The Law consists of 17 Chapters composed of 121 articles. The basic principles of management, use and protection of water resources and water systems in the Republic of Armenia are: 1) satisfaction of the basic vital needs of the present and future generations; 2) maintenance and increase of volumes of the national water reserve; 3) protection of aquatic and related ecosystems and their biological diversity as well as recognition of integrated and interconnected relations of land, air, water and biological diversity; 4) water use shall be regulated through water use permits. Article 23 specifies that any person with recreation purposes has the right to use banks and shores of natural surface water resources, unless the Government or its authorized body determines that such use may be detrimental to human health or safety or contrary to the public interest. Chapter 1 (arts. 1–7) lays down the general provisions, i.e. General concepts used in the Code (art. 1); Water legislation (art. 2); Governmental authorities (art. 3); Ownership (art. 4); Management, use and protection (art. 5); Sphere of application (art. 6); Objectives (art. 7). Chapter 2 (arts. 8–14) deals with water resources management bodies, i.e. National Water Council (art. 8); Dispute Resolution Commission (art. 9); water resources management and protection body (art. 10). water basin management authorities (art. 11). water systems management body (art. 12). water users associations and federations of water users associations boards (art. 13). regulatory commission (art. 14). Chapter 3 (arts. 15-20) deals with strategic water use, protection and information systems, i.e. national water policy (art. 15); national water program (art. 16); water basin management plans (art. 17); national water reserve (art. 18); water resources monitoring and information system (art. 19); and public participation (art. 20). Chapter 4 regards water use permits (arts. 21–37). Chapter 5 regards water system permit (arts. 38–47). Chapter 6 regards use and management of state-owned water systems (arts. 48–62). Chapter 7 regards regulation of the use of transboundary water resources (arts. 63–65). Chapter 8 determines water quality standards (arts. 66–70). Chapter 9 regards water users unions (arts. 71–73). Chapter 10 regards recording of legal documents in water relationship (arts. 74 and 75). Chapter 11 deals with economic incentives and the system of payment in water relations (arts. 76-81). Chapter 12 regards safety of HTS (arts. 82–90). Chapter 13 regards prevention and eradication of waters harmful impact (arts. 91 and 92). Chapter 14 deals with water systems use and maintenance in emergency situations (arts. 93-97). Chapter 15 regards protection and state supervision of water resources (arts. 98-108). Chapter 16 (arts. 109-118) deals with dispute settlement evolved in water relations and establishes liability for the infringement of water legislation. Chapter 17 (arts. 119-121) lays down closing and transitional provisions.
Water Code of the Republic of Armenia.