Water Act explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Section 25 of the Water Act requires consent from the State Board before a new outlet or discharge is established. The proviso to section 25(1) allows the Central Government to exempt categories of plants. G.S.R. 703(E) of 12 November 2024 is the water counterpart of the Air Act notification: it exempts plants on a white-category list that inform the Board in writing, and plants that already hold prior environmental clearance.
This notification is current as amended up to G.S.R. 599(E) dated 8 July 2026 (Schedule substituted; this is the current list), through G.S.R. 511(E) of 28 July 2025 and G.S.R. 762(E) of 17 October 2025. It operates where the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024 applies. Later amendments, CPCB guidelines and notifications should be checked. If you need help deciding whether a unit needs water consent, see our compliance documentation service.
Two categories are exempt from section 25(1) consent: (a) industrial sectors, projects, processes or activities with a pollution index score up to 25 as listed in the Schedule, which must inform the State Board or Pollution Control Committee in writing; and (b) plants that already hold prior environmental clearance under the 2006 notification, in respect of consent to establish. The current Schedule has 87 entries, the same as the Air notification.
Where the exemption operates
The exemption rests on the proviso to section 25(1) of the Water Act as it stands under the 2024 Amendment Act. That Act applies in Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and the Union territories and in States that adopt it. Where it does not apply, the notification does not operate. Section 25 itself is explained in section 25 of the Water Act, and existing discharges and refusal of consent in sections 26 and 27. This series does not list States.
Paragraph (a): the white list and intimation
As notified in 2024, paragraph (a) exempted "all industrial plants having pollution index score upto 20 as listed in the Schedule". G.S.R. 511(E) substituted the paragraph:
"(a) all industrial sectors or projects or processes or activities having pollution index score upto 25 as listed in the Schedule to this notification, subject to condition that such industrial sectors or projects or processes or activities shall inform in writing to the State Pollution Control Boards or the Pollution Control Committees;"
The exemption is for what is listed, and the condition is a written intimation. The notification prints no form, fee or time limit for the intimation.
Paragraph (b): prior environmental clearance
Paragraph (b) exempts "all industrial plants which have obtained prior environmental clearance as per the notification ... number S.O. 1533(E), dated the 14th September, 2006 issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, in respect of previous consent to establish such plant". As with the Air notification, the words are about consent to establish. The notification also says that, subject to the Act and the notification, the Ministry may issue a standard operating procedure for streamlining implementation.
The current Schedule
G.S.R. 599(E) of 8 July 2026 substituted the Schedule with a "List of white category sectors" of 87 entries. The list is the same as in the Air notification, G.S.R. 598(E) of the same date, entry for entry, and includes the asterisked sub-sectors of existing green-category sectors. A selection:
| No. | Entry |
|---|---|
| 1 | Assembly of bicycles, baby carriages and other small non-motorised vehicles |
| 2 | Baling (hydraulic press) of waste papers |
| 11 | Standalone manufacturing of concrete admixtures up to 1000 metric tons per month by physical mixing (without boiler and reactor, no generation of wastewater) |
| 12 | Used cooking oil collection centres |
| 13 | Soap manufacturing (handmade, without steam boiling or boiler) |
| 21 | Hydrogen production through electrolysis (using renewable energy) located in the premises of the end-user industry |
| 25 | Medical oxygen |
| 41 | Solar power generation through solar photovoltaic cell and wind power |
| 80 | Packing of food items (without processing) |
| 87 | Non-leather footwear manufacturing (dry process and without boiler) |
Several entries are limited by water-related conditions: "no generation of wastewater", "without effluent generation", "without dyeing and bleaching operation" and "with permission to discharge in municipal sewerage system connected to terminal Sewage Treatment Plant". These matter more for water consent than for air, because the question is what leaves the plant as effluent. A unit that matches the activity but generates effluent that the entry excludes should not assume the exemption applies.
How it differs from the Air notification
| Point | Air notification (G.S.R. 702(E)) | Water notification (G.S.R. 703(E)) |
|---|---|---|
| Power used | Proviso to section 21(1), Air Act | Proviso to section 25(1), Water Act |
| Consent exempted | Consent under section 21(1) | Consent under section 25(1) |
| Original score limit | Twenty | Twenty |
| Current score limit | Twenty-five (G.S.R. 512(E)) | Twenty-five (G.S.R. 511(E)) |
| Intimation | In writing to the State Board or Committee | In writing to the State Board or Committee |
| Current Schedule | G.S.R. 598(E), 8 July 2026, 87 entries | G.S.R. 599(E), 8 July 2026, 87 entries |
| Where it applies | Throughout the Act | Where the 2024 Amendment Act applies |
The Air notification is explained in the previous article.
Using the exemption in practice
- Check that the Water Amendment Act applies in your State before relying on the notification.
- Match the activity and each bracketed condition, with particular attention to effluent, boilers and dyeing.
- Inform the State Board or Committee in writing and keep proof of delivery.
- Keep the discharge position documented, since the entries assume little or no effluent.
- Re-check after any amendment to the Schedule, which has been substituted three times since November 2024.
- Check other approvals: air consent (see the Air notification), hazardous waste authorisation and local licences are separate.
The general consent route is explained in how to get pollution control CTE and CTO in India.
Example
Gomti Concrete Additives Private Limited blends concrete admixtures by physical mixing, up to the monthly capacity in the entry, without a boiler or reactor, and has no wastewater. It is in a State where the 2024 Amendment Act applies. The unit matches the Schedule entry and its pollution index score is within the limit, so it informs the State Board in writing and files proof of delivery. Later it considers adding a washing step that would generate wastewater. The entry's conditions would not fit, and the company takes advice on consent before the change.
Need help with water consent?
Whether a plant is inside an entry turns on process details and effluent. Our compliance documentation team can help you check the entry, prepare the intimation and, where the exemption does not apply, the consent application file.
Key takeaways
- G.S.R. 703(E) exempts two groups from section 25(1) consent, where the 2024 Water Amendment Act applies.
- White-category plants with a pollution index score up to 25 inform the State Board or Committee in writing.
- Plants with prior environmental clearance are exempt in respect of consent to establish.
- The current Schedule, from G.S.R. 599(E) of 8 July 2026, has 87 entries, matching the Air list.
- Effluent-related conditions in the entries decide whether a unit qualifies.
Read next
- The Air Act section 21 exemption (G.S.R. 702(E))
- Paragraphs 1-9 of the Water consent guidelines, 2025
- Section 25 of the Water Act: consent to establish and operate
- Pollution control CTE and CTO: documents required
Disclaimer: Based on the environment rules, guidelines and notifications named above as published in the Gazette of India, read with every amendment notified up to 3 October 2026 that the article names (consolidated reading texts from the CPCB 2021 compilation and the Goa State Pollution Control Board 2025 compilation were checked against the amending notifications), as consulted on 3 October 2026. Later amendments, CPCB guidelines, State Board orders and fees should be checked. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.