President Dr Mohamed Muizzu ratified the Second Amendment to the Water and Sewerage Act (Act No: 8/2020) today. The bill was passed during the 23rd sitting of the second session of the 2025 parliamentary term, held on Monday, 11 August 2025.
The principal objective of the Amendment is to mandate cooperation between the Government and relevant State authorities to ensure that, by 2027, all inhabited islands of the Republic of Maldives have timely access to an adequate supply of water.
The Amendment stipulates that technical assistance and advisory services be provided to local councils in relation to the provision of water and sanitation services, as part of national programs aimed at strengthening council capacity. It further introduces licensing criteria for qualified professionals engaged in the water and sewerage sectors.
Additionally, the Amendment makes provision for the establishment of laboratories to conduct water testing services within the country, while prescribing penalties for individuals or entities found guilty of misusing water or sewerage systems.
Pursuant to the Amendment, the rules and regulations required under the Act must be formulated and published within three months from its effective date.
Following ratification, the Amendment has been published in the Government Gazette and has now come into force.