Ukraine is preparing a water governance reform based on EU standards and OECD principles, which is set to change the approach to water resource management — moving away from sector-specific ‘water management’ towards comprehensive, transparent digital governance. A draft bill has been drawn up for this purpose, and members of the public and experts are invited to contribute to the discussion.
This was announced by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture.
You can view the text of the document ‘On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts with a View to Establishing a Water Governance System in Line with EU Law and the Principles of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’ and submit your comments via the link.
Key principles of the reform
The reform is based on several conceptual principles. These include:
the shift from "water management" to "water governance";
- the introduction of principles of river free flow and conservation;
- drought management;
- the consolidation of surface, groundwater, and marine water management under one authorised body.
The issuance of permits will be largely based on a strengthened basin management approach.
Sector Digitalisation
To improve the effectiveness of water resource management, the draft law proposes the creation of a unified geoinformation system for the water cadastre.
This single digital product will accumulate data on surface, marine, and groundwater, including quantitative and qualitative characteristics. At the same time, the cadastre will record information on water resource use by different business entities.
The Ministry of Economy is convinced that such digitalisation of the sector will ensure public access to reliable information about the condition and quality of water resources.
Environmental and Climate Focus
The draft law will give Ukraine’s water policy a stronger environmental orientation. If adopted, the document will introduce modern environmental water quality standards in Ukraine, enhance monitoring, and implement a range of measures to improve the ecological status of both surface and groundwater.
Legislators have also taken into account the impact of climate change on the country’s water resources as a separate consideration. Therefore, the document proposes drought management, river ecosystem restoration, and protection of coastal zones.
EcoPolitic previously reported that the government adopted a draft law aimed at restoring natural river flows and preserving their water capacity. In particular, this is to be implemented by demolishing ownerless hydraulic structures. To achieve this, it is necessary to improve the mechanisms for their detection, registration, and demolition permits.
At the same time, the country's water resources may be threatened by the authorities' intention to develop the fisheries sector. At least, this is the opinion of activists who call for blocking draft law No. 12384.
