Surface and ground water are managed
differently. For surface water users, each
public-owned water utility (for both
domestic and industrial uses) and Land
Improvement District (public entities for
irrigation development and management) is
allocated rights to river water, i.e. exclusive
use of water in a certain region, according
to the River Law. However, there is no
comprehensive law regarding ground water,
and users are free to withdraw ground
water from wells on privately owned lands.
However, the Industrial Water Law and the
Law for Ground Water Use in Buildings
require permits from local governments
before users can withdraw/ extract ground
water in areas where serious land
subsidence is a concern or where ground
water resources are scarce.