January 18, 2021

Obtaining a permit for the use of groundwater

Administrative regulations have been adopted for the issuance of:

  • hydrogeological conclusions;
  • permits for drilling groundwater wells;
  • permits for special use or special consumption of groundwater.

  1. The administrative regulations for the provision of public services for the issuance of hydrogeological conclusions were adopted in order to regulate the procedure for issuing conclusions on the state of groundwater in a certain area, keeping records of the issued opinions and providing appropriate methodological instructions for the process of drilling wells.

According to these regulations a hydrogeological conclusion is issued to legal entities and individuals by hydrogeological enterprises as part of the State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources through Public Services Centers or the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services. It is also stipulated that such an opinion is issued for a period not exceeding 2 years.

These administrative regulations provide that the geological enterprise examines conditions of groundwater and feasibility of drilling the corresponding well and sends information to the Public Services Center about the acceptance of the application or its refusal. In case of refusal, the fee will be refunded. At the same time, the grounds for refusal may be incomplete, incorrect or distorted indication of information about the declared territory or geographical location of the corresponding well; failure to pay the fee.

The conclusion is provided in electronic form. The representative of the Public Services Center sends the finished conclusion to the applicant’s email address. However, when applying in person, the conclusion can also be provided in paper form.

  1. The administrative regulations for the provision of public services for the issuance of permits for the drilling of groundwater wells replaced the invalid Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 672 dated August 14, 2019 and establishes the procedure for obtaining permits for drilling wells for the extraction of groundwater by legal entities. The permit is issued by the State Committee for Geology and Mineral Resources.

This permit is also valid for a period not exceeding 2 years; drilling of wells for the extraction of groundwater without a permit is prohibited.

According to the Administrative Regulations for the provision of public services for the issuance of permits for drilling groundwater wells, permitting requirements are the arrangement of a sanitary protection zone around the well; provision of a technical passport for accounting of a borehole through the Public Services Centers or the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services after the completion of drilling. The regulation also regulates the registration and abandonment of production wells drilled without a permit.

  1. The main purpose of the Administrative Regulations for the provision of public services for the issuance of a permit for the special use or special consumption of groundwater is to regulate processes connected with the special use or special consumption of groundwater, rational use of groundwater, prevention of depletion or increase of groundwater reserves, control over the quantity and quality groundwater and accounting of water users or consumers.

Special water use, according to the legislation of Uzbekistan, is water use carried out by legal entities and individuals with the use of special structures and devices that affect the state of waters and water bodies. In some cases, water use without the use of special structures and devices, but having an impact on the state of waters and water bodies, can also be referred to special water use.

Permits are issued for a period of 5 years (including 2 years if groundwater resources are not assessed) for individual wells or group water intakes with approved reserves, taking into account the technology requirements and the limit of groundwater intake, sanitary and hygienic and environmental requirements.