Drinking Water Supply System - Implementing Regulations Issued

The Government has recently issued Regulation No. 16 of 2005 on the Development of the Drinking Water Supply System (the “SPAM Regulation”). The SPAM Regulation is to facilitate the implementation of Article 40 of Law No. 7 of 2004 on Water Resources (the “Water Law”). The basic premise of the SPAM Regulation is to ensure that all citizens have access to clean drinking water that meets the minimum established standards for drinking water and at an affordable price. The second feature of the SPAM Regulation is that the provisions will allow for the development of not only the physical infrastructure of the drinking water system but also the development of organizations, human resources, community participation and the regulatory framework that will ensure the transparent and accountable use of drinking water resources.