Water Act (No. 587 of 2011). Country/Territory Finland Document type Legislation Date 2011 (2023) Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Environment gen., Fisheries, Forestry, Water, Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Ecosystem preservation Inland fisheries Liability/compensation Forest management/forest conservation Timber Transport/storage Framework law Policy/planning Freshwater resources management Surface water Groundwater Institution Allocation/quota Water conservation zone Authorization/permit Royalties/fees Priorities Inland waters Freshwater pollution Drainage/land reclamation Water rights Sub-national agreement Equipment Data collection/reporting Basin/catchment/watershed Water abstraction Well sinking/boreholes Servitude Sewerage Recreational water use Waterworks Sustainable use Sustainable development Transboundary effects Hydropower generation Business/industry/corporations Pollution control Wetlands Protection of habitats Geographical area Arctic, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, North-East Atlantic, Northern Europe Abstract This Act makes provision with respect to a wide variety of matters concerning the management, utilization and conservation of water resources. The purpose of this Act is to: 1) promote, organise and coordinate the use of water resources and the aquatic environment, so as to render it socially, economically and ecologically sustainable; 2) prevent and reduce the adverse effects of water and the use of the aquatic environment; and 3) improve the state of water resources and the aquatic environment. At the outset, the relationship of this Act with other legislation, and in particular with the Environmental Protection Act in respect of water pollution, is defined. The Act is divided into 19 Chapters: General provisions (1); Public rights, obligations and restrictions (2); Water resources management projects subject to a permit (3); Abstraction of water (4); Ditch drainage (5); Permanent alteration of the mean water level; (6); Regulation of water bodies (7); Utilisation of hydropower (8); Timber floating (9); Channels and other navigation areas (10); Application procedure (11); Corporation under water law (12); Compensations (13); Supervision and administrative enforcement (14); Appeal and implementation of a decision (15); Penal provisions (16); Provisions related to real estate law (17); Miscellaneous provisions (18); Entry into force (19). The provisions laid down in this Act on water bodies shall also apply to Finland’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. They shall also apply to water bodies and waters on the national border, unless otherwise provided on the basis of an agreement concluded with a foreign state. The Act also concerns protection of certain aquatic habitat types. Full text English/Swedish Website www.finlex.fi References - Legislation Repeals Water Act (No. 264 of 1961). Legislation | Finland | 1961 (2005) Keyword: Framework law, Basic legislation, Policy/planning, Freshwater resources management, Allocation/quota, Water conservation zone, Authorization/permit, Concession, Priorities, Inland waters, Freshwater pollution, Irrigation, Drainage/land reclamation, Water rights, Institution, Sub-national agreement, Equipment, Data collection/reporting, Surface water, Groundwater, Basin/catchment/watershed, Water abstraction, Well sinking/boreholes, Servitude, Water supply, Sewerage, Recreational water use, Waterworks, Pollution control Source: FAO, FAOLEX Implemented by Government Regulation on specified pipelines placed in a water area (146/2018). Legislation | Finland | 2018 Keyword: Water supply Source: FAO, FAOLEX Government Regulation on Water Management Matters (1560/2011). Legislation | Finland | 2011 Keyword: Farming, Agricultural development, Waterworks, Drainage/land reclamation, Hydropower generation, Authorization/permit, Water abstraction Source: FAO, FAOLEX Amended by Act amending the Water Act (257/2017). Legislation | Finland | 2017 Keyword: Freshwater resources management, Authorization/permit, Waterworks Source: FAO, FAOLEX Act amending the Water Act (531/2014). Legislation | Finland | 2014 Keyword: Water abstraction, Waterworks, Freshwater pollution, Drainage/land reclamation, Pollution control Source: FAO, FAOLEX Act amending Paragraph 15 of Chapter 11 of the Water Act (803/2015). Legislation | Finland | 2015 Keyword: Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Authorization/permit, Waterworks Source: FAO, FAOLEX Act amending Paragraph 1 of Chapter 11 of the Water Act (688/2014). Legislation | Finland | 2014 Keyword: Water supply, Hydropower generation, Authorization/permit Source: FAO, FAOLEX Act amending the Water Act (910/2013). Legislation | Finland | 2013 Keyword: Land tenure, Land consolidation, Waterworks, Drainage/land reclamation Source: FAO, FAOLEX Act amending the Water Act (611/2017). Legislation | Finland | 2017 Keyword: Waterworks, Water abstraction, Hydropower generation, Authorization/permit, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Source: FAO, FAOLEX Act amending the Water Act (1193/2013). Legislation | Finland | 2013 Keyword: Waterworks, Water abstraction, Hydropower generation, Authorization/permit, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Source: FAO, FAOLEX