Integrated water resources management - basin approach at the

rivers Danube, Tisza and Sava in accordance to EU Water Framework Directive

Prof Jovan Despotović1, Marko Pavlović2 MSc

1 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Civil Engineering2 Republic Hydrometeo Service of Serbia

Belgrade, Novi Sad, March 2012

Legal instrument for co-operation and an integrated transboundary water resourses management

In December 2004, representatives of the five Tisza countries under ICPDR umbrella signed the

Memorandum of Understanding after which Tisza Group was established.

In 2001 four former Republics in SFR Yugoslavia entered the process of negotiations which led to creation of the

Framework Agreement for the Sava River Basin (FASRB) and establishment of the ISRBC.

In June 1994 nine Contracting Parties signed Convention on Cooperation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of Danube River (DRPC) that led to establishment of the

ICPDR.

On the 14th of December 2009 the first integrated basin management plan for the Danube river was officially approved by the

Contracting Parties

Plan for the Tisza River Basin was introduced to the ICPDR representatives in December 2010

Final draft version of the Sava River Basin Plan is currently in the phase of public participation

which will last till 21 April 2012

Integrated River Basin Management Plans

increase the risk of

Integrated water management schemebased on TRB but proposed for the SRB

Industrial activities

Urban development

Renewable Energy Directive

(Common) Agricultural Policy

Environmental Protection Policies

Measures under the WFD

Land use management

Climate

changeScarcity and

droughts

Organic pollution

N/P/pest. pollution

Priority substances

Hydro-morphological alterations

Navigation

Qualitative status

Quantitative status

Overall status of a water

body

defines

influences

define

influences

impact

defines release of

results in

Infrastructure, structures, traffic

Legend

SWMI

Policy areas Water status

Natural/human events

Floods Sediment FIP

define

Water Demands

Hydro Peaking

Floods DirectiveNavigation Directive

Protocol on the Navigation Regime

Protocol on Flood Protection

Protocol on Sediment Management

Diffuse pollution

Tourism

Danube Basin Analysis Report enabled the identification of the four SWMIs of a basin wide importance:

• Organic • Nutrient

• Hazardous substances pollution • Hydromorphological alterations

Tisza Analysis Report presented additional issues regarding groundwater, water scarcity, droughts and

floods

As added value, final draft of the SRBMP included special chapter related to the integration of water protection with

other developments in the basin

Significant Water Management Issues

Key findings

Organic pollution in the DRB is mainly caused by the emission of partially treated

or untreated wastewater from agglomerations, industry and agriculture.

Nutrient pollution comprehends mainly pollution from phosphorus and nitrogen

input.

Point and diffuse source discharges are to be distinguished.

The shares of pollution for the DRB from settlements in represent 27 % and 53 %

for N and P respectively.

Portion of agriculture for DRB is 39 % for N and 32 % for P.

The most dominant pathway from diffuse pollution into the surface water for nitrogen

is groundwater and for phosphorus it is erosion.

Key findings DRB

Main source of nutrient pollution in the TRB is agriculture with 49% of N and 21 % of P followed by 30% of N and70% of P originating from urban sources.

Key findings TRB

Source: Tisza River Basin Analysis Report, 2007

Key findings SRB

Nutrient pollution sources in the Sava river basin

Discharged Nt

t/a Discharged Pt

t/aUrban (agglomerations) sources

11,112 2,642

Industrial point sources (estimation)1,872 182

A.3 Point pollution sources from agriculture 32,400 3,784

Diffused pollution sources (risk assessment) 34,198 3,932

Sava RB Total (ref. year 2007) 79,582 10,540

MONERIS (ref. year 2004 -2005)114,000 8 ,900

Sava River nutrient balance38,000 – 85,000 1,800 – 6,900

Source: Final draft version 6.2 of the Sava River Basin Management Plan, 2011

A list of relevant hazardous substances was prepared by ICPDR.

In total 33 priority and 8 additional substances were identified with the

Danube Basin wide importance.

Same approach is used for the Tisza and the Sava Basin.

Key findings

• Three key hydromorphological pressure components of Danube basin-wide importance are identified:

• Interruption of river and habitat continuity• Disconnection of adjacent wetlands/floodplains

• Hydrological alterations

Key driving forces in hydromorphological pressure causing river and habitat continuity interruption in the Tisza river basin are mainly water supply and flood protection

The key driving forces causing hydromophological alterations in the Sava river basin are primarily

hydropower, water supply and flood protection

Key findings

Thank you for attention!