The Circular elaborating some Articles of the Law on Water Resources will be applied from July 1st, 2024 in Vietnam

The Circular elaborating some Articles of the Law on Water Resources will be applied from July 1st, 2024 in Vietnam

On May 16th, 2024, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment promulgates the Circular 03/2024/TT-BTNMT to elaborate some Articles of the Law on Water Resources in 2023.

As soon as the Circular 03/2024/TT-BTNMT takes effect on July 1st, 2024, following circulars shall cease to have effect:

- Circular 24/2016/TT-BTNMT dated September 9, 2016 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Circular 31/2018/TT-BTNMT dated December 26, 2018 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Circular 64/2017/TT-BTNMT dated December 22, 2017 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Circular 75/2017/TT-BTNMT dated December 29, 2017 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Circular 27/2014/TT-BTNMT dated May 30, 2014 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Circular 40/2014/TT-BTNMT dated July 11, 2014 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Circular 56/2014/TT-BTNMT dated September 24, 2014 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Article 20 of the Circular 40/2014/TT-BTNMT dated June 03, 2020 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

- Articles 3, 4 and 17, Chapter III and Chapter V of the Circular 17/2021/TT-BTNMT dated October 14, 2021 of the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment;

The Circular elaborating some Articles of the Law on Water Resources will be applied from July 1st, 2024 in Vietnam - image from internet

What are rules for zoning surface water functions in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 3 of the Circular 03/2024/TT-BTNMT stipulating rules for zoning surface water functions in Vietnam:

- Ensure systematicity in the river basin and suitability for provincial administrative boundaries.

- Be suitable for the status of exploitation and use of water resources and demands for exploitation and use of water determined in water resource-related planning, regional planning, provincial planning and technical and specialized planning containing contents related to the exploitation and use of water resources.

- Comprehensively consider the value and benefits that water sources bring, the level of protection priority and the facilitation of fulfillment of requirements for water source protection.

- Harmonize the benefits reaped from the exploitation and use of water resources and discharge of wastewater into water sources among areas, localities, upstream and downstream areas, and entities exploiting and using water; ensure the efficient exploitation and use of water resources, maintain the normal development of aquatic ecosystems.

What are basic functions of water sources in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 22 of the Law on Water Resources in 2023 stipulating water source functions:

Water source functions

1. A water source serves one or more basic functions below:

a) Supply water for domestic activities;

b) Supply water for agricultural production and aquaculture;

c) Supply water for industrial production; business operation and service provision;

d) Supply water for hydropower;

dd) Preserve religious activities, practices of folk beliefs and cultural values;

e) Serve inland waterway and maritime traffic;

g) Create landscapes and environment; develop tourism; maintain the development of aquatic ecosystems; protect and conserve biodiversity; store and drain flood.

2. A water source function shall serve as one of the bases for choosing solutions for protecting, improving and restoring deteriorated, depleted or polluted water sources; deciding the approval and licensing of projects that discharge wastewater into water sources in accordance with regulations of law on environmental protection.

3. A water source function shall be determined according to the status and demands for exploitation and use of water by industries and localities, requirements for protection and preservation of religious activities, practices of folk beliefs, cultural values, biodiversity, aquatic ecosystems, creation of landscapes and environment, flood storage and drainage and supply capacity of the water source.

...

A water source function shall serve as one of the bases for choosing solutions for protecting, improving and restoring water sources, including:

- Supply water for domestic activities;

- Supply water for agricultural production and aquaculture;

- Supply water for industrial production; business operation and service provision;

- Supply water for hydropower;

- Preserve religious activities, practices of folk beliefs and cultural values;

- Serve inland waterway and maritime traffic;

- Create landscapes and environment; develop tourism; maintain the development of aquatic ecosystems; protect and conserve biodiversity; store and drain flood.

Best regards!