Water Management Law (2002)

Subject

Environment gen., Fisheries, Sea, Water

Keyword

Marine pollution Aquatic animals Aquatic plants Marine area Basic legislation Freshwater resources management Water quality standards Coastal zone management Access-to-information Freshwater pollution Sustainable development Ecosystem preservation Flood Right to water Pollution control Surface water Groundwater Sustainable use Water supply Wetlands Aquaculture Effluent waste water/discharge Recreational water use Hazards International relations/cooperation Hazardous substances Risk assessment/management Public health River basin institution Environmental standards Royalties/fees Authorization/permit Human rights Standards Protection of environment

Geographical area

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

Abstract

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.

Full text

English/Latvian

Website

likumi.lv

References - Legislation

Implements

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

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 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

Implemented by

Cabinet Regulation No. 469 of 2011 on Amount and Procedures for Payment of the State Fee for the Issuance of a Permit for the Use of Water Resources

Legislation | Latvia | 2011

Keyword: Water abstraction, Water charges, Royalties/fees, Authorization/permit, Procedural matters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 1354 of 2009 on Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment, Flood Maps and Flood Risk Management Plan

Legislation | Latvia | 2009

Keyword: Hazards, Flood, Policy/planning, Cultural heritage, Monitoring

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 92 of 2004 on Requirements for the Monitoring of Surface Water, Groundwater and Protected Areas and the Development of Monitoring Programmes

Legislation | Latvia | 2004 (2012)

Keyword: Water quality standards, Monitoring, Surface water, Groundwater, Protected area, Policy/planning, Environmental standards, Procedural matters, Water conservation zone, Freshwater pollution, Pollution control, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 418 of 2011 on Water Bodies at Risk

Legislation | Latvia | 2011

Keyword: Surface water, Water quality standards, Protection of environment, Basin/catchment/watershed, Freshwater pollution, Sustainable development, Pollution control, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 736 of 2003 on Permit for the Use of Water Resources

Legislation | Latvia | 2003 (2013)

Keyword: Freshwater resources management, Water abstraction, Water supply, Authorization/permit, Monitoring, Procedural matters, Sustainable use

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 692 of 2017 on Procedures for Establishing and Maintaining a Bathing Water Site and Managing its Water Quality

Legislation | Latvia | 2017

Keyword: Recreational water use, Thermal and medicinal waters, Monitoring, Water quality standards, Pollution control, Public health, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 475 of 2006 on Procedures regarding the Cleaning and Deepening of Surface Water Bodies and Port Basins

Legislation | Latvia | 2006

Keyword: Surface water, Coastal zone management, Harbour, Basin/catchment/watershed, EIA, Inland waters

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 858 of 2004 on Characterisation of the Types, Classification, Quality Criteria of Surface Water Bodies and the Procedures for Determination of Anthropogenic Loads

Legislation | Latvia | 2004 (2009)

Keyword: Surface water, Classification/declassification, Water quality standards, Pollution control, Effluent waste water/discharge, Freshwater pollution, Protection of environment, Environmental standards, Ecofriendly products/ecofriendly processes, Waterworks, Standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 42 of 2009 on Procedures for Ascertaining of Groundwater Resources and Quality Criteria

Legislation | Latvia | 2009 (2012)

Keyword: Groundwater, Water quality standards, Classification/declassification, Pollution control, Environmental standards, Freshwater pollution, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 38 of 2012 on Procedures for Establishing and Maintaining Bathing Sites

Legislation | Latvia | 2012 (2014)

Keyword: Thermal and medicinal waters, Public health, Recreational water use, Monitoring, Water quality standards, Pollution control, Groundwater, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX