This Act amends the Water Act of 2016. Amendments concern: inserting the following new definitions: bulk water service provider, contracting authority at both national and local levels, private party; investments in bulk water purchase, and other public-private partnerships agreements; operating water works and providing bulk water services; duties of Regulatory Board in licensing water works; evaluation and imposition of tariffs in accordance with consumer protection standards for use of water for domestic, commercial and for irrigation purposes; measures concerning bulk water abstraction works; the Water Tribunal established under section 119 of the principal Act.
In particular, the Act allows the National Water Harvesting and Storage Authority and Water Works Development Agencies to enter into bulk water purchase agreements with investors in accordance with the provisions of the Public Private Partnerships Act and in consultation with the Water Services Regulatory Board. It also requires water works development agencies to be licensed by the Regulatory Board with respect to the functions to operate waterworks for bulk water services and to transfer such works (other than national public water works) to counties or other non-national authorities and allows contracting authorities in an PPP agreement to complete waterworks if private contractors fail to fulfill their obligations.
The Act also further provides with respect to the Water Tribunal by requiring the Judicial Service Commission to appoint its members.