Water Management Law (2002)

This Law provides for water management in Latvia. Its purposes include (1) to establish such a system for the protection and management of surface water and groundwater which (a) facilitates sustainable and rational use of water resources, ensuring long-term protection thereof and sufficient supply to inhabitants with good quality surface water and groundwater, (b) prevents the deterioration of water and the state of the terrestrial ecosystems and wetlands directly dependant on water, protects such ecosystems and improves the condition thereof, (c) improves the protection of the aquatic environment, gradually reduces emission and discharge of priority substances, as well as phases out emission and discharge of substances, which are especially hazardous to the aquatic environment, (d) ensures progressive reduction of pollution of groundwater and prevents further pollution thereof, (e) ensures the replenishment of groundwater resources, (f) ensures the protection of land against flooding or droughts, (g) ensures the protection of the marine waters of Latvia, and (h) facilitates the achievement of the objectives specified in international agreements in order to eliminate and prevent the pollution of the marine environment, eliminate or progressively eliminate emission and discharge of substances especially hazardous to the aquatic environment in the marine environment, and to achieve such a situation where the concentrations of chemical substances of anthropogenic origin are close to zero, but the concentration of naturally occurring chemical substances is close to the naturally existing background level; and (2) to establish a system for the assessment and management of flood risk to reduce the adverse consequences for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity associated with a flood event. The Law further provides for river basin districts and administrative institutions thereof; environmental quality objectives; economic analysis of use of water resources and the fee for using water resources; management plan and programme of measures of river basin district; permits for use of water resources and monitoring conditions; provision of information to the public, other countries and the European Commission; and procedures for implementation, supervision and appeal of requirements of the law.