Bill 456.

Summary.

The bill establishes a framework for fire hydrants in the Republic of Panama. It would cover urban and rural projects, water networks, public works, and facilities with high occupancy or risk, including terminals, ports, airports, free zones and Panamá Pacífico. It also covers public bodies, water operators, developers, owners, administrators and third parties whose activities affect hydrants. The National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewers (Instituto de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Nacionales) would administer, operate and maintain hydrants connected to the public network. The Meritorious Fire Department of the Republic of Panama (Benemérito Cuerpo de Bomberos de la República de Panamá) would set technical criteria for their design, location, acceptance and emergency use. Both bodies would resolve technical disagreements within fifteen business days.

The text defines hydrants, access conditions, safety zones, maintenance, technical acceptance and the National Hydrant Registry (Registro Nacional de Hidrantes). Its interpretation would follow principles of coordination, operational continuity, public participation, urban planning, prevention and traceability. Land use plans would incorporate coverage and risk criteria. Each project required to install hydrants would submit a technical file to the water and fire authorities. Developers would bear the cost and risk of designing, installing, marking, testing and delivering the required hydrants in working order.

Hydrants connected to the public network, or serving the community beyond their site, would be treated as infrastructure for public use without changing land ownership. After acceptance, hydrants in new projects would come under the public operator’s administration and enter the National Hydrant Registry. Property holders could neither restrict nor charge for operational use. Water used during emergencies on private property would not be billed to the owner. Unconnected private systems would remain privately maintained, subject to an easement for emergency use. Private hydrants connected to the public network would have to be regularized within twelve months. Commissioning would require flow and pressure tests and verification of access, signage and georeferencing.

The bill prohibits parking or placing obstacles within a safety zone to be defined by regulation. Local governments would coordinate markings with the water and fire authorities and the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (Autoridad de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre). A national classification, identification codes, operating statuses, and capacity and risk categories would be established. The text assigns colors and flow ranges to classes AA, A, B and C. It also provides for supplementary road signs, impact protection and immediate replacement of damaged safety seals.

The National Hydrant Registry would be public, georeferenced and continuously updated. It would contain locations, photographs, responsible operators, operating status, test results, maintenance, repairs and citizen reports. Each intervention, test or repair would be recorded within five business days. The public operator would perform preventive and corrective maintenance and flow and pressure tests at least once a year. Faults would be handled according to severity; in highly vulnerable areas, repair or replacement would take no more than fifteen business days. The fire department would have absolute priority in using hydrant water during emergencies. The bill also provides for education campaigns and digital channels to report problems.

Regulations would define the sanctions procedure and amounts. Listed violations include obstruction, damage, failure to maintain or report, unauthorized use and missing signage. The water and transit authorities would exercise the specified sanctioning powers, and competent authorities could order obstacle removal, vehicle towing, sealing of illegal connections and repairs at the offender’s expense. The provisions would be read alongside other laws and regulations. A national inventory would be prepared within twelve months. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would issue regulations no later than 12 months after promulgation. The bill could concern local governments, water and fire services, developers, property owners, transportation, industry, commerce and users of public infrastructure.