Uzbekistan adopts new water code to boost sustainability and access
Law introduces servitude rights, permits for special use, and new oversight bodies to manage national water resources
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Uzbekistan has approved a sweeping new legal framework aimed at protecting and managing its increasingly strained water resources, in a move seen as a major policy shift toward sustainability and climate resilience.
On July 30, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed Law No. 1076, formally enacting the country’s new Water Code. According to Zamin.uz, the legislation defines water as a national asset and places it under additional state protection.
The Code establishes two broad categories of use: general and special. General uses—such as drinking, bathing, watering livestock, and recreational fishing—require no permit. Special uses, however, will require a license and are subject to regulatory oversight.
The law also introduces a new classification system for water bodies, including surface, underground, and transboundary waters. Transboundary waters refer to bodies that cross national borders, an increasingly sensitive issue in Central Asia due to climate change and upstream development.
For governance, the legislation mandates the creation of national and basin-level water councils to serve as advisory bodies. A separate Republican Water Council will operate under the Cabinet of Ministers.
The law enables both permanent and temporary use of water bodies, including through public-private partnerships. Temporary access is granted for periods between three and 49 years.
One notable innovation is the introduction of water servitudes—legal provisions that guarantee public or private access to water sources for purposes like travel, livestock passage, and access to coastal zones.
Officials say the Code encourages public participation and modern management practices in water governance. The law will come into effect three months after its official publication.
With rising temperatures, water scarcity, and growing demand from agriculture and industry, the new Water Code is seen as a critical step in ensuring Uzbekistan’s long-term water security.
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