Villagers are alarmed by the new water tax: what really awaits well owners

In Ukraine, concerns have arisen about possible changes to the regulation of water use from private wells. Rumors are circulating on social networks and at village meetings that the state is planning to introduce a fee for this water, set limits on consumption, or require the population to install meters. However, a careful analysis of the legislation and expert opinions shows that these concerns are currently unfounded.

The primary catalyst for public concern has been legislative initiatives, in particular Bill No. 9020, which covers the issue of controlling the use of subsoil. However, its purpose is not to tax domestic wells, but to combat illegal activities. We are talking about cases in which entrepreneurs drill artesian wells for mass water extraction without paying taxes. It is precisely such situations that the state should pay attention to.

For ordinary citizens who use water from their own wells for domestic needs, the situation remains unchanged. The Tax Code of Ukraine prohibits charging rent for groundwater extraction if it is used exclusively for private needs. This right remains inviolable, and no decisions have been made to abolish it.

Rumors about the possibility of introducing a free consumption limit and installing and sealing meters on wells are also being actively discussed. Lawyers note that the implementation of such measures looks unlikely. Controlling millions of private wells will require significant budgetary expenditures that exceed any potential revenues. In addition, wells are private property, and access to them without the owner’s consent or a court order would violate citizens’ constitutional rights.

The argument about “leveling the playing field” between the city and the countryside is additionally fueling indignation. Experts emphasize that city residents do not pay for water as such, but for the service of its purification, transportation, and supply. Instead, the villagers themselves bear all the costs associated with creating and maintaining wells. Therefore, the requirement to also pay rent is perceived as double taxation.

This is why the first mentions of a possible “well tax” sparked mass indignation on social networks. People believe that the water they extract with their own efforts for their own needs should not be subject to additional fees. Experts say that adopting a law requiring owners of private wells to pay for water would have serious social consequences. Thus, for now, these discussions remain only at the level of discussions, without a real threat to Ukrainians.