The regional prosecutor's office conducted inspections of compliance with legislation on water protection and use

Given the large number of water bodies in the Vitebsk region, supervision over the enforcement of legislation on the protection and use of waters is one of the most important areas of prosecutorial activity.

This year, the prosecutor's offices of the region have organized inspections in all regions to ensure compliance with this legislation, as well as legislation on drinking water supply, during which numerous shortcomings have been identified, including in the protection of drinking water sources for the population.

Thus, sanitary protection zones have not been developed and approved in the established manner for all drinking water sources. Frequently, the fencing of the first-zone territory of sanitary protection zones for underground drinking water sources is in poor condition (sometimes completely absent) or is a structure that does not prevent unauthorized persons and animals from entering the source territory.

There are also frequent cases of free access to the drinking water source itself, as the pavilions of water intake wells are not always locked. Also, these pavilions are not always kept clean (there is garbage, foreign objects). In all cases, the boundaries of the first zone of sanitary protection zones for underground drinking water sources are not marked with warning ground signs.

The identified shortcomings are characteristic of most regions of the oblast (Dokszycki, Liozno, Miory, Polotsk, Postavy, Rossono, Shumilino, and other districts) and for underground drinking water sources belonging to both UP "Vitebskoblavodokanal" and other organizations. This situation does not contribute to the protection of drinking water sources and groundwater in general from pollution and contamination and may negatively affect the quality of drinking water used by the population.

It also remains problematic to ensure compliance with the regime of economic and other activities in water protection zones and coastal strips of water bodies.

In addition to the fact that many livestock facilities,

located in water protection zones of reservoirs, are not equipped with appropriate devices and structures that prevent pollution of water resources, agricultural organizations do not always timely and in full carry out the removal of organic matter from the territories of farms and complexes, which leads to runoff onto adjacent areas and creates a real threat of pollution of both land and water bodies.

Such violations have been established in Verkhnedvinsky, Dubrovensky, Lioznensky, Orshansky, Polotsky, Senno districts, and others.

Based on the results of the inspections, more than 30 submissions and orders have been sent to the heads of organizations and executive committees, and the issue of bringing the perpetrators to disciplinary and administrative responsibility has been raised.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the Region
for Supervision of Environmental Legislation Enforcement
Elena Kozlova