Water Act.

Subject

Water

Keyword

Framework law Freshwater resources management Waterworks Water supply Water quality standards Freshwater pollution Water rights Servitude Water users' associations River basin institution Sewerage Surface water Groundwater Basin/catchment/watershed Pollution control Inland waters

Geographical area

Black Sea, Eastern Europe, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries

Entry into force notes

The Act enters into force on 28 January 2000.

Abstract

This Act regulates the ownership and management of waters and the ownership of water development systems and facilities. It's objectives are to create conditions for: integrated management of water; supply of good quality surface and groundwater; reduction of pollution of waters; protection of surface waters and groundwater and waters of the Black Sea; elimination of pollution of the marine environment with natural or synthetic substances; reduction of discharges, emissions and loss of priority and hazardous substances.

Full text

English/Bulgarian

Website

www.moew.government.bg; www.mrrb.bg

References - Legislation

Implements

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

Repeals

Water Act.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 1969 (1996)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Freshwater resources management, Institution, Authorization/permit, Water rights, Basin/catchment/watershed, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Implemented by

Regulation No. 4 on the quality of waters intended for fish breeding and shellfish breeding.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2000

Keyword: Environmental standards, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution, Marine pollution, Standards, Protection of environment, Aquaculture, Mariculture, Molluscs, Marine fishes, Freshwater fishes

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 2 on the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2000

Keyword: Waste management, Waste non-domestic sources, Hazardous substances, Freshwater pollution, Pollution control, Effluent waste water/discharge

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 6 establishing emission standards for acceptable content of hazardous and dangerous substances in waste water discharged into water bodies.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2000 (2004)

Keyword: Effluent waste water/discharge, Freshwater pollution, Hazardous substances, Waste domestic sources, Waste management, Waste non-domestic sources, Monitoring, Environmental standards, Standards, Protection of environment, Waste disposal, Pollution control

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 5 on the creation of the Network and the activities of the National system for water monitoring.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2000

Keyword: Institution, Access-to-information, Surface water, Groundwater, Pollution control, Effluent waste water/discharge, Freshwater pollution, Monitoring, Sustainable use

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 7 making provision in matter of industrial waste water discharges into urban sewerage systems.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2000

Keyword: Waste management, Waste non-domestic sources, Effluent waste water/discharge, Hazardous substances, Standards, Waste disposal, Sewerage, Environmental standards, Protection of environment, Pollution control, Industrial water use, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 10 establishing the procedure for issuing permits for waste water discharges into water bodies and setting out emission limits for point sources of pollution.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2001

Keyword: Freshwater pollution, Surface water, Effluent waste water/discharge, Environmental standards, Pollution control, Hazardous substances, Authorization/permit, Standards, Protection of environment, Waste domestic sources, Waste management, Waste non-domestic sources

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 1 on the survey, use and protection of groundwater.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2000

Keyword: Groundwater, Freshwater resources management, Research, Data collection/reporting, Waste disposal, Effluent waste water/discharge, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution, Hazardous substances

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 3 concerning the study, design, approval and exploitation of Sanitary Protection Zones near to water sources and drinking water supply systems as well as mineral water sources, used for medicinal, prophylactic, drinking and hygiene purposes.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2000

Keyword: Water abstraction, Potable water, Thermal and medicinal waters, Zoning, Pollution control, Water supply, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 9 on the quality of water intended for drinking and household purposes.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2001 (2014)

Keyword: Water supply, Freshwater pollution, Potable water, Pollution control, Water quality standards, Data collection/reporting, Monitoring

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 12 on the quality of surface water intended for drinking and household purposes.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2000

Keyword: Freshwater pollution, Potable water, Pollution control, Water quality standards, Data collection/reporting, Surface water

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 11 on bathing water quality.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2002

Keyword: Thermal and medicinal waters, Recreational water use, Data collection/reporting, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 8 establishing indicators and standards for the quality of coastal marine waters.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2001

Keyword: Marine pollution, Coastal zone management, Environmental standards, Institution, Environmental planning, Policy/planning, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No 5 of 30.05.2008 on the management of bathing water quality.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2008 (2013)

Keyword: Water quality standards, Water supply, Monitoring, Surface water, Groundwater, Classification/declassification, Water conservation zone

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. H-3 of 28.11.2011 on providing information to budget-funded departments and research institutes on water users whose activities have a significant impact on the state of waters.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2012

Keyword: Monitoring, Resource/damage valuation, Data collection/reporting, Sustainable use

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation on the use of surface water.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2016

Keyword: Freshwater resources management, Surface water, Water abstraction, Water supply, Sustainable use, Authorization/permit, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Waterworks

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 1 of 10.10.2007 on the exploration, use and protection of groundwater.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2007 (2016)

Keyword: Groundwater, Protection of environment, Potable water, Sustainable use, Pollution control, Water abstraction, Water quality standards, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 1 of 1.07.2016 approving the methodology for the application of exceptions (articles 156b-156e of the Water Law).

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2016

Keyword: Waterworks, Environmental planning, Procedural matters, Sustainable development, Policy/planning

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 1 of 11.04.2011 on water monitoring.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2011 (2016)

Keyword: Monitoring, Water abstraction, Water conservation zone, Water quality standards, Protected area, Sustainable development, Basin/catchment/watershed, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No 2 of 8 June 2011 on the issuance of permits for discharge of wastewater into water bodies and determination of individual emission limits for specific sources of pollution.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2011 (2015)

Keyword: Effluent waste water/discharge, Surface water, Sewerage, Pollution control, Authorization/permit, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 2 of 13.09.2007 on the protection of waters against pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2008 (2011)

Keyword: Pollution control, Groundwater, Surface water, Water conservation zone, Freshwater pollution, Fertilizers/nutrients

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation on the conditions and order for implementation of technical and safety principles to the dam walls and related facilities, as well as on the control of their technical conditions.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2016

Keyword: Waterworks, Water rights, Monitoring, Early warning system, Inspection

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No. 273 of 23.11.2010 on the adoption of the Regulation on the protection of the environment in the seas and for the establishment of consultative and coordination council for the protection of the environment in the black sea and for the management of implementation of the marine strategy and programme.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2010

Keyword: Marine area, Institution, Policy/planning, Ecosystem preservation, Marine pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation on water consumption standards.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2016

Keyword: Irrigation, Standards, Crops/grasses, Sustainable use, Royalties/fees, Water charges, Water abstraction, Water conservation zone

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation on environmental quality standards for priority substances and certain other pollutants.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2010 (2015)

Keyword: Pollution control, Environmental standards, Water quality standards, Hazardous substances, Standards, Protection of environment, Monitoring, Inspection, Classification/declassification, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. 18 of 27.05.2009 on the quality of water for irrigation of agricultural crops.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2009

Keyword: Irrigation, Crops/grasses, Soil pollution/quality, Agricultural land, Water quality standards, Monitoring, Surface water, Groundwater, Effluent waste water/discharge, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree № 100 of March 23, 2021 on the adoption of an Ordinance on the use of surface waters.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2021

Keyword: Authorization/permit, Basin/catchment/watershed, Monitoring, Surface water, Water abstraction, Water rights, Waterworks, Protection of environment, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation on the structure and activity of the Supreme Water Advisory Council.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2021

Keyword: Governance, Institution, Integrated management, Court/tribunal, Freshwater resources management, Public health

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. H-3 of 28 November 2011 on the provision of information from budget-funded agencies and scientific institutes whose activities have a significant impact on the water status.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2011

Keyword: Water supply, Pollution control, Data collection/reporting, Access-to-information, Monitoring, Effluent waste water/discharge, Research, Water users' associations, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation No. RD-02-20-3 of 18 November 2019 on terms and conditions for creating and maintaining a unified information system for water supply and sewerage services and a register of water supply and sewerage associations.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2019

Keyword: Water supply, Water users' associations, Sewerage, Registration, Data collection/reporting, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Access-to-information

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No 11 of 23 January 2018 adopting the Regulation on requirements and criteria for water and sewerage operators and the qualification of their personnel.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2018

Keyword: Water supply, Sewerage, Standards, Education, Environmental standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation on the organization and activity of associations for water supply and sewerage.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2014

Keyword: Water supply, Sewerage, Cooperative/producer organization, Sustainable use, Waterworks, Enforcement/compliance, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Procedural matters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No 383 of 29 December 2016 on the adoption of tariffs and fees for water supply, water use and pollution.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2016

Keyword: Royalties/fees, Polluter pays principle, Water abstraction, Water charges, Water supply, Effluent waste water/discharge, Groundwater, Surface water, Sustainable use, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amended by

Law of Health.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2004 (2020)

Keyword: Hazardous substances, Noise pollution, Pollution control, Radiation, Public health, Right to clean/healthy environment, Human rights, Gender, Food quality control/food safety, Water supply, Potable water, Water quality standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Environmental Protection Act.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2002 (2017)

Keyword: Framework law, Environmental planning, Environmental standards, EIA, Access-to-information, Air quality/air pollution, Ecosystem preservation, Emissions, Hazardous waste, Pollution control, Soil conservation/soil improvement, Soil pollution/quality, Waste management, Protection of environment, Policy/planning, Standards, Freshwater pollution, Sustainable development, Sustainable use, Management/conservation, Wild fauna, Wild flora, Biodiversity

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Law amending the Law on Water.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2016

Keyword: Water supply, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Law amending the Law on clean air.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2015

Keyword: Air quality/air pollution, Climate change, Emissions, Environmental standards, Hazardous substances, Monitoring, Ozone layer, Offences/penalties, Pollution control, Public health, Oil pollution, Standards, Protection of environment, Liability/compensation, Precautionary principle, Freshwater resources management, Biodiversity, Trade in species, Wild fauna, Wildlife products, Wild flora

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amendment and Supplement to the Water Law.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2019

Keyword: Aquaculture, Data collection/reporting, Water abstraction

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Law amending and supplementing the Water Law.

Legislation | Bulgaria | 2019

Keyword: Local government, Procedural matters, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX