Law No. VIII-474 on water.

This Law shall regulate the ownership of the internal bodies of water of the Republic of Lithuania, the management, use and protection of their water resources, relations between the owners and users of water bodies and the rights and obligations of legal and natural persons using internal bodies of water and their resources. The purposes of this law are: (a) to maintain good state of surface and underground waterbodies; and (b) to ensure sustainable use of waterbodies and/or water resources. The provisions of this Law apply to the protection of the marine environment as far as the chemical status of the waters in territorial sea is concerned. Relations pertaining to the use of water resources shall be regulated by taking into account the creation of conditions necessary to meet the needs of the economy and population, to guarantee a sustainable use of surface and ground water resources, to enhance their condition, to prevent waters from pollution and also to protect the rights of owners of bodies of water and users of their water resources. The Law shall apply to all of the internal waterbodies of the Republic of Lithuania and their water resources, irrespective of their intended use or ownership. The state has exclusive ownership of underground waterbodies and inland waters of state importance. The following surface water bodies are classified as inland waters: (a) lakes; (b ) rivers and ponds; (c) artificial waterbodies; (d) artificial waterbodies designated as recreational areas by territorial planning documents or decisions of municipal councils; and (e) border waters. The owner of a surface water body has the right to manage, use the surface waterbody and dispose of it in the manner prescribed by the Law on Land, this and other laws. The owner of a surface waterbody must protect the surface water body belonging to it, do not harm the environment, and do not violate the rights and legitimate interests of other persons. Water users users must: (a) use water with minimum impact on surface and/or groundwater body measures and techniques to achieve water protection objectives; (b) to use water sparingly, not to exceed the established water usage limits and limit values of pollutants released into the natural environment, not to deteriorate the status of surface and/or groundwater bodies; (c) to use equipment and facilities to prevent and/or mitigate the adverse effects on the status of surface and/or groundwater bodies and to improve the efficiency of such facilities; (d) to manage the water use accounting in accordance with the procedure established by this Law and other legal acts and to perform monitoring of surface and/or groundwater bodies; (e) to implement measures for the protection of surface and/or groundwater bodies provided for in legal acts; (f) to ensure compliance with the requirements of the legislation regulating the protection of landscape, immovable cultural heritage and biodiversity; and (g) not violate the rights and legitimate interests of other surface and/or underground waterbodies and/or their users and owners. This Law consists of 6 Chapters that contain 29 Articles. Chapter 1 lays down general provisions. Chapter 2 regards ownership of surface water and groundwater resources and rights and duties of their users. Chapter 3 regards state regulation of waterbodies and water uses. Chapter 4 regards management of waterbodies and planning of water uses. Chapter 5 regards water monitoring. Chapter 6 regards cost recovery, including environmental fees, in accordance with polluter pays principle, and public incentives.