Dispute with a municipality over ownership and maintenance of water and wastewater infrastructure – how do I establish who is responsible for what?
Client: large packaging manufacturer |
The situation
A large production facility had for many years been using water and wastewater infrastructure historically shared with the local municipality and third parties. No one had clarity on who owned which elements of the infrastructure, who was responsible for its maintenance, and who was liable for ongoing violations. The problem had been building for years and became urgent only when the client needed to regularise its regulatory position in the light of growing infrastructure maintenance costs.
Our role
We conducted a comprehensive legal analysis to establish the allocation of maintenance obligations and liability between the parties. We proposed a simplification and restructuring of the existing arrangements and designed a legally sound operational framework for the client’s wastewater treatment system, drawing on water law, infrastructure law and civil law.
The result
The client gained legal clarity in a matter that had been a source of operational and regulatory uncertainty for years. The case shows that historical infrastructure neglect, while apparently remote from typical environmental matters can have serious compliance consequences and requires a comprehensive legal approach.
Do you have unresolved issues around water or wastewater infrastructure ownership? We can help.
Environmental protection
Environmental regulations affect not only compliance, but what matters most in business: the pace of investment, operating costs, and security. In this area, knowing what the law says is not enough. You also need to know how to translate it into concrete actions and sound decisions.
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