A WUA is a body corporate and has the powers of a natural person of full capacity, except those powers, which can only attach to natural persons or are inconsistent with the National Water Act. This means that a WUA can do all the things an individual may do, such as open a bank account, enter into contracts for supplies and borrowing money. A WUA can sue or be sued by another party.

The National Water Act and the constitution of a WUA regulate its management and institutional functioning.