Deputies of the State Duma from the “New People” faction have sent an official appeal to Irek Faizullin, the Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services. They propose simplifying the process for citizens to receive compensation for water payments if the water quality does not meet established sanitary standards (SanPiN). This initiative, authored by deputies Anton Tkachev and Vladimir Plyakin, aims to protect consumer rights.
The appeal highlights the necessity of legally obliging Rospotrebnadzor (the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing) to do more than just conduct inspections and demand suppliers rectify violations when complaints about poor water quality are received. It suggests that the agency should also represent applicants in court to recover compensation on their behalf.
The issue of substandard tap water remains pressing for many regions across Russia. Water frequently fails to comply with sanitary norms, and residents often encounter rusty or contaminated water flowing from their taps.
Currently, citizens facing this problem must independently seek recourse through courts for damages or recalculation of utility service fees. However, the existing compensation mechanism is overly bureaucratic and inefficient, making it difficult for ordinary people to get the redress they deserve.
The initiators of the bill point out that Rospotrebnadzor, upon receiving such complaints, typically limits its actions to imposing administrative penalties on the violators. The agency does not represent citizens` interests in court for direct compensation or recalculation of fees for inadequate services. Consequently, most consumers are left without fair compensation, and negligent water suppliers face no significant financial repercussions that would compel them to improve service quality.
The deputies emphasize that adopting their proposal would enable Rospotrebnadzor to directly represent consumer interests in legal proceedings, demanding compensation for damages and recalculation of charges for substandard services. They believe this measure will significantly enhance the effectiveness of consumer rights protection. Furthermore, the certainty of financial accountability for violating water quality standards will incentivize utility providers to promptly rectify issues and maintain a consistently high level of water supply for all citizens.
