First Reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Water Act (346 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-01-16 13:05
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 39
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 38m
AI Summaries: 39/39 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The item on the agenda was the first reading of Draft Law 346 on the amendment of the Water Act, initiated by the Government of the Republic. Climate Minister Kristen Michal introduced the draft bill, the main objective of which is to enable water reuse in Estonia and conserve clean water by bringing the law into compliance with European Union Regulation (EU) 2020/741. The draft bill defines new terms ("reused water," "production of reused water," "use of reused water") and expands the competence of the Environmental Board in issuing permits for the production of reused water and registrations for its use. The Minister emphasized that although the EU regulation focuses on wastewater reuse in agriculture, interest in reuse in Estonia is greater in industry, landscaping, and street cleaning.
During the debate, questions were raised regarding the increase in bureaucratic burden, necessary investments, and the potential for saving clean water. Social Democrat Tiit Maran delivered an emotional speech on the vital importance of water and the necessity of conserving resources. Evelin Poolamets, representing the EKRE faction, expressed doubts about the true motives of the draft bill, hinting at potential industrial projects (e.g., the construction of cellulose factories near quarries), and proposed rejecting the bill. The lead committee (the Environment Committee) recommended concluding the first reading.
Decisions Made 2
The proposal by the faction of the Estonian Conservative People's Party to reject draft bill 346, the amendment to the Water Act, during its first reading, failed to gain support (12 votes in favor, 63 against).
The first reading of Draft Act 346 on the Amendment of the Water Act was concluded. The deadline for submitting amendments was set as January 30, 2024, at 5:15 p.m.
Most Active Speaker
Evelin Poolamets (EKRE, right-wing) was active both when questioning the minister (referencing the potential establishment of a pulp mill) and during her faction's speech, where she proposed rejecting the draft bill.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the next item to be discussed would be the first reading of Draft Act 346 on the amendment of the Water Act, initiated by the Government, and invited the honorable Minister of Climate, Kristen Michal, to the Riigikogu rostrum as the presenter.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Climate Minister Kristen Michal introduced the draft amendment to the Water Act, which, based on EU Regulation 2020/741, enables water reuse in Estonia, defines the concepts of reclaimed water, reclaimed water production, and use, grants the Environmental Board the authority to issue permits for reclaimed water production and register its use, and adds quality classes for reclaimed water; however, reuse is not mandatory and risks must be mitigated.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister and invited Rain Epler to ask questions.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler notes that although using reclaimed water for irrigation is not a bad idea in itself, the projected workload mentioned in the explanatory memorandum of the draft bill might actually increase. It is necessary to assess whether the water is suitable and what limits and permits should be established to avoid excessive bureaucracy and staff growth.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
According to the draft legislation, the creation of new jobs in government agencies will not be necessary: the number of permit applications for producing recycled water will not exceed ten applications per year, there is no need to recruit additional staff for the Environmental Board, the workload of the Health Board may increase somewhat when processing risk management plans, the burden on the Agriculture and Food Board will increase less, and overall, it is estimated that we can manage the workload with the current staffing levels and agencies.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks that Urve Tiidus be called to the stage.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus asks whether reclaimed water discharges 2,190 tons of nitrogen and 58 tons of phosphorus through the water bodies leading to the recipient, and whether infrastructure investments are necessary to recover these substances and improve the efficiency of reuse.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
This draft bill addresses the reuse of water and its application in street cleaning and industry (for example, the pulp and paper industry). It further emphasizes that businesses must invest, and that both risk assessments and water quality requirements shall be determined based on the specific field of use.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Tanel Kiik to speak.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik is asking the Climate Minister whether additional measures have been considered to raise the environmental awareness of young people and adults concerning drinking water, so that the public can understand why such draft legislation is crucial for the future.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Kristen Michal emphasized that clean water and the conservation of natural resources must be explained from the very beginning at every level of education, promoting water reuse and continuing awareness campaigns, while simultaneously calling for people to listen to and discuss potential bottlenecks.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Evelin Poolamets is invited to speak at the beginning of the address.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets asked whether the law creates the possibility and conditions for establishing pulp mills near mines and using the water located in the mines for that purpose.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
This law governs water reuse and is very short, spanning about one to one and a half pages, including the signature.
Andrus Seeme
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrus Seeme asked how much fresh water could be saved and whether there was an estimated figure or assessment available on that.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi addressed Andrus Seeme and made a request.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Water is being recycled in various sectors across European countries, helping to conserve resources. Interest in this is emerging in Estonia, especially among developers in industry and water purification technology. Pilot projects are currently underway, for instance, those addressing stormwater solutions in Viimsi.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invites Rain Epler to take the floor.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler offered his thanks and noted that the draft bill is currently an initial proposal, describing the roles of the executive and legislative branches. He promised to contribute to its further development. He also requested an analysis concerning drinking water conservation, as well as the possibilities for wastewater reuse and its utilization as a raw material. Epler then inquired about the next steps for the proposal, expressing hope that the ministry would provide additional data while the law is being amended.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Climate Minister Kristen Michal expressed optimism and hope that parliament and the committees would actively work on the bill and give it their best effort. He also promised to provide all necessary resources to the factions, MPs, and committees, and called for constructive proposals.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The central focus of the address is the wish that there won't be hundreds of them, and the speaker turns to Evelin Poolamets with a request.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets thanks the presiding officer and the minister and asks whether the draft bill gives the impression that water has not been recycled up to this point.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
This draft bill establishes regulations for transferring reclaimed water to a third party. Furthermore, it describes how industrial reuse should be implemented in compliance with the rules, and specifies the necessary risk assessments that must be conducted.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister, announced that there were no questions, and, on behalf of the lead committee, requested Hanah Laht, as a member of the Environment Committee, to address the Riigikogu.
Hanah Lahe
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Environment Committee discussed the relevant bill on January 9, 2024, addressing water reuse, water usage permits, and restrictions on the use of drinking water. Furthermore, the committee debated the future differentiation of water usage and unanimously proposed concluding the first reading.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the presenter, stated that there were no questions, opened the debate, and invited Tiit Maran to deliver a speech on behalf of the Social Democratic Party faction.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran emphasized that water is the foundation of life, and although there is a lot of water in the world, fresh water is finite. Given the conditions of climate change, we must think and act, both in Estonia and globally, towards water conservation, purification, and sustainable water use.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi requested three additional minutes.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran stressed, via Draft Water Act 346, that the current system—in which wastewater is discharged into a receiving body while purified water is often used for drinking—must be reformed. This reform would simultaneously alleviate two burdens and move us toward ecological abundance, where clean water and natural resources possess greater value, and every environmental step demands careful consideration.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the presenter for the presentation, which he likened to a lecture by Tiit Maran, noting that he had become richer by one new word, "suubla." Züleyxa Izmailova represented the Eesti 200 faction.
Züleyxa Izmailova
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Züleyxa Izmailova stated that Bill 346 will advance Estonian water management by developing the use of recycled water and establishing purity classes. Furthermore, it requires cooperation with the Estonian Water Association and the Estonian Association of Water Engineers to ensure water that is safe, accessible, and promotes the circular economy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address begins with a big thank you to Züleyxa, and Evelin Poolamets will now speak on behalf of the EKRE faction.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets believes that the draft bill, by amending the Water Act so that the production and use of recycled water occurs via registration without an environmental permit, conceals its true purpose. She argues that while it reduces the administrative burden, it simultaneously creates the opportunity to produce and sell recycled water to third parties (such as pulp mills), which is inconsistent with the principles of nature conservation and reducing the environmental load.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi requested three more minutes.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The EKRE faction proposes rejecting the draft amendment to the Water Act at the first reading because, although it appears to be in the name of protecting water and nature, its conditions might create the opportunity to reuse water and lead Stark Logistics into subsequent business ventures, and we do not know where that will lead.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi offers his thanks and asks Kristen Michal to say a few more words.
Kliimaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
Climate Minister Kristen Michal stated briefly that the draft act on water reuse sets rules for reclaimed water and is independent of production choices. He also referred to European Union Regulation 2020/741, which mandates water reuse by member states and establishes minimum requirements, having entered into force in June 2023.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that although the negotiations started well, the intention is to conclude Bill 346 during the first reading, and the EKRE faction has submitted a proposal for its rejection, calling colleagues to a vote.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The motion received 12 votes in favor, 63 against, and 0 abstentions, and therefore did not pass; the first reading of Draft Act No. 346 is concluded, the deadline for submitting amendments is January 30th at 5:15 PM, and the proceedings concerning the second item on the agenda are terminated.