Parliament has passed a new law to safeguard water bodies, targeting industrial pollution and ecosystem degradation. The draft proclamation on the “definition, development, and maintenance of water bodies” is expected to promote socio-economic benefits for communities by enhancing water ecosystems. The Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Water, Irrigation, Lowland Areas & Environmental Development, Aweke Amzaye (PhD), presented a report and recommendation to the House. He explained that the sustainable development and maintenance of water bodies will provide additional social and economic benefits to the local community by improving water ecosystem services. The law regulates the management and use of water bodies, including river banks, lakes, dams, aquifers, springs and groundwater. Industrial pollution was one of the main issues brought up, and the council pushed for stronger regulations to limit the flow of wastewater into water bodies. If implemented correctly, the approval of the draft proclamation (No. 1382/2017) represents a milestone in the direction of sustainable management of water resources.

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