Water in Polish restaurants for free, as in the West? There is such an idea

Left MPs suggest that guests in restaurants can receive tap water for free. That is why they propose an amendment to the draft amendments to the Act on collective water supply, which assumes that restaurateurs will be obliged to spend half a liter of tap water to their guests.

The draft amendment to the Act on collective water supply and collective sewage disposal, for which Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Przemysław Koperski (New Left) is responsible, was adopted by the government in July. The second reading of the project took place on Wednesday. At that time, the left has made an amendment, which assumes that restaurant customers will have the right to receive half a liter of tap water free of charge.

MP Piotr Kowal from the left emphasized during the Wednesday conference that such changes will promote drinking tap water, because it is good, for our planet and ecological. As he argued This will limit the consumption of plastic bottles. As he noted at the same time, Water after the changes proposed in the act will be “of a lot of better quality”.

According to him, proposed The changes will not burden the pocket of entrepreneurs too much. Despite this, he added, the introduced obligation “must have the appropriate vacatio legis”, which is why the proposed date of entry into force is on July 1 next year.

Senate Deputy Marshal Magdalena Biejat estimated that during the introduction of a law that increases the quality of water, it was time to take a step forward and “provide anyone who goes to the restaurant, access and the right to half a liter of water”. As she emphasized, “access to water is a law, not a commodity.” “Let's not be afraid to say it,” she added.

Regulations in the draft amendment introduce more stringent parameters of water quality intended for consumption. They also oblige water suppliers (water and sewage enterprises) to provide consumers with information about the price and water consumption at least once a year on the invoice or in a mobile application. The supplier will have to donate how much water the farm consumes annually, as well as provide prices for a liter of water supplied, compared to the prices of bottled water.

Thanks to the new regulations, consumers will also have online access to current information, such as water quality, exceeding parametric values, hardness and the degree of water mineralization, results of monitoring programs or risk assessment results. (PAP)

sha/ par/