Article​​​​​​​ 124. Conservation of underground waters

Persons engaged in the extraction and use of underground waters must carry out observations of their regime in the water intake area and in the adjacent territory, and also keep records of the quantity and quality of the water used.

If, during the performance of drilling and other exploration work related to the search, study, and use of mineral deposits, layers containing underground waters are found, the bodies of the mining and geology industry must be notified about this, and measures for the conservation of underground waters must be taken in the prescribed manner.

In all cases where wells drilled for the discharge of industrial and other sewage may become a source of pollution of the aquifer, the drilling of such wells is prohibited.

The drilling of wells for underground waters is carried out on the basis of a permit issued by the State Institution “Center for Subsoil Use” under the Ministry of Mining and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the manner prescribed by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In this case, the drilling of each well is allowed after the State Institution “Center for Subsoil Use” under the Ministry of Mining and Geology of the Republic of Uzbekistan has issued a hydrogeological conclusion in the manner prescribed by the legislation.

Drilling a well without obtaining a hydrogeological conclusion is considered illegal. Wells that are self-flowing and unsuitable for use must be equipped with water management devices, conserved, or liquidated, and other wells that are unsuitable for use must be liquidated in the manner prescribed by the legislation.

It is not allowed to set up solid and liquid waste collectors and landfills in the zone where fresh underground water deposits are formed, or to place industrial, agricultural, and other objects whose activities may become a source of pollution of underground waters.

Measures for the conservation of underground waters, including the creation of an observation network of wells and the maintenance of production monitoring, are carried out by enterprises whose activities affect or may affect the condition of underground waters.