LEX-FAOC050299

This Regulation has been made under the Environment Law of 1983, No. 2872, and lays down the legal and technical principles for the water pollution control in conformity with the objectives of economical and social development.; It is divided into the following sections: Objective, Scope, Legal Rationale and Definitions (I); Principles (II); Quality Classification of Water Environment (III); Basis of Planning on Water Quality and Prohibitions (IV); Discharge Principles of Waste Water (V); Basis of Dumping Permission (VI); Implementations at Waste Water Infrastructure Facilities (VII); Various Provisions (VIII).; All kinds of pollutant resources should be subject to a permit, according to the provisions of Section II. The latter lists primary factors which are likely to cause water pollution (e.g. household, industrial, agricultural waste, etc.). In order to assure the compliance with the existing water quality criteria and to prevent water pollution, the Regulation establishes a quality classification of in-land surface waters, lake waters and undergroundwaters, and states for each class quality parameters and limit values, on the basis of the use to which the waters are destined. Furthermore, procedures for the analysis on water samples and for the establishment of protection areas are determined for each of the above-mentioned types of water. With a view to preserve all coastal and sea waters from pollution, general quality criteria are provided in Table 4, in compliance with the provisions of the Law on Water Products No. 1830.; Section IV describes all activities that are forbidden in (a) absolute protection areas, (b) short range protection areas, (c) medium range protection areas, (d) long range protection areas, as well as other activities that could create a hazard to lakes, undergroundwaters, and the sea. Section V of the present Regulation covers: (a) the basic principles to be applied to the waste water discharge into sewer systems and recipient water environment, and to the use of waste water for irrigation purposes; (b) discharge standards for industrial and household waste water; (c) dumping into recipient environment by deep sea discharging. The issuance of a permission by the Administration for direct discharge of all kinds of household and/or industrial waste water is compulsory (art. 37). The Regulation lays down also the legal framework governing the collection, transportation and disposal of waste water.