The article presents the characteristics of the legislation regulating the right of water use of industrial enterprises in the European Union. Three periods of formation and development of the provisions of water legislation that restrict or prohibit the industrial discharge of hazardous substances into the water are considered. The institute of integrated environmental permitting is considered. It is noted that the issuance of this type of permits is carried out on the basis of the best available technologies. The best available technologies are those technologies that achieve a high level of environmental protection in the most effective way, developed and ready for implementation, cost-effective, technically feasible, applicable to a particular enterprise. At the same time, enterprises should prevent large-scale and cross-border environmental pollution, effectively use water, energy, raw materials, reduce the risks of accidents and minimize the consequences, monitor emissions, and reclaim the land after the termination of their activities. It is concluded that according to the European water legislation, water is defined as a natural object, and in some cases-as a natural resource that requires special protection from the state.