The DELHI JAL BOARD ACT. 1998

THE DELHI JAL BOARD ACT. 1998 
 
 
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi 
(Department of Law, Justice & Legislative affairs) 
 
No. F.13(4)/98-LAD/      Dated the 2 nd April, 
1998 
 
 The following Act of the Legislative Assembly received assent of the 
President of India on 30
th March, 1998 and hereby published for general information: 
-  
 
 
 
The Delhi Water Board Act 1998 
(Delhi Act No. 4 o 1998) 
 
 
(as passed by the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi) 
 
 
Dated 2
nd April, 1998 
 
 
AN 
 
ACT 
 
 
 
To provide for the establishment of a board to discharge the functions of water 
supply, sewerage and sewage disposal and drainage within the National Capital 
Territory of Delhi and for matters connected therewith.  
  
BE it enacted by the Legislative assembly  of National Capital Territory of 
delhi in the Forty Eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows: -  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHAPTER – I 
PRELIMINARY 
 
 
Short Title Extent and Commencement  
1. 
(1) This Act may be called the Delhi Water Board Act, 1998. 
(2) It will extend to the entire area of the National Capital Territory 
of Delhi excluding area under Ne w Delhi Municipal Council & 
Cantonment area.  
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the government may, by 
notification in the Official gaz ette, appoint; and different dates 
may be appointed for different prov isions of this act and any 
reference in any such provisi on to the commencement of this 
act shall be construed as a reference to the coming into force of 
that provision.  
 
Definitions  
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -  
(a) “Administrator” means the Admi nistrator of the government of 
National Capital territory of Delhi; 
(b) “Board” means the Delhi Water board established under 
subsection (1) of section 3 and includes any member, officer 
or employee of the Board to whom the Board may delegate its 
powers under Section 22;  
(c) “Cantonment area” means the area within the lim its of Delhi 
Cantonment as defined by the notifications of Central 
government under Section 3 of Cantonment Act, 1924. 
(d) “Central ground Water Authorit y” means the central Ground 
Water Authority constituted under Section 3(3) of the 
environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986); 
(e) “Charges” includes any rates, tariff, duty cess, deposits, rentals, 
surcharge, development charges or any other charges levied 
by the Board or payable to it; 
(f) “Delhi means the National Capital territory of Delhi; 
(g)  “Delhi Contonment Board” means the body corporate having 
perpetual succession & common seal as incorporated under 
Sections 10 & 11 of the Cant onment Act, 1924 (Central Act 2 
of 1924) 
(h) “Delhi Development Authorit y” means the Delhi Development 
authority established under Se ction 3 of the Delhi 
Development Authority Act, 1957 (central Act 61 of 1957) and 
included any successor body thereto;  
(i) “Delhi Electric Supply Underta king” means the undertaking of 
that name established under the provisions of the Delhi 
Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 and includes any successor 
body thereto;  
(j) ‘Departmental Charges” means the charges fixed by the Board 
for defraying its establishment and overhead costs in respect 
of any work; 
(k) “Development” means the carrying out of building, engineering, 
mining or other operations in, on,  over or under land or the 
making of any material change in any building or land and 
includes redevelopment;  
(l) “Development Charges” means charges to defray the cost 
incurred by the Board in initially  providing any service to any 
premises or group of premises or for augmenting such service 
and includes departmental charges.  
(m)“Drain” included a sewer, a house drain, or a drain o any other 
description, a tunnel, a culvert, a ditch, a channel or any other 
device for carrying of sewage, offensive matter, polluted water, 
waste water, but not designed to carry rain water or sub-soil 
water;  
(n) “Fittings” includes any pipe, taps, cocks, valves, ferrules, 
meters, cisterns, baths and other  similar apparatus used in 
connection with the supply and use of water or for the carrying 
of, collection, treatment or disposal of sewage; ] 
(o) “Government” means the Govern ment of the National Capital 
Territory of Delhi;  
(p) “Industrial Effluent” means e ffluent which is not sewage and 
includes environmental pollutants in  the form of solid, liquid or 
gaseous substances present in su ch concentration as may be 
injurious to the environment, to  human beings, or other living 
creatures, including plants or micro-organisms or to property; 
(q) “Legislative Assembly” means the legislative assembly of the 
National Capital Territory of Delhi;  
(r) “Licensed Plumber” means a plumber who has been temporarily 
permitted to operate as licensed plumber in any area of the 
Board or by any erstwhile body substituted by the Board and 
will include a licensed plumber who will be licensed by the 
Board in accordance with the regulations made in this regards; 
(s) “Local Authority” includes the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, 
New Delhi Municipal Council, the Delhi Development 
Authority, the delhi Cantonment Board, or any successor body 
to any of them, and any other statutory authority performing 
municipal functions;  
(t) “Main” means a pipe laid by the Board for the purpose of giving 
a general supply of water as distinct from a supply to individual 
consumers and includes any apparatus used in connection 
with such a pipe upto the ferrule;  
(u) “Military engineering Servic es” means an-organization 
dedicated to provide infrastruc ture support to the Defence 
Services and other users under the Ministry of Defence. 
(v) “Municipal Corporation” means  the Municipal Corporation of 
Delhi established under Section 3 of the Delhi Municipal 
Corporation Act, 1957 (central Act 66 of 1957) and includes 
any successor body or bodies thereto;  
(w) “Municipal drain” means any drain under the control or formerly 
under the control of a local authority;  
(x) “New Delhi Municipal Council” means the New delhi Municipal 
council established under the Ne w Delhi Municipal Act, 1994 
(Central act 44 of 1984) and incl udes any successor body or 
bodies thereto;  
(y) “Occupier” in relation to any premises includes –  
I. any person who for the time being is paying or is liable to 
pay to the owner the rent or any portion of the rent of the 
premises in respect of whic h such rent is paid or is 
payable;  
II. an owner in occupation of, or  otherwise using, such land or 
building; 
III. a rent free tenant of such land or building; 
IV. a licensee in occupation; and  
V. any person who is liable to pay to the owner damages for 
the use and occupation of such land or building;  
(z) “Owner” means a person who for the time being is receiving or 
is entitled to receive, the rent of any land or building whether 
on his own account or on account of himself and other or as 
an agent, trustee, guardian of rece iver for any other person or 
who should so received the rent or  be entitled to receive it if 
the land or building or part ther eof were let to a tenant and 
also includes -   
I. The custodian of Evacuee Pr operty in respect of evacuee 
property vested in him under the Administration of Evacuee 
Property Act, 1950 (central Act 31 of 1950). 
II. The Director of estates in  the Central Government, the 
Secretary of the Delhi Devel opment authority, constituted 
under the Delhi Development Act, 1957 (central Act 61 of 
1957), the General Manager of  a Railway and the head of 
a government Department, in regard to properties under 
their respective control;  
(aa) “Premises” means any l and or building or part of a 
building and includes –  
I. the garden, grounds and out- houses, if any, appertaining 
to a building or part of a building; and  
II. any fittings affixed to a bu ilding or part of building;  
(ab) “Prescribed” means prescr ibed by rules framed by the 
Government under Section 108;   
(ac)”railway administration”, in relation to –  
I. a government Railway means the General Manager of a 
Zonal Railway; and  
II. A non-government railway means  the person who is the 
owner or lessee of the Railwa y or the person working 
for the Railway under an agreement;  
(ad) “Regulation” means regulat ion made by the Board under 
Section 109; 
(ae) “Reside” –  
I. a person shall be deemed to “reside” in any dwelling house 
which or some portion of which he sometimes, whether 
uninterruptedly or not, uses a sleeping apartment and  
II. a person shall not be deemed to  cease to “reside” in such 
dwelling house merely because he is absent from it or 
has elsewhere another dwelling house in which he 
resides, if there is the liberty of returning to it any time 
and no abandonment of the intention of returning to it;  
(af) “Rule” means a rule made by the government under this Act by 
notification in the Official Gazette. 
(ag) “Sewage” means night-soil and ot her contents of water closets, 
latrines, privies, cess pools or drai ns, and waste water or other normal 
effluent from shafts, kitchens, bat hrooms, stables, cattle sheds and 
other like places but excludes cow-dung;  
(ah) “Sewer” means any device for carrying of sewage;  
(ai) “Sewerage Work” means any sewer channel, duct, collection, 
treatment and disposal unit, pumping st ation, engine, mobile collecting 
unit and other machinery and any adj acent land not being private 
property and any land, bu ilding or other thing for the collection or 
treatment or disposal of sewage;  
(ak) “Street” means any way, road, lane, square, court, alley, passage, 
whether a through fare or not and whether built upon or not, over which 
the public have a right of  way and also the roadway or footway over 
any bridge or causeway; 
(al) “Telegraph Authority” means  the authority as defined under 
Section 3 (6) of the Indian Telegraph act, 1985 (13 of 1985) 
(am) “telegraph line” means a wire or wires for the purpose of a 
telegraph as defined in the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885);  
(an) “trunk main” means a main constructed for the purpose of 
conveying water from a source of supply to a reservoir or from a 
reservoir to another reservoir, or fo r the purpose of conveying water, in 
bulk  from one part of t he limits of supply t anothe r part of those limits, 
or for the purpose of giving or taking a supply of water in bulk; 
(ao) “Water woks” means any sour ce of water supply like a stream, 
lake, spring, river, or cancel, well reservoir, cistern and tank, dug well, 
bore well, dug-cum-bore well, tubewell,  ranny well, filter points and 
infiltration galleries, any channel, duct, whether converted or open, 
desalination plants, treatment units , sluice or supply main culvert, 
bridge, engine, water tank hydran t, stand pipe or post, conduit and 
machinery and any adjacent land not being private property and any 
adjacent land not being private property and any land, building or other 
thing for supplying water or for prot ecting a source of water supply and 
pipe or for treatment of water.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter II 
 
 
Constitution of Delhi Water Board 
 
Constitution of the Board 
 
3.  
(1) The Government shall, as s oon as may be after the issue of 
the notification under sub-section (3) of Section 1, constitute 
the Delhi Water Board by notification in the official Gazette. 
(2) The Board shall consists of:  
i. A chairperson who shall be the minister incharge of 
the subject matter of t he government and a vice 
chairperson to be nomi nated by speaker from 
amongst members as per clause 2 (iii). 
ii. A chief executive office to be nominated by the 
Government who shall be an office drawing pay in the 
scale not less than that of a joint secretary to the 
Government of India.  
iii. Three members of the l egislative assembly of the 
National Capital territory of Delhi to be nominated by 
the speaker. 
iv. Two members of the Munici pal Corporation of Delhi, 
Ex-officio. 
v. The commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of 
Delhi, Ex-Officio.  
vi. The chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council, 
ex-officio. 
vii. A member (Water S upply) to be nominated by 
government who shall be an engineer, drawing pay 
not leas than that of a joint secretary to the 
Government of India, having specialized knowledge 
and experience in the matters relating to drainage.  
viii. A member (Drainage) to  be nominated by government 
who shall be an engineer, drawing pay in scale not 
less than that of a joint se cretary to the Government 
of India, having specialized knowledge and 
experience in the matters relating to drainage.  
ix. A member (Finance) to be nominated by the 
government drawing pay in the scale not less than 
that of a joint secretary to  the Government of India, 
having specialized knowledge and practical 
experience of accounting and financial matters.  
x. A member (administrati on) to be nominated by the 
Government drawing pay in  the scale not less than 
that of a joint secretary to  the government of India, 
having specialized knowledge ad practical experience 
of personnel and administrative matters.   
xi. Secretary Incarge of  the Department of the 
government dealing with the Board, Ex-officio.  
xii. A representativ e of the Ministry of urban Affairs & 
employment, government of  India who shall not be 
below the rank of joint Secretary to the Government of 
India, to be nominated by the Central Government.  
xiii. One representat ive of the Delhi Cantonment Board, 
preferably an elected repr esentative of the Delhi 
Cantonment Board, to be nominated by its President.  
xiv. A representative of  the Central Ground Water 
Authority who shall not be bel ow the rank of a Chief 
Engineer, to be nominat ed by the Central 
Government. 
 
(3) Members nominated under clauses (ii), (vii), (viii) (ix) and (x) 
shall be entitled to receive from  the funds of the Board such 
salaries and allowances, and shall be governed by such 
conditions of service, as may be prescribed.  
 
(4) Except in the case of ex-officio members and members 
nominated under clauses (iii), (iv), (xiii of sub section (2), the 
members of the Board shall hold office at the pleasure of the 
government.  
 
(5) The members of the Board nom inated under clauses (iii), (iv) 
and (xiii) of sub-section (2) shall not hold office for a 
continuous period for more than  two years and shall cease to 
hold office whenever they cease to be members of the 
legislative assembly of the National Capital Territory of delhi or 
members of the Munici pal Corporation of de lhi or of the delhi 
Cantonment Board, as the case may be.  
 
(6) No decision taken by the B oard or under the authority of the 
Board shall be called into ques tion on the ground only of the 
existence of any vacancy among the members of the Board or 
of any defect or infirmity in the constitution of the Board.  
 
4. 
(1) In the absence of the Chairper son, the Vice Chairperson and in 
the absence of chairperson & vice-chairperson, the Chief 
Executive Officer shall be competent to carry out the duties 
and functions of the chairperson. 
(2) If the chief executive offer of t he board is by reason of illness or 
otherwise rendered temporarily in capable of carrying out his 
duties, or is granted leave of absence by the government, or is 
otherwise unable to attend to hi s duties, in circumstances 
except the cessation of his me mbership, the government may 
appoint another person to act for him as the chief executive 
office to carry out his duties and functions by or under this Act.  
Such person shall vacate office  on the date when the Chief 
Executive Officer resumes his duties.  
 
Non-participation of a member of he hold interest in any firm, etc. 
 
5. 
(1) If the Board has entered into or is considering entering into any 
contract or agreement with any firm or company in which a 
member holds any share or inte rest, he shall disclose the fact 
and nature of such interest and he shall not be entitled to 
participate in any decision of the Board relating to such 
contract or agreement. 
(2) Every disclosure referred t in sub-section (1) shall forthwith be 
recorded in the minutes and communicated to the 
Government, and the government  may thereupon give such 
direction as it may deem proper.  
 
Incorporation of the Board 
 
6. 
 
(1) The board shall be a body corporate having perpetual 
succession and a common seal and the power to acquire and 
to hold property, both movable and immovable, and may sue 
and be sued.  
(2) All orders and decisions of the Board shall be authenticated in 
such manner as may be provided in the regulations.  
 
Appointment of staff 
 
7. The Board may appoint a secret ary and all such offices as may 
be required to enable the Board to carry out its functions under 
this Act:  
  
 Provided that the Government may prescribe that appointment 
to certain posts shall be subject to its approval. 
 
 
Water consultative council  
 
8. 
 
(1) The government may constitute a water consultative council. 
(2) The functions o the water consultative council shall be: -   
i. To advice the Board on po licy matters pertaining to the 
interests of consumers and issues affecting the 
environment; 
ii. To give expert advice on administrative, financial and 
technical matters; 
iii. To advice the board on ma tters pertaining to the 
interests of consumers and issues affecting the 
environment;  
iv. To advice the board on any other matter regarding 
which the board secks its advice. 
 
(3) The chairperson of the Board shall be the chairperson of the 
Water Consultative Council and its members shall be as 
follows: -  
i. All members of the board, ex-officio; 
ii. Two members of the legi slative assembly of the 
national capital territory of Delhi to be nominated by the 
speaker. 
iii. Two members of the Munici pal Corporation of Delhi to 
be nominated by the mayor; 
iv. One expert in environmental and ecological matters to 
be nominated by the government; 
v. Two experts in water management to be nominated by 
the government. 
vi. Two persons representing consumer interests to be 
nominated by the Government; 
vii. One member represent ing the employees to be 
nominated by the government; 
viii. One member from the Ne w Delhi Municipal Council out 
of the Non-official members.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter III 
 
 
Power and Functions of the Board 
 
 
Functions of the Board 
 
9. 
 
(1) Without prejudice to any other provisions of this Act, the Board 
may perform the following functions: -  
a. Treat, supply and distribute water for household 
consumption or other purposes  to those parts of Delhi 
where there are houses, whet her through pipes or by 
other means; 
 
Provided that this clause shall not be construed to 
require the board to do anything which is not in the 
opinion of the board practicabl e at a reasonable cost, or 
to provide water supply to any premises which have been 
constructed in contraventi on of any law or in which 
adequate arrangement for internal water supply, 
including internal storage, as  may be required by the 
Board, does not exist:  
 
b. Plan for, regulate and m anage the exploitation of ground 
water in Delhi in consultation with Central Ground water 
Authority and also give advice in this regard to the New 
Delhi Municipal Council, the Delhi Cantonment Board or 
any other local authority, except with the prior approval of 
the central government; 
 
Provided that the Board s hall, as far as may be, 
take over the management of a ll drains fed wholly or in 
part by drains under the management of the Board;  
 
c. Promote measures for c onservation, recycling and reuse 
of water; 
 
d. If so directed by the Government or the Central 
government, take over and carry out any functions 
relating to the management and regulation of sewerage 
and ground water or the drains  of any area, hitherto 
being carried out by the Government, the Delhi 
Development authority or any other agency; 
 
Provided that the Board s hall, as far as may be, 
take over the Management of a ll drains fed wholly or in 
part by drains under the management of the Board;  
 
e. Collect, treat and dispose-of  sewage from any part of 
Delhi and carry out works connected with sewerage, 
sewage treatment and sewage disposal including the 
planning, design, cons truction, operation and 
maintenance of works relating thereto;  
f. Take up or promote any other  measures necessary for or 
ancillary to the functions of  the Board laid down under 
this Act, including negotiations  with other Boards or 
similar authorities, or t he central or any state 
government, and entering into  agreement with them, or 
the formulation and implement ation of schemes, or 
research and development works. 
g. Make provision for unfiltered water supply. 
 
(2) The Board may, with the prio r approval of the Government 
entrust any of the tasks and functions  referred to in this section 
to a local body, limited company, registered society, research 
institute or government undertaki ng, including provision for 
private investment in any works thereof including ownership of 
the facility, on such terms and conditions as may be approved 
by the Board.  
 
Water supplied for domestic purpose not to be used for non-domestic 
purposes  
 
10. 
 
(1) No person shall, without written permission of the Board, use or 
allow use of water supplied for domestic purpose for ay 
purposes, other tan domestic purpos es, except to extinguish a 
fire.  
(2) No person shall willfully pollute  water in or obtained from any 
well, tank, water works or other  source of supply being water 
which is or is likely to be used for domestic purpose or for the 
preparation of food or drink for hum an consumption, so as to be 
prejudicial to health.  
 
 
Supply of water for domestic purposes not to include any 
supplies for specified purposes 
 
11. The supply of water for domestic purpose shall not be 
deemed to include supply thereof: 
i.  For animals or for wa shing vehicles, where such 
animals or vehicles are kept for sale or hire; 
ii. For any trade, manufacture or business; 
iii. For fountains, swimming,  baths or any ornamental 
or mechanical purposes;  
iv. For any construction work of any kind.  
 
 
Power to supply water for non-domestic purposes  
 
12. The board may, in its discr etion and subject tot sufficient 
availability of water, supply wate r to any person or organization 
including industrial establishment s for non-domestic purpose or 
other public purposes, on such terms and conditions, including 
payment of such charges, as may be specified by regulations:  
Provided that the B oard shall allow all persons to take 
water for extinguishing fires only from any pipe on which a 
hydrant is fixed, without any payment.  
 
Power to require water supply to be taken and power not be allow 
occupation of a new premises wi thout arrangement for water 
supply. 
 
13. 
 
(1) It shall not be lawful to cons truct or occupy any premises 
without adequate arrangements for water supply in accordance 
with such regulations as may be made in this behalf.  
(2) If it appears to the Board that any  premises in Delhi are without 
supply of water for domestic pur poses or that the existing 
supply of water for domestic purpos es available for the persons 
usually occupying or employed in  such premises, is inadequate 
or objectionable for reasons of health and sanitation, the Board 
may, by notice in writ ing, require the owner of the premises or 
the person primarily liable for the payment of property taxes in 
respect of them:  
a. To take a connection adequate for the persons occupying 
or employed in the premises, or to take such additional or 
enlarged connection or connections from the Water 
Works:  
b. To provide supply pipes and water fittings, install and 
work a pump and do all such works and take all such 
measures as may, in t he opinion of the Board, be 
necessary for the above purposes.  
(3) The Board may in the notic e issued under sub-section (2) 
specify:  
a. The size, material and quality of the pipes and water 
fittings to be provided;  
b. The position of the pipes and water fittings to be provided 
and the means of access for the inspection thereof;  
c. The type of pump that s hould be installed and the hours 
during which it should be kept working;  
d. The period within which any or  all the works specified in 
the notice should be carried out; 
e. Any other requirement which the Board may deem 
necessary.  
 
 
Power to lay mains, sewers, pipes or drains. 
 
14. 
 
(1) The Board may lay water mains, sewers, or service pipes, or 
drains of any type in any street or, with the consent of the owner 
and occupier of land not forming part of the street, in over or on 
any such land and may from time to  time inspect, repair, alter or 
renew such main, pipe, sewer or drain wherever situated.  
Provided that where a cons ent required for the purpose 
of this sub-section is withheld, the Board may after giving the 
owner or occupier a written notic e of its intention to do so, lay 
the main pipe, sewer or drain in, over or on that land even 
without such consent.  
 
(2) Where the Board, in exercise of its powers under this section, 
lays or inspects, repairs, alters or renews a water main, service 
pipe, sewer or drain, it shall pay compensation to every person 
interested in such land for any damage or injury done to such 
land by reasons thereof.  
(3) The compensation payable under sub-section (2) shall be such 
as may be fixed by the Board in accordance with such 
procedure as may be prescri bed and after considering any 
claims made by any person interested in such land.  
 
 
Power to require water supply to be taken and to require 
maintenance of service pipe.  
 
15. 
 
(1) The Board may require ay pers on, who desires the supply of 
water for domestic or any other purpose, to comply with such 
requirements as may be specified in requirements made in this 
behalf including the provisions of any supply pipes or any tanks, 
pumps or other pipes or fittings, as may be required by the 
Board, or deposit of the cost of so doing,  and the payment of 
any amount required by way of development charges.  
(2) After obtaining the sanction of  water connection from the Board 
the delivery pipe shall be got la id by consumer through a 
licenced plumber at his own cost from the main to consumer’s 
premises including ferrule.  
(3) It shall be the duty of the consumer to maintain, repair and 
replace, if required, such delivery pipe at his own cost.  
(4) All service pipes laid for a period of 15 years or more shall be 
got inspected by the consumer , at his own cost, through a 
licenced plumber.  If the service pipes are found rusted/ leaking, 
and this is likely to result in cont amination of water, the work of 
repair/ replacement s hall be got executed by  the consumer, at 
his own cost, through a licenced plumber.  
(5) It shall be the responsibility of the Development Agency carrying 
out, any construction, including multi-storeyed construction or 
additions to existing construction,  to ensure provision of water 
supply through storage tanks, ei ther underground or overhead, 
and booster pumping stations.  T he construction shall be the 
responsibility of the Developing agency and the maintenane and 
operation of the arrangements sha ll be the responsibility of the 
occupant of such premises.  The board shall be responsible for 
giving water in the mains fe eding the service pipe. The 
construction arrangements sha ll be done with the prior 
permission of construction a rrangements shall be done with the 
prior permission of the Board and on such terms & conditions as 
shall be determined by the Board.  
 
Provision of fire hydrants  
 
16. The board shall, on payment by  the agency responsible for fire 
services, fix hydrants on water mains (other than trunk mains) at 
such places as may be conveni ent for supply of water for 
extinguishing any fire which may break out and shall kept these 
in order.  
  Providing that the board shall allow water to be taken for 
extinguishing fires from any pipe on which a hydrant is fixed, by 
the agency responsible for fire services, without any payment.  
  
 
Power of Board to provide meters  
 
17. 
 
(1) The board may provide water meters to measure the 
consumption of water by any per son using water supply by the 
Board and, until the contrary is proved, it shall be presumed that 
the quantity of water shown by the meter has been consumed.  
Provided that the Board may in its discretion permit a 
consumer to use his own water meter.  
 
(2) The use, installation fees and rent to be paid for such use, 
maintenance and testing of meteres shall be in accordance with 
regulations framed under this Act.  
 
 
Power to cut off or turn off water supply.  
 
18. The Board may, subject to regul ations made in this behalf, cut 
off or turn off water supply to any  premises or part thereof and the 
expense of cutting or turning off the water supply shall be paid by the 
occupier of the premises.  
 
 
Prohibition of waste or misuse of water or instillation of booster pumps.  
 
19. 
 
(1) No person shall wildfully or negligently cause or suffer any water 
fittings to be so constructed or so adopted, or to remain out of 
order in such a manner, that th e water supplied to him by the 
board is, or is likely to be wast ed, misused or unduly consumed 
or contaminated, or t hat foul air or any impure mature is or is 
likely to be returned to any pipe belonging to, or connecting with 
a pipe belonging to the Board.  
(2) The Board may without prejudice to its right to proceed against 
such person under any other prov ision of law, acquire any 
person infringing the provisions of  sub-section (1), to carry out 
any necessary repairs or alterations and, if he fails to do so 
within forty eight hours, may carry  out the work and recover the 
cost incurred in so doing from such person.  
(3) No person shall install a boos ter pump or any other appliance 
without the permission of the B oard on any water main or 
service pipe or shall pump wa ter supplied by the Board 
otherwise than in accordance with such conditions as may be 
specified by regulations made in this behalf. 
 
Power to enter premises to detect  waste or miscue of water and 
to restrict use of water from polluted source of supply.  
 
20. 
 
(1) Any officer, authorized in wr iting by the board may, between 
sunrise and sunset, enter any prem ises using water supplied by 
the Board in order to check if there is any misuse of water and 
no person shall refuse entry to such officer or obstruct him. 
 
(2) If the board is of t he opinion that the water of any well, tank, or 
other source of supply, being water which is likely to be used for 
domestic purpose or for the preparation of food for human 
consumption, is or it likely to be so polluted as to be prejudicial 
to health, the board may, after gi ving the owner or occupier of 
the premises a reasonable opportunity of being heard, by order, 
direct that the source of supp ly be permanently or temporarily 
cut off or may impose restrictions upon the use of such water.  
 
(3) No person shall construct any  latrine or cesspool within ten-
meters of any well, tank, water pipe or in any position where 
such well, tank or pipe is likely to be injured or the water therein 
polluted. 
 
(4) No person shall sink any well, tubewell or hand pump except in 
accordance with such conditions as may be laid down by 
regulations in this behalf havi ng regard especially to the 
proximity of any sewer or storm water drain or of any polluted 
water and the Board may further require, in accordance with the 
regulations made in this behalf, that its permisson should be 
obtained.  
 
 
Power to require every premises to have separate water 
connection and service pipe.  
 
21.  
 
(1) Unless otherwise permitted by B oard, every premises supplied 
with water shall have a separate water connection.  
(2) If, in respect of any premises already supplied with water but not 
having a separate service pipe, th e Board gives notice to the 
owner of the premises requiring hi m to provide such a pipe, the 
owner shall, within three mont hs, lay the said pipe and the 
board shall, as soon as may be after the owner has done so, 
give the connection to the said pipe from its own supply line.  
(3) If an owner on whom a notice has been served under sub-
section (2) fails to comply t herewith the Board may itself 
execute the said work and recover the cost incurred. 
 
 
Power of the Board to delegate its power to an officer of the 
Board.  
 
22. The Board may by order direct that any power conferred or duty 
imposed on it under this Act shall in  such circumstances and under 
such conditions, if any, as may be s pecified in the or der, be exercised 
and performed also by any offer of the Board, as specified in the order.  
 
 
Power to restrict or prohibit use of water.  
 
23. When Delhi or any part thereof is  visited or threatened by an 
out-break of disease and the Board considers it necessary to do so, 
the Board may: - 
 
a. By public notice, restrict in  any manner or prohibit for any 
period, as may be specified in the notice, the sale of water 
for human consumption as specified in the notice; 
b. Without notice and at any time  inspect and disinfect any well, 
tank, public hydrant or other plac e from which water is or is 
likely to be taken for the purpose of drinking.  
 
 
Power to control use of water from wells, tanks, public hydrants 
etc.  
 
24. If the Board is of the opinion that  water in any well, tank or other 
place, is likely if used for drinki ng to endanger or cause spread of any 
diseases, the Board may: -  
a. Require the owner or person having control of such well, 
tank, hydrant or place to take  such steps as the Board may 
consider necessary to prevent the public from having access 
to or use of such water;  
b. Take such other steps as the board may cnsider expedient 
to prevent the out-break of such diseases.  
 
 
Power of owner of premises to  place pipes and drains through 
land belonging to other persons.  
 
25.  
 
(1) If it appears to the Board that  the most convenient means of 
supply water to and draining of any  premises is by means of a 
pipe or drain over, under, al ong or across the immovable 
property of another pers on, the board may, by order in writing, 
authorize the owner of such premises to place or carry such 
pipe or drain over, under, along or access such property.   
Provided that before making any such order, the Board 
shall, in accordance with such regulations as may be made in 
this behalf, give to the owner of the property affected a 
reasonable opportunity to show  
Provided further that the owner  of the premises shall not 
acquire ay right other than a right  of use in the property where 
nay such pipe or drain is placed.  
 
(2) After an order under sub-secti on (1) has been made, the owner 
of the premises may, after gi ving reasonable notice of his 
intention to do so, enter upon the property referred to in such 
order to carry out the work of plac ing the pipe or drain or for the 
purpose of repairing it.  
 
(3) The owner of the premises shall cause as little damage as 
possible to the said property,  fill in, reinstate and make good at 
his own cost any ground broken up or removed by him and shall 
complete the work with the leas t possible delay and shall pay 
compensation t the owner of t he property or other persons 
affected.  
 
(4) If on the application of the owner of the property, it is necessary 
in the opinion of the Board to do so, in order to allow for the 
construction or safe enjoyment of any building, the Board may 
by notice in writing require the owner of the premises to relocate 
or divert any pipe or drain laid  under the provisions of his 
section at the cost of the owner of such property, which shall be 
fixed by the Board.  
 
(5) In case of dispute between t he owner of the pr emises and the 
owner of the property, respectively referred to in this section, or 
between the owner of the premises and any other person, either 
may refer the matter to the Boar d whose decision, after giving 
due opportunity to the parties, shall be final. 
 
 
Power to execute works  
 
26.  When, under the prov isions of this Act, any person is required or 
is liable to execute any work the Board may cause such work to be 
executed after giving such person an opportunity of executing it, within 
such work to be executed after giving such person an opportunity of 
executing it, within such period as the Board may fix for the purpose, 
and the board shall recover the cost in curred in the execution of such 
work, from the said person, in accordance with such   regulations ask 
may be made in this regard.  
 
 
Power to execute works  
 
27. For the purpose of ventilating any drain or cesspool, whether 
vested in the Board or Not, the Board may in accordance with 
regulations made in this behalf, erect upon any premises or affix to the 
outside of any building any such shaft or pipe as may appear 
necessary.  
 
 
Power to examine private drains and cess pools  
 
28.  Where it appears necessary to  do so, private drains and cess 
pools having regard to public healt h and sanitation, the board may 
examine the condition of any privat e drain or cess pool, by means of 
such tests as the Board may deem fit, or take such measures in 
respect o such drain or cess pool as the Board may deem necessary; 
  
 Provided that the Board shall, as soon as possible thereafter, 
reinstate any ground or make good any damage done.  
 
 
Disposal of Sewage  
 
Specifying of place for the emptyi ng of drains and disposal of 
sewage  
 
29. 
 
(1) The board may cause any or all its drain to empty into, and all 
sewage to be disposed of at su ch place or places as it 
considers suitable, subject to t he provision of the Environment 
(protection) Act, 1986. 
Provided that no sewage s hall be discharged into any 
water course until it has been so  treated as not to affect 
prejudicially the purit y and quality of the wate into which it is 
discharged.  
 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) the board 
may permit disposal of sewerage for the time being in such 
place or places and in such manner  as existed at the time of 
commencement of the Act.  
 
(3) No place which has not been used for any of the purposes 
specified in sub-section (1) before the commencement of this 
Act shall be used therefore without the approval of the Board  
 
 
Rights of user of property for aquaducts, mains, drains etc.  
 
30. 
 
(1) The Board may place and maintain aquaducts, conduits and 
mains or pipes of drains over, under, along or across any 
immovable property without acquiring the same, and may at any 
time for the purpose of examin ing, repairing, altering or 
removing any such facility, ent er on any property over, under, 
along or across which such facility has been placed;  
Provided that the Board shall not  acquire any right other than 
right of user in the property where such conveniences have 
been placed.  
 
(2) The powers conferred by sub-section (1) shall not be 
exercisable in respect of any pr operty vested in the Union or 
under the control or management of the Cent ral government or 
Railway administration or vested in any local authority except 
with the specific permission of t he said body in accordance with 
any bye-laws made in this behalf;  
provided that the Board may, without such permission repair, 
renew or amend any existing works if it is urgently required to 
maintain interrupted supply of wate r, drainage or disposal of 
sewage or if delay would be dangerous to health, human life or 
property.  
 
(3) In exercise of the power conf erred by this section, the board 
shall cause as little damage ad inconvenience as possible and 
shall compensate for any damage or  inconvenience so caused, 
as determined by the board.  
 
 
 
Drainage and Sewerage 
 
Public drains to vest in the Board  
 
31. 
 
(1) All drain which are municipal drains under the control of the 
Delhi water supply & sewage disposal undertaking constituted 
under the DMC Act1957 existing at  the commencement of this 
Act, together with all ventilati ons, shafts, pipes and all 
appliances and fittings pertaining to such drains, and the sub 
soil appurtenant thereto, shall vest in the Board.  
(2) The board may construct as many  new drains a it may, from 
time to time, consider necessary, and all such drains shall vest 
in the Board.  
 
 
Permission to connect private drain with public drain  
 
32. Subject to such conditions as may be laid down by regulations 
made in this behalf, and to payment of any consequential expenditure 
incurred by the Board, as assessed by the Board, the Board may allow 
the connection of any private drain to any public drain under its control; 
Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall entitle any 
person: -  
a. to discharge any industrial e ffluent into any public drain 
except in accordance with regulations made in this behalf, 
which may include provision for treatment of such effluent 
before its discharge into such drain; or  
b. to discharge into such drai n any substance the discharge 
of which is prohibited under any law; or  
c. to discharge foul water into a drain provided for surface 
water or surface water into  a sewer, unless expressly 
permitted by the Board as a purely temporary measure  
 
Drainage of undrained premises  
  
33.  
 
(1) Where any premises are, in the opinion of the Board, without 
sufficient means of drainage the B oard may, by wr iting notice, 
require the owner of such premises –  
a. To provide and set up all such appliances and fittings as 
may appear to the board to be necessary of the purposes 
of gathering and receiving po lluting and there obnoxious 
matter and conveying it from the premises;  
b. To provide and set up all such appliances and fittings as 
may appear to the Board to be necessary to prevent 
waste water from being discharged into the street.  
 
(2) Where a public drain or any place approved by the Board for the 
discharge of filth and other po lluted and obnoxious matter is 
situated at a distance not exceed ing 30 mts. From any part of 
the premises, the Board may, by  written notice, require the 
owner of the said premises –  
a. To make a drain emptying into such public drain or place; 
b. To remove, cover, augment, replace, or other appliance 
or thing used or intended to be used for drainage in 
relation to such existing drain,  if such existing drain or 
appliance or thing is inadequate, insufficient, faulty or 
injurious to health.  
 
(3) Where any premises not provided for in sub-section (2) are, in 
the opinion of the Boar d, without sufficient means of drainage, 
the Board may, by written notic e, require the owner of the 
premises -   
a. To construct a drain upto poi nt to be prescribed in such 
notice, which is not more than 30 mtrs. From any parts of 
the premises; or  
b. To constructed a closed cesspool or soakage pit and 
drain or drains emptying in to such cesspool or soakage 
pit.  
 
(4) The provisions of this secti on shall not apply to areas falling 
within the jurisdiction of the Ne w Delhi Municipal Council or the 
Delhi Cantonment Board, Military Engineering Services. 
 
 
New Premises not to be erected/ occupied without drainage  
 
34. 
 
(1) It shall not be lawful to cons truct or occupy any premises 
without adequate provision for drainage in accordance with such 
regulations as may be made in this behalf  
(2) The board may, if it appears expedi ent to do so, provide for any 
group or block of premises, to be drained in combination rather 
than separately.  
 
Work to be done by licensed plumber  
 
35.  
 
(1) No person other than a licensed plumber shall execute any work 
connected with water supply and sanitation described in this Act 
and no person shall permit any such work to be executed 
except by a licensed plumber;  
Provided that if, in the opinion of  the Board, the work is of a 
trivial nature, it may grant permi ssion for the execution of such 
work by a person other than a licensed plumber.  
 
(2) The board may make regulations  for the guidance of licensed 
plumbers and a copy of all such regulations shall be attached to 
every licensed plumber.  
 
(3) The board may make regulations for: -  
a. The exercise of adequate control on all licensed 
plumbers;  
b. The inspection of all works carried out by licensed 
plumbers; and  
c. The hearing and disposal of  complaints made by

Excerpt shown. Open the full act in Lexace.

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