Power of Minister to designate controlled areas or uses

(1) Where the Minister is satisfied that the licensing of– (a) water abstraction and use in any area of Belize, hereinafter referred to as “controlled area”; or (b) uses or classes of use of water in any area of Belize, hereinafter referred to as “controlled use” or “controlled class of uses”, as the case may be; or (c) any combination thereof, is necessary in the public interest, he may declare by Order published in the Gazette the area, use or class of uses as a controlled area, controlled use or controlled class of uses, as the case may be. (2) In exercising his authority under sub-section (1), the Minister shall have regard to such factors as– (a) the hydrology and hydrogeology of the area; (b) the established and projected water demands in the area; 71 (c) the current and projected availability of water in the area; and (d) the actual or projected impact of given uses or classes of uses on water resources in general, including the impact of the disposal of wastewater on water resources in general, or in relation to a specific area, having regard also to the technologies employed in the abstraction and utilization of the water, and in the disposal of the wastewater.