Database on transboundary waters

Dr. Rainer E. Enderlein

consultant

Replies to the questionnaire

Specific suggestions (11 countries):

Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia and Uzbekistan

Comments (2 countries):

France, Germany

Data and information on transboundary waters in the UNECE region

TRANSBOUNDARY WATERCOURSE, EUROPE

•Location, geomorphology, landscape, climate

•Water resources

•Formation of surface flow

•Surface water resources

•Lakes and depressions

•Groundwater:reserves and use

•Waste and drainage water

•Dams and hydropower

•Lands

•Irrigated lands

•Salinization and drainage

•The Aral Sea basin in figures

International river commissions with permanent secretariats or joint databases:

Rhine, Moselle/Saar, Elbe, Oder, Danube,Meuse, Scheldt, Chu-Talas, Sava, FI-RU

There are, however, 110 first order transboundary rivers in the region, not counting Northern America

Joint bodies on transboundary lakes:

Constance, Geneva, Maggiore, Lugano, Peipsi, Lugano, lake Emmonson, Finnish-Russian lakes, (and reservoirs between Portugal and Spain)

40 lakes –

7 commissions

Added value

Focus on transboundary water assessment

Coherent framework to address prevention, control and reduction of transboundary impact

Coverage of all major transboundary waters (rivers, lakes, groundwaters)

Added value

Focus on transboundary water assessment

Coherent framework to address prevention, control and reduction of transboundary impact

Coverage of all major transboundary waters (rivers, lakes, groundwaters)

Supplements WISE (EEA) for non-EU countries

Modular approach

(Water Convention (ECE), WISE (EEA), river commissions, lake commissions, other joint bodies, …..)

Phased approach (2007, 2009, 2012, 2015…)

Phased approach

First phase (2006-2009)

• Protection of surface water resources against pollution and overuse;

• Protection of groundwaters against pollution and overuse.

Phased approach

Second phase (beyond 2009)

• Accidental water pollution

• Prevention, protection and mitigation of floods

• Protection/sustainable use of water-related ecosystems

• Water management related information (Article 6, Protocol on Water and Health)

Queries in the database

• Transboundary agreements

• Transboundary basins and sub-basins

• Hydrology and general basin characteristics(Discharge characteristics, dams, water use by user groups (in the

basin, not nationally, as usual!), population density, land use)

Queries in the database

Pressure factors• Crop and animal production

• Mining and quarrying

• Manufacturing

• Electricity supply

• Sewerage

• Waste management

• Transportation (road, pipelines)

• Storage (including tailing dams)

• Tourism

• Geochemical processes or other natural pressure factors

Queries in the database

Specific pressure factors

Industrial accidents

Illegal discharges from industries

Queries in the database

Transboundary impact and trends (1)(Hazardous substances and pathogens in surface waters)

Organic matter from wastewater dischargesPathogens in wastewater dischargesNitrogen speciesPesticidesHeavy metalsIndustrial organic compoundsHydrocarbonsRadioactive substancesOthers

Queries in the database

Transboundary impact and trends (2)(Water quantity)

Flooding

Scarcity

Overuse

Queries in the database

Policies and actions

Legal, administrative, economic, financial, technical and other measures to establish integrated water resources management and achieve good status

The datasheets on transboundary rivers, lakes and groundwaters are at the root of the database.

The work will start with the existing datasheets. This involves communication between the secretariat and countries/joint bodies to avoid inconsistency in submitted data and information.