Public access to environmental information in water supply and sanitation: sharing good practices, identifying gaps and overcoming challenges Ilya Trombitsky Moldova

Protocol on Water and Health as a source in field of access to information in potable water and sanitation issues Protocol on Water & Health, duties of Parties (art. 9): - Duty to inform public on importance of, and the relationship between, water management and public health; …

Art. 10 – Public information Each Party shall take steps within the framework of legislation to make available to the public such information as is held by public authorities and is reasonably needed to inform public discussion of: (c) The promotion of public awareness, education, training, research, development and information in accordance with art. 9. Confidentiality provisions are similar with the Aarhus Convention

Setting targets and target dates under Protocol – important process of information and involvement

Example: Moldavian law on potable water (1999) Article 13. Information on potable water supply (1)Drinking Water Consumers have the right to accurate information about its quality, published in the media. (2)Periodic reporting of the quality of drinking water is a duty of enterprises operating drinking water systems, and bodies exercising state supervision over the quality of drinking water with current regulations. (3)Reporting of interruptions in water supply is free of charge through the media and is a duty of enterprise operating drinking water systems.

Role of water supply companies in information of public Water supply companies “Apa Canal” are public entities and are subjects of Aarhus Convention. They regularly place to websites potable water parameters – 32. They have a green tel. line of connection with consumers and Also Apa Canals regularly answer on information requests coming from public

Data on ground waters (wells’ water quality) 80% of wells in Moldova have water of bad quality. Information is open. Main factors: High nitrates (human impact factor) High Flour (natural factor) High mineralization (natural factor)

Publications: water quality in springs and wells – important issue for rural population

Clearing House under the Protocol on Water and Health as a mechanism of information and awareness – response to Aarhus Convention provisions Rationale for the activity Following the provisions of the Protocol on Water and Health, the Parties shall publish periodically information on the status of water resources quality and quantity, incidence on water-related diseases; the establishment, improvement or maintenance of surveillance and early-warning systems and contingency plans, access to water supply and sanitation and the development of water-management plans (articles 7 and 10). The Protocol also establishes that “Each Party shall ensure that public authorities, in response to a request for other information relevant to the implementation of this Protocol, make such information available within a reasonable time to the public, within the framework of national legislation” (article 10, paragraph 2). To this end, in Moldova the Joint Order of MoE and MoH No. 91/704 provides the establishment of a Clearing House on the Protocol on Water and Health and approved also 4 additional targets related to the publication of data and information (including reports to the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol).

Target groups of W&H CH (a) public authorities responsible for water management, drinking water quality monitoring and surveillance, safe drinking water supply and adequate sanitation (ministries, central and local agencies, institutions, local authorities); (b) Environmental and health specialists, education sector, (c) Water utilities’ and sanitation facilities’ operators and Water Associations; (d) Local communities and consumers of water and sanitation services; and (e) Environmental and health NGOs.

Информирование молодежи о воде и здоровье (пример)

What information to be provided in accordance with the requirements of the Convention? -All information available for the authorities with possible confidential exceptions. In any case the public interest should play a leading role for final decision on public access at least on request. -Water quality comparing with standards, prices of services.

What are the public needs ? In everyday life people should be periodically informed on water supply services quality including water quality Drafts and Plans, programs, strategies and projects’ data should be available Drinking bottled water parameters Information on sanitation and hygiene

Establishing of adequate flow of information to public authorities Cooperation between authorities (ministries of environment, of health, of territorial development etc.) Separation of duties in issue of water supply and sanitation Establishing of clear rules of information flow between business, and authorities Data registers available to public

Inter-agency cooperation to facilitate data creation, adequate flow, management, access upon request and active dissemination Clear separation of agencies’ functions in collection, storage and provision of information Establishing and management of data registers with e-access Establishing of Water & Health Clearing House

Application of restrictions in public access to environmental information Despite Water & Health Protocol establishes limitations on access to information on water and health, in reality such restrictions are more theoretical then practical

The associated costs The general approach – free access to already collected and stored data; Payment for information pre-worked on request ***