In Ukraine, they plan to increase fines for illegal drilling of wells, unauthorized water withdrawal and violation of water accounting rules by 40 times. They want to introduce stricter control rules due to the risks of depletion of water bodies and problems with water supply in the regions. However, for most citizens, the innovations will not create additional difficulties – ordinary household wells of private households are not subject to licensing or new fees.
This is the government draft law No. 15096 “On Amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses in Order to Strengthen Responsibility in the Sphere of Protection and Rational Use of Water and the Reproduction of Water Resources”. An alternative document to it has also been registered in the Verkhovna Rada under number No. 15096-1.
Is this true? No. As of June 19, 2026, none of these documents has even passed the first reading. So for now, these are just government proposals.
The main thing you need to know
A significant increase in fines is proposed. For unauthorized water use, water withdrawal without permits or illegal drilling of wells, they want to set the sanction at the level of 3400-5100 UAH. This is 37.5-40 times higher than the current fines of 85-136 UAH.
The draft laws stipulate new types of violations. In particular, administrative liability for submitting unreliable data during state water accounting, failure to comply with special water use limits and destruction of riverbeds during construction work.
The status of household wells is planned to be changed. The norms of the document distinguish between industrial and domestic use of resources. If the document is adopted, the use of groundwater for private households’ own needs will not be considered special water use, therefore, additional permits for ordinary wells will not be required.
Water Use Rules: What the Cabinet of Ministers Proposes
The bill provides for a systematic review of penalties for violations of water legislation. The government identifies several key areas where control will be significantly strengthened:
Illegal construction of wells and water withdrawal
This refers to the drilling of new facilities for groundwater extraction without appropriate permits or approval from relevant authorities. It will be punishable by maximum fines. This also applies to the use of rivers and other natural water bodies for industrial or agricultural needs without official registration.
Violation of resource accounting
Administrative liability will be introduced for providing unreliable data during state water accounting and for failure to comply with the limits established in permits for special water use.
Intervention in hydrological objects
Separate penalties will be imposed for unauthorized changes or destruction of natural riverbeds. This can occur during construction work.
The main reason for such steps is the loss of any deterrent effect of the current fines. As the explanatory note shows, the meager amounts of penalties have led to the fact that the state does not actually control the real volumes of consumption, especially when it comes to large industrial facilities with illegal water intake and the agricultural sector.
Due to the uncontrolled use of groundwater and surface water in some regions, water supply problems are worsening, and natural water bodies are being depleted. Therefore, if the draft law is adopted, inspections will become stricter, and special attention will be paid by the regulatory authorities to enterprises that use large volumes of resources without official documents.
