Declaration of Installations, Works and Activities (IOTA) having an impact on water

IOTAs are subject to declaration if they are not likely to present the dangers set out in Article L. 214-3, I of the Environmental Code, but must nevertheless comply with the general rules for preserving the quality and distribution of surface water, groundwater and sea water within the limits of territorial waters, as set out in Article L. 211-2 of the same code.

The following are excluded from the IOTA nomenclature

• installations subject to the regime of classified installations for the protection of the environment;
• domestic uses.

Water legislation regulates installations, works and activities (IOTA), carried out for non-domestic purposes by public or private persons and which involve water abstraction or discharge, impacts on the aquatic environment or public safety, or impacts on the marine environment.

A specific nomenclature, appended to Article R. 214-1 of the Environmental Code, identifies these 'IOTAs' and their regime: authorisation (A), declaration (D), or unclassified.

The declaration regime applies to IOTAs that have a less significant impact on the aquatic environment than IOTAs subject to the authorisation regime.