Apply In Person

1. Application for a Surface Water Permit shall be made to the nearest Regional Department of Water and Sanitation office, where the water source is located. Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Office Location & Contact Details
2. Applicants will be required to complete the following application forms, obtainable at the regional department of Water and Sanitation offices, or directly download them using these links:
   • Application For Registration Of Exiting Right
   • Application For Grant Of Water Right
   • Application For Creation Of Servitude Form
   • Notification Of Acquisition Of Right By Agreement Form
3. Upon collecting/downloading the application forms fill them out accurately, attach all the relevant supporting documentation as listed under the “Required Documents” section of this page and submit them to the Regional Department of Water and Sanitation office for processing.
4. The application shall also be accompanied by proof of payment of P60.00 as a cost recovery measure as per Presidential Directive Cab 2/2004.
5. Upon submission, the application is checked for completeness and correctness by the receiving officer, if everything is in order the applicant is issued with an acknowledgment slip that proves submission of the application file and for inquiry referencing if the need arises.
6. The Authority may request additional information relevant to the application. In such a case, the information must be submitted within a specific period from the date of notification. Where the applicant fails to submit the required information, the Authority shall reject the application.
7. After a successful documentation evaluation phase, a notice of the decision (Approval, Deferral, or Rejection) for the application will be communicated to the client in writing or by phone or email within 90 days of receiving the complete application and additional information requested.
8. Where the Authority is not satisfied that an applicant meets the requirements, it shall reject the application and notify the applicant in writing, stating the reasons for the rejection.
9. If approved, the Authority shall draw up the surface water permit to be issued to the client, upon presenting their identity document, approval letter, and acknowledgment receipt to be validated by an officer.

• Duly completed and signed:
  • Application For Registration Of Exiting Right
  • Application For Grant Of Water Right
  • Application For Creation Of Servitude Form
  • Notification Of Acquisition Of Right By Agreement Form
• Certified copy of valid national identity card (Omang) for citizens
• Certified copy of passports for non-citizens
• Customary Land Grant Certificate or Title Deed
• Letter of authority from the Director of Lands confirming that the applicant has surface rights where the borehole is located.
• Attach approved application for and grant of field/project water point in case of private boreholes (a permission to drill).
• Attach borehole completion certificate (to check and verify ownership)
• Attach a sketch map including point of abstraction (coordinates) for river draw-offs
• Any additional supporting documentation as may be requested by the Authority.

Department of Water and Sanitation  (Headquarters)
(Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources)
Plot 2509, Block B Ground Floor, Office G04
Old Lobatse Road
Private Bag 0029
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 360 7100
Fax. (+267) 390 3508

Mahalapye  Water and Sanitation  Regional Office
Xhosa 2 ward
P.O Box 30
Mahalapye
Botswana   
  Tel. (+267) 4710251
Fax. (+267) 4711729

Jwaneng Water and Sanitation  Regional Office
RAC Office Block, Plot 385, Marakanelo street, unit 2
Private Bag 002,
Jwaneng
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 5880396
Fax. (+267) 5881225 

Serowe  Water and Sanitation Services Regional Office
Dinokwane ward 
Private Bag 005
Serowe
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 4633403
Fax. (+267) 4600273
        
Francistown Water Water and Sanitation  Regional Office
Plot 252/2567, Od BGI Building
Private Bag F181
Francistown
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 2413117
Fax. (+267) 2413449
          
Gumare  Water and Sanitation  Regional Office
Bothatogo ward
P.O Box 131
Gumare
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 6874029
Fax. (+267) 6874976
              
Maun Water and Sanitation  Regional Office
Along Sir Seretse Khama Rd
Private Bag 002 
Maun
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 6860452
Fax. (+267) 6860372
   
Kasane Water and Sanitation  Regional Office
Plot 90026, President Avenue Street, Newtown
P.O.Box 26
Kasane
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 6250323
Fax. (+267) 6250377
        
Ghanzi  Water and Sanitation  Regional Office
Plot 1301, Bosele ward
Private Bag 0025
  Ghanzi
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 6596226
Fax. (+267) 6597583
                  ​
Tsabong Water and Sanitation Regional Office
Ikageng Ward
 ​ Private Bag 0029
Tsabong
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 6540216​
Fax. (+267) 6540636
Ministry of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Office Location & Contact Details

• All citizens, residents, and businesses are eligible to apply for this service.

• The processing of the application costs BWP60.00

• The surface water permit is valid for infinite unless cancelled, suspended, or revoked by the Authority.

• Application For Registration Of Exiting Right
• Application For Grant Of Water Right
• Application For Creation Of Servitude Form
• Notification Of Acquisition Of Right By Agreement Form

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• Once all of the necessary documents are submitted, this process takes 90 days to complete.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> 
from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, 
myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video 
is displayed
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 
'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

• Names of the applicant
• Date of birth
• Identificatiom document details
• Place of residence
• Postal address
• Contact Details
• Declaration by the Applicant

• Surface water permit is a document issued, which allows/gives the licensee authority to draw water from boreholes,wells,dams,lakes and rivers.

Enter other information which might help.

Please explain what are other uses for obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Water Rights Application

More information which might help people.