Danube Watch 3-4/2015 - ICPDR
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Danube
Watch
3-4/2015
T h e M a g a z i n e o f t h e D a n u b e R i v e r / w w w. i c p dr . o r g
Danube Day 2015
Special Fold-out
12 Fighting for the
sturgeons
16 Saving a sacred
river
Experts from the Danube and the
Ganges Rivers are sharing knowledge
and experiences on protecting these
unique rivers to help river basins achieve
their shared goals.
3 Dear readers 8 Providing safe passage routes 14 Danube:Future, achieving 20 Remember the river: using
on the Columbia River integrated sustainable art to connect students to
4 News & events development in the Danube the Danube
10 Groundwater: River Basin
6 A state of the sector: the river’s invisible twin 22 The road to environmentally
looking at water and waste- 16 Saving a sacred river sustainable inland waterway
water in the Danube Basin 12 Fighting for the sturgeons navigation
18 Taking hydromorphology
assessments for a test drive 23 Danube Adventure:
learning about the river in a
19 Nitrogen pollution playful way
in the Danube Basin
20
Štúrovo, Slovakia
Students on each side of
18 the Danube in Hungary and
Pielach River, Slovakia are linking their
Lower Austria recollections together to
To help countries develop explore how the Danube
an assessment metho- crosses borders and unifies
dology for all the WFD people.
hydromorphology quality
elements, water experts
head to the field to test
drive four of the methodo-
logies.
Dear readers,
© ICPDR
It has been a great pleasure cooperating with all of Cooperation with other commissions has been an
the distinguished Heads of Delegations and experts important part of the ICPDR since its establishment.
from the Danube countries and serving the large, For the Republic of Croatia, cooperation with the In-
colourful family of the most international river basin ternational Sava River Basin Commission is especially
in the world. The charm of the Danube Basin is in important, as it connects us to our neighbouring coun-
its diversity of languages, cultures, environments tries and helps in particular to coordinate the synergy
and administrative traditions. Yet the true strength of of water management and navigation issues. For more
the ICPDR is in overcoming any differences to work on this synergy, see the article on page 22.
together for the benefit of the entire region. In fact, Though we can be proud of our accomplishments,
the work of the ICPDR has been recognised globally there is still much to do. This summer the Republic of
as one of the best examples of transboundary coopera- Croatia had extremely high temperatures and severe
tion and integrated river basin management. For more drought and the negative impact of climate change is
on the ICPDR’s relationship with other river basins evident. The ICPDR has already developed a basin ad-
around the world, see the article on page 16. aptation strategy and will sign the Environment-Paris
My pleasure has been even greater to preside over Pact to bring the impact of climate change on water
the ICPDR during the year in which two important to the attention of the 2015 United Nations Climate
documents will be finalised of which we can all be Change Conference in December.
proud: the second Danube River Basin Management Looking at the past we have much to be proud of,
Plan and the first Danube Flood Risk Management and looking into the future we have good reasons to be
Plan are crucial documents in the implementation of optimistic. I wish our Czech colleagues who will take
the EU Water Framework Directive. Furthermore, over the ICPDR presidency next year a successful and
since the public has always been a focus of the ICP- flood-free presidency!
DR’s activities, the two documents were presented
at the ICPDR’s Stakeholder Consultation Workshop, Dražen Kurečić,
‘Voice of the Danube’, held in Zagreb this July to gain Assistant Minister of Agriculture for the Republic of
insight and public opinion on the documents. Croatia and ICPDR President for 2015
IMPRINT
For a free subscription Owner/Publisher: ICPDR – International Commission for the
to Danube Watch, or Protection of the Danube River, Vienna, icpdr@unvienna.org;
to contribute to Danube Executive Editor: Benedikt Mandl; Editor: Kirstie Shepherd;
Watch, please contact Design: www.studiodluxe.at; Cover photo: ICPDR/Baumgartner;
icpdr@unvienna.org Print: Druckerei Janetschek, Vienna;
Danube Watch is Danube Watch is the official magazine of ICPDR, the International
available on the web Commission for the Protection of the Danube River. Danube Watch en-
at www.icpdr.org hances regional cooperation and information sharing on sustainable water
management and environmental protection in the Danube River Basin. It
reports on current issues affecting the Danube Basin, and on action taken
Danube Watch is printed to deal with challenges in the river basin. Striving for scientific accuracy
on Arctic Volume, while remaining concise, clear and readable, it is produced for the wide
150 & 100 g/m2. Arctic range of people who are actively involved in the Danube River Basin and
Paper holds a FSC trace- are working for the improvement of its environment.
ability certificate.
The ICPDR accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard
to information or opinions of the authors of the articles in this issue.
DANUBE WATCH 3
News & events
Over €220 million invested in Danube region
The new Danube Transnational Programme was adopted in August to boost in-
novation and entrepreneurship, preserve natural and cultural assets of the region,
improve connectivity and support the shift towards a low-carbon economy. The
programme will support projects in line with the priorities of the EU Strategy for
the Danube Region, and with the same geographical focus. More than €200.2 mil-
lion from the European Regional Development Fun and €19.8 million from the
Instrument for Transnational Projects will be invested in the Danube Basin.
For more information, please visit: www.southeast-europe.net/en/about_
see/danubeprogramme/index
ICPDR at 4th Annual Danube Strategy Forum
The 4th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region was held in
November this year, organised by the European Commission, the State of Baden-
Württemberg and the City of Ulm, with the theme ‘Smart, social, sustainable
- innovation for the Danube Region’. The ICPDR contributed to a number of
events, including workshops on the Danube Flood Risk Management Plan, the
© ICPDR
Sturgeon 2020 project, funding for measures under the Danube River Basin Man-
agement Plan, regional initiatives for sustainable use of local resources, and a joint
session of the Danube Strategy’s environmental pillar.
www.icpdr.org/main/icpdr-4th-annual-forum-eusdr
New group working to stop plastic pollution
©Umweltbundesamt/P. Hohenblum
Microplastics are tiny, but cause big problems. To tackle this challenge, a new
transnational interest group was created by the Network of Environmental
Protection Agencies at a meeting of the heads of the European Environment
Agencies in Reykjavik in September. The interest group aims to raise awareness
for plastics in the environment at the European level, beginning with a project
entitled ‘Eliminating Plastic Pollution’ under the leadership of the Environment
Agency Austria. This project will develop harmonised methods for sampling,
analysis and evaluation, in dialogue with industry, NGOs and citizens.
www.umweltbundesamt.at/news_150930_en/
4 DANUBE WATCH
Public consultation brings strong feedback
© ICPDR
The six-month public consultation phase for the Danube River Basin Man-
agement Plan Update 2015 and the first Danube Flood Risk Management
Plan ended in July 2015. In addition to collecting feedback in writing, a
stakeholder consultation workshop was held in Zagreb in June, and social
medial platforms such as such as Facebook and Twitter provided simple
and accessible ways to engage with the ICPDR. A closing report on the
public consultation will be published at the end of 2015, featuring all of
the comments as well as a description of how each was processed. The
management plans will be finalised in early December and officially en-
dorsed in February.
Salvatore Gabola passes away
© ICPDR
It was with deep sorrow that the ICPDR received the news about the death
in October of Salvatore Gabola, Director of Public Affairs for Coca-Cola
Europe Group. Salvatore was instrumental in starting the “Green Danube
Partnership” between the ICPDR, the Coca-Cola Company and Coca-Cola
Hellenic. At the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding that for-
malised the partnership (pictured) he said, “Looking after the Danube means
commemorating glorious past and celebrating the expanding, peaceful Europe
of our future”. He will be remembered by the ICPDR community for his
commitment to the Danube, and will be greatly missed.
OECD Principles on Water Governance now in 15 languages
© ICPDR
Securing access to water for all as needs increase will be a matter of good
governance. To meet this challenge, the Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development (OECD) has recently published the OECD
Principles on Water Governance, now available in 15 languages. The Prin-
ciples build on three pillars of water governance – efficiency, effectiveness,
and trust and engagement – and lay down the 12 'must-have' components
for governments to navigate the tenets of good public policy on water, and
distil what they need for their own challenges.
To download a copy, please visit: http://www.oecd.org/governance/
oecd-principles-on-water-governance.htm
DANUBE WATCH 5
A state of the
sector: looking
at water and
wastewater in
the Danube
Basin
A new report from the
World Bank highlights
the double challenge
and opportunities for
the water sector in the
Danube region.
In May of this year, the World Bank delivers a sound analysis of the status quo Some of the trends include the aggregation
launched a comprehensive regional study, as a basis for informed policy making and and corporatisation of service providers and
financed under the Danube Water Pro- sustainable investments. the establishment of independent regula-
gramme, called on ‘Water and Wastewater tory authorities. About three-quarters
Services in the Danube Region: A State of Context and organisation. Most of of the population receive public services
the Sector’. The report, which is comple- the Danube Basin has shared a common from one of the more than 10,000 formal
mented by 16 country notes, is the first trajectory over the past 30 years and the utility providers in the region, leaving one-
of its kind in analysing the progress and development of water and wastewater quarter to rely on informal providers or
double challenge of 16 countries in the services has broadly followed a similar path self-provision, mostly in rural areas. Sector
Danube watershed in delivering sustain- of transformation – driven mainly by two policy formulation remains the responsibil-
able water and wastewater services to major politico-economic processes: the fall ity of central governments, whereby the
all, while meeting the high standards of of communism and EU integration. While EU agenda and transposition of EU water
the EU environmental legislation. in the post-socialist period there has been directives, such as the Urban Waste Water
strong decentralisation and significant Treatment Directive and the Drinking Wa-
The report analyses the capacity of the involvement of the private sector in most ter Directive, are key drivers of change in
countries to deliver these services to their countries, EU integration has led to a need the sector.
populations across four main dimensions: for increased regulation of municipal serv-
access to, quality, efficiency and financing ices, the introduction of the cost recovery Access and performance. Access to water
of services. There are sizeable investments principle, a drive towards structural change and sanitation services in the region is high
needed in the region to bring the water and increased efficiency and sustainability compared with the rest of the world. The
sector up to EU standards, and the report in service provision. collection and treatment of wastewater,
6 DANUBE WATCH
© ICPDR
Access to water and sanitation services in the region
is high compared to the rest of the world. The collection
and treatment of wastewater, however, generally lags
behind the high level of access to piped water and
private flush toilets, especially with regard to EU
standards.
however, generally lags behind the high varies widely, with EU countries showing
level of access to piped water and private the highest rate of per capita financing.
flush toilets, especially with regard to EU On average, the sector directs about half
standards: 83% of the region’s population of overall expenditure toward operating
have piped water in their dwellings, leav- and maintaining infrastructure and half
ing 17%, or almost 22.5 million, without toward renewing and expanding it. Water
this service. Almost 80% of the population and wastewater investments are around
in the Danube watershed report having a €3.5 billion per year, significantly below
flush toilet in their home, leaving around the €5.5 billion needed to achieve EU and
28 million without, yet only 66% are con- national targets.
nected to public sewer networks.
The overall performance of water and Conclusions and future steps. Despite
wastewater services varies widely in qual- the above mentioned challenges, the EU
ity and efficiency and is generally below accession process serves as a motivator to
international good practice standards. improve access, quality and efficiency of
However, there have been positive trends water services and the status of countries
in a number of dimensions. In many coun- applying for EU accession is positively
tries, water service is generally continuous related to the level of development of
and drinking water reaches national quality wastewater services. The region can also
standards. The level of customer metering build on some important opportunities.
has steadily increased to nearly universal The sector has proven to be open to change
coverage in many countries, bringing and those governments considering reforms
down individual consumption of water in around a third of the countries can
to 100 l/cap/day from 120 l/cap/day in continue to build positive momentum by
most countries, which is in line with EU basing their efforts on solid analyses. EU
Danube Water Programme standards. Despite overall improvements, integration continues to present a tremen-
the efficiency of utilities in most countries dous policy and financing opportunity for
The Vienna-based Danube Water Pro- is below international standards and non- many countries. Formal regulatory frame-
gramme supports policy dialogue and revenue water and overstaffing continue to works and utility corporatisation can help
capacity development to achieve smart present significant challenges. greater accountability, and despite manage-
policies, strong utilities and sustainable The report uses a proposed Water rial shortcomings, the sector can count on
services in the water supply and waste- Utility Performance Index (WUPI) to a strong technical workforce.
water sector in 11 target countries: evaluate the overall performance of utili- Based on the outcomes of the report,
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ties and it shows that performance varies the Danube Water Programme plans – un-
Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, the Former widely within the region and each country. der its recently started phase II – to provide
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Overall, the performance of utilities has policy support to countries at national level,
Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia improved over the past ten years, with the conduct more research into non-formal
and Ukraine. Five other countries of high performers generally also charging service providers and release a second study
the Danube region – Austria, the Czech higher tariffs. on the state of the sector in 2018.
Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia
– also participate but do not benefit Financing services. Increasing costs have For more information on the Pro-
directly from Programme funding. The driven increases in tariffs throughout the gramme visit: www.danube-water-
Programme is a partnership between region, to a point where services might program.org. For copies of the report
the World Bank and the International become unaffordable for low-income (including translations of the report
Association of Water Supply Companies households in some countries. Yet the and country notes in several regional
in the Danube River Catchment Area region is far from implementing the Wa- languages), see: http://sos.danubis.org/.
(IAWD), with seed financing from the ter Framework Directive’s principle of
government of Austria. cost recovery. Overall, the level of sector Angelika Heider is a programme analyst at the
financing from tariffs, taxes and transfers World Bank.
DANUBE WATCH 7
Providing However, like the Huchen, the iconic the ocean, was completed in 1938. At
© Harrison/NPCC
signature fish of the Danube Basin, Pacific more than 21 meters tall, Bonneville was
safe passage salmon migrate in rivers where hydropow-
er dams threaten their survival. Hydro-
the largest fish-blocking structure built on
any river in the United States or Europe at
routes on the power is the largest source of electricity
in the area and nearly half of the region’s
the time, and provided access to spawning
grounds for more than 75% of all migratory
Columbia River hydropower is generated at dams in the
Columbia River Basin, with most of that
fish in the Columbia Basin.
There was strong political, scientific,
generated at the 31 dams of the Federal and public support for the fish passage
The Pacific salmon faces many
Columbia River Power System. at Bonneville Dam. For adult fish, the
of the same obstacles as the The Columbia Basin covers 671,000 original construction included fish ladders,
Danube’s Huchen in reaching square kilometers and has an annual dis- hydraulic fish lifts (though these proved
safe spawning grounds. How- charge of 237 billion cubic meters. Adult ineffective and later were abandoned), a
salmon and steelhead can travel up the fish-collection system across the front of
ever, hydropower planning that
Columbia River past dams for about 877 the dam, and bypasses. Attracted to the
has included fish passages kilometers, and up the Columbia’s major outflow of the ladders, adult fish find the
from the very beginning has tributary, the Snake River, for about 920 entrances, navigate the ladders and pas-
made passage survival a reality. kilometers. Passage facilities for both adult sages, and exit behind the dam.
and juvenile fish have been in place for dec-
ades at many – though not all – hydropower Downstream challenges. Passing juvenile
dams in the region. Over time, passage fish downstream, however, has proven
survival has improved as research, monitor- more problematic – an issue for many Eu-
ing and evaluation has informed decisions ropean rivers as well. With the exception
In the Pacific Northwest, a region of about about new passage facilities, modifications of some steelhead, there is no downstream
15 million people, the Pacific salmon has of existing structures and river operations.
cultural, sustenance and environmental
© Harrison/NPCC
importance. In his 1990 book The Good The first of its kind. A guiding principle
Rain: Across Time and Terrain in the Pacific for new hydropower dams in the Danube
Northwest, author Timothy Egan writes, Basin is to ensure fish migration, and the
“The Pacific Northwest is simply this: same was true when Bonneville Lock and
wherever the salmon can get to.” Dam, the first Columbia dam inland from
© Harrison/NPCC
Spilling water and fish over dams and thus away from Bonneville Dam provides access to spawning ground for
turbines is generally the safest method of the juvenile fish more than 75% of all migratory fish in the Columbia Basin.
passage routes at the Columbia and Snake River dams.
8 DANUBE WATCH
migration of adult anadromous salmonids in the Co-
lumbia River. In the 1930s, it was believed juvenile
salmonids could survive passage through hydropower
turbines, but over time it became apparent that pas-
sage through the high-pressure turbine environment
was more lethal than earlier believed. In addition,
slow-moving water in reservoirs delayed the physi-
ologically important migration to saltwater.
Fish encountered these problems at all of the
dams where passage was provided. Research revealed
where and how fish approached the dams, passed
through them, and whether they survived. This has
© Northwest Power and Conservation Council
led to ongoing improvements in passage facilities and
river operations to assist passage.
In addition to dam passage, other factors affect
survival (predation, harvest, straying, injuries or dis-
ease). While juvenile passage survival at Bonneville
Dam is about 96%, survival declines as a function of
how many dams fish must pass. In 2014, for example,
estimated juvenile survival through the eight dams of
the lower Snake and Columbia rivers was 49.7% for
Snake River yearling Chinook salmon and 77.1% for
Snake River steelhead. For the 2008-2012 period, the
average adult passage survival upstream past the same
eight dams ranged from 70.9% to 97%, depending on Adult salmon and steelhead
can travel up the Columbia
the species.
River past dams for about
877 kilometers, and up the
Increasing passage survival for the future. Al- Columbia’s major tributary,
though newer small dams are possible, it is unlikely the Snake River, for about
that additional large dams will be built in the Colum- 920 kilometers
© Portland District, U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers
bia River Basin. Some 71,000 kilometers of streams
and rivers in the Columbia Basin are protected from
hydroelectric development in order to prevent major
negative impacts that could not be reversed.
However, hydropower will continue to be the
major source of electricity in the Pacific Northwest,
and salmon and steelhead will continue to be the
most important fish species in the region. In 2014,
more than 2.5 million
Juvenile Bypass Schematic adult salmonids were Over time, passage survival on the Columbia Ri-
counted at Bonneville ver and its major tributary the Snake River has
Today, juvenile fish passage routes at the main- Dam, a record since improved as research, monitoring and evaluation
stem Columbia and Snake River dams include: counting began there has informed decisions about new passage faci-
• Spill: Spilling water and fish over dams and thus in 1938. While the lities, modifications of existing structures and
away from turbines is generally the safest method record is good news river operations.
• Surface passage: Specially designed spillway demonstrating that
weirs take advantage of natural migration pat- fish clearly are passing dams successfully in the
terns – juvenile salmonids tend to migrate in the Columbia River Basin, there is more work to do.
top 3-9 meters of the water column Fishery managers and dam operators will continue
• Screened bypass systems: These facilities guide to look for ways to increase dam-passage survival.
fish away from turbines and into bypass channels
by means of submerged screens installed in front John Harrison is the Information Officer for the Northwest
of turbine intakes Power and Conservation Council, www.nwcouncil.org. Two officials
• Barging: When river conditions are poor – warm of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Portland District ,http://www.
water, low flow – fish are collected from bypass nwp.usace.army.mil
system outfalls and transported downriver past Diana Fredlund, Public Affairs Specialist, and Brad Eppard,
Chief, Fish Passage Section, Environmental Resources Branch, also
the dams in specially designed barges
contributed to this article.
DANUBE WATCH 9
Rivers, wetlands and groundwater are highly interconnected.
© ICPDR
When river water is high, it infiltrates into the groundwater
system, and in dry periods groundwater recharges wetlands
and river flows, helping to prevent drought.
Groundwater:
the river’s
invisible twin
A vital source of drinking wa-
ter and water for irrigation,
groundwater also feeds rivers
all year round. However, becau-
se it is hidden away below the
surface, groundwater is extre-
mely susceptible to pollutants
and over-extraction.
Groundwater is largely invisible; we often Surface water and groundwater tend to from cities, fertilisers and pesticides from
ignore it or take it for granted. But the be highly interconnected. When the river agriculture, or chemicals leaching from
truth is that groundwater has incredibly surface water level is high, river water in- contaminated industrial waste sites.
important values for people, industry and filtrates into the groundwater system. This Pollution can reach groundwater reserves
the environment throughout the Danube is especially true during high flows, when in many ways, such as through direct
River Basin. And to maintain those values, both the river and adjoining floodplains discharge from a point-source to a water
it desperately needs our constant pro- and meadows can become flooded. In drier body, or indirect discharge through soil
tection. periods, groundwater can help recharge infiltration. As a result, some groundwa-
wetlands and even river flows, acting as ter sources cannot be used without prior
Nearly 72% of all drinking water consumed treatment. As for groundwater quantity,
in the Danube River Basin is produced Nearly 72% of all drinking water consu- the main pressure is excessive abstraction
from groundwater sources, serving an over- med in the Danube River Basin is produ- by users, such as for drinking water or
all population of some 59 million people. ced from groundwater sources, serving agriculture.
Groundwater also provides much-needed an overall population of some 59 million
water for agricultural irrigation, and it is an people. The international response. Ensuring that
important resource for other industrial ac- groundwater in the Danube River Basin is
tivities. Applications for cooling and heating a buffer and thereby helping to prevent monitored and protected is an important
also often depend on groundwater sources. drought. This exchange includes quantities goal of the Danube River Protection Con-
Alongside its multiple benefits for peo- of water as well as concentrations of po- vention has been one of the main issues
ple, it has become increasingly clear that tential pollutants in the water that might managed by the ICPDR and its Ground-
groundwater should be protected for its en- be transferred. water Task Group. All Danube countries,
vironmental values. Its essential role in the whether they are EU Member States or not,
basin’s hydrological cycle brings numerous Groundwater faces many threats. The are fully involved, demonstrating the joint
environmental goods and services, such as main risk to groundwater quality comes interest of all countries in the basin to en-
providing livelihood for wildlife species. from pollution – such as untreated sewage sure the protection and proper management
10 DANUBE WATCHUse of Groundwater for Drinking Water Production in DRBD
Praha
Naab
Main-Donau Olomouc
GERMANY CZECH POLAND
Svra
Kanal
Mo
REPUBLIC
tk
Regensburg
ra
a
h
Labo
va
Stuttgart Ingolstadt Brno Vá
Hornád
rec
Ulm Dyje
Isa
r
Thaya S L O VA K I A Košice
Augsburg UKRAINE
u Uzhgorod
D ona München
Latorica
Prut
Inn Chernivtsy
á
Lech
ra
March
Linz
Slan
Bratislava og
d
Sajó
Nit
un dr Si
rn á
on
Tra Ty re
Don a u Bo s t
Hr
He
Jijia
Salzburg
Ipel'
Tis
za a
REPUBLIC OF
Sz
Wien un Miskolc
D
a
Ipoly MOL D OVA
m
aj Tisa
Suceava
Enn
Som
yó
os
Neusiedler
Zagyva
Nyíregyháza es Botoşani
rett
See / Fertő-tó Tisza-tó Baia Mare Mo
s
Inn Rábca D una Debrecen Satu Mare ldo
-B e
Salzach Győr re va Chişinău
Ma
Ra
Innsbruck AUSTRIA ul Bi
ágy
Ba
bn
Répce es st
r r it
itz
Mur că m
Székesfehérvár ó So a
rtob
SWITZERLAND et t
y u Iaşi
Ra
Budapest r Oradea
Be Mures
ab
Ho
a
áb
Dr Graz Kecskemét Cluj-Napoca Piatra Neamţ
Bâ
R
au Sió Sebes-Körös CCrişul Rep Bacău
as
r
ede
la
Zala r iş
I TA LY rm Târgu Mureş Tro
d
Há r ö s ul
Ke
Balaton Ne t us
M Kö
t to
gr
Ialpug
ur
HUNGARY
s
a Crisu u
-K
l Alb
Prut
Ljubljana
Sir
a
or
Tarnav
o
Sa Maro
e
Szeged
s
D Arad
t
v s
Olt
a ra
va ş
re
ur g
Mu
Tisa
Focşani
ug lpu
SLOVENIA Zagreb Pécs
i
lu
maa Kanal Dunav- Timişoara Bega
Ya
Čeessm
Č Tisa-Dunav Sibiu Braşov Galaţi
ej
eg
K
Adriatic Kolpa
C R O AT I A ni
B ROMANIA ză
u Kagul
Kupa ov Bu Brăila
Sea Osijek Pl
Tim
D un Lacul
na Sava av Râmnicu
iş
U Ploieşti Buzău Razim
iš Vâlcea
Novi Sad m Piteşti
Ta
Banja Luka Drobeta- Ialomiţa Lacul
Brčko
Bosna
Sava Turnu Severin Ar Sinoie
g eş
Jiu
Bijeljina Bucureşti
Un
Vrbas
a
Velika
ea
Sana
Olt
ăr
Drin
LEGEND Beograd
a
Craiova
D un Constanţa
Use of Groundwater for Drinking Water Production in DRBD BOSNIA AND SERBIA Ve
d Canal Dunărea-
Morav
ea
HERZEGOVINA Z Kragujevac ok
Marea Neagră
91 -100 % Sarajevo
ap
ad Tim
a
na Ruse
71 - 90 % M o ra
51 - 70 % va
r in
a
st
a Dunav
go
Li
31 - 50 % D
m
O
a
Niš Niš Black
Ibar
Yantr
Ju
0 - 30 % av a Pleven
žn
Cities: ar Sea
Isk
aM
ava
BULGARIA
o ra
Danube River Basin District !
( 100,000 - 250,000 inhabitants Nish
MONTENEGRO Sofia
va
Danube River ) 250,000 - 1,000,000 inhabitants
"
Podgorica
Tributaries (with catchment area > 4,000 km²) > 1,000,000 inhabitants
Lake water bodies (with surface area > 100 km²)
Transitional water bodies ALBANIA FYR OF
²
0 45 90 180 Kilometers
Coastal water bodies MACEDONIA
Canals
Scale: 1 : 4,500,000
National borders
(Scale 1: 6,000,000 in A4 landscape paper format)
This map illustrates the NVZ data available as of 2015 - provided by the countries under the European Commission's reporting requirements for the EU Nitrates Directive. www.icpdr.org
This ICPDR product is based on national information provided by the Contracting Parties to the ICPDR (AT, BA, BG, CZ, DE, HR, HU, MD, RO, RS, SI, SK, UA) and CH, except for the following: EuroGlobalMap v2.1 from EuroGeographics was used for national borders of AT, CZ, DE, HR, HU, MD, RO, SI, SK and UA;
ESRI data was used for national borders of AL, ME, MK; Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) from USGS Seamless Data Distribution System was used as topographic layer; data from the European Commission (Joint Research Center) was used for the outer border of the DRBD of AL, IT, ME and PL.
Vienna, November 2015
Nearly 72% of all drinking water consumed in the Danube
be no groundwater overexploitation). Overall, transboundary and integrated
River Basin is produced from groundwater sources, serving Furthermore, achieving good status is not river basin management is needed, as water
an overall population of some 59 million people. only relevant from the perspective of hu- does not respect administrative or political
man uses, but also for the health of aquatic boundaries and moves continuously above
and terrestrial ecosystems that depend on and below the surface within the hydro-
groundwater. logical cycle, from one reservoir to another
of groundwater. Over the years, the ICPDR (e.g. from air to rivers, lakes, oceans, wet-
and Danube countries have successfully Over the years, the Danube coun- lands, soil and aquifers). Continuous moni-
identified 11 transboundary groundwater tries have identified 11 transboundary toring and periodic reviews and reporting,
bodies of basin-wide importance. They groundwater bodies of basin-wide im- including public participation, are required
have also formulated basin-wide visions portance, and have formulated basin- to achieve the overall goals in due time.
regarding the pollution of groundwater and wide visions regarding the pollution of In the Danube River Basin Manage-
its sustainable use. groundwater and its sustainable use. ment Plan the ICPDR developed such a
programme which will ensure that the
Meeting EU water legislation. The Danube Broadly speaking, the comprehensive water use is appropriately balanced and
countries have been actively taking steps to WFD aims at preventing deterioration, does not exceed the available groundwater
achieve the objectives of the EU’s Water and enhancing, restoring and protecting resource, considering future impacts of
Framework Directive (WFD) and the more Europe’s surface and groundwater bodies climate change and that the emissions of
specific Groundwater Directive. The WFD through a challenging set of actions. It polluting substances would not cause any
requires Member States to achieve a ‘good requires the identification, characterisa- deterioration of groundwater quality.
status’ for all waters in the EU by 2015. tion and review of the impacts of human
This includes a good status for all Danube activities. To achieve the demanding WFD Igor Liska is the Technical Expert for Water Quality
basin groundwater bodies – in terms of objectives, a comprehensive programme and Water Management at the ICPDR Secretariat.
chemicals (i.e. the water should be clean) of measures is essential to address exist-
and in terms of quantity (i.e. there should ing and expected groundwater problems.
DANUBE WATCH 11From the six native
Danube sturgeon species
- some of which migrated
as far as Regensburg on
the Upper Danube - one
is already extinct, one is
functionally extinct, three
are on the verge of extinc-
tion and one is considered
threatened.
Sturgeons are a natural heritage of the Protecting migration routes. One of the
Danube River Basin and a flagship species most significant – and literal – obstacles
signalling the health of the habitats and sturgeons must overcome is the Iron Gates
ecosystems of the river and its tribu- Dams I and II, which interrupt their mi-
taries. The dramatic decline of sturgeon gration route. To gather dataabout how to
populations in recent years has captured operate effective fish passes so the dams
the attention of the Danube countries, could be reopened, a one-year preparatory
and several projects across the basin are project was conducted this year, funded by
working to protect these ‘living fossils’. the European Investment Bank.
The project tested equipment to achieve
Fighting overexploitation. Although most the prevision required to track sturgeon
sturgeon caviar today comes from aquacul- positioning in relation to turbines at the
ture facilities, caviar from poached sturgeon Iron Gates Dam II. Results showed radio
still finds its way to the market. A three- telemetry to be ineffective in the high radio
year project to fight sturgeon over-exploita- noise environment, however new acoustic
tion, jointly financed by the EU and WWF, telemetry equipment allowed researchers
has recently ended. Called ‘Joint actions to to estimate the receiver’s distance from fish
raise awareness on overexploitation of Dan- carrying the transmitter – impossible a year
ube sturgeons in Romania and Bulgaria’, before – and project leaders in Romania
the project worked with fishermen, law held hands-on training in acoustic telem-
enforcement agencies and the aquaculture etry for teams from Bulgaria and Serbia.
industry to reduce illegal fishing in those
countries with the last viable populations
of sturgeons in the Danube.
© Tihomir Stefanov
Thanks to the project, local sturgeon
advocates in Bulgaria and Romania have
raised the awareness of fishermen about
sturgeon conservation and informed them
about alternative sources of income. Project
workshops for law enforcement authorities
have helped add information and capac-
ity to control illegal fishing, smuggling
and trading, and plans are in the works
to develop the first wildlife crime unit in
Bulgaria. Furthermore, eight aquaculture
farms in Bulgaria and Romania have com-
mitted to protect wild sturgeons beyond As part of the project, a study com- A male beluga sturgeon is tagged at Dunavtsi,
legal requirements. “The key to protecting pared genes of beluga sturgeons migrating near Vidina, Bulgaria, as part of a project to track
sturgeon positioning in relation to turbines at the
sturgeons is to inform and train the central to the Iron Gates with those spawning fur- Iron Gates Dam II..
stakeholders,” says project leader Jutta ther downstream. Though researchers ex-
Jahrl from WWF Austria. pected the two groups to differ, the genetic
A follow-up project has been submitted comparison showed that fish migrating to
to expand sturgeon protection activities into the Iron Gates are quite similar to the ones
Serbia and the Ukrainian Danube Delta. living and spawning farther downstream.
However, the current fishing ban in place This project will form the basis for a
in Bulgaria and Romania expires on 31 De- three-year project, also to be funded by
cember 2015. With no defined protection the European Investment Bank, to study
measures by the governments beyond this, it the behaviour of sturgeons and other
is unclear how long the success of the project migratory fish at the Iron Gates dams and
can last. reservoirs.
12 DANUBE WATCH© Lubomir Hlasek
Fighting
for the
sturgeons
Once present in large numbers in the Danube River Basin, stur-
geons today face threats from overfishing and illegal marketing,
disruption of spawning migration, and habitat loss due to river
engineering. Although they have outlived the dinosaurs, it’s not
clear how much longer they can survive without urgent help.
Preserving genetic diversity. The Danube from 2016 to 2020, will be finalised in a the Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic
Sturgeon Task Force was established in few months. Ecosystem Management at the University
2012 to support the implementation of the However, the ex-situ conservation of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sci-
Sturgeon 2020 programme. A new project, programme is not designed to function on ences (BOKU) of Vienna, with partners
funded by the EU Strategy for the Danube its own. The programme will be effective from the Viennese governmental body for
Region’s START programme, is targeting only if accompanied by an extension of the river and waters (MA45 Wiener Gewässer)
one of the key topics of Sturgeon 2020: current sturgeon fishing ban, a system of and the Institute of Zoology at the Slovak
Ex-situ Survey to Preserve Sturgeon Ge- compensation for fishermen affected by Academy of Sciences.
netic Diversity in the Middle and Lower the ban, enhanced cooperation with law The LIFE-Sterlet project will create a
Danube (Sturgene). enforcement organisations to reduce illegal genetic inventory of available brood stocks
The Sturgene project will obtain an fishing as well as a conservation programme and establish a breeding container on the
overview of existing facilities, brood- to protect and restore natural habitats. All Danube Island in Vienna. Using water
stock and expertise and then develop a of these activities are vital to the success of and sediments from the Danube, several
roadmap for ex-situ conservation in the the Sturgene project – and indeed to saving hundred thousand eggs will be hatched
Danube Basin, while mobilising further the sturgeons – and should be high priori- each year and reared with natural food and
political and public support for sturgeon ties for governments in 2016. exposure to predators.
conservation. Measures will focus first Starting in 2017, the project will re-
on the Lower and Middle Danube, where Restoring natural populations. Restocking stock several thousand juveniles into three
wild migratory sturgeons still exist and programmes have been largely unsuccessful sites – the Morava River and the Wachau
Sturgene intends to secure their diversity at producing self-sustaining populations of Valley and Donau-Auen National Park on
and stem the decline in their population. wild sturgeons partly because fish born out the Austrian Danube – and specimens will
However, the aim is to create facilities of natural habitats do not ‘imprint’ on the be monitored by telemetry transmitters to
producing sturgeon fingerlings and sup- river and are unable to use homing behav- gain a better understanding of habitat use.
porting restocking programmes all along iour to locate spawning sites. The project will run until 2021.
the Danube to reintroduce sturgeons This challenge is being tackled by a
in natural habitats and establish self- new project, called ‘Restoration of sterlet Kirstie Shepherd is a freelance journalist living in
sustaining populations. A roadmap for the populations in the Austrian Danube’ Vienna and has called the Danube River Basin home
since 2000.
project, the first phase of which will run (LIFE-Sterlet). The project is organised by
DANUBE WATCH 13Danube:Future, achieving In the Danube River Basin, environmental challenges
such as pollution, interventions into natural cycles
integrated sustainable or invasive species are connected to economic and
social inequalities leading to a brain drain of much-
development in the needed expertise, among other things. Sustainable
development is key to the prosperous future of the
Danube River Basin region, and the basic requirement for this future is
a balanced integration of environmental, economic
and social needs. Such integration is underdevelo-
Rivers are neither cultural nor natural spaces; they are
ped and hampered by conflicting environments.
socio-natural sites, where the interplay of humans with
the environment has taken place over long periods. A new In July 2015, the ‘Danube:Future White Paper on
white paper aims to develop interdisciplinary research Integrated Sustainable Development of the Danube
River Basin’ was published. The white paper, which
and education in the basin as a basis to solve pressing
deals with the future of research and education in
environmental issues and secure a sustainable future for the Danube River Basin, was prepared in a bottom-
the region. up process that involved an interdisciplinary group
of researchers from most of the Danube countries. In
the Danube River Basin, sustainable development can
build on a diverse natural and cultural heritage, natural
resources and on tertiary education excellence. It can
exert a basin-wide positive impact on migration, re-
14 DANUBE WATCH© Mair/ICPDR
© WWF/Jutta Jahrl
The White Paper duce brain drain and multi-disciplinary investigation of biodiversity, pro-
foster environmental, tected areas and ecosystem services.
The white paper is an activity of economic and social
Danube:Future, a flagship project of Priority justice. But a long- Looking ahead. Horizon 2020 challenges can and
Area VII of the Danube Strategy, and aims term perspective is should be tackled in a form adapted to the specific
to support the member universities of indispensable. Such a challenges of the macro region as identified in the
the Danube Rectors´ Conference and the perspective can shed Danube Strategy. All Horizon 2020 challenges exhibit
Alps-Adriatic-Rectors´ Conference in their light on how socie- emergent properties, resulting in a fundamental un-
efforts to promote a sustainable knowledge ties and their envi- predictability; risk management involving stakehold-
society. Danube:Future can offer a range of ronments have inter- ers becomes key. Decision making under conditions of
services to institutions active in the Danube acted and co-evolved uncertainty has always been a major challenge for all
River Basin. It can connect scientists from in past centuries and societies and research has to tackle the non-linearity
different domains and offer contacts to offer perspectives for of complex and interrelated human-ecological systems.
a variety of networks acting in the region, alternative ways of Long-term socio-ecological research is necessary to
which helps to increase awareness of action. deal successfully with the legacies and raise the value
ongoing activities. Danube:Future can also of heritage for sustainable development. Due to the di-
provide access to new knowledge, support- Transitioning to versity of potentials and challenges characterising the
ing the protection of the Danube Basin as sustainability. Inter- Danube River Basin, the macro-region can become a
an ecological system while at the same time disciplinary coop- laboratory for forward-looking, international research
ensuring ecosystem services and maintain- eration in research is and education.
ing the diverse cultures of the region. required to support a
transition to sustain- For more about the Danube:Future project, please
ability. In particular, visit: www.danubefuture.eu. To download a copy
the humanities have of the white paper, visit: http://www.danubefu-
not been stimulated ture.eu/sites/default/files/DanubeFuture_White-
A humanities’ perspective enough to bring their expertise to the needed portfolio Paper.pdf.
on the effects of global cli- of knowledge. The authors of the white paper iden-
mate change and mitigation
tified the integration of cultural and natural heritage Gertrud Haidvog is senior scientist at the Institute of Hydrobi-
options is urgently needed,
as legacies of the past play
and legacy challenges between and across disciplines ology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management, University of Natural
Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria, and deputy coordinator
a crucial – but currently as the most promising avenue to improve the sustain-
of Danube:Future.
underestimated – role in the ability of the Danube River Basin macro-region.
study of possible sustainable
futures.
Verena Winiwarter is Professor of Environmental History and Dean
Civil society and independent media – but also govern- of the Faculty for Interdisciplinary Studies, Alpen-Adria-Universität
ments – have key roles improving sustainability. Uni- Klagenfurt Wien Graz, Austria, and coordinator of Danube:Future.
versity study and training based on regional strengths
can support economic development and societal inte-
gration. The white paper introduces key topics and
principles of research and education and offers policy
recommendations at the national and European levels.
Cross-discipline approaches combined with a long-
term perspective will contribute to better understand-
ing and help tackle present and future challenges. The
EU Strategy for the Danube Region and the objectives
of the European research agenda have been accounted
for in the recommendations, encompassing sub-region-
ally defined sustainability training and education, the
bridging of diverse and often conflicting cultures, and
DANUBE WATCH 15The lack of sanitation, sew-
age networks and treatment
contributes roughly 75% of
the liquid waste the river
has to cope with.
Saving a sacred river
An Indo-German cooperation project is bringing experts from
the Danube and the Ganga rivers together to share knowledge
and experiences on protecting these unique rivers to help river
basins achieve their shared goals.
The waters of the Ganga River (commonly and in some stretches the conditions of the spring 2014. With efforts to foster inter-
known as the Ganges) rise in the Himala- river have even deteriorated. sectoral cooperation to manage the river
yas, from some of the highest peaks on Wastewater generation has increased basin, sharing experiences with other river
Earth. What’s more, the Ganga has signifi- and even partly exceeded new treatment basin commissions (such as for the Rhine,
cant religious importance, and is a lifeline capacities thereby keeping the share of Elbe and Danube) has been beneficial.
to all who live along its banks. However the treated urban wastewater below 50%. The
Ganga Basin is one of the most intensely main source of wastewater is municipal Learning from the ICPDR. The preparation
inhabited regions, home to 450 million wastewater from the people living in the for the Second Danube River Basin Man-
people, with the result that the river’s river basin. The lack of sanitation, sewage agement Plan – to be adopted in December
© Ivanov
water over much of its course is highly networks and treatment contributes rough- – provided an excellent opportunity for
polluted. ly 75% of the liquid waste the rivers have the NMCG to gain insight into how the
to cope with. Another source of pollution ICPDR steers the complex task of coordi-
The National Ganga River Basin Authority stems from industry, mostly small scale nating 14 countries to manage a large river
(NGRBA) was established to provide more industries, such as pulp & pa-
focused attention on cleaning the river. The per and tanneries. Solid waste
© Bark
NGRBA’s objectives are to decrease pol- is another harmful source of
lution effectively and conserve the Ganga pollution, ranging from non-
River by adopting a river basin approach to degradable plastic to human
promote coordinated planning and manage- bodies, clogging the few exist-
ment. The NGRBA also aims to ensure wa- ent sewage networks and the
ter quality and environmentally sustainable riverbed. Additionally, non-
development. point sources of pollution,
The National Mission for Clean Ganga such as runoffs from agricul-
(NMCG) – under the Ministry for Water ture in the form of fertilisers,
Resources, River Development and Ganga pesticides, livestock and liquid
Rejuvenation – implements the mandate waste, among others.
of the NGRBA at the national level. State Other reasons for the
Level Programme Management Groups river’s degradation are issues
from the five states located along the main of quantity. A tremendous
stream of the Ganga River (Uttar Pradesh, amount of water is being
Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand and West abstracted from the river (according to basin. There are lessons to learn from this
Bengal – with a total population of 400 the World Bank almost 90%), mainly for challenge for the coordination of the Fed-
million people) are responsible for the agricultural use. In addition, the increas- eral States and the Central Government in
more detailed project management – such ing construction of hydropower plants and India within the Ganga River Basin.
as planning or selection – and for achieving their operations are changing the hydro- A representative and expert from
monitoring and evaluation results. morphology and flow of the river. NMCG went to Vienna for 10 days in
Fortunately, however, Ganga rejuvena- September 2015 and was told about the
Further degradation of the river. Despite tion efforts have gained momentum with ICPDR and its history, to the Danube
all efforts, however, the situation of the the establishment of the NamamiGange River Basin and the ICPDR contracting
Ganga River is still critical. In general, the (“Clean Ganga”) umbrella programme by parties. He also learned about the ICPDR's
stresses on the river have not been reduced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, elected in legal framework, objectives and tools,
16 DANUBE WATCH© Bark
as operational and surveillance monitor- participation and communication. The visit
ing, status analysis, joint programme of was organised and financed through the The Ganga River at a glance
measures, and methods of public consulta- Indo-German cooperation project ‘Advice
tion and participation. The visit included and knowledge exchange on river basin Length: 2,525 km
trips to the Slovak Hydrometeorological management’. Source: Gaumukh (Gangotri Glacier)
Institute in Bratislava, the Waste Water Major tributaries: Batwa, Chambal,
Treatment Plant in Vienna, the Ministry Lessons from the Danube. Learning more Damodar, Gandak, Ganga, Ghagra,
of Water, Environment Agriculture and about the EU Water Framework Directive Gomti, Hindon, Kali, Khan, Kosi, Kshipra,
Forestry in Vienna, and the Schloss Orth and the Floods Directive and how they Ramganga and Yamuna rivers
National Park. form the core basis of ICPDR was ex- Basin size: 1,080,000km2
The objective of this ‘on-the-job-train- tremely useful. In addition, the ICPDR’s Drainage area: 861,404km2
ing’ visit was to learn about the key chal- monitoring activities are fairly refined and Population in the basin: 450 million
lenges of river basin planning, assessment the GIS database is quite strong and hence
and management in the Danube River the results can be better visualised and Ganga every six years along the lines of
Basin. Of particular interest were issues presented than by NMCG. the Joint Danube Survey.
of water quality, river hydromorphology Perhaps one of the biggest payoffs
and the biological and technical interaction from the experience is the ICPDR’s largest For more about the Ganga River and
of surface and groundwater, cross-sectoral activity. The Joint Danube Survey, the big- the Ganga River Basin Authority,
perspectives, impacts generated by other gest river expedition in the world, which please visit: www.moef.nic.in/sites/
sectors like hydropower, inland naviga- has been carried out every six years, is a default/files/ngrba/index.html.
tion and agriculture, which – in relation to useful exercise and provides valuable in-
ecosystem health – have a significant influ- formation on the status of the Danube and Babu Nair is an expert in policy interventions at
ence on the river. Other topics addressed the results of activities undertaken. Thanks NMCG. Kerstin Bark is an independent consultant
during the visit weremonitoring, including to the visit to the ICDPR, there are inten- for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusam-
tions in India to try to stage a survey of merarbeit (GIZ), coordinating the project ‘Advice and
biological monitoring, data assessment and
knowledge exchange on river basin management’.
management, GIS, governance, stakeholder the Ganga River to ascertain the status of
DANUBE WATCH 17Taking hydromorphology
assessments for a test drive
Natural conditions vary greatly across the Danube River Basin, so naturally assessment
standards must be tailored for each country. Sharing experiences on the methodologies used
can help countries develop the right approach about for them.
Collecting information on hydromorphological pressures
is needed for a range of WFD requirements, including
© Agency for the Water District of the River
water body delineation, identification of heavily modified
or artificial water bodies, pressure and impact analysis,
setting monitoring standards, developing biological assess-
ment methods and developing a programme of measures.
Sava, Bosnia and Herzegovina
information on the spot, which is vital
for planning a programme of measures.
Strict or flexible. A method used in
Hungary assesses nine parameters:
channel section, extent of artificial
Learning from the field material, erosion or deposition, impact
of water abstraction, impact of water
The first method tested was a discharges, longitudinal continuity,
Good hydromorphology is essential to pragmatic approach used in Austria. bank structures and modifications,
meet the requirements of the EU Water This methodology divides the catch- adjacent land-use and floodplain
Framework Directive (WFD), which re- ment into 500m stretches, assessing connectivity. This methodology was
quires that waters must provide good each stretch using two parameters: the strictest of the approaches
conditions, such as migration routes and bank dynamics and river bed dynamics. presented, as the worst result of all of
sustainable habitats, for natural species Although this provides only a rough the parameters is taken for the entire
to live in good health. classification of the river, it is possible assessment.
to cover the whole river net of the The European Committee for
“The main challenge is to establish the country using this approach. Standardisation method assesses
way to regularly assess hydromorphologi- The next was an approach used in ten parameters: channel geometry,
cal changes and their link to aquatic spe- Slovakia taking precise measurements substrates, channel vegetation and
cies and habitats,” says Dragana Ninkovic, of eight key indicators: river planform, organic debris, erosion and deposition
Lead Research Engineer at the JAROSLAV habitat diversity, flow regime and character, flow, longitudinal continuity,
CERNI Institute for the development of dynamics, sediment and fish continuity, bank structure and modifications, veg-
Water Resources in Belgrade, Serbia. “Since local channel morphology, later con- etation on adjacent land and river and
there’s no exact (mathematical, numerical, nectivity, riparian zone and floodplain. floodplain connectivity. This shows how
etc.) method, it is a real challenge to bal- An index calculated for the individual the status of a particular parameter
ance between strict and mild rating which river stretch is then applied to the affects the whole water body, but does
both can cause wrong assessment and thus whole territory. While time consuming, not provide specific information about
inappropriate measures.” this method provides very detailed the location of pressures.
In a survey prepared for the ICPDR
Hydromorphology Workshop held this The field work allowed participants to see some criticism which made sense – things
September in Vienna, only half the Dan- the advantages and disadvantages of each that I hadn’t really thought of before,”
ube countries responding had developed an approach first hand, as well as the opportu- says Helena Mühlmann at the Austrian
assessment methodology for all the WFD nity to discuss the level of accuracy needed Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry,
hydromorphology quality elements. To for specific conditions in each country. “Al- Environment and Water Management. A
help countries develop one, the workshop though all approaches are country-specific,” background paper on all the approaches
presented several different approaches and says Ninkovic, “Serbia can use experience presented will be distributed next year.
took workshop participants out in the field gained from each of them.”
to the Pielach River in Lower Austria to The experience also proved valuable to Kirstie Shepherd is a freelance journalist living in
test drive four of the methodologies. countries which had already developed a Vienna and has called the Danube River Basin home
since 2000.
methodology. “It was very interesting to get
18 DANUBE WATCHYou can also read
