1. Conditions for connecting
According to the Act No 369/1990 (only in Slovak) on municipalities, public services, i.e. water supply, drainage of waste water, and treatment of sewage water from septic tanks, are provided by municipal governments. The Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic provides conditions for co-financing of the construction of public water supply systems to provide drinking water to the public from various funds.
Act No 442/2002 (only in Slovak) on public water supply and sewage systems, as amended, provides for the connection of consumers to utilities under the following conditions:
- An applicant for connection to the public water supply and sewage system may only be connected based on a written agreement entered into with the owner of the public water supply system;
- the connected land or construction is located on a territory with a public water supply/sewage system and the connection is technically feasible;
- the applicant provides a proof of proprietary legal relationship to the property, i.e. title to the property together with an application for connection. If the owner of the public sewage system rejects the application for connection on the grounds that it is not technically possible or costs are excessive, the resident is obliged to ensure that collection and treatment of sewage water is done by other means, such as a domestic sewage treatment plant or a septic tank.
2. Finding out the name and contact details of the provider
If consumers cannot find the contact details on available websites, they may contact the respective municipal office with a request for information. As the supply of drinking water by a public water supply system is provided by a single public water supply operator in a given location where a person wants to get connected, it constitutes a monopoly. The same applies to the discharge of discharge water to the public sewage system – there is a single public sewage system operator in the given location of interest. All larger regional water companies operate Contact Centres for customers, providing all necessary information to citizens by telephone, email, and on their websites.
3. Connection fee
The connection fee is stipulated in the agreement concluded between the customer and the supplier. Under the Act on public water supply and sewage systems, technical conditions for connection applicable to all consumers are defined by the operator.
4. Moving to a house with an existing connection
It is the obligation of drinking water consumer and sewage water producers to notify the owner of the public water supply or public sewage system of any change in the right of ownership to a building connected to the public water supply or public sewage system. The suppliers define their own procedures for notifying changes, which must be followed.
5. New connection for a newly built house
An applicant may only be connected to the public water supply system based on a written agreement entered into with the owner of the public water supply system. Applicants must proceed in line with the Construction Act. The connection constitutes a minor construction to the main construction and as such is it subject to approval by the municipal construction office in accordance with the approved territorial plan of the municipality.
6. Changing the supplier
The supply of drinking water by the public water supply system and also drainage and treatment of sewage water by the public sewage system constitute a monopoly, and there is always a single supplier of the services in the location (i.e. municipality, residential district or street).
7. Water and sewage charges
In Slovakia, the price for the supply of drinking water by a public water supply system and the price for drainage of sewage water, i.e. water and sewage charges, are regulated by the Regulatory Office for Network Industries in line with Act No 250/2012 (only in Slovak) on Regulation in Network Industries, as amended, and Decree No 21/2017 (only in Slovak) establishing price regulation of the production, distribution and supply of drinking water using the public water supply system and drainage and treatment of sewage water through the public sewage system, amended by Implementing Decree No 204/2018 (only in Slovak). The price is defined for each regulated entity (provider of the services) individually. The average price for the supply of drinking water is EUR 1.0513 per m3 without VAT in 2018. The average price for sewage water drainage including treatment is EUR 1.0049 per m3 without VAT in 2018.
8. Who to contact regarding operational problems?
In case of operational problems, or problems with quantity, quality, or pressure, the consumer may contact supplier through the customer centers, which will provide more information. All suppliers have a dedicated helpline or a customer zone established on their websites.
9. Assistance available for low-income households
Households unable to pay their bills must contact the supplier at the customer center to agree on an installment calendar. Slovak law does not provide any special rules applicable to low-income households regarding standard water and sewage charges.