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RUSSIA is one of the leading countries in terms of water resources in the world. However, the issues of this nation’s wealth were not topical over the years. Today’s water supply, sanitation and water treatment system may be hazardous for nature and people.

That is why the issue of water conservation and improvements of service being provided by utilities is under review today at the government level. During November the government was proactively involved in considering utilities service improvements.

Representatives of federal agencies and sector business are working hard today to create conditions for further development of water supply and sanitation. The overriding goal is to improve the legislative framework, namely, to adopt the Law On Water Supply and Sanitation. The bill is being developed by the task force under the Ministry of Regional Development involving the National Union of Water Utilities, and the Russian Water Association professionals.

The bill clearly splits liability of water supply and sanitation (WSS) companies in case of the discharge of pollutants into water bodies. This issue is a topical one for today’s utilities. At the moment under current federal legislation the utilities pay for water pollution in spite of the fact that the blame for the damage may often lay on manufacturers and producers of household chemistry. In case of the split of liability stipulated by the bill the water utilities will be in charge of compliance with the standards based on a list of indicators which the municipal treatment plants shall meet. By the way, the bill stipulates bringing the requirements to the quality of drinking water and wastewater in line with best international standards.

The resolutions to be adopted through the bill mean significant improvements in terms of the quality of utilities and housing services. In turn, despite the investment barriers the sector companies have made efforts to improve the industry and the quality of service for many years. The prime example for the case is the activity of a largest Russian water supply and water discharge operator Evraziyskiy OAO. At the moment the company has been involved in a number of large-scale public-private partnership projects in Rostov Region, and Krasnodar Territory including Olympic Sochi. The projects in the field of water supply and water discharge are being implemented in close cooperation with regional and municipal governments and being supported by Vnesheconombank.

The proposed Law On Water Supply and Sanitation is intended to improve the investment attractiveness of the industry.

Achieving the goal will result in the development of the water supply and sanitation in the country on the basis of the innovative model. Now, the industry needs an impulse to start rapid movement towards the goal.

And today we can say that there is a need for the State Council special meeting addressing the further development of the water supply and sanitation industry.