Congo - Aqualex ProfilesFramework Law
The main law applicable to water resources management, which covers all of the following areas: administration; management, conservation and use of freshwater resources; water rights; waterworks; water supply
Constitutional provisions
Date of text: 25 October 2015
Right to water: The Constitution does not mention the right to water.
Natural resources: This constitution affirms the permanent right of inalienable sovereignty over all national wealth and natural resources as fundamental elements of its development (preamble). Any act, agreement, convention, administrative arrangement or other fact which has the effect of depriving the Nation of all or part of its own means of existence, derived from its natural resources or wealth, shall be considered a crime of looting and punished by law (article 44). The law also sets out the rules concerning: the natural resources regime; land tenure; land use planning; the environment and conservation of natural resources and sustainable development (article 125).
Agriculture
Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Date of text: 31 December 2008
Date of text: 26 February 2020
Date of text: 31 December 2010
Water Supply and Sanitation
Provision of water services by public utilities or commercial organizations; water supply for domestic, industrial or other purposes; right to safe and clean drinking water and basic sanitation; quality of piped water; sewerage
Date of text: 13 June 2018
Date of text: 31 December 2008
Date of text: 15 June 1967
Governance
The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
Date of text: 13 June 2018
Date of text: 31 December 2008
Date of text: 15 June 1967
Infrastructure
Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Water Resources Management and Water Rights
Ownership and control of water resources; abstraction and diversion of water; allocation and quotas; riparian rights; priority of rights; free water use
Décret n° 2017-254 du 17 juillet 2017 fixant les principes de tarification dans le secteur de l’eau.
Date of text: 17 July 2017
Water and Environment
Water Quality and Pollution Control
Control of pollution and quality of freshwater bodies and groundwater; agricultural point and non-point sources of pollution; water quality standards
Groundwater
Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
Disaster Resilience
Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
Transboundary Waters
Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
Policies
Date of text: 21 October 2017