Text file: 9335.txt
author: baron
downvotes: 4
end consideration date: 2018-09-21
id: '9335'
number comments: 8
number views: 1762
proposal type: Competent authority response
response: "Response from the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning\nSlovenia\
  \ is one of the smallest countries in Europe, but has one of the richest water resources\
  \ in Europe. Compared to developed countries, Slovenia's water quality is at the\
  \ very top of the European league. One of the reasons for this is undoubtedly that\
  \ most rivers originate in Slovenia. For many European countries, surface water\
  \ is a very important source of drinking water, whereas in Slovenia only about 3%\
  \ of the population is supplied with drinking water from surface sources. Groundwater\
  \ is the source of drinking water for about 97% of the population in Slovenia. Its\
  \ quality in many important aquifers meets all the requirements for drinking water\
  \ and can therefore be consumed in its natural state, which is a great advantage\
  \ for Slovenia, as this is rare in the European area and elsewhere in the world\
  \ (source: Water quality in Slovenia).\nThe quality of drinking water is important\
  \ for drinking water supply. Water that is microbiologically and chemically adequate\
  \ is mainly provided by larger water supply systems that can ensure adequate water\
  \ treatment and where water protection zones have been established. Drinking water\
  \ supply and other water uses account for only a small proportion of the water available\
  \ in Slovenia, around three per cent of available runoff.\nFor Slovenia, issues\
  \ related to effective water management are an important aspect in the preparation\
  \ and implementation of all national water management policies. Slovenia is certainly\
  \ an example of good practice in the field of drinking water supply and water resource\
  \ protection, which allows for the direct use of tap water.\nWe are one of the few\
  \ countries that has the right to drinking water enshrined in the Constitution.\
  \ This establishes (safe) drinking water as a human right, the protection and provision\
  \ of which has been elevated to a constitutional level. The Constitution furthermore\
  \ defines that water resources are a public good to be managed by the State and\
  \ that they serve as a priority and sustainable supply of drinking water to the\
  \ population.\nWe are pleased to see the growing awareness of the importance of\
  \ drinking water and the calls for its direct use from the tap. The installation\
  \ of drinking fountains does not fall within the scope of the public service obligation\
  \ to supply drinking water. However, we want to support practices that allow drinking\
  \ water to be used on public infrastructure and in public places without any extra\
  \ charge, provided that the quantities of water used are normal. However, it is\
  \ also important to raise awareness on the part of the user of unbottled drinking\
  \ water and also on the part of the provider of drinking water, such as local authorities,\
  \ as well as other potential providers of drinking water in public places, before\
  \ regulating the obligation to install drinking water dispensers in public places.\n\
  \ "
response date: 2018-10-23
response due date: null
sent date: 2018-08-31
title: Mandatory water meters in public places
upvotes: 24
url: https://predlagam.vladi.si/predlog/9335
