SIPA or the Groundwater Extraction Permit, is an official permit issued by the government to carry out groundwater extraction activities through drilled wells, dug wells, or other water reservoirs for commercial or industrial purposes, as well as to meet basic daily needs within a specified volume. In accordance with the latest regulations (including the Water Resources Law and its implementing regulations), groundwater management has been tightened to prevent land subsidence and seawater intrusion resulting from uncontrolled groundwater extraction.WhoIs Required to ObtainaSIPA?
The requirement to obtain this permit is categorized based on the intensity of water use and the volume of water withdrawal:
1.Business & Commercial Sector(Mandatory)
Any business activity that utilizes groundwater—whether as a primary raw material or as meanstosupport operations—must have a SIPA. Examples include: Hotels, villas, resorts, and apartments. Manufacturing industries, ice factories, or bottled water (AMDK). Car washes, large-scale laundries, water parks/swimming pools, and hospitals.
2.Non-Commercial Sector/Personal Use (Specific Criteria)
For household use or public/social facilities, a permit (Groundwater Extraction Approval) is required if groundwater use exceeds certain government-set quantity limits, typically for extraction volumes exceeding 100 cubic meters (100/m³) per month per household, or for groups that collectively use a borehole with a pipe depth penetrating a deep productive aquifer.