Order No. D1-912 on the approval of the Description of the procedure for determining the protection zones of groundwater wellheads.

This Ministerial Order approves the Description of the procedure for determining the protection zones of groundwater wellheads. The document establishes mandatory requirements for the projection, establishment, and approval of these zones around wellheads used for the extraction of both drinking and mineral water. It defines the technical standards for identifying the boundaries of specific protection belts required to safeguard groundwater resources from microbial and chemical contamination. The regulation mandates a tiered system consisting of three distinct belts: the first for physical and sanitary protection, the second for microbial safety, and the third for chemical safety.
The document specifies the criteria for calculating these boundaries based on hydrogeological conditions, daily water extraction volumes, and the estimated time-of-travel for potential pollutants. It identifies the categories of water users and licensed specialists responsible for preparing protection zone projects and the technical documentation required for their evaluation. The Order further details the administrative procedures for the review and approval of these projects by the Lithuanian Geological Survey. To ensure legal recognition of the specific land-use conditions, the instrument requires the formal registration of approved protection zones in the national Subsurface Register and the Real Estate Register.