Water Act (2019)

Subject

Food & nutrition, Sea, Water

Keyword

Potable water Internal trade Marine area EEZ-Exclusive Economic Zone Research Authorization/permit Maritime zone Framework law Freshwater pollution Freshwater resources management Pollution control Water quality standards Sustainable use Water abstraction Water supply Enforcement/compliance Thermal and medicinal waters Sewerage Effluent waste water/discharge Flood Risk assessment/management Groundwater Coastal zone management Hazardous substances International relations/cooperation Special fund Liability/compensation Hazards Early warning system Environmental planning Environmental standards Inland waters Monitoring Public health Recreational water use Surface water Sustainable development Policy/planning Standards Protection of environment

Geographical area

Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, Northern Europe

Entry into force notes

October 1, 2019.

Abstract

This Act provides for grounds for planning and organising the use and protection of water, the implementation of which will promote sustainable water use; water protection requirements which will ensure protection of water resources in the long term; rights, obligations and liability of persons in water use; state supervision over compliance with the requirements for the use and protection of water; and liability for an infringement of the requirements provided for in this Act. The provisions regarding protection of water and construction activity in public water bodies as provided for in Chapter 8 of this Act extend also to the exclusive economic zone, and the provisions regarding protection of the marine environment extend also to the ships and aircraft which have been registered in Estonia outside the marine area of Estonia. The Act further provides for planning and organising water use and protection; requirements for drinking water, natural mineral water and bathing areas; organisation of wastewater collection and treatment; assessment and management of flood risks; requirements for water use and protection; assessment and approval of groundwater resources and performance of hydrogeological work; encumbering public water bodies with construction works; contributions to international hazardous and noxious substances fund; water investigation and drinking water investigation; marine scientific research permit; state supervision; and liability.

Full text

English/Estonian

Website

www.riigiteataja.ee

References - Legislation

Implements

Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy (Marine Strategy Framework Directive).

Legislation | European Union | 2008 (2017)

Keyword: Pollution control, Marine pollution, Marine area, Transboundary effects, Monitoring, Framework law, Management/conservation, Biodiversity, Ecosystem preservation, Protected area

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on environmental quality standards in the field of water policy, amending and subsequently repealing Council Directives 82/176/EEC, 83/513/EEC, 84/156/EEC, 84/491/EEC, 86/280/EEC and amending Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Legislation | European Union | 2008

Keyword: Marine pollution, Potable water, Toxicity/poisoning, Food quality control/food safety, Pollution control, Effluent waste water/discharge, Hazardous substances, Water quality standards, Freshwater pollution, Surface water, Pesticides

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration.

Legislation | European Union | 2006 (2014)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Water quality standards, Effluent waste water/discharge, Data collection/reporting

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks.

Legislation | European Union | 2007

Keyword: Flood, Hazards, Coastal zone management, Access-to-information, Policy/planning, Cultural heritage, Basin/catchment/watershed, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters.

Legislation | European Union | 2009

Keyword: Mineral water, Food quality control/food safety, Standards, Packaging/labelling, Internal trade, International trade

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Council Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban waste water treatment.

Legislation | European Union | 1991

Keyword: Pollution control, Effluent waste water/discharge, Freshwater pollution, Surface water, Waste domestic sources, Waste non-domestic sources, Basin/catchment/watershed, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Council Directive 86/278/EEC on the protection of the environment, and in particular of the soil, when sewage sludge is used in agriculture.

Legislation | European Union | 1986

Keyword: Fertilizers/nutrients, Soil conservation/soil improvement, Soil pollution/quality, Waste domestic sources, Waste management, Waste non-domestic sources, Sewerage, Waste disposal

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption.

Legislation | European Union | 1998

Keyword: Food quality control/food safety, Potable water, Standards, Water supply, Water quality standards, Monitoring, Pesticides

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Council Directive 91/676/EEC concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.

Legislation | European Union | 1991 (2008)

Keyword: Soil pollution/quality, Fertilizers/nutrients, Protection of environment, Farming, Agricultural development, Organic waste, Waste prevention, Waste management, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2005/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for infringements.

Legislation | European Union | 2005

Keyword: Marine pollution, Pollution control, Offences/penalties, Maritime zone, EEZ-Exclusive Economic Zone, High seas, Territorial sea, Oil pollution, Freshwater pollution, Navigation, Liability/compensation

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Commission Decision 2006/7/EC concerning certain protection measures in relation to the import of feathers from certain third countries.

Legislation | European Union | 2006

Keyword: Animal health, Pests/diseases, Animal by-products, Poultry, International trade

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2003/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council providing for public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment and amending with regard to public participation and access to justice Council Directives 85/337/EEC and 96/61/EC.

Legislation | European Union | 2003

Keyword: Environmental planning, Access-to-information, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Access-to-justice, Governance, Public participation, Policy/planning

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Commission Directive 2009/90/EC laying down, pursuant to Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, technical specifications for chemical analysis and monitoring of water status.

Legislation | European Union | 2009

Keyword: Marine pollution, Potable water, Toxicity/poisoning, Food quality control/food safety, Pollution control, Monitoring, Water quality standards, Freshwater pollution, Freshwater resources management

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy.

Legislation | European Union | 2000 (2014)

Keyword: Marine pollution, Potable water, Toxicity/poisoning, Food quality control/food safety, Basic legislation, Pollution control, Effluent waste water/discharge, Hazardous substances, Data collection/reporting, Freshwater resources management, Freshwater pollution, Surface water, Groundwater, Water quality standards, Water conservation zone, Registration, River basin institution, Institution, Basin/catchment/watershed, Right to water, Transboundary effects, International relations/cooperation, Sustainable development, Sustainable use, Pesticides, Human rights, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the geological storage of carbon dioxide.

Legislation | European Union | 2009

Keyword: Pollution control, Air quality/air pollution, Climate change, Continental shelf, Maritime zone, Exploration, Authorization/permit, EEZ-Exclusive Economic Zone

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Repeals

Regulation No. 82 of the Minister of Social Affairs establishing Quality and control requirements and analysis methods for drinking water.

Legislation | Estonia | 2001 (2009)

Keyword: Food quality control/food safety, Consumer protection, Water supply, Potable water, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Water Act.

Legislation | Estonia | 1994 (2017)

Keyword: Framework law, Water rights, Waterworks, Water abstraction, Surface water, Groundwater, Effluent waste water/discharge, Data collection/reporting, Hazardous waste, Liability/compensation, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Implemented by

Regulation No. 61 of 2019 of the Minister of Environment on Requirements for Wastewater Treatment and Discharge of Sewage, Precipitation, Mining, Quarrying and Cooling Water, Conformity Assessment Measures and Pollutant Limit Values

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2021)

Keyword: Soil pollution/quality, Mining, Effluent waste water/discharge, Environmental standards, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Hazardous substances, Inspection, Monitoring, Pollution control, Procedural matters, Rainwater, Research, Sewerage, Surface water, Water quality standards, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 51 of Estonian Government on Procedure for handling hazardous and noxious substances at sea, on the Narva River and on Lake Peipsi.

Legislation | Estonia | 2020 (2022)

Keyword: Protection of environment, Marine pollution, Environmental standards, Hazardous substances, Monitoring, Authorization/permit, Pollution control, Standards, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 23 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on requirements for a test laboratory performing physico-chemical and chemical parameters studies of water, analyzes to be performed within the framework of these studies and quality assurance of the activities of the test laboratory, and reference methods of analysis

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2021)

Keyword: Freshwater pollution, Hazardous substances, Pollution control, Research, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 6 of 2020 of Minister of the Environment on specified data composition of the water use report and procedure for submission of the report

Legislation | Estonia | 2020 (2022)

Keyword: Authorization/permit, Data collection/reporting, Procedural matters, Water abstraction

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 49 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on Sampling Methods.

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2022)

Keyword: Effluent waste water/discharge, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Pollution control, Research, Sewerage, Surface water, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 62 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on health protection requirements for mineral waters and spring waters

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Internal trade, Packaging/labelling, Mineral water, Public health, Potable water, Surface water, Water abstraction

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 63 of 2019 of Minister of Social Affairs on requirements for bathing water and beaches

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Classification/declassification, Coastal zone management, Monitoring, Public health

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 53 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on sampling areas to be assessed, requirements for the sampler, study program, assessment procedure, form of the assessment certificate and rules of procedure of the assessment committee

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2023)

Keyword: Certification, Coastal zone management, Data collection/reporting, Effluent waste water/discharge, Groundwater, Potable water, Research, Sewerage, Surface water, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 45 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on Requirements for the Use and Storage of Fertilizers for the Protection of Groundwater and Surface Water and for the Prevention and Control of Pollution from Agricultural Production

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Fertilizers/nutrients, Groundwater, Organic waste

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 55 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on procedures for the assessment of groundwater resources, requirements for the report on the assessment of groundwater resources and the hydrogeological survey and the composition of the data on which the establishment of groundwater resources is based.

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2023)

Keyword: Data collection/reporting, Groundwater, Research, Freshwater resources management

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 50 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on Requirements for Increasing the Extent of a Water Intake Sanitary Protection Area and Requirements for the Project of a Water Intake Sanitary Protection Area and the Procedure for Designating a Drinking Water Intake Protection Area

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2023)

Keyword: Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Pollution control, Potable water, Surface water, Water quality standards, Basin/catchment/watershed, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 54 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on specified requirements for water body expansion, dam elimination and lowering the water level and methodology for determining the minimum ecological flow

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Ecofriendly products/ecofriendly processes, Freshwater pollution, Hydropower generation, Monitoring, Pollution control, Surface water, Water quality standards, Waterworks

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 52 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on list of data to be entered in the field book and procedure for keeping the field book

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Classification/declassification, Data collection/reporting, Hazardous substances, Monitoring, Fertilizers/nutrients, Registration, Soil pollution/quality, Animal production, Cattle

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 73 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on calculated values for the nutrient content of different types of manure, conversion factors for livestock into livestock units and methodology for calculating manure storage capacity

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Animal production, Classification/declassification, Organic waste, Livestock water use, Rainwater

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 29 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on Quality limit values ​​and requirements for use of sewage sludge used in landscaping, cultivation and agriculture.

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2023)

Keyword: Farming, Fertilizers/nutrients, Organic waste, Data collection/reporting, Research, Soil pollution/quality, Agricultural development, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Pollution control, Sewerage, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 48 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on list of groundwater bodies and procedures for their identification, status classes and procedures, values of quality indicators for chemical status and conditions for quantitative status, list of pollutants endangering groundwater, threshold values for their content by groundwater bodies and groundwater quality thresholds and background level

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2022)

Keyword: Classification/declassification, Data collection/reporting, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Hazardous substances, Monitoring, Pollution control, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 12 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on requirements for the content of the flood risk assessment report, the management plan and the updated management plan and the list of data to be indicated on the map of the flood risk area and the flood risk area

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Hazards, Flood, Data collection/reporting, Risk assessment/management

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 46 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on requirements for the reduction of environmental risks and the prevention of environmental risks arising from the keeping of farm animals outdoors

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Animal production, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Grazing, Hygiene/sanitary procedures, Groundwater, Livestock water use

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 47 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on Data Composition and Procedure for Submission of Notification for Construction of Deep Manure and Notification for Grazing in a Water Protection Zone.

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2022)

Keyword: Data collection/reporting, Grazing, Livestock water use, Organic waste, Water conservation zone

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 25 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on requirements for the storage and use of watercraft

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Coastal zone management, Navigation, Public health, Surface water

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 26 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on limit values for the content of dangerous substances in soil

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Environmental planning, Environmental standards, Hazardous substances, Soil conservation/soil improvement, Soil pollution/quality, Policy/planning, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 74 of 2019 of Minister of Rural Affairs on phosphorus consumption classes

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Classification/declassification, Hazardous substances, Soil conservation/soil improvement, Soil pollution/quality

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 19 of 2020 of Minister of the Environment on list of surface water bodies, procedure for designation of surface water bodies and territorial sea status classes, values of quality indicators for ecological status classes of surface water bodies and values of quality indicators for water bodies not included in a surface water body

Legislation | Estonia | 2020

Keyword: Coastal zone management, Territorial sea, Classification/declassification, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Pollution control, Surface water, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 28 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on list of priority substances and priority hazardous substances, environmental quality limit values for priority substances, priority hazardous substances and certain other pollutants and methods of their application, environmental quality limit values for river basin-specific pollutants, activities related to the monitoring list of substances.

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2021)

Keyword: Classification/declassification, Freshwater pollution, Hazardous substances, Pollution control, Surface water, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 46 of 2020 of Minister of the Environment on content and requirements for the preparation of a Marine Strategy.

Legislation | Estonia | 2020 (2023)

Keyword: Biodiversity, Ecosystem preservation, Environmental planning, Environmental standards, International relations/cooperation, Marine area, Marine pollution, Monitoring, Policy/planning, Public health, Data collection/reporting, Risk assessment/management, Sustainable development, Transboundary effects, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 67 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on requirements for the content of the water management plan and program of measures

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2020)

Keyword: Flood, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Hazardous substances, Monitoring, Policy/planning, Pollution control, Data collection/reporting, Surface water, Water quality standards, Freshwater resources management, Basin/catchment/watershed, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 17 of Minister of the Environment on water protection requirements for aquaculture, including limit values for pollutants in aquaculture water and requirements for discharge and monitoring

Legislation | Estonia | 2020

Keyword: Aquaculture, Drainage/land reclamation, Freshwater pollution, Monitoring, Authorization/permit, Pollution control, Registration, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 26 of 2020 of Minister of the Environment on procedure for submission of data on taxable cargo and report form

Legislation | Estonia | 2020 (2020)

Keyword: Data collection/reporting, International relations/cooperation, Tax/levy, Oil pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 42 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on requirements for the construction and use of a storage facility for a petroleum product, shale oil, its product or biofuel and the specified extent of the shape

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2020)

Keyword: Biofuel, Hazards, Environmental standards, Monitoring, Oil, Policy/planning, Public health, Data collection/reporting, Transport/storage, Standards, Protection of environment, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Oil pollution, Pollution control, Rainwater, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 25 of 2020 of Minister of the Environment on species and groups of species for which an unfavorable change is considered to be damage caused to water quality, specimens of animal or plant species or parts thereof within the meaning of subsection 144 (1) of the Water Act

Legislation | Estonia | 2020

Keyword: Plant variety, Freshwater pollution, Pollution control, Water quality standards, Insects, Wild fauna, Wild flora

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 31 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on Requirements for the planning, construction and use of a sewerage structure and the specified extent of the shape of the sewerage structure

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Effluent waste water/discharge, Environmental standards, Sewerage, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 18 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment on bases for determining the slope of the ground within the agricultural land and exceptions for fertilization of the sloping area

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Agricultural land, Fertilizers/nutrients, Survey/mapping, Soil conservation/soil improvement, Soil rehabilitation, Drainage/land reclamation, Basin/catchment/watershed, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 43 of 2019 of the Minister of the Environment on data composition of the application for registration of activities with aquatic environmental risk.

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2022)

Keyword: Coastal zone management, Registration, Data collection/reporting, Risk assessment/management, Surface water

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation of the Minister of Environment no. 49 of 2021 determining the nitrate-sensitive area and restrictions on agricultural activities in the nitrate-sensitive area.

Legislation | Estonia | 2021

Keyword: Agricultural land, Fertilizers/nutrients, Use restrictions, Grazing, Groundwater, Protected area

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation of the Minister of Environment no. 23 of 2023 concerning Requirements for risk assessment and management of drinking water catchment area and supply area.

Legislation | Estonia | 2023 (2023)

Keyword: Drainage/land reclamation, Land-use planning, Basin/catchment/watershed, Risk assessment/management, Water supply, Water quality standards, Resource/damage valuation, Monitoring, Groundwater, Surface water, Freshwater pollution, Hazardous substances, Potable water, Pollution control, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation of the Minister of Environment no. 50 of 2021 concerning the list of data to be presented in the fertilisation plan and the procedure for maintaining the fertilisation plan.

Legislation | Estonia | 2021

Keyword: Cereals/grains/rice, Food quality control/food safety, Agricultural commodities, Crops/grasses, Fertilizers/nutrients, Plant production, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 61 of 2019 of Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia on Drinking water quality and control requirements and methods of analysis

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2023)

Keyword: Potable water, Food quality control/food safety, Freshwater pollution, Pollution control, Water quality standards, Research, Data collection/reporting, Public health, Water supply

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 35 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment of Estonia on Content of the River Basin Water Monitoring Program, Principles, Methods and Methodology for the Development of the Water Monitoring Program and Implementation Requirements.

Legislation | Estonia | 2019 (2023)

Keyword: Protection of environment, Territorial sea, Marine pollution, Marine protected areas, Maritime zone, Monitoring, Protected area, Basin/catchment/watershed, Surface water, Groundwater, Freshwater pollution, Freshwater resources management, Pollution control, Water conservation zone, Water quality standards, Transboundary effects, Inland waters, Coastal zone management

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 39 of 2019 of Minister of the Environment of Estonia on Limit values ​​for dangerous substances in groundwater

Legislation | Estonia | 2019

Keyword: Groundwater, Hazardous substances, Freshwater pollution, Pollution control, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX