FAOLEX Database

Syrian Arab Republic - Aqualex Profiles

Framework 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
No legislation available

Constitutional provisions

Constitution of the Syrian Arab Republic of 2012.
Date of text: 27 February 2012

Right to water: No reference about this topic.

Natural resources: Natural resources, facilities, institutions and public utilities shall be publicly owned, and the state shall invest and oversee their management for the benefit of all people, and the citizens’ duty is to protect them (Art. 14).

Agriculture

Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Law No. 31 of 16 November 2005 on Water Legislation.
Date of text: 16 November 2005
Law No.20 of 2010 Organizing and implementing the plan for transformation to modern irrigation.
Date of text: 02 June 2010
Legislative Decree No. 90 establishing the General Authority for Water Resources.
Date of text: 29 September 2005

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
Resolution No. 551 of 2003 defining the land borderlines of Sala Spring in the zone of Assuwaida to prevent pollution.
Date of text: 23 March 2003
Resolution No. 2166 obliging the owners of the authorized wells to install counters on the pumps.
Date of text: 16 August 2000
Executive instructions governing the work of the High Committee for Water and Basin Management Committee, issued by Resolution No.627/2007.
Date of text: 13 February 2007

Governance

The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
Legislative Decree No. 44 of 2012 to create the Ministry of Water Resources to replace the Ministry of Irrigation.
Date of text: 23 June 2012
Legislative Decree No. 51 abrogating the General Authority for Exploitation and Development of Euphrates Basin.
Date of text: 11 September 2008
Legislative Decree No. 27 of 12 April 2007 establishing the High Institution for Water Management.
Date of text: 12 April 2007

Infrastructure

Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Legislative Decree No. 90 establishing the General Authority for Water Resources.
Date of text: 29 September 2005
Resolution No. 15 of 2002 establishing technical committees in the provinces included in the Desert (Albadeya) Protection Law to conduct a census on the number of wells and their irrigation capacity.
Date of text: 06 March 2002
Resolution No. 3796 of 1998 defining boundaries of Basel Dam Lake with the objective to prevent pollution.
Date of text: 03 December 1998

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
Law No. 31 of 16 November 2005 on Water Legislation.
Date of text: 16 November 2005
Legislative Decree No. 51 abrogating the General Authority for Exploitation and Development of Euphrates Basin.
Date of text: 11 September 2008
Law No. 31 of 2005 creating the High Committee for Water.
Date of text: 16 November 2005

Water and Environment

Water in environmentally-sensitive areas; ‘water demand’ by ecosystems; protection forests; water conservation zones; environmental impact assessment
Law No.20 of 2010 Organizing and implementing the plan for transformation to modern irrigation.
Date of text: 02 June 2010
Resolution No. 1916 of 27 November 2005 issuing the Implementing Regulation of the General Authority for Water Resources established by the Legislative Decree No. 90 of 2005.
Date of text: 27 November 2005
Resolution No.629 of 2007 to form Basin Management Committees.
Date of text: 13 February 2007

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
Resolution No. 1033 of 10 September 2006 delimiting boundaries of Alkhatouneya Lake in order to prevent pollution.
Date of text: 10 September 2006
Resolution No. 987 of 23 August 2006 delimiting boundaries of Sadd Algheida Lake in order to prevent pollution.
Date of text: 01 January 1970
Resolution No. 606 of the Ministry of Irrigation defining the boundaries of Ghazala Spring and designating it as a protected area in order to prevent pollution.
Date of text: 10 April 2005

Groundwater

Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
Law No. 31 of 16 November 2005 on Water Legislation.
Date of text: 16 November 2005
Law No. 31 of 2005 creating the High Committee for Water.
Date of text: 16 November 2005
Resolution No. 12 of 2002 regulating the position of exploited wells of agricultural lands.
Date of text: 06 March 2002

Disaster Resilience

Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of Syrian Arab Republic in the field of efficient utilization of water resources and combating of drought.
Date of text: 28 May 2011
Memorandum of Understanding on economic, scientific and technical co-operation in the field of agriculture between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Date of text: 28 May 2011

Transboundary Waters

Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
Resolution No. 31 of 2001 establishing a joint committee from Jordan and Syria to define any violation of the Agreement signed between both Countries.
Date of text: 07 May 2001
Memorandum of Understanding in the field of remediation of water quality between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.
Date of text: 28 May 2011
Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Turkey and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic on establishment of a pumping station for withdrawal of water from Tigris River.
Date of text: 28 May 2011

Policies

Nationally Determined Contributions under Paris Agreement on Climate of 2018.
Date of text: 01 November 2018
National Programme for Food Security in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Date of text: 01 August 2010
National Plan to Combat Desertification in the Syrian Arab Republic.
Date of text: 10 August 1997

Main basins

Bahr Koveik
An Nahr Al Kabir
Nahr El Kebir
Southern Great River
Euphrates
Jordan
Asi (Orontes)