Drought Laws and Regulations
This Section will contain an interactive table with drought legislation including legislation that was specifically enacted for drought management as well as legislation that includes sections or articles specifically in place to deal with drought, in other words, the legislation goes beyond only drought management and drought is more than just briefly mentioned.
Drought Policies and Plans
Drought Legislation
| Country | Sector | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Agriculture | Resolución SAyDS 250/03 - Aprueba el Programa de Acción Nacional de Lucha contra la Desertificación y Mitigación de los Efectos de la Sequía (PAN), y su Documento Base. | The Resolution provides advice for the formulation and execution of the National Drought Plan and suggests measures and actions to improve the efficiency of policies to prevent and combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought. |
| Australia | Finance/ Agriculture | Taxation Laws Amendment (Drought Relief Measures) Act 1995 (No. 31 of 1995) | The Act amends the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 to provide for a tax incentive (an allowable deduction) to encourage primary producers and lessors of property to primary producers to invest in drought mitigation property. |
| Australia | Finance/ Agriculture | Future Drought Fund Act 2019 (latest amendment: Act No. 81, 2023) | The Act establishes the Future Drought Fund to bolster the Commonwealth's capacity to enhance drought resilience. It consists of a special account and investments, including transfers from the Building Australia Fund. The Future Fund Board manages investments according to a mandate. The Drought Minister can arrange arrangements and grants for drought resilience. It creates the Agriculture Future Drought Resilience Special Account, with annual transfers from the Future Drought Fund. This account is designated for payments and grants related to drought resilience. The Act forms the Future Drought Fund Consultative Committee. |
| Benin | Disaster Risk Reduction | Decret No. 2008-272 du 22 Decembre 2008 | Concerning the creation, composition, attributions and operation of the National Committee for the Fight against Desertification. |
| Brazil | Disaster Risk Reduction | Law No. 10.638 instituting the Programme for Combating Drought (PROSECA) | The Law establishes the Programme for Combating Drought (PROSECA) focused on the semiarid northeast region. It involves researching local water sources, finding alternatives to meet water demand, implementing immediate measures to address water shortages, empowering local communities to manage semiarid conditions, and specifies the programme's primary funding sources. |
| Brazil | Disaster Risk Reduction | Law No. 13.153 of 30 July 2015 approving the National Policy to Fight Desertification and Mitigate the effects of Drought (CNDC) and creating the National Committee to Combat Desertification | This law institutes national policy aiming to combat desertification and mitigate drought effects by preventing and restoring degraded areas, establishing mechanisms for resource protection and water management, promoting scientific research, and supporting knowledge expansion. It also outlines the composition and responsibilities of the National Committee to Combat Desertification under the Ministry of Environment, tasked with implementing the policy, coordinating with other governmental plans, monitoring Brazil's commitments to international conventions, and fostering sustainable development nationwide. The policy seeks to enhance environmental security, promote education, coordinate with civil society, improve production sustainability, enhance living conditions in affected areas, and support socially and environmentally sustainable development initiatives, including irrigation systems and water management infrastructure. |
| Canada | Finance/ Agriculture | Livestock Drought Loan Program Regulations (R.R.S. c. A-8.1 Reg. 4) 2002 | These Regulations implement the Agricultural Credit Corporation Act of Saskatchewan. Section 3 establishes the livestock drought loan programme with the aim of aiding participants in accessing eligible loans to sustain eligible livestock. Under this programme, approved loans are treated as loans regulated by sections 9 to 12 and 14 to 15.1 of the aforementioned Act. |
| Catalonia | Water/ Disaster Risk Reduction | Decree Law 1/2023, of 28 February, which establishes extraordinary and urgent measures to deal with the exceptional drought situation in the area of the river basin district of Catalonia | The Law aims to manage water resources and ensure domestic water supply amid reduced precipitation and increased temperatures. It includes measures like temporary suspension of non-essential water uses, recovering disused wells for water supply, diluting water resources to maintain quality, limiting actions that deplete water sources, and facilitating connections to the water supply network. Penalties are imposed for non-compliance with regulations, and measures for managing livestock droppings during droughts are outlined. The law modifies existing regulations to address sanitation issues during droughts. |
| Catalonia | Water/ Disaster Risk Reduction | Law 9/2023, of 19 May 2023, on extraordinary and urgent measures to deal with the exceptional drought situation in Catalonia | The Law addresses the urgent drought situation in Catalonia by establishing rules and measures to manage water resources effectively. It supplements a previous decree by allowing emergency processing for water-related contracts and prioritising urgent projects. It mandates the Catalan Water Agency to manage resources, finance necessary actions, and expedite authorisation processes. The law also includes provisions for financial allocations, a shock plan to support agricultural activity, and modifications to water usage regulations during drought conditions. |
| China | Disaster Risk Reduction | Drought Control Regulation of the People’s Republic of China, 2009 | The Regulation aims to prevent and alleviate drought disasters and their associated losses. It mandates the establishment of organisational structures at various levels of government for coordinated drought control efforts. The regulation outlines measures for drought disaster prevention, including the development of drought control plans, infrastructure construction, water-saving technologies, and information dissemination. It delineates responsibilities during drought emergencies, including water management, disaster relief, and post-disaster recovery. Violations of the regulation are subject to legal penalties to ensure compliance and effective drought management. |
| Croatia | Finance/ Agriculture | Regulation on the implementation of the Support Programme for agricultural producers to mitigate damage from drought in 2022 | This Regulation, in accordance with the Croatian Law on agriculture and the Law on mitigation and relief of natural disasters, mandates the execution of the Support Programme for agricultural producers to alleviate losses caused by the drought in 2022. Under this Programme, assistance is provided to beneficiaries amounting to a maximum of 10% of the total reported damages from natural disasters, specifically drought, for each eligible beneficiary listed in the Register of Damages from Natural Disasters. |
| Denmark | Finance/ Agriculture | Act on state guarantee and performance subsidy for harvest loss to drought-stricken farmers (No. 918 of 1992) | The Minister of Agriculture has the authority to guarantee loans from the Danish Agricultural Mortgage Bank to assist farmers affected by the 1992 drought and experiencing reduced crop yields. Subsidies are provided to cover loan repayment benefits for these farmers. |
| France | Water | Decree No. 2021-795 of June 23, 2021 relating to the quantitative management of water resources and the management of crisis situations linked to drought | The Law aims to regulate the assessment of water withdrawal from natural environments during low water periods, particularly in unbalanced basins. It enhances supervision and coordination at the basin and department levels for drought crisis management, aiming to expedite decisions and ensure fairness. It simplifies basin classification for water distribution zones, empowers basin coordinator prefects in water resource management, improves application procedures for withdrawal authorisation, and strengthens the status of annual prescriptions in irrigation management to align with irrigation schedules. |
| Guernsey | Water | The Drought (Guernsey) Law, 1978 (last updated 2003) | The Law empowers the government to take measures in case of water scarcity due to exceptional circumstances, potentially affecting the economic or social well-being of Guernsey's residents. These measures include regulating the use of water from private supplies, prohibiting or limiting its usage in specified areas, and granting the Water Board the authority to enforce such regulations. The law also outlines provisions for inspections, penalties for obstruction, burden of proof in legal proceedings related to water usage offenses, and penalties for contravention of the law or associated ordinances. |
| Iran | Finance | Law on Providing Adequate Funding for Compensation of Damages Caused by Drought or Frost | The law governs measures aimed at ensuring sufficient financial resources for compensating losses incurred due to drought and frost damage. Specifically, it enhances the oversight of water supply initiatives, aiming to waive water fees for regions impacted by drought and enhance insurance coverage for vulnerable crops. |
| Kenya | Disaster Risk Reduction | National Drought Management Authority Act, 2016 (No. 4 of 2016) | The Act creates the National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) with defined responsibilities and authority as a corporate entity. While based in Nairobi, the NDMA has the flexibility to set up offices in other counties. Its duties encompass coordinating drought management efforts, executing policies and programmes, establishing an effective early warning system through stakeholder consultation, and assisting in crafting national and county-level drought contingency plans and preparedness strategies. |
| Kenya | Finance | Public Finance Management (National Drought Emergency Fund) Regulations 2021 - Legal Notice no. 27/2021 | The Regulations concern: the establishment, administration, object and purpose of the Fund and definition of its authorities; projects and intervention areas financed by the Fund, including: water supply, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, health, sanitation, nutrition, and drought coordination; financial provisions and allocation of resources among drought risk management components; offences and penalties. |
| Mauritius | Water | Central Water Authority (Drought Period) Regulations 2011 (GN No. 3 of 2011) | These Regulations, made by the Central Water Board under sections 49 and 49A of the Central Water Authority Act, prohibit certain acts that may cause the use of water in a wasteful manner, such as use of water supply for vehicle and pavement washing, and to water lawns |
| Nigeria | Agriculture | National Environmental (Desertification Control and Drought Mitigation) Regulations, 2011 (S.I. No. 13 of 2011) | These Regulations, enacted by the Minister of Environment under section 34 of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (Establishment) Act, 2007, aim to establish a robust regulatory framework for the sustainable management of desertification-affected areas and the preservation of vulnerable lands. Key objectives include promoting alternative energy sources, raising public awareness about desertification and its risks, and encouraging reforestation and conservation efforts. The Regulations outline principles for activities in desert-prone areas, such as requiring farmers to plant a minimum of 25 trees per hectare and conducting regular environmental impact assessments. They also delineate responsibilities for the Agency, State, and Local Governments in sustaining degraded lands. The Regulations outline objectives for drought mitigation, including implementing measures to alleviate drought impacts and identifying and mitigating risks in drought-prone areas. Penalties are stipulated for violations of these provisions. |
| Paraguay | Disaster Risk Reduction | Law No. 6901 - Declaring an emergency situation due to drought throughout the territory of the Republic of Paraguay (April 2022) | This Law declares an emergency situation throughout the territory of the Republic of Paraguay, for a period of one hundred and eighty days, to combat the effects caused by the drought. In this sense, the allocation of the budgetary resources necessary to mitigate the effects of the drought for small and medium-sized agricultural producers is provided. |
| Peru | Disaster Risk Reduction | Law No. 3875/2022-CR (2023) Empowering Regional and Local Governments to Utilise End-of-Year Budget Balances for Mitigating the Impact of Natural Phenomena including Droughts, Frosts, Cold Spells, and Floods | Although there are alternative mechanisms to address emergency situations, such as the National Disaster Risk Management Plan and the Fund for Interventions in the Event of Natural Disasters (FONDES), managed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, these processes are perceived as cumbersome and delayed by local authorities. Additional measures are proposed to expedite the response to natural hazards, protecting both populations and infrastructure, including agricultural production. The complex procedure for declaring a state of emergency and accessing financing through FONDES is described, highlighting that interventions require this prior declaration, adding further bureaucracy. |
| Portugal | Disaster Risk Reduction | Resolution of the Council of Ministers no. 80/2017, of June 7. Creates the Permanent Commission for the Prevention, Monitoring and Follow-up of the Effects of Drought | The Resolution establishes a comprehensive Prevention, Monitoring, and Contingency Plan for Drought Situations, creating a Permanent Commission tasked with its implementation and policy guidelines. It forms a Working Group to provide technical advice, coordinate actions, and monitor drought-related variables and impacts, with a focus on promoting efficient water use and resilience-building measures. |
| Seychelles | Water | Water Supply (Prevention of Waste) Regulations, 1965 (S.I. No. 79 of 1965) | The Regulations state that any person who wastes water or allows water to be wasted shall be guilty of an offence. The Director of Public Works may cut off the water supply to persons who continue to waste water. The powers of the Director of Public Works during the period when a state of drought is declared are defined. |
| Slovakia | Water | Decree no. 220/2012 establishing details on water supply in case of crisis | This Law addresses the planning and execution of preventive measures to ensure drinking water supply during crises, covering various stakeholders including residents, economic entities, and armed forces. It emphasises analysing current water supply conditions and assessing security risks. Specific provisions include evaluating potential threats to water sources, like drought, and implementing measures such as tanker deliveries for emergency water supply. The Law outlines regulatory levels for water supply reductions based on factors like resource yield and operational disruptions. It specifies emergency drinking water supply methods, sources, and minimum requirements per person, livestock, and healthcare facilities. |
| Spain | Disaster Risk Reduction | Royal Decree-Law 4/2023 adopting the drought recovery plan | This Law introduces amendments aimed at climate mitigation and adaptation: a) Immediate support measures for the agricultural sector due to prolonged drought conditions and heightened food security concerns exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine. b) Revisions to workplace health and safety regulations to incorporate explicit duties for reducing risks during periods of high temperatures. |
| Syria | Finance/ Agriculture | Legislative Decree No. 114 of 2011 establishing a fund to mitigate the effects of drought and natural disasters | This Law creates a Fund within the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform aimed at alleviating the impacts of drought and natural disasters on agricultural production. The Fund will offer compensation to individuals affected by material losses and damages resulting from drought, natural disasters, or adverse climatic conditions, subject to losses exceeding 50% of agricultural production and 10% of the area of the administrative unit for plant production. The Fund's resources will cover administrative costs, publications, and bonuses. |
| Tibet | Disaster Risk Reduction | Regulations of the Tibet Autonomous Region on drought control (2017) | The objective of these Regulations is to prevent and minimise the damages resulting from droughts and disasters, guarantee domestic water usage, harmonise production and ecological water consumption, and foster the sustainable and robust development of the economy and society. The articles cover: General Provisions, Disaster Prevention, Drought Management and Relief, Safeguards, Legal Responsibilities, and Supplementary Provisions. |
| Turkey | Agriculture | Presidential Decree No. 5140 on combatting agricultural drought and studies on drought management (2022) | This Law outlines the responsibilities of ministries, universities, local governments, and NGOs coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to conduct studies and implement measures to mitigate agricultural drought effects. It extends to water management in arid and irrigated lands, urban and rural, covering investments, agricultural techniques, biodiversity, irrigation, pest control, economic and social support, grazing and land use plans, and other response measures aligned with decisions by the Agricultural Drought Management Unit. |
| USA | Finance/Water | Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 (43 USC Ch. 40), last amended 2020 | This Act enables emergency drought relief measures by authorising the Secretary to carry out construction, management, and conservation activities, within existing contracts and laws. These activities aim to minimise losses from drought conditions, including the construction of temporary facilities and permanent wells. The Secretary can also facilitate nonfinancial assistance to willing buyers for purchasing water supplies and acquire water from willing sellers, subject to cost recovery. Participation in state water banks and various drought response measures such as temporary water availability, loans, and drought contingency planning are included. The act also establishes the Reclamation Drought Response Fund and provides for technical assistance and technology transfer for precipitation management. |
| USA | Disaster Risk Reduction | National Drought Policy Act 1998 Public Law 105-199 | This Law established “an advisory commission to provide advice and recommendations on the creation of an integrated, coordinated Federal policy designed to prepare for and respond to serious drought emergencies.” The Law directed the Commission to “conduct a thorough study and submit a report on national drought policy.” |
| USA | Water | South Carolina Drought Response Act (South Carolina Code of Laws: Title 49 - Waters, Water Resources and Drainage; Chapter 23) | The Act regulates water use during droughts in the state, covering streams, lakes, and drinking water supplies. It exempts certain sources from restrictions during droughts but mandates maintaining minimum flow levels in managed watershed impoundments. The Department of Natural Resources oversees drought mitigation planning, collaborating with other agencies, and enforcing regulations on water use, with penalties for noncompliance. |
| USA | Finance/Water | Washington Drought Preparedness and Response Act (Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1622, Chapter 168, Laws of 2020) | The law establishes a framework to bolster long-term drought resilience while facilitating swift and effective responses to drought situations. Key provisions include streamlining interagency cooperation, easing funding flows for drought-related projects, and authorising a "drought advisory warning" system to communicate impending drought conditions. The law empowers state agencies to support water users in investing in pre-emptive projects to mitigate drought impacts, such as constructing backup wells, implementing water conservation measures, and exploring innovative water rights leasing programs. |
| USA | Environment/ Disaster Risk Reduction | Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act (HR5118, 2022) | The Act encompasses a range of measures to address wildfires, droughts, and other natural hazards. It includes provisions such as setting a minimum pay rate for federal wildland firefighters, implementing a 10-year National Wildfire Plan, establishing assessment and monitoring programs for ecosystems in Great Basin States, ensuring survival plans for fisheries during droughts, delivering satellite-based data for evapotranspiration, authorising water agreements for tribes, confirming tribal water rights settlements, expanding tribal reservations, creating disaster mitigation maps for critical electric grid infrastructure, funding grants to remove nonnative plants contributing to droughts, establishing research centers on wildfire smoke's health effects, forming a National Disaster Safety Board, initiating a National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program, and providing training for environmental justice communities to address adverse impacts. |
Legislations that refer to drought
| Country | Sector | Title | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Water | Loi n° 05-12 du 4 août 2005 relative à l'eau | Article 56: The prevention and management of risks linked to exceptional natural phenomena, such as drought and floods. Article 91: In the event of natural calamities and in particular in a situation of drought, the administration responsible for water resources may take measures to limit or temporarily suspend water uses or carry out requisitions with a view to mobilise the water necessary to fight against disasters and to ensure, as a priority, the water supply of populations and the watering of livestock. |
| Argentina | Agriculture | Ley 26509 de Emergencia Agropecuaria. Sistema Nacional para la Prevención y Mitigación de Emergencias y Desastres Agropecuarios | This law determines that a climate event will be a catastrophe or emergency according to the percentage of loss generated in the productive field. If the loss from the incident is greater than 50%, it is considered an emergency and if the loss from the incident is above 80%, it is considered an agricultural catastrophe. In this way, in accordance with the recommendation issued by the National Commission for Agricultural Emergencies and Disasters (CNEyDA), the national Government declares a state of emergency and/or agricultural disaster for the provinces involved. |
| Guam | Water | Guam Waterworks Authority Act – Chapter 14 of 12 GCA Autonomous Agencies | The Act establishes the Guam Waterworks Authority with provisions for governance, long-term planning, adoption of standards and alert phases, outsourcing, and coordination with environmental agencies. Article 3 Drought Management and Comprehensive Water Conservation Plan concerns implementation of rules and regulations during drought. |
| Guyana | Water | Water and Sewerage Act (Cap. 30:01) | The Act establishes the National Water Council and Guyana Water Inc., emphasising the provision of safe water, sewerage services, and conservation practices. Part VI Drought Orders concerns the power to make, vary and revoke drought orders, the provision and duration, and offences against a drought order. |
| Hungary | Agriculture | Act No. CLXVIII of 2011 on handling weather-related and other natural risks affecting agricultural production | The Act aims to establish a risk pool to alleviate the impacts of adverse weather and natural events on agriculture, enhance farmers' self-provisioning responsibility, improve state aid efficiency, and distribute responsibilities fairly. |
| Kazakhstan | Agriculture | Ministerial Decree No. 270 validating criteria and characteristics for assessment of negative environmental impact (2007) | This Ministerial Decree outlines criteria and attributes for evaluating adverse environmental effects. Adverse natural occurrences encompass meteorological, agrometeorological, and hydrological events resulting in crop destruction or damage. Natural disasters impacting agriculture are categorised as: (a) atmospheric and soil drought; (b) winterkill; (c) excessive soil moisture; (d) flooding; (e) dry hot winds; (f) hailstorms; (g) rainstorms; (h) frost; and (i) mudflows. These natural disasters are further categorised into long-term and short-term phenomena. |
| Lesotho | Water | Water Act, 2008 (Act 15 of 2008) | This legislation addresses the sustainable management of water resources in Lesotho, establishing the role of the Commissioner of Water and delineating their responsibilities, alongside those of the Minister overseeing water resources. When drought creates or threatens a serious shortage of water for domestic purposes, the Minister may declare that a water emergency exists in that area and restrict the use of water in for any period deemed necessary. |
| Mauritius | Agriculture/ Finance | Sugar Insurance Fund Act 1974 (No. 4 of 1974) | The Act establishes a fund for insuring sugar cane crops against various risks including cyclones, drought, excessive rainfall, and fire losses. The law outlines financial provisions for administering the fund, including investment strategies, borrowing options, and establishment of reserve funds. Specific provisions govern the calculation of insurance premiums based on factors like crop yield and historical data. In the event of declared "event years" due to disasters, compensation is provided to eligible insured parties, with mechanisms for distributing payments and conditions for eligibility. The law includes measures to prevent fraud or negligence in cane plantation management that could affect insurance claims. |
| Moldova | Water | Law No. 272 on Water (2011, last amended in 2018) Chapter VII: Managing Drought and Floods | The legislation outlines measures for managing drought and floods, requiring the development of individual drought management plans for each river basin or sub-district, establishment of monitoring systems, and creation of water reserves. It stipulates that the government may declare a state of drought, imposing restrictions on water use and setting new priorities for water allocation. |
| Pakistan | Water | Punjab Water Act, 2019 (Act XXI of 2019) | This Act provides for comprehensive management of all water resources in the Punjab aiming to regulate their use in the interest of conservation and sustainability. Chapter IX Water Conservation During Droughts: the Commission may issue drought orders to address water shortages, allowing entities to take water from specified sources, discharge water to designated places, and imposing restrictions on water usage. Offences include contravening orders, failing to construct or maintain water measurement apparatus, or obstructing inspection, with penalties of fines. |
| South Africa | Water | Water Services to Limit or Restrict the Use of Water By-law, 2003 | The by-law provides regulations for managing water resources in Cape Town, empowering the City Council to restrict or discontinue water supply services in case of national or regional disasters or insufficient water availability. The by-law allows for differentiated treatment among consumers and areas within the municipality. It also enables the imposition of water conservation measures, with procedures outlined for public notification and objection. Exemptions may be granted upon application, and contraventions of the by-law may result in fines or imprisonment. |
| Spain | Water | Royal Decree 1159/2021, of December 28, 2021, amending Royal Decree 907/2007, of July 6, 2007, approving the Hydrological Planning Regulations | This update aims to align the Hydrological Planning Regulations with the European Green Deal and national and international water policies, addressing climate change considerations in hydrological planning. Key changes include the regulation of special drought plans, consideration of climate change, harmonisation of regulatory content, and reinforcement of criteria for exemptions to environmental objectives. The modification also mandates programmes of measures for competent administrations and ensures consistency in hydrological planning across Spanish territories. This update is part of a broader reform package agreed with the European Commission under the Spanish Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. |
| Tanzania | Water | Water Resources Management Act, 2009 (No. 11 of 2009) | The Act governs the management, use, and protection of water resources in Tanzania, outlining principles of water use, preferences in allocation, ministerial authority delegated to the Director of Water Resources. Part VI(b) concerns “Restrictions during drought and natural disaster”, giving Basin Water Boards the authority to suspend or vary abstraction permits. The Act also describes the responsibilities of Water Users Associations during droughts. |
| Thailand | Water | Water Resources Act B.E.2561 (2018) | The Act establishes frameworks for the administration, allocation, and conservation of water resources. Chapter V Water Drought and Flood empowers drainage basin committees, with Prime Ministerial approval, to designate drought zones and impose water use restrictions or prohibitions. The Prime Minister can declare severe drought zones and implement measures to mitigate drought effects, including water sharing methods. The Act allows for water diversion between drainage basins, rationing of water usage during severe droughts, and the preparation of comprehensive drought prevention and resolution plans by drainage basin committees, subject to approval by the National Water Resources Commission. |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | Water | Chapter 8:03 Water and Sewerage Ordinance (2009) Part X: Drought | The Ordinance addresses drought conditions through provisions enabling the Minister to issue Drought Orders if there is a serious deficiency or threat of water supplies. These orders can restrict water abstraction and usage, authorise modifications to water undertakers' obligations, and empower the Water Board to impose conditions on effluent discharge. Additionally, the Ordinance outlines penalties for contravening Drought Orders, including fines and imprisonment. Emergency Drought Orders may be issued if the deficiency is severe enough to affect economic or social well-being. These orders can include measures like limiting water use, controlling water supply methods, and allowing authorised persons to access land for water-related activities. The ordinance also establishes compensation procedures for the acquisition of land and assets belonging to water or sewerage undertakers by the government, providing a framework for calculating compensation and appealing decisions related to compensation claims. |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Water | Water Act 2014 (Chapter 21) | The Water Act aims to reform the water industry in the UK to enhance its responsiveness to customers and increase resilience to natural hazards like droughts and floods. The Act enables changes in water and sewerage suppliers, facilitates water trading among companies, and empowers ministers to set drought coping plans for water companies. The Act improves water resource management and drought planning, streamlines environmental permitting frameworks, encourages sustainable drainage systems, and enhances the governance of internal drainage boards. |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | Water | Water Resources Act 1991 (Chapter 57) | The Water Resources Act 1991, as amended by the Environment Act 1995 and the Water Act 2003, allows for three legislative ways for dealing with drought situations: drought permits, ordinary drought orders and emergency drought orders (see Chapter III Drought). Drought permits and drought orders are drought management actions that, if granted, can allow more flexibility to manage water resources and the effects of drought on public water supply and the environment. |
| Vietnam | Water | Law No.28/2023/QH15 on Water Resources - Article 36: Regulation and distribution of water resources upon occurrence of droughts and water scarcity - Article 63: Prevention and control of droughts, storage scarcity, floods, inundations, artificial flooding | The Law addresses the management, protection, and regulation of water resources, particularly in response to droughts and water scarcity. It empowers the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to lead efforts in collaboration with other authorities to implement plans for water regulation and distribution. Ministries and provincial committees are tasked with adopting response measures, including restricting water usage for non-essential activities, while organisations and individuals are required to reduce water exploitation. The law also emphasises investment in water storage facilities and rainwater management solutions to mitigate drought and flood impacts. Additionally, it prohibits the reclamation of vital water bodies and mandates the compilation of protected water body lists. Lastly, various ministries are tasked with promulgating technical regulations to enhance water infrastructure and drainage capacity. |
| Vietnam | Water | Law No. 08/2017/QH14 on Irrigation - Article 26: Operation of irrigation projects in case of drought, water shortage, saltwater intrusion, flood, inundation or waterlogging | The Law outlines measures for managing irrigation projects during droughts, water shortages, saltwater intrusion, floods, inundations, or waterlogging. It requires managers to establish response plans for such events and operate projects accordingly, prioritising water supply for personal, domestic, and urgent agricultural needs during emergencies. Organisations or individuals operating dams and reservoirs must adhere to approved operational processes and consult relevant data for effective water management. The law assigns responsibilities to government bodies at various levels for overseeing irrigation operations, including planning, management, budget allocation, and compliance enforcement. |