Groundwater Abstraction Report Services

Hop Nhat's groundwater abstraction dossier service helps businesses identify the correct procedure, survey current conditions and prepare the technical and legal dossier, while also supporting them through submission, appraisal and explanations to the competent authorities.

1. What is a groundwater abstraction dossier service?

Before starting the procedure, businesses should understand that "groundwater" is the common term, while the term used in the current Law on Water Resources is "underground water".

A groundwater abstraction dossier service helps businesses carry out the procedures and legal dossiers related to the abstraction and use of groundwater in accordance with current regulations.

Depending on the abstraction scale, purpose of use, location of the works and legal status of the project, the dossier may involve reviewing abstraction conditions, determining water demand and flow rate, preparing a permit or registration application as required, finalizing technical documents and supporting the business in dealing with the competent authorities.

The aim of the service is to help businesses identify the correct procedure, prepare a complete dossier and minimize errors during the groundwater abstraction licensing or registration process.

2. Legal basis for groundwater abstraction dossiers

As of September 2026, the preparation and processing of groundwater abstraction dossiers are governed by the following key legal documents:

• Law on Water Resources No. 28/2023/QH15, effective from 01/07/2024; its amendments and supplements have now been consolidated in Consolidated Document No. 86/VBHN-VPQH dated 27/03/2026.
• Law No. 146/2025/QH15 amending and supplementing a number of articles of 15 laws in the field of agriculture and environment, effective from 01/01/2026, including provisions related to the Law on Water Resources.
• Decree No. 53/2024/ND-CP detailing the implementation of a number of articles of the Law on Water Resources, including regulations on abstraction thresholds, groundwater protection and the designation of zones where groundwater abstraction is prohibited or restricted.
• Decree No. 54/2024/ND-CP regulating groundwater drilling practice, declaration, registration, licensing, water resource services and fees for the right to abstract water resources.
• Decree No. 136/2025/ND-CP on the delegation and decentralization of powers in the field of agriculture and environment, effective from 01/07/2025.
• Decree No. 23/2026/ND-CP, effective from 17/01/2026, amending and supplementing a number of articles of decrees on water resources, including Decree 53/2024/ND-CP and Decree 54/2024/ND-CP.
• Circular No. 03/2024/TT-BTNMT, as amended by Circular No. 06/2026/TT-BNNMT and consolidated in Consolidated Document No. 09/VBHN-BNNMT dated 05/02/2026, detailing certain provisions for implementing the Law on Water Resources.

When preparing a specific dossier, businesses also need to check the water resource plan, the provincial plan and, in particular, the local decision designating zones where groundwater abstraction is prohibited or restricted at the location of the works.

3. When is a groundwater abstraction dossier required?

One of the most important steps before carrying out a groundwater abstraction dossier service is to determine precisely which procedural category the business falls into.

Under Article 52 of the Law on Water Resources and Article 8 of Decree 54/2024/ND-CP, as currently in force, the rules can be summarized as follows:

Point c, Clause 2, Article 8 of Decree 54/2024/ND-CP covers groundwater abstraction for purposes subject to registration at a scale not exceeding 10 m³/day. Cases that are not exempt or subject to declaration or registration require a water resource abstraction permit. However, flow rate is not the only factor to consider, as the location of the works is also very important.

Under groundwater protection regulations, localities must designate zones where groundwater abstraction is prohibited or restricted in areas at risk of land subsidence, saltwater intrusion or declining groundwater levels. In some restricted zones, the construction of new abstraction works may not be approved.

4. Why choose a groundwater abstraction dossier service?

A groundwater abstraction dossier is not just an administrative procedure; it also contains substantial technical content on the well works, hydrogeology, flow rate, water level and condition of the water source. Businesses therefore need to address both legal and technical aspects at the same time. Here are some reasons why businesses should engage a groundwater abstraction dossier service:

• Correct procedure from the start: Hop Nhat checks the abstraction scale, purpose of use, location of the works and related information to determine which procedure the business needs to follow.
• Dossiers built around the actual project: We do not apply a one-size-fits-all template to every business. The content is prepared based on the current state of the works, water demand and actual technical information.
• Support in preparing a complete dossier: The consultant helps the business collect, check and finalize the necessary documents, minimizing missing information or repeated revisions.
• In-depth knowledge of water resource law: Hop Nhat regularly keeps up to date with regulations on the abstraction, use and protection of water resources to provide advice suited to each specific case.
• Monitoring and support throughout processing: Beyond preparing the dossier, Hop Nhat can accompany the business through submission, supplementation and finalization of the dossier as required by the competent authorities.
• Advice on related environmental dossiers (if any): Groundwater abstraction is considered together with the related legal requirements and environmental dossiers, helping businesses be better prepared during operation.

5. Hop Nhat's groundwater abstraction dossier process

Hop Nhat's groundwater abstraction dossier service is carried out as follows:

• Receive and review information: Hop Nhat receives information on the location, number of wells, well depth, purpose of water use, current or planned abstraction flow rate and related legal documents.
• Determine the applicable category and type of procedure: Based on the scale, purpose of abstraction and location of the works, we determine whether the case requires declaration, registration, exploration, a new permit, a permit extension or a permit amendment. We also check whether the works lie within a zone where groundwater abstraction is prohibited or restricted.
• Survey and data collection: We inspect the condition of the wells, location of the works, abstraction parameters, water demand, operating status and the technical documents needed to prepare the report.
• Prepare and finalize the dossier: We prepare the application letter, exploration results report, well construction results report or abstraction status report as applicable, and standardize the accompanying documents according to the forms currently in force.
• Submit the dossier and monitor the appraisal: Permit dossiers can be submitted in person at the one-stop office, by post, through an authorized representative, or online via the National Public Service Portal.
• Support with explanations and receipt of the result: If the appraising authority requests revisions or additions to the report, Hop Nhat works with the business to finalize the content, provide explanations and follow up on the dossier until a decision is issued.

6. Frequently asked questions about groundwater abstraction dossiers

Below are some questions about groundwater abstraction dossiers:

How long is a groundwater abstraction permit valid?

Under current regulations, a groundwater abstraction permit is valid for a maximum of 5 years and a minimum of 3 years, and may be extended several times, each extension being for 3 years. If the owner of the works requests a term shorter than the minimum, the permit may be issued for the requested term.

How long does it take to process a groundwater abstraction permit application?

Under the current procedure, once a complete dossier is received, the appraising authority has 29 working days to appraise it and carry out the related steps. If the dossier needs revisions or additions, the time the business spends completing it is not counted towards the appraisal period; the appraisal period after the dossier has been fully supplemented is 18 working days.

The actual dossier preparation time also depends on the condition of the works, exploration, surveys and the technical data to be collected.

When must a permit extension dossier be submitted?

Businesses should proactively complete the procedure before the permit expires rather than waiting until it has lapsed. Current regulations require that the extension application be submitted at least 45 days before the permit expires. If an organization or individual still needs to continue abstracting but fails to submit the extension application on time, they must apply for a new permit.

With our groundwater abstraction dossier service, Hop Nhat supports businesses from determining the applicable category, reviewing legal regulations and surveying current conditions to preparing the technical dossier, monitoring the appraisal process and completing the procedure.

Preparing the right dossier from the outset not only helps businesses meet the legal requirements on water resources but also provides a basis for managing and abstracting groundwater stably, in line with the project's long-term operational needs.

Businesses that need advice or assistance with groundwater abstraction dossiers or other environmental compliance dossiers, please contact us directly via Hotline: 0938.857.768 or LEAVE YOUR DETAILS in the CONSULTATION FORM for dedicated support.