Uruguay - Country Water 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: 23 April 1967 (2004)
Right to water: The right to water shall be a fundamental human right (art. 47).
Natural resources: The national policy on water and sanitation will be based on: Land use planning, conservation and environmental protection and restoration of nature; Sustainable management and solidarity with future generations water resources and preservation of the hydrological cycle are matters of general interest. Users and civil society will participate in all levels of planning, management and control of water resources. Article 47 concerns water resources management principles and water rights.
Agriculture
Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Date of text: 27 October 2017
Date of text: 03 September 1997
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 December 2002
Date of text: 02 October 2009
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 December 2002
Date of text: 03 September 1997
Date of text: 23 April 2018
Infrastructure
Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Date of text: 03 September 1997
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
Date of text: 03 September 1997
Date of text: 27 October 2017
Water and Environment
Water in environmentally-sensitive areas; ‘water demand’ by ecosystems; protection forests; water conservation zones; environmental impact assessment
Date of text: 18 February 2010
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
Date of text: 28 November 2000
Date of text: 11 September 2009
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
Date of text: 20 August 2014
Transboundary Waters
Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
Policies
Date of text: 01 January 2010