Rheinland-Pfalz Water Law.

The present Law lays down provisions relating to waters in the Land of Rheinland-Pfalz. The underlying principle of the present Law is that waters are to be conserved in their natural state. When implementing the present Law the public water supply has to be ensured. Moreover, the following factors have to be considered: public health, protection of nature and care of landscape, protection of agriculture and forestry, of fisheries, of the traffic, of sport, of recreation. Furthermore, the aims of land use planning have to be taken into account. Everybody has to use water sparingly; waste waters have to be avoided as far as possible. Rainwater has to be collected in special containers. The text consists of 136 articles divided into 15 Parts as follows: Introductory provisions (I); Classification and property of waters (II); Protection of waters (III); Water resources principles and guidelines, management of waters (IV); Use of waters (V); Water supply and disposal of waste waters (VI); Assessment, maintenance and extension of waters (VII); Ensuring discharge in case of flooding of (VIII); Monitoring of waters (IX); Compulsory right of passage (X); Competent authorities (XI); Administrative proceedings (XII); Water Register (XIII); Penalties (XIV); Transitional and final provisions (XV).