The Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) has granted 116 water permits for commercial water use across the country, out of total 118 water permit applications received between June and July 2024.
The issued water permits consist of 30 surface water permits and 86 groundwater permits to operationalize various economic sectors.
“These include industrial purposes, which account for 51%, followed by agriculture at 23%, and recreation at 14%,” WARMA Senior Public Relations and Communications Officer Smart Kalaluka has said in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
He said other economic activities granted water permits are aquaculture at 5%, municipal uses at 3%, dewatering purposes at 3%, and mining at 1%.
And Mr. Kalaluka said the Authority has instituted responsive procedures to ensure that water permits are issued within the shortest possible time to mitigate the current adverse effects of the drought.
He urged all the stakeholders who wish to use water for commercial purposes to apply for water permits in accordance with the law.
By Eva Hatontola
