Belarus conducts inventory of drinking water supply systems

In Belarus, the procedure for inventory of drinking water supply and sanitation systems has been established. This was told at the webinar of the NCSPI to explain the norms of the law “On drinking water supply and sanitation (sewage)” General Director of GPO “Belvodokanal” Irina Rovbo, writes BelTA.

As part of the implementation of Article 8 of the Law “On Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation”, the Council of Ministers Resolution No. 388 of July 31, 2026 approved the procedure for the development and approval of drinking water supply and sanitation schemes, as well as the procedure for carrying out an inventory of relevant systems. Schemes are necessary in the preparation of pre-project and project documentation for the construction, reconstruction and modernization of centralized systems, as well as in urban planning. They are developed by local executive and administrative bodies in subordinate territories.

- The schemes determine the phased development and optimization of drinking water supply and sanitation systems in the short and long term, explained Irina Rovbo.

The development of schemes includes a description of the structure of drinking water supply and sanitation, division into operational zones for the coverage of consumers and subscribers, as well as information about the territories not covered by centralized systems. The documents indicate the organizations providing water supply and sanitation services in the relevant territories, regardless of the form of ownership, the results of the annual inventory of systems, measures to protect drinking water sources, and others.

- A separate section is devoted to optimizing and improving the reliability and efficiency of systems. It reflects the actual water consumption, the structure of water consumption and the volume of wastewater disposal, as well as the balance of water use and wastewater disposal for use purposes, including in the context of legal entities and individuals, said the Director General.

In addition, the reserve and shortage of production capacities of structures and devices of centralized systems, as well as their energy efficiency, are analyzed.

- Based on the collected data, a forecast balance of water consumption and wastewater disposal for an estimated period of 10 years is formed. At the same time, the first stage lasting five years is separately allocated. This period is comparable to the development of urban planning documentation and allows planning the development of settlements in the short and long term, the expert added.

The schemes also define the main directions, principles and objectives of the development of water supply and sanitation systems, as well as targets. A separate part of the document is a feasibility study of development options.

- The most effective and relevant implementation options are compared, after which measures for the construction, reconstruction and modernization of systems are determined with an assessment of their cost, prospects and taking into account the real needs of the settlement, citizens and the real sector of the economy, said Irina Rovbo.

In addition to the text and calculation parts, the scheme includes a graphical display of systems, structures and devices of water supply and sanitation with the designation of the main objects. The map can be prepared on paper or electronically. Schemes are approved by local executive and administrative bodies. They are valid for 10 years from the date of approval, but can be updated if necessary.

Inventory is the basis for the development and updating of water supply and sanitation schemes.

- It includes the collection and systematization of information on the location, quantity, extent, technical condition and other characteristics of drinking water supply and sanitation systems in the relevant administrative-territorial units. The data of annual inventory, information on ownerless networks and alleged owners, as well as information on non-existing objects, including those that are not subject to further operation in order to exclude them, are taken into account. Also, the ownership of systems and the boundaries of operational responsibility of the parties, persons claiming the right to own such systems are established, the general director added.

The results of the inventory are used in the development of state programs in the field of water supply and sanitation, as well as in the formation and updating of information of the state register of systems. Local authorities use this data in the preparation of regional programmes.

The inventory is carried out annually until November 1 by a specially created commission. It includes representatives of water supply and sanitation organizations, territorial bodies of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health, structural subdivisions of executive committees responsible for architecture and urban planning, as well as other interested services. First, data on the location of systems are collected, data on information systems and survey materials are studied. Also, information about the designed and constructed objects is analyzed, after which an inventory schedule is compiled. Then, specialists clarify the actual state of the systems, their ability to provide reliable and uninterrupted water supply and sanitation, examine drinking water sources, centralized and non-centralized systems, as well as rain sewer systems. The limits of operational responsibility, owners of networks and organizations actually operating them are specified. Identify objects that are in unsatisfactory condition or not suitable for further use. As a result, an inventory act and a summary statement are compiled. The act is approved by local executive and administrative bodies. Copies of the approved act and summary statement until December 1 of the year of inventory shall be sent to GPO "Belvodokanal". These materials are used to form and update the information of the state register of drinking water supply and sanitation systems. Belarus to establish unified procedure for wastewater removal from private sector

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