Filenews 11 July 2025
The House of Representatives on Thursday passed an amending bill on special water-saving measures, making it a criminal offense to wash walls, windows of premises and private boats using a hose. The bill was voted in favour with 34 votes in favour, 3 against and no abstentions.
The new law increases the amount of penalties and extrajudicial fines, while it aims to modernize the legal framework and strengthen the water saving policy. As noted in the report of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, the bill and related regulations were discussed in five sessions.
The legislation assigns to the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment the responsibility of general supervision and the determination of the authorities that will supervise the implementation of the measures. It also provides for the expansion of cases in which the use of water with a hose is a criminal offence, adding a ban on washing surfaces for non-essential uses.
Exceptions are provided for businesses that have a proven track record of using water for business purposes to ensure the continuation of their business. The Act also establishes a procedure for the out-of-court settlement of infringements and specifies the possibility of lodging an objection to a notice.
With the new provisions, the competent authority is allowed to authorise a person through a contract for the purchase of services to exercise control and enforcement powers. It is also possible for any person to lodge a complaint.
Finally, new regulations were adopted repealing the Water Saving (Special Measures) Regulations of 1991 and 1998.
CNA
