Businessmen of Nizhny Novgorod complained to Boris Titov, Russian Presidential Envoy for Protection of Entrepreneurs' Rights, about a considerable growth of water discharge charges after new rules for cold water supply and discharge came into effect last year, according to the website of the business ombudsman.

According to local entrepreneurs, the new rules have turned all businesses in apartment buildings into "suspects" of having a negative impact on the wastewater disposal system and excessive wastewater discharge. Thus, the head of the regional representation of the Federation of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers Alexander Kotiusov said that the financial burden on small businesses has increased several times.

"For example, one of my cafe in 2021 receives payments from the water company in the amount four times more than in 2020. I went to "Vodokanal", asked what can be done to change this unacceptable situation. I was told: "Alright, we will reduce the payment for three months if you present the results of expertise of water composition," - he said.

Such practice, according to Nizhny Novgorod business ombudsman Pavel Solodkiy, "has become widespread". He shared that an inspector comes to entrepreneurs with a large invoice from a water utility and offers a draft contract with a specific company engaged in expertise. At the same time, the inspector says that one has to pay 9 thousand rubles every month for the expertise. And according to Solodky, the water utility says that it only needs to examine the composition of water once.

"There is an urgent need to prepare and publish for all parties to the process a unified interpretation of the procedure. We need very clear instructions on how to make measurements and prepare the declaration. <...> meanwhile we recommend all entrepreneurs, who are ready to follow federal rules but encounter "self-serving" interpretation of them by local water utilities, to contact prosecutor's offices. Our regional ombudsmen will help you in this," - Titov said on the website of the business ombudsman.

Made in Russia // Made in Russia

Author: Ksenia Gustova