Those who manage reservoirs and ponds will not be able to fully discharge the water without the consent of the local public authorities and of other competent institutions. They will also be obliged to carry out technical examinations of dams or levees, given that most of the hydrotechnical constructions have been used longer than their operating life.

The provisions are stipulated in a draft law to amend the regulations on the use of reservoirs and ponds, which was approved by the Cabinet, IPN reports.

Dam managers will be required to monitor the water level in lakes and ponds and enter the data into a register. The register will be sent, once every three months, to the public institution operating in the fields of meteorology and hydrology, and once a year, until May 1, to the authority responsible for the management of water resources.

"The new measures will allow a prompter reaction in emergency situations and will contribute to the prevention of events that can have serious consequences for communities and ecosystems near lakes and ponds," said the Ministry of Environment.