Most industries use groundwater for washing or cooling. A packaged drinking water (PDW) plant sells it. That is why the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) treats PDW units more strictly than other industries: tighter location rules and a separate, higher table of charges.
The rules come from the CGWA guidelines notified by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on 24 September 2020 (S.O. 3289(E)). For a general overview of who needs an NOC, see our CGWA NOC guide. This article covers what is specific to water plants.
Step 1: Check your block category before buying land
CGWA classifies every assessment unit (block) as Safe, Semi-critical, Critical or Over-exploited. For a water plant this one check decides everything.
| Block category | New packaged drinking water plant |
|---|---|
| Safe | NOC possible; lowest charges |
| Semi-critical | NOC possible; stricter conditions and higher charges |
| Critical | NOC possible; stricter conditions and higher charges |
| Over-exploited | No NOC for new PDW units, even MSMEs |
Plants drawing more than 100 KLD (1 lakh litres a day) in Semi-critical, Critical or Over-exploited blocks also need an impact assessment report. If your plant depends on a borewell, do this check before you sign a sale deed or lease.
Step 2: Is it CGWA or your state?
Some states and union territories regulate groundwater through their own authority, for example the Haryana Water Resources Authority. In those states the application goes to the state body, with its own forms and charges. Elsewhere you apply to CGWA on the Bhu-Neer portal.
Step 3: Size your water requirement honestly
Your NOC fixes a daily quantity. Charges are worked out on it, and a higher quantity can push you into a higher slab. Work it out from your production capacity, RO recovery, washing and domestic use, and make it match the figures in your CTE and CTO application and FSSAI licence. Mismatched numbers across departments invite queries.
Documents usually required
- Site plan and location map with borewell coordinates
- Land ownership or lease documents
- Water requirement calculation and water balance chart
- Hydrogeological report (for larger quantities or stressed blocks)
- Rainwater harvesting or recharge plan
- Consent from the State Pollution Control Board, or proof of application
- Details of the digital flow meter and, where required, piezometer and telemetry
Groundwater charges for water plants
PDW units pay their own, higher rate per cubic metre. Under the 2020 guidelines the rate ranges from Rs 1 per m³ for small draws in Safe blocks to Rs 60 per m³ for large draws in Critical blocks. Existing PDW units in Over-exploited blocks pay restoration charges of Rs 8 to Rs 120 per m³. Full slabs and a worked example are in our CGWA groundwater charges guide.
Conditions that come with the NOC
- A digital water flow meter with telemetry on every borewell
- Piezometer and water level recorder where the NOC requires them
- Recharge structures as promised in the application, maintained every year
- Daily withdrawal records, water level and quality data
- Self-Compliance Reports filed on time on Bhu-Neer
These are not formalities. In October 2026 CGWA cancelled NOCs of proponents who missed their Self-Compliance Report, with a Rs 1,00,000 penalty to reinstate. See what happened and how to reinstate.
Renewal
The NOC is valid for three years (two in Over-exploited blocks). Apply for renewal at least 90 days before expiry, and apply afresh before you increase extraction, for example when you add capacity for a brand contract.
How ClearPath Compliance India can help
We check your block category before you commit to land, size the groundwater requirement, prepare the water balance and supporting reports, file on Bhu-Neer or with the state authority, and keep a calendar of meter, compliance report and renewal dates. See our CGWA NOC service and the complete licence checklist for a packaged drinking water plant.
Frequently asked questions
Can a packaged drinking water plant get a CGWA NOC in an over-exploited block?
No. Under the CGWA guidelines of 2020, new packaged drinking water units are not granted a groundwater NOC in over-exploited assessment units, even if they are MSMEs.
Where do I apply for a CGWA NOC?
On the CGWA Bhu-Neer portal, unless your state regulates groundwater through its own authority, in which case you apply to the state body.
How long is a CGWA NOC valid?
Three years, or two years in over-exploited blocks. Apply for renewal at least 90 days before expiry.
Do packaged drinking water plants pay higher groundwater charges?
Yes. PDW units have their own rate table in the 2020 guidelines, higher than other industries drawing the same quantity.
General information only, not legal advice. Rules are as published in the CGWA guidelines of 24 September 2020 (S.O. 3289(E)) and later amendments; block categories and state arrangements change from time to time. Check the current notification and your own NOC before acting.
Sources: CGWA Guidelines to regulate and control ground water extraction in India, S.O. 3289(E), Gazette of India, 24 September 2020.