The Act establishes the legal framework governing public water supply and sewerage systems. It regulates the rights and obligations of the State, local government units, water undertakings and consumers in the provision of drinking water and the collection, discharge and, where necessary, treatment of wastewater, stormwater and drainage water. It also defines the organisation of supervision and liability for non-compliance with the requirements laid down in the Act. The Act sets out provisions concerning the planning, construction and development of public water supply and sewerage systems. It requires local government units to prepare development plans covering system infrastructure, environmental conditions, service provision, financial aspects and investment needs. It defines the scope of the systems, including infrastructure for the abstraction, treatment and distribution of water and the collection and treatment of wastewater and stormwater, and establishes requirements for ensuring the availability and continuity of services. The Act regulates the connection to public water supply and sewerage systems through agreements between water undertakings and consumers, including technical conditions, connection fees and contractual arrangements. It governs the appointment and functioning of water undertakings, including their rights and duties, service provision obligations, accounting requirements and reporting duties. It also establishes rules for service provision, including drinking water quality requirements, conditions for wastewater and stormwater discharge, control of pollutants and hazardous substances, and monitoring and inspection procedures. The Act further provides rules on pricing and cost recovery for public water supply and sewerage services, including the calculation and approval of tariffs and charges. It establishes requirements for infrastructure use, maintenance and protection, including provisions on illegal use, liability and compensation. It also regulates stormwater management planning, state supervision, enforcement measures and penalties for violations of the Act.
Estonia · 2023-02-15