Aliaksandr Pakhomau

Belarus experience in transboundary
water management and prospects in
international ecological cooperation
within in Baltic Sea Region
Aliaksandr Pakhomau
Central Research Institute for
Complex Use of Water Resources
Minsk, Belarus
Catchment area
upstream states
(Central and Eastern
Europe Region):
Belarus: 83 850 km2
Ukraine: 11 170 km2
Czech Rep.: 7 190
km2
Slovakia: 1 950 km2
GIWA 2004 Regional
assessment 17
Transboundary basins in
Belarus
Western Dvina
Neman
Western Bug River
Transboundary basins in Belarus
Baltic
sea
basin
Бассейн
Черного
моря
Black
sea
basin
Припять
Main characteristics of water resources and water use in
the Baltic sea basin (Belarus)
Square , sq. кm2
Av. annual river flow, km3
Western Bug
10 046
1.4
Neman
32 400
6.6
Western Dvina
39 000
6.8
River basin
Structure of water discharge
into surface water objects
Structure of water use
Agricultural
water supply
11.34%
Fish farms
industry
10.08%
-13% from fish farming
Domestic
needs
43.52%
irrigation
0.52%
Industrial
needs
34.54%
- 7% from heat
-power engineering objects
1
2
3
4
-25% from industry
-55% from population
Western river basin
In the Western Dvina basin the water-ecological conditions have following features:
- Pollution of the river on an input in republic owing to anthropogenous influence on a watershed
within the Russian Federation;
- Necessity of the account of interests of the Latvian Republic according to international and to
bilateral agreements;
- Considerable water pollution by storm wastewaters;
- The essential contribution of other non-point sources to pollution of waters of the river and its
tributaries (from 30 to 80 % on various components);
- Allocation of sources of pollution around Novopolotsk;
- Necessity of the iron removal of the underground waters used for domestic-drinking water supply.
Western river basin
Riverine loads (transboundary
post Surazh – W.Dvina River )
Western river basin
Riverine loads
(transboundary post Dryja –
W.Dvina River )
Средние значения за 2004-2008 годы
Western river basin
Assessment of riverine loads
from territory of Belarus for
basin
Neman river basin
Water-ecological features of Neman River Basin:
- Absence of treatment facilities in some cities and the majority of settlements of city type;
-A contamination and sedimentation(muddying) of fishery ponds;
-- Prevailing influence of the non-point sources of pollution (from 40 to 90 %) on quality of waters of
the river and its tributaries;
- Significant export outflow for Viljja basin into the Dnepr river basin by the Vilejsko-Minsk water
system;
- Disorder manure removal, assignments and clearings of drains of cattle-breeding complexes;
- Necessity of protection of unique water objects (Narochansky lake group);
Neman river basin
Riverine loads
(transboundary post
Privalka – Neman River )
Neman river basin
Riverine loads
(transboundary post
Bystritsa – Viliya River )
Neman river basin
Assessment of riverine loads
from territory of Belarus for
basin
Western Bug River Basin
In the Western Bug basin the water-ecological
conditions have following features:
- Transboundary pollution by contaminants by channel
of the river arriving on a boundary alignment between
Ukraine (above on a current), Belarus (the right bank)
and Poland (the left bank); further pollution over
amplifies at the expense of receipt of polluting
substances on a boundary site of the river between
Belarus and Poland from intermediate watersheds of
these countries;
- Prevailing influence of the non-point sources of
pollution (from 60 to 90 %) on quality of waters of the
river and its tributaries;
- Pollution of the rivers the Western Bug and Muhavets
owing to transportation of cargoes by river transport
(the Dnepro-Bug channel is an element large
transboundary water transport system in a direction
Ukraine-Belarus-Poland);
Western Bug River Basin
Riverine loads
(transboundary post
Tomashevka – W.Bug River )
Средние значения за 2004-2008 годы
Western Bug River Basin
Riverine loads
(transboundary post
Novoselki – W.Bug River )
Средние значения за 2004-2008 годы
Western Bug River Basin
Riverine loads from territory
of Belarus for basin
Средние значения за 2004-2008 годы
National policy documents and state programmes in
sphere of protection and use of water resources in
Belarus
National Plan of Actions on rational use of natural resources
and environment protection in the Republic of Belarus for 20062010 years
Water Strategy until 2020
National Sustainable Development Strategy for the period up to
2020
Main environmental policies of the Republic of Belarus for the
period up to 2025
State Programme for water supply and sanitation “Clear water”
State Programme for Development National Monitoring System
of Environment in the Republic of Belarus for 2011-2015 years
Agreements
Bilateral and multilateral agreements
Bilateral and multilateral agreements name / title
Western Dvina-Daugava
The Agreement between the Government of the Republic Belarus and
the Government of Latvia about cooperation in environmental (signed in
21.02.1994)
The Agreement between the Government of Republic Belarus and the
Government of the Russian Federation about cooperation in
environmental (signed in 05.07.1994)
Project of the three lateral Agreement between the Governments of the
Republic of Belarus, Russian Federation, Latvian Republic about
cooperation in the field of water resources use and protection of the
Western Dvina-Daugava River basin. (on a stage of procedure
national coordination in countries).
Agreements
Bilateral and multilateral agreements
Bilateral and multilateral agreements name / title
Neman basin
The Agreement between Republic of Belarus and Lithuania about
cooperation in the field of environmental protection (14.04.1995)
Project of the three lateral Agreement between the Governments of the
Republic of Belarus, Lithuanian Republic and Russian Federation about
cooperation in the field of water resources use and protection of the
Neman River basin (on a stage of procedure national coordination in
countries).
Protocol of bilateral working group meeting of the experts from Belarus
and Lithuania on preparation of the coordinated common approach in field
of water quality assessment in Neman River Basin
Technical protocol between Ministry of Natural Resources and
Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus and
Ministry of Environment of Lithuanian Republic about cooperation
in the field of monitoring and data exchange about state of transboundary
water resources (2008)
Agreements
Bilateral and multilateral agreements
Bilateral and multilateral agreements name / title
Western Bug
The project of Agreement between Government of the Republic of
Belarus and Republic of Poland about cooperation in the field of water
resources use and protection of transboundary water objects under
preparation and interstate procedure of approval.
Belarus has prepared last version of Agreement and send to Poland in
June 2005.
Cooperation with intergovernmental organizations within
Baltic Sea Region
 HELCOM (Baltic Marine Protection Commission)
The Government of Republic Belarus has been an observer to
HELCOM since 1997.
Priority area for cooperation : transboundary pollution and data exchange,
Joint implementation of Baltic Sea Action Plan
Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)
Observer status since 1 July 2009
Priority area for cooperation :implementation of the projects on the
construction of treatment facilities, natural management, small
hydro energy
NDEP (Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership)
Belarus join NDEP as observer in Nov 2009
Priority area for cooperation : implementation of the projects on the
construction of treatment facilities as well reconstruction WWTP
Lists of international projects implemented in water
sector (Baltic Sea catchment area in Belarus )
Информация по проекту TACIS «Снижение сельскохозяйственного и
Name of the project
Project
промышленного загрязнения
рек: Улучшение качестваSponsoring
поверхностных
вод
organization
deadline
в бассейне реки Неман, Гродненская область, Беларусь»
Management of water resources in the Western Dvina Dvina
Tacis
April 2002
river basin
Reduction/elimination of ecological threat from the silt
Danish EPA
2002
accumulation
at
the
wastewater
treatment
facilities
of
the
city
of
Основной целью проекта было улучшение качества поверхностных вод в
Brest
бассейне реки Неман посредством совершенствования практики контроля за
Development
of transboundary
co-operation
on water
qualityБеларуси.
Tacis
December
качеством водных
ресурсов
в Гродненской
области
monitoring and assessment in the Bug river between Belarus
2002
and Poland
Для
реализации основной цели проекта были предложены следующие
Reducing Agricultural and Industrial River Pollution: Improving
Tacis
September
конкретные
этапы
направленные
на
долгосрочное
совершенствование
системы
Surface Water Quality in the Neman River Basin
2003
контроля за качеством вод в Гродненской области, расширение возможностей
Support to implementation of environment policies and NEAPs
Tacis
June 2004
для
трансграничного
сотрудничества
для
решения
трансграничных
проблем
и
in the NIS
выполнения международных обязательств в бассейне реки Неман, применение
Water legislation in the Republic of Belarus and WFD
OECD
October
на общенациональном уровне изменения в практике контроля за качеством
2003вод.
Development of the common approaches in assessment of the OECD
November
transboundary water quality for Belarus and EU countries.
2004
Information management system and infrastructures for the
transboundary Daugava/Zapadnaya Dvina and
Nemunas/Neman river basins
Transnational River Basin Districts on the Eastern Side of the
Baltic Sea Network – TRABANT
Swedish EPA
December
2007
INTERREG
IIIB TACIS
July 2008
Summary
Evaluating the practice of implementation of international projects in
the field of transboundary waters, it can be concluded that the most
significant barrier to the establishment of cooperation on
transboundary waters between the countries neighboring the Republic
of Belarus are as follows:
 Lack of budget financing of transboundary cooperation programs
 Different water management systems
 The absence of a full exchange of information on the state of the
environment and the plans for the use and protection of water
resources
in
the
national
parts
of
the
basin
Possible future actions in water sector
 Development of the complex monitoring systems (elaboration systems
of hydrobiological and hydromorphological monitoring) in the Belarus
 Improvement monitoring and ecological status assessment of the
transboundary rivers (Western Dvina, Neman, Viliya and Western Bug)
under EU Water Framework Directive approaches
 Development system of data processing and exchange
 Development of the mechanisms for the river basins management by
clear system for issuing permits for special water use
 Using the EU countries experience for implementation basin principle
of water resources management in the Belarus
Perspective proposals for cooperation (projects)

Development basin management plan for transboundary rivers
(Western Dvina, Neman, Western Bug)

Implementation modern technologies for the communal waste
water treatment

Utilization sludge's on the communal waste
stations

Implementation demonstration projects in agriculture sector for
introduction agricultural Best Environmental Practice (BEP) and
Best Available Technology (BAT) in Belarus

Elaboration and heading automated information system for
accident pollution on the Western Dvina and Neman rivers
water treatment
Future Cooperation within EU Strategy for the
Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR)
The European Commission (EC) adopted a Communication on the EU
Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) on 10 June 2009.
Addressing the environmental decline of the Baltic Sea is a high
priority of the Strategy.
The Action Plan of the Strategy comprises 15 priority areas which will
be implemented through detailed actions and flagship projects, i.e.,
projects with high significance for the priority area.
Finland together with Poland coordinates Priority area 1 “To reduce
nutrient inputs to the sea to acceptable levels”. Finland has also the
leadership of one of the flagship projects within the priority area
regarding cooperation with Russia and Belarus on regional pollution
risk assessment.
EUSBSR sets out to develop cooperation with Belarus in the context
of the Northern Dimension Environmental Partnership (NDEP) to
improve the ecological state of the Baltic Sea.
Flagship Project under Priority 1
«To reduce nutrient inputs to the sea to acceptable levels »
ASSESSMENT OF REGIONAL NUTRIENT POLLUTION LOAD
AND IDENTIFICATION OF PRIORITY PROJECTS TO REDUCE
NUTRIENT INPUTS FROM BELARUS TO THE BALTIC SEA
The overall objectives of the assessment is
(i) reduction of nutrient inputs to the Baltic Sea by implementing investments in
the context of the Northern Dimension, with particular consideration given to
such key sector areas as agriculture, municipal wastewaters, industry, e.g.,
production and use of detergents containing phosphorus;
(ii) building of local capacity in project preparation and mobilisation of financing;
(iii) building of local capacity in the assessment of nutrient pollution sources, their
monitoring, reporting and Belarusian participation in the HELCOM work, and
information support for HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan;
(iv) intensification of cooperation in the catchment area and with EU, taking into
account the work under the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE) Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary
Watercourses and International Lakes.
Projects under implementation in BSR (environmental sector)
Project «Development of water supply systems
and sanitation» funded by IBRD
In the catchment area of the Baltic Sea in Belarus are located
are 11 objects. The total amount of funding is - 24.1 million USD
The location of objects included in the project
"Development of water supply systems
and sanitation", funded by
International Bank for
Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD)
Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013
PURE Project on Urban Reduction of Eutrophication
Project implements the HELCOM Baltic Sea Action Plan’s Eutrophication
Segment and its Recommendation 28E/5 on more stringent requirements for
phosphorus removal from municipal WWTPs. Project demonstrates potentials of
joint implementation and joint investments in the BSR in combating the
eutrophication in a cost-effective way. Brest WWTP – pilot project
PRESTO - Project on Reduction of the Eutrophication of the Baltic Sea
Today)
PRESTO project improves quality of local waters and the Baltic Sea by reducing
nutrient load through transnational investments, education and awareness rising.
PRESTO aims at significant nutrient load reduction: app. 500 tons reduction of
phosphorus load to the Baltic Sea. This can be achieved with joint investments
that are realised in Belarusian municipal wastewater treatment plants. Reducing
transboundary nutrient load from Belarus improves also water quality of
European rivers and in the end actions are improving the state of the Baltic Sea.
Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013
An advanced weather radar network for the Baltic Sea Region
(BALTRAD)
The purpose is to develop technical arrangements and methods
intended to improve dissemination and use of radar data in the Baltic
Sea Region countries. Among the project partners, or parties
otherwise associated with BALTRAD, are also various end-user
organizations that utilize radar data
Project Comprehensive Policy Actions and Investments in the
Sustainable Solutions in Agriculture in the Baltic Sea Region
(Baltic COMPASS)
Baltic Compass is a Pan Baltic, transnational project aiming to
reinforce the connection between agriculture and environment and
thus lead to a more sustainable rural economy and healthier
ecosystems in the Baltic Sea region
Inventory of industrial large animal farms
in Belarus (Baltic Sea catchment)
Main information about large
animal farms in Belarus (Baltic
Sea catchment)
Pigs
complexes
Cattle breeding
farms
Number of large industrial
farms
65
51
Heads , thousand
1200
197
Heads per farm (average)
18,640
3,630
Heads per farm (maximum)
91,900
8,300
Heads per farm (minimum)
1,900
1,100
Animal production units
*Based on data 2009
Inventory Stage
1. Preparation a questionnaire
2. Dissemination of questionnaire to farms by post, with
support of regional environmental authorities
3. Collection information from large industrial farms
4. Organizing field visit to farms
5. Final Report preparation with investment proposals
based on response from farms
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Aliaksandr Pakhomau
Central Research Institute for Complex
Use of Water Resources
Minsk, Belarus