Integrated water resources management and knowledge transfer
Harsha RatnaweeraDirector Business Development, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)
Professor of Water and Wastewater Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
IWRM Projects:Lessons learned
The importance of and the possibilities to:Scientific collaboration for compliance facilitationScientific collaboration to revitalise transboundary partnerships Stakeholder participationLocal competence and capacity buildingSecuring political and administrative supportUse of modern tools and concepts
IWRM - Definition
”IWRM is a process, which promotes the co-ordinateddevelopment and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.”
Little guidance about how to achieve this coordination/Integration?
Need for technology oriented management with a human dimension
A fractionated water management
Ministry ofEnvironment
Ministry of Oil and Energy
Ministry of HealthGovernment/-State
PollutionControl
Authority
Directoratefor Nature
Management
The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy
Directorate
Norwegian FoodSafety Authority
19 Counties
Regional/-County
Local/Municipalities
Water QualityManagement
Water QuantityManagement
Drinking Water Management
5 Regional Offices
8 Regional Authorities
440 Munici-palities
440 Munici-palities
64 DistrictOffices
Main responsibility
EU’s Water Framework Directive: WFD
Environmental objectivesGood status for all waters by 2015
Analysis of water statusPressures and impacts; economic analysis
River Basin Management Plan with programme of measures including existing DirectivesMain instrument for planning and reporting
Water Pricing Policies operational 2010Instrument supporting environmental objectives
Public participationParticipation - not just information
WFD is a new tool in IWRM,-…but we have IWRM experience -
WRM River Basin Planning and Coastal Zone Management – from late 70-ties til early 90- ties
Yet, it is a challenge….And certainly is a challenge for other countries with less experience, resources and knowledge…
Partnership with a number of new EUand South-Eastern European
countries on WFD implementation..
Share our experience and knowledgeCollaborate with sister institutions and organise twinning between the authorities
Substantial part of the funding is from Norway
The Drim/Drini: A unique catchment
Covers about 20 000 km2
but runs through several countries Has three large lakes, Prespa, Ohrid and Skadar
Albania
Serbia
Kosovo
Greece
Macedonia
Monte-negro
Approaches to quantification of nutrient load in the Drim/Drini River
Catchment
Sharing of knowledge & Capacity building
Quantification, consolidation and analysis of Water Quality and Quantity DataPollution budgetsAbatement plans
As a part of WFD compliance activities
Simulation models and tools
Building up partnerships
DRIMPOL: Albania, Macedonia
DRIMNET: Serbia & Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia (Kosovo) and Greece.
The DRIMNET idea is to bring managers and scientists from these five countries together in a dialogue over scientific and managerial issues concerning the Drim/Drini
Drimpol projectScientific collaboration for compliance facilitationScientific collaboration to revitalise transboundary partnerships Stakeholder participationLocal competence and capacity buildingSecuring political and administrative supportUse of modern tools and concepts
Lake restoration in Inner Mongolia, PRC
Stakeholder participation
Stakeholder ownershipSustainability
Low depth, 1.5m avg60% of 300km2 covered with reed & submerged vegetationLot of pollutants/nutrientsFish killsBiodiversityLake is gradually dying..Many users…
Task: how to rehabilitate and secure sustainability of the actions
Poor water quality – a concern
Worse than Class V
BOD T-PT-NCOD
CODBOD T-N T-P
Non irrigationperiod
Irrigationperiod
Class V
Stakeholder participationRole of stakeholders
Top-down traditions in decision makingComplicated / Hierarchical stakeholder relationships
Convincing the partners to “what's in it for them?”Sustainability & ownershipA broader support does not harmHonest and professional intentions have nothing to fear!Modern tools – Multi Criteria Analysis
Actions
Zoning Pollution ControlChanging of inlet Self purificationHarvesting submerged vegetationDredging of selected areasIncrease of water supply Raise water level Improve internal circulationUtilisation of resources
Lake Wuliangsuhai projectScientific collaboration for compliance facilitationScientific collaboration to revitalise transboundary partnerships Stakeholder participationLocal competence and capacity buildingSecuring political and administrative supportUse of modern tools and concepts
Revitalisation of the Grand Canal –DTD- between Crvenka and Vrbas
in Serbia
Convincing polluters to act
The problem
Ca. 10% of all Serbia’s industrial water pollution accumulate in the Vrbas part of the DTD canal- from untreated domestic and industrial point sources
Complex issue
Agriculture and industry : important users and pollutersDrinking water, fishing and recreation become impossible long ago..Reversal and maintenance!
Attitude change Convincing that pollution reduction
is not only a cost, but also a savingIs a must to avoid a catastrophe (with serious consequences to all)Resource demanding dialogues..
Building the local competence and capacities
Let the local partners to carry out the task.Competence, practice, attitude, capacities, resourcesUniversities & AuthoritiesLocal consultants
Vrbas projectScientific collaboration for compliance facilitationScientific collaboration to revitalise transboundary partnerships Stakeholder participationLocal competence and capacity buildingSecuring political and administrative supportUse of modern tools and concepts
A responsibility of International partners
Many “Capacity building” projects…But how many of them really build local capacities???
Many projects are seen as unfair and selfish activities from industrial countries..
Consultants who are less willing to share the knowledgeImplementation of tasks by international consultants rather than transfer of knowledge..
Conclusion: Let us build up partnerships based on our success stories!
Scientific collaboration for compliance facilitation
Scientific collaboration to revitalise transboundarypartnerships
Stakeholder participationLocal competence and capacity buildingSecuring political and administrative support
Use of modern tools and concepts
WFD IntentionsObtain long-termsosioeconomic beneficial useof water resources
Effective Water ManagementSystem to obtain this
Advisory actions
Areas of Application
All surface freshwaters
■ Groundwater
■ Marin and coastal waters delineatedby the coastal baseline
■ Terrestrial ecosystems dependent oninteraction with an aquatic environment
Water Frameworks Directive
A legal instrument trough Europe to ensure sustainable development, taking care ofthe water resources in a long term perspectiveIs binding for member states and must be transposed into national lawsGives the framework for effective, integrated and knowledge based water managementIs not aiming at conservation per se, but at balanced use versus protection to preserve healthy water eco-systems which provide enough water of good quality
Characteristics of WFD?Management by Objectives
Objectives on ecological status – not only chemical
Assumes a comprehensive water resources management across the sectors
WFD shall secure that the good status shall preserved, not only rehabilitation where it is bad
WFD emphasis on how to improve than how to avoid worsening.
P & N
Heavy metals
Micropollutants
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