(b) financial resources for defraying expenses pertaining to the functions of the basin management committee; and (c) water resources management levies payable to the basin management committee as part of charges for water abstraction and use and wastewater disposal charges. (2) If a support office referred to in subsection (1)(a) is not established the Permanent Secretary must designate staff members of the Ministry to provide administrative, technical and clerical support to a basin management committee. Functions of basin management committee 23. The functions of a basin management committee are - (a) to advise the Minister on matters concerning the protection, development, conservation, management and control of water resources and water resource quality in its water management area; (b) to promote community participation in the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of water resources in its water management area; (c) to prepare or cause to be prepared an integrated water resources management plan for its water management area for submission to the Minister for consideration in developing the Integrated Water Resources Management Plan under section 31; (d) to make recommendations to the Minister in relation to applications for licences in respect of its water management area or the amendment, cancellation, or suspension of any such licence; (e) to promote community self-reliance, including arrangements for the recovery of costs for the operation and maintenance of any waterwork; (f) to monitor and report on the effectiveness of policies and measures in achieving sustainable management of water resources and resource quality in its water management area; (g) to collect, manage and share data required for the proper management of its water management area in coordination with the Minister; (h) to conduct, with the concurrence of the Minister, a water research agenda appropriate to the needs of institutions and water users within its water management area; (i) to help resolve conflicts relating to water resources and resource quality in its management area; (j) to report to the Minister the occurrence or threat of serious water or pollution problems within its management area; (k) to compile and submit an annual report on its activities to the Minister and to assist the Minister in the co-ordination of such activities in Namibia; and (l) to perform such functions as are delegated or assigned to it by the Minister.
(a) to meet the requirements of water users for domestic use; or (b) to reasonably protect and maintain aquatic and wetland ecosystems, including their biological diversity, and to maintain essential ecosystem functions, the Minister may reserve all or part of the flow of a watercourse, a groundwater resource or water stored in a dam or lake from being abstracted or used under this Act. (2) Before the Minister makes a reservation under subsection (1), the Minister must consult with the regional council of the region where the water management area is located to obtain and consider any comments of the regional council in relation to any matter pertaining to the proposed reservation. (3) The Minister must cause a notice to be published in the Gazette giving particulars of a reservation made under subsection (1). (4) The quantity of water in a water resource reserved under subsection (1) must be taken into account in determining an application for - (a) a licence to abstract and use water under section 46; or (b) a licence to discharge effluent or to construct or operate a wastewater treatment facility under section 75. (5) Despite a reservation made under subsection (1), a licence for the abstraction or use of water from a reserved water resource may be issued in accordance with this Act for a purpose for which the resource is reserved. Abstraction of water for domestic use 38. (1) Subject to subsection (3), a person who abstracts water from a water resource for own domestic use is exempted from the requirement for a licence to abstract and use water. (2) A person may abstract and use water for domestic use subject only to such limitations as are imposed by or under this Act or any other law for public health or environmental purposes or as prescribed by the Minister for purposes of efficient water management practices. (3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a person who abstracts water in bulk from a water resource and supplies it against payment to others for domestic use. Private well for abstraction of water for domestic use 39. An owner or occupier of land situate outside a local authority area, and not being within a water protection area, may without the need of a licence - (a) abstract water from a well located on the land for own domestic use on the land; or (b) dig or sink a well on the land solely for the purpose of abstracting water for own domestic use on the land. Right to collect meteoric water