Preventive action on pollution of watercourses with waste - a comparative perspective of the main international, European and national regulations

The impact of pollution of watercourses with various types of waste - such as municipal, industrial or construction waste is often irreversible, the full restauration to the initial state of affected watercourses not being always possible. Thus, prevention manifested in relation to the pollution of watercourses with waste becomes essential, being fundamental for ensuring the protection of this natural resource. In this context, this study undertakes to identify the most relevant international, European and national regulations applicable to watercourses located on the Romanian territory, the purpose of which is to prevent pollution of watercourses with waste. The main conclusions reached by the authors are in the sense that, while the international regulations offer aftamework in which general obligations for states materialising the prevention principle are affirmed, the European regulations set specific directions within this framework. Further, the Romanian national legislation includes numerous obligations that can be considered as representing components of the prevention principle; however, in the authors' view, due to their fragmented character and lack of unity, they are not designed to offer a real protection against pollution of watercourses with waste.