1. A progressive but still unfinished business
Wastewater management in the Danube River Basin
A progressive but still unfinished business
Ivan Zavadsky
Executive Secretary International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)

2. Danube River Basin & ICPDR
km2
6.500 m3/s
85 Million PE
19 countries
Heterogeneity
Transboundary cooperation
EU WFD & FD
River Basin Management Plans

3. Status of the surface water bodies in the DRB
Risk to fail good ecological status by 2021
Risk to fail good chemical status by 2021
Ecological status (2015)
Chemical status (2015)
Risk by pressures

4. Current status and progress
88 million PE at ca. 5,700 agglomerations above 2,000 PE, > 10 million m3 per day waste water
Black Sea coastal area designated as sensitive area under UWWTD
255,000 tons BOD per year, 88,000 tons TN per year and 12,000 tons TP per year direct emissions to waters
Share of point source emissions: 16% (TN) and 33% (TP)
2012
2005
Significant progress even in a short period (e.g )
Improvement of wastewater infrastructure at around 900 agglomerations
Shift to more enhanced technologies, remarkable decrease of emissions (BOD: 50%, TN: 30%, TP: 45%)

5. Current BOD emissions Emission distribution kg BOD/PE/year
Specific national emissions

6. Development needs PE distribution
Country investments in wastewater sector: ca. 22 billion EUR ( , DRB parts)
Need of basic infrastructural development for 25 million PE (collection and treatment)
Need of nutrient removal for 28 million PE (precaution for protecting the Black Sea)
Significant emission reduction potential in non-EU MS, need for support

7. Development scenario by 2021
2012
Foreseen development: 14.5 million PE to be connected, 16 million PE to be upgraded
Expected reduction of surface water emissions: 36% for BOD

8. Future challenges
UWWTD as basic measure of the WFD to be implemented (precautionary and solidarity principles, regional objectives – Black Sea)
High number of wastewater treatment and sewer projects still to come in the DRB (new investments for more than 20 million PE & maintenance)
Old EU MS: investments needs to be shifted towards the proper maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing infrastructure
New and non-EU MS: financing infrastructure projects, capacity building, tariff setting and affordability, establishing proper legal framework and restructuring the utility sector as issues of high importance
Need for capacity strengthening at national and local administration level as well as at utility level to improve financial, operational and technological aspects of wastewater management

9. ICPDR wastewater initiative
Partnership established with the WB, IAWD, JRC and GWP
Kick-off workshop organized to officially launch the initiative, joint discussions on the identified key challenges (financing & investment, management & operation and innovation & technology)
World Bank: support for activities on water management in the frame of the 3rd phase of the Danube Water Program and in partnership with the ICPDR
Funds allocated for developing a wastewater management strategy for the DRB in synergy with the next DRBMP
Regional wastewater strategy: clear definition of target groups to be approached, knowledge gaps to be filled, topic hubs where activities need to be undertaken and concrete actions to be jointly implemented

10. Potential activities
The Danube Learning Partnership (D-Leap) instrument developed by the DWP to be an important feature of the strategy (nationally developed but regionally coordinated curriculum for wastewater management)
Capacity building courses and training events on several topics for WWTP operators, municipality regulators and national administration people (financial and technical/operational aspects)
Key issue: proper project design including mindful planning of investment and operational costs, tariff setting and affordability
Establishing a sustainable dialogue between potential financial institutions and national/local administration and operators (good examples for bankable projects)

11. Thank you for your attention!
For more information please visit the
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