Operation of water supply and sewerage systems and water treatment and distribution

An unqualified (free) trade (field No. 43) covering the operation of water supply and sewerage systems for both public and non-public use, the treatment of water and its distribution to customers. No professional qualification is required; meeting the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act is sufficient. However, the operation of systems for public use is further governed by Act No. 274/2001 Coll. and requires a permit from the regional authority under Section 6 of that Act.

Conditions for operating

This is an unqualified (free) trade (Annex No. 4 to the Trade Licensing Act) - professional qualification is NOT to be proven.

It is sufficient to meet only the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:
- full legal capacity (in the case of a minor, this may be replaced by a court's approval of the legal representative's consent)
- a clean criminal record within the meaning of Section 6(2) (proven by an extract from the Criminal Records Register, which the office obtains itself)

The trade licence comes into being on the very day of notification (Section 10(1)(a) of the Act).

A responsible representative may be appointed under Section 11 (for an unqualified trade this is voluntary for a natural person; for a legal person it is mandatory if the conditions are not met by the legal person itself, or by its statutory body). One person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

Note - separate sectoral regulation: the actual operation of a water supply or sewerage system for public use additionally requires a permit under Section 6 of Act No. 274/2001 Coll., on water supply and sewerage systems, which is issued by the regional authority and is independent of the trade licence (the trade licence is, however, one of the conditions for its issuance).

Examples of activities

operation of a water supply system for public use
operation of a sewerage system for public use
treatment of raw water into drinking water at a water treatment plant
supply (distribution) of drinking water to customers
collection and treatment of waste water
meter readings and billing of water and sewerage charges
operation and maintenance of water reservoirs, pumping stations and waste water treatment plants
monitoring the quality of the water supplied

What this trade is and what it is for

The trade Operation of water supply and sewerage systems and water treatment and distribution is field of activity No. 43 within the single unqualified (free) trade (Annex No. 4 to the Trade Licensing Act, Act No. 455/1991 Coll.). It entitles you to ensure the supply of drinking water and the collection of waste water - that is, to operate water supply and sewerage networks, to treat raw water into drinking water and to distribute it to customers. As an unqualified trade it requires no professional qualification; it is enough to meet the general conditions under Section 6.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

Field No. 43 covers in particular:

operation of water supply and sewerage systems for both public and non-public use,
treatment of raw water into drinking water at water treatment plants,
transport and distribution (supply) of water to customers,
collection, treatment and discharge of waste water,
operation and maintenance of water reservoirs, pumping stations, treatment plants and waste water treatment plants,
meter readings, billing of water and sewerage charges and monitoring of water quality.

The boundary with neighbouring trades: construction and installation work on internal pipework (installation and repair of water supply, sewerage and heating systems within buildings) falls under the craft trade Plumbing and heating, which already requires professional qualification under Sections 21 and 22. This unqualified trade concerns the operation of water-supply infrastructure, not plumbing work at the customer's premises. Handling of sludge and waste from treatment plants is dealt with under the field Waste management (excluding hazardous waste) (field No. 44 of the same unqualified trade).

Important notice: the actual operation of a water supply or sewerage system for public use is subject to separate sectoral regulation - Act No. 274/2001 Coll., on water supply and sewerage systems. The permit to operate is issued under Section 6 of that Act by the regional authority and is independent of the trade licence (on the contrary, the trade licence is one of the conditions for its issuance). The trade licence therefore entitles you to do business in the field, but to operate a public network you must additionally hold this permit.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

Because this is an unqualified (free) trade, professional qualification (neither education nor practice) is not to be proven. You only need to meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act:

full legal capacity (in the case of a minor it may be replaced by a court's approval),
a clean criminal record under Section 6(2) - proven by an extract from the Criminal Records Register, which the office obtains itself.

The trade licence comes into being on the day of notification [Section 10(1)(a)]. You may therefore start doing business immediately, without waiting for the register extract.

Responsible representative (Section 11): a natural person usually does not need one. If you do not meet the conditions yourself, or if the business is carried on by a legal person, a responsible representative may be appointed (for a legal person this is necessary where its statutory body does not meet the conditions) who is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. For an unqualified trade the responsible representative too need only meet the general conditions. At the same time, one person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

How to notify or obtain the trade step by step

Fill in the Unified Registration Form (JRF). In a single submission you notify the trade and at the same time register with the tax office, the social security administration and your health insurance company.
Select field No. 43 Operation of water supply and sewerage systems and water treatment and distribution. At the same time you may notify further fields of the unqualified trade for a single fee.
Submit the notification in person at any Trade Licensing Office (the municipal trade licensing office), electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT branch.
Provide the documents and pay the fee (see below).
Wait for the entry. The office will make the entry in the Trade Register within 5 working days of delivery of the notification. The licence, however, is valid from the day of notification.
Before starting to operate a public network, arrange the permit under Section 6 of Act No. 274/2001 Coll. with the regional authority.

A detailed universal procedure can be found in the guide How to start a trade.

Documents and fees

Identity document (identity card or passport).
Completed JRF (trade notification).
Proof of payment of the administrative fee.
The office will verify your clean criminal record itself - you do not submit an extract from the Criminal Records Register.
Administrative fee for trade notification: CZK 1,000 (for electronic submission CZK 800).
Extension by a further field of the unqualified trade: CZK 0 (free of charge).
You do not prove professional qualification or practice.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an apprenticeship certificate or practice in the water industry?

No. This is an unqualified trade, so qualification is not to be proven - the general conditions under Section 6 (legal capacity and a clean criminal record) are sufficient.

Is a trade licence enough to operate a municipal water supply system?

It is not enough. To operate a water supply or sewerage system for public use you additionally need a permit under Section 6 of Act No. 274/2001 Coll., which is issued by the regional authority.

Can this trade also allow me to carry out plumbing work for customers?

No. Installation and repair of internal pipework falls under the craft trade Plumbing and heating, which requires professional qualification. For the precise classification of your activity, contact the Trade Licensing Office.

When can I start doing business?

The licence comes into being on the day of notification, so you can start immediately. The office will make the entry in the register within 5 working days.

How much do I pay if I add this field to a trade I already hold?

Extending an existing unqualified trade by a further field of activity is free of charge (CZK 0).