Bill enabling the production and use of reclaimed water passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Water Act (346 SE), initiated by the Government, passed the first reading in the Riigikogu. It will include the provisions necessary to produce and use reclaimed water in the Act. The Bill will create the possibility to transfer used water, for example, treated effluent, quarry water, and mining water, after it will have been additionally treated, to businesses who will use it in agriculture, in the creation of green areas, in street cleaning, and in industrial processes. According to the Bill, the production of reclaimed water will require a water permit and the use of reclaimed water will bring about a registration obligation.

The environmental burden of the water discharged into recipients will decrease on account of the water directed to recovery. An average of 2,190 tons of nitrogen and 58 tons of phosphorus are discharged into recipients through outlets in a year. Upon the production and use of reclaimed water, the nutrient load on water bodies will decrease in correlation to how much reclaimed water will be put to use. Less water will be extracted from groundwater and surface water on account of the quantities of reclaimed water which will help save clean water resource.

During the debate, Tiit Maran from the Social Democratic Party Group, Züleyxa Izmailova from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group and Evelin Poolamets from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group took the floor.

The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group moved to reject the Bill at the first reading, but the plenary did not support the motion. 12 members of the Riigikogu supported rejection and 63 were against.

Two drafts were dropped from legislative proceedings

The Riigikogu did not support the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to remove the statue of ‘the Bronze Soldier’ from the public space” (104 OE), submitted by the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group. It was intended to make a proposal to the Government to remove the statue of the Bronze Soldier from the Defence Forces cemetery and the public space of Estonia within two months.

During the debate, Anti Allas from the Social Democratic Party Group and Juku-Kalle Raid from Estonia 200 Parliamentary Group took the floor.

At the final vote, 14 members of the Riigikogu supported the draft Resolution and 54 were against. Thus, the draft Resolution was not supported and was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Bill on Amendments to the Prosecutor’s Office Act (105 SE), initiated by Members of the Riigikogu Kert Kingo, Varro Vooglaid and Martin Helme. It was intended to provide the Ministry of Justice with the possibility to exercise supervisory control over the prosecutor’s office without narrowing restrictions.

Varro Vooglaid from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group took the floor during the debate.

54 members of the Riigikogu supported the motion of the Legal Affairs Committee to reject the Bill at the first reading and 15 voted against it. Thus, the Bill was dropped from the legislative proceedings.

After the sitting, members of the Riigikogu are planning to form the Resilient Space and Mobility Support Group on the initiative of Member of the Riigikogu Züleyxa Izmailova.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Bill enabling the production and use of reclaimed water passed the first reading

Source: Parliament of Estonia