Act on Fresh and Marine Water Resources Conservation Management (No. 1299 of 2004).

This Act lays down provisions on water resources management and, in relation to water resource protection, analysis of water resources, cooperation and participation within water resources management regions, and on an international cooperation level. The general aim of water resources management is to protect, improve and restore waters, thereby avoiding any deterioration in the status of surface waters and groundwater and ensuring that the status of these waters does not fall below a certain standard.
Water resources management shall take into account: the quality of waters, their sufficiency and sustainable use; water supply services; protection from flood; recreational use of waters; diseases spread through water; protection of aquatic ecosystems; and protection of terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands in direct contact with aquatic ecosystems.
A water resources management region shall consist of one or more river basins. Bodies of coastal water and bodies of groundwater shall be included in the most appropriate water resources management region. An international water resources management region shall be formed where river basins extend into the territory of another country.
The Act defines duties of regional environment centres in relation with surveying, mapping and monitoring of water resources, classifying waters and preparing a water resources management plan. Surface waters and groundwater shall be classified according to the extent of modification caused by human activity. The Act sets out Environmental objectives in water resources management plans.