule 
(see section 43) 
 
Sr. No. Licenses  Body empowered to grant 
License 
1.  A license to abstract water form one source of 
supply for the purpose of transferring to another 
source of supply  
Authority 
2.  A license to abstract water from one source of 
supply for the purposes of transferring to the 
same source of supply at another point 
Authority  
3.  A license to abstract water for supply to 
consumers by a water undertaker 
Authority 
4.  A license to abstrac t water for agricultural 
purposes 
 
Canal Officer of the area in 
consultation with the D eputy 
Director of the Agriculture 
Department 
5.  A license to abstract water for domestic purposes  
 
Water Undertaker in whose 
area the abstraction will take 
place; where no undertaker is 
appointed, by the Punjab 
Water Resources 
Commission 
6.  A license to abstract water for industrial purposes Authority  
7.  A license to abstract water for mining purposes 
 
Authority  
8.  A License to abstract water for ecological 
purposes 
Authority in consultation with 
the Forest Department 
9.  A license to abstract water for other purposes  Commission 
 
Second Schedule 
(see section 44) 
 
Sr. No. Licenses  Body empowered to grant License 
1. A license for disposal of clean water 
into controlled waters 
Authority 
2. A license for disposal of sewage 
water into controlled waters 
Authority 
3. A license for disposal of trade 
effluent into controlled waters 
Authority 
4. A license for disposal of any other 
water into controlled water 
Authority  
 
 
 
 
 
Third Schedule 
(See section 54) 
 
Section  Person on whose complaint the offence is cognizable 
18 Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority 
21 Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority 
Person who has been supplied unfit water 
24 Punjab Water Services Regula tory Authority, Office authorized by the Punjab 
Water Resources Commission 
35 Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority  
43 Officer authorized by the Punjab Water Resources Commission 
40 Officer authorized by the Punjab Water Resources Commission 
41 Water undertaker 
44 Person who has granted the license 
45 Canal Officer 
Wildlife Officer 
46 Officer authorized by the Punjab Water Resources Commission  
49 Canal officers authorized by the Irrigation Department  
52 Punjab Water Services Regulatory Authority 
 
Fourth Schedule 
(see section 55) 
 
Sr. No. Law Section/clause  Amendment  
1. The Lahore Development 
Authority Act, 1975 (XXX of 
1975) 
29 To stand repealed 
2. The Punjab Development of 
Cities Act, 1976 (XIX of 1976) 
28 To stand repealed