1. National Administration “Romanian Waters” NARW Bucharest - Romania
Romanian experience in UWWTD implementation - financial aspects, issues and challenges
Geog. Ioana Nedelea - River Basin Management Plans Department
Vienna, 17 – 18 May 2017
DANUBE WATER CONFERENCE

2. NARW – general presentation Since 1913 we take care of Romanian Waters
LEGAL:
Water management applied at level of the river basin since ’60s
public institution since 2005
in coordination of Ministry of Waters
and Forests
ADMINISTRATIV:
Headquater
11 water basin administrations
TECHNICAL:
River basin management plans department
Water resources management department
Water works management department
Development and investment department
Emergency situations (water disaster planning) department

3. Sustainable development of water resources;
What are we doing?
River basin management and planning;
Sustainable development of water resources;
Administration and coordination of water infrastructure;
Financial management with cost recovery mechanism;
Flood risk management and planning;
Implementation of investment program for water infrastructures development;
Implementation of the EU directives in the water field
International cooperation (EU, ICPDR, neighboring countries).

4. What are the requirements related to the water field
All Water Directives, especially under Water Framework Directive - “Water is not a commercial product that is a patrimony to be protected, treated and defended”
European Commission Reporting (Water Framework Directive, UWWTD, Nitrates Directive, e. g.)
ICPDR Reporting
national law, rules
All efforts must be done for having
clean water and a healthy environment
for next generation!!!

5. Updated River Basin Management Plan (2016-2021) approved by national law
CONTENT
General overview of the river basin;
Surface water characterization;
Groundwater characterization;
Identification and mapping protected areas;
Monitoring and characterization of water status;
Environmental objectives;
Economic analyses;
Programe of measures;
Exemptions to environmental objectives;
Quantitative aspects and climate change;
Information, consultation and public participation
Conclusions.
Approved by Governmental Decision no. 859/2016

6. Updated River Basin Management Plan(2016-2021) approved by national law
problems
Measures
money
Issues
418 (13.8%) surface water bodies will not achieve good ecological status or potential untill 2021;
15 (10.5%) groundwater bodies will not achieve environmental objectives untill 2021, respectively chemical status;
Solutions
Program of measures
Basic and supplementary measures for human aglomerations, industrial and agricultural activities, other activities that generate wastewater
Implementation deadline and applied measures are crucial for achieving good ecological status
Investments
High investment costs for implementing measures, respectively funding of measures

7. Urban WasteWater Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC
Aim protection of the environment against the negative effects of discharges of urban waste water and waste water from certain industrial sectors
Romania declared the entire territory as sensitive area, having
in view the protection of the Black Sea against eutrophication;
Romania obtined transitional period:
Final implementation deadline: 31 December 2018;
For aglomerations 2000 – p.e
Final implementation deadline: 31 December 2015;
For aglomerations > p.e
Compliance criteria:
Collection of wastewater
Tertiary treatment (advanced nutrient removal) in agglomerations above p.e.
Secondary treatment (mechanical-biological) in agglomerations bellow p.e.
The quality of waste water discharged into natural resources to be appropriate
Ensuring collection and treatment of waste water from the entire agglomeration (collection / purification of at least 98%).

8. The evolution of connection level to sewage systems and treatment systems necessary to be achieved until the compliance period
PLANNED IN 2007
Sewage networks (% p.e.)
Wastewater treatment plant (% p.e.)

9. Necessary measures for UWWTD implementation
Rehabilitation of sewage networks
Construction/extention of sewage networks
Modernization / rehabilitation of treatment plants
Construction / extension of treatment plants
Rehabilitation of facilities for treatment, storage and use of secondary / tertiary sludge (processing, storage, use)
Construction of new storage / incineration facilities
Staff training/ Capacity building
Research / feasibility studies

10. Necessary investment costs for human aglomerations
According to the Program of Measures – RBMP (UWWTD)
Estimated costs may increase as agglomerations and necessary measures are updated
1st River Basin Management Plan ( )
human aglomerations
Estimated 12,08 billion Euro
Achieved 4,14 billion Euro
2nd River Basin Management Plan ( )
Estimated 7,6 billion Euro
3rd River Basin Management Plan ( )
Estimated 4,07 billion Euro
!!!!! Do not forget the operating and maintenance costs

11. Sources of financing for collection and treatment of wastewater from human agglomerations ( )
Funding sources for UWWTD implementation according Updated RBMP :
49,86 % european funds (Cohesion /structural funds)
22, 87% national funds (state /local budget)
0,76 % -operators funds
1,71 % other funds (loans/projects)
24,8% no funding sources identified !!!

12. The main measures for point sources
Allocation of invetment cost necessary for implementation of basic measures for human agglomerations according to the PoM ( )
The main measures for point sources
Investment costs
billion Euro
(%)
Rehabilitation/modernizationof sewage networks
0,62
11.53
Extention/construction of sewage networks
3,37
62.84
Extention /construction of treatment plans
0,23
4.21
Construction of new wastewater treatment plans and sludge management
1,15
21.42

13. Main european programe for funding of basic measures
Main european programe for funding of basic measures for human agglomerations
(to extension 2016) Sectoral Operational Program SOP Environment
Provided funding from cohesion funds in most urban areas;
Low absorption rates (~50% in 2014), but increasing in 2016 (~78,5%)
Expenditure financed for UWWD compliance 2007 – 2013 assessed to 3 billion EUR
SOP Large Infratructures
Actions will be continued for development of water and wastewater systems under Priority Axis 3;
The program includes 1,8 billion EUR for wastewater;
Finalizing the investments started in period
Development of new projects, according to the prioritization of the County Master Plans
Beneficiaries are Regional Water Operators / local authorities
2014 – 2020 National Rural Development Programme
For small agglomeration 2000 – 5000 p.e.
0.5 bill. EUR for funding measures of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure
European Regional Development Funds– includes 0.7 bill. EUR
!!! The absorption of all European funds at the end of 2016 was 83%

14. Evolution of wastewater collection and treatment systems in agglomerations (p.e) 2012 - 2016
Aglomerations > l.e
Aglommerations > p.e

15. Situation of human agglomerations, collection networks and treatment plants
as well as load in p.e.
Size of human agglomerations
(p. e.)
No. aglom.
no. population equivalent
No p.e . connected to sewage networks
No. p.e. connected to treatment plants
%collection (sewage networks)
% treatment plant
>10000
238
84,80
78.82
1679
15,75
13,62
Total >2000 l.e.
65,83
60,91
Romania has a population of 19,908,574 inhabitants with low level of concentration of the localities:
- Spread on the hill and mountain area
- Linear distribution in the plain area

16. Issues of implementation of UWWTD
Complex coordination of authorities responsible with UWWTD implementation;
Complexity and rigor of Directive, having in view the environmental, soci- economical and sustainable aspects;
Complex and time consuming procurement procedures for wastewater infrastructure works;
Implementation delays of the works;
Dynamic of the changes in delineation of the agglomerations (decreasing of population and industrial activities / migration);
low affordability / low connection level to collecting and treatment systems in rural areas
Very high costs!!!!
Assuring the funds!!!!

17. Ensuring compliance with European requirements
CONCLUSIONS
Actions to continue implementing measures for proper operation of the wastewater infrastructure
Making a financial prioritization, given the funds identified through a coherent strategy
Ensuring the financing of measures without identified funding sources
Creating a mechanism to support the infrastructure of wastewater in rural areas
Ensuring compliance with European requirements

18. You are welcome in Romania!
Thank you!
You are welcome in Romania!
Protect water, you need it!