Nawrocki signed. The well owners were given until the end of 2027
The President signed changes to the Water Law. The owners of some wells will be able to legalize them without legalization fees or administrative fines.
Owners of devices for abstracting groundwater that were built without the required water permit or notification will be given the opportunity to regulate their situation without incurring any of the costs. The President signed an amendment to the Water Law introducing a temporary solution for such devices.
The new regulations are to apply for a limited time. The possibility of legalization on preferential terms will be available from the entry into force of the Act until December 31, 2027. The change was introduced in the form of episodic regulations.
Legalization of wells without penalty by the end of 2027
The most important benefit for owners is the ability to avoid the legalization fee. The amendment also provides for exemption from administrative fines imposed for constructing a water facility without the required water law notification.
However, the preferential solution will not cover every well. The regulations only apply to water facilities for abstracting groundwater that were constructed before the amendment entered into force. Therefore, the new regulations are not intended to be a way to avoid formalities in the case of devices created after the change in law.
You must submit a complete application
Mere possession of a previously manufactured device is not sufficient to benefit from the exemption. The owner must take steps to legalize it.
The condition for avoiding the legalization fee and administrative fine will be to submit a complete legalization application no later than December 31, 2027. This term is therefore crucial for people who want to take advantage of the special rules.
What about the proceedings that have already started?
The amendment also covers some cases that are already under investigation. The transitional provisions provide for the application of new regulations to ongoing proceedings regarding the legalization of water facilities for groundwater abstraction, initiated pursuant to Art. 190 Water Law.
The changes are also to apply to ongoing proceedings regarding administrative fines related to the construction of a groundwater abstraction device without the required water law notification.
When will the new regulations come into force?
The act was signed by the president. A 14-day vacatio legis is provided for, which means that the new regulations will come into force after this period of announcement.
From the moment the regulations enter into force, owners of devices meeting the indicated conditions will have until the end of 2027 to submit a complete application. Meeting this deadline will be one of the conditions for taking advantage of the possibility of legalization without a legalization fee or administrative fine.
