Slovakia to reform water infrastructure legislation

Slovak Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment Tomáš Taraba has announced a legislative reform aimed at accelerating the construction of water infrastructure and improving the maintenance of watercourses.

The proposed amendment to the Water Act seeks to address challenges caused by fragmented land ownership, particularly under roads and watercourses, which currently hinders the development of water supply and sewage systems. The reform will allow state water managers to apply an easement on land for the preparation and implementation of water infrastructure, treating these projects with a similar regulatory framework to energy or transport constructions.

Local government representatives from the Rajec and Terchová valleys, where state water managers currently regulate 50 sites spanning 58 kilometers, have welcomed the initiative. The amendment is expected to be submitted to the government for deliberation in the coming days.