Romanian experience in UWWTD implementation - financial aspects, issues and challenges

1. National Administration “Romanian Waters” NARW Bucharest - Romania Romanian experience in UWWTD implementation - financial aspects, issues and challenges Geog. Ioana Nedelea - River Basin Management Plans Department ioana.nedelea@rowater.ro Vienna, 17 – 18 May 2017 DANUBE WATER CONFERENCE

2. NARW – general presentation Since 1913 we take care of Romanian Waters • LEGAL: • Water management applied at level of the river basin since ’60s • public institution since 2005 • in coordination of Ministry of Waters • and Forests • ADMINISTRATIV: • Headquater • 11 water basin administrations • TECHNICAL: • River basin management plans department • Water resources management department • Water works management department • Development and investment department • Emergency situations (water disaster planning) department

3. What are we doing? • River basin management and planning; • Sustainable development of water resources; • Administration and coordination of water infrastructure; • Financial management with cost recovery mechanism; • Flood risk management and planning; • Implementation of investment program for water infrastructures development; • Implementation of the EUdirectives in the waterfield • International cooperation (EU, ICPDR, neighboring countries).

4. What are the requirements related to the water field All Water Directives, especially under Water Framework Directive - “Water is not a commercial product that is a patrimony to be protected, treated and defended” European Commission Reporting (Water Framework Directive, UWWTD, Nitrates Directive, e. g.) ICPDR Reporting national law, rules All efforts must be done forhaving clean water and a healthy environment for next generation!!!

5. Updated River Basin Management Plan (2016-2021) approved by national law • CONTENT • General overview of the river basin; • Surface water characterization; • Groundwater characterization; • Identification and mapping protected areas; • Monitoring and characterization of water status; • Environmental objectives; • Economic analyses; • Programe of measures; • Exemptions to environmental objectives; • Quantitative aspects and climate change; • Information, consultation and public participation • Conclusions. • Approved by Governmental Decision no. 859/2016

6. Updated River Basin Management Plan(2016-2021) approved by national law Issues • 418 (13.8%) surface water bodies will not achieve good ecological status or potential untill 2021; • 15(10.5%) groundwater bodieswill not achieve environmental objectives untill 2021, respectively chemical status; Solutions • Program of measures • Basic and supplementary measures for humanaglomerations, industrial and agricultural activities, other activities that generate wastewater • Implementation deadline and applied measures are crucial for achieving good ecological status Investments • High investment costs for implementing measures, respectively funding of measures

7. Urban WasteWater Treatment Directive 91/271/EEC • Aim protection of the environment against the negative effects of discharges of urban waste water and waste water from certain industrial sectors Romania declared the entire territory as sensitive area, having in view the protection of the Black Sea against eutrophication; Romania obtined transitional period: • Final implementation deadline: 31 December 2018; • For aglomerations 2000 – 10000 p.e • Final implementation deadline: 31 December 2015; • For aglomerations > 10000 p.e • Compliance criteria: • Collection of wastewater • Tertiary treatment (advanced nutrient removal) in agglomerations above 10000 p.e. • Secondary treatment (mechanical-biological) in agglomerations bellow 10000 p.e. • The quality of waste water discharged into natural resources to be appropriate • Ensuring collection and treatment of waste water from the entire agglomeration (collection / purification of at least 98%).

8. The evolution of connectionlevel to sewage systems and treatment systems necessary to be achieved until the compliance period PLANNED IN 2007 • Sewage networks (% p.e.) • Wastewater treatment plant (% p.e.)

9. Necessary measures for UWWTD implementation • Rehabilitation of sewage networks • Construction/extentionof sewage networks • Modernization / rehabilitation of treatment plants • Construction / extension of treatment plants • Rehabilitation of facilities for treatment, storage and use of secondary / tertiary sludge (processing, storage, use) • Construction of new storage / incineration facilities • Staff training/ Capacity building • Research / feasibility studies

10. Necessary investment costs for human aglomerations • According to the Program of Measures – RBMP (UWWTD) Estimated costs may increase as agglomerations and necessary measures are updated !!!!! Do not forget theoperating and maintenance costs

11. Sources of financing for collection and treatment of wastewater from human agglomerations (2016-2021) • Funding sources for UWWTD implementation according Updated RBMP : • 49,86 % european funds (Cohesion /structural funds) • 22, 87% national funds (state /local budget) • 0,76 % -operators funds • 1,71 % other funds (loans/projects) • 24,8% no funding sources identified !!!

12. Allocation of invetment cost necessary for implementation of basic measures for human agglomerations according to the PoM (2016-2021)

13. Main european programe for fundingof basic measures for human agglomerations • 2007 - 2013 (to extension 2016) Sectoral Operational Program SOP Environment • Provided funding from cohesion funds in most urban areas; • Low absorption rates (~50% in 2014), but increasing in 2016 (~78,5%) • Expenditure financed for UWWD compliance 2007 – 2013 assessed to 3 billion EUR • 2014 - 2020 SOP Large Infratructures • Actions will be continued for development of water and wastewater systems under Priority Axis 3; • The program includes 1,8 billion EUR for wastewater; • Finalizing the investments started in period 2007-2013 • Development of new projects, according to the prioritization of the County Master Plans • Beneficiaries are Regional Water Operators / local authorities • 2014 – 2020 National Rural Development Programme • For small agglomeration 2000 – 5000 p.e. • 0.5 bill. EUR for funding measures of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure • 2014 -2020European Regional Development Funds– includes 0.7 bill. EUR • !!! The absorption of all European funds at the end of 2016 was 83%

14. Evolution of wastewater collection and treatment systems in agglomerations(p.e)2012 - 2016 Aglommerations > 10 000 p.e Aglomerations > 2.000 l.e

15. Situation of human agglomerations, collection networks and treatment plants as well as load in p.e. Romania has a population of 19,908,574 inhabitants with low level of concentration of the localities: - Spread on the hill and mountain area - Linear distribution in the plain area

16. Issues of implementation of UWWTD • Complex coordination of authorities responsible with UWWTD implementation; • Complexity and rigor of Directive, having in view the environmental, soci- economical and sustainable aspects; • Complex and time consuming procurement procedures for wastewater infrastructure works; • Implementation delays of the works; • Dynamic of the changes in delineation of the agglomerations (decreasing of population and industrial activities / migration); • low affordability / low connection level to collecting and treatment systems in rural areas • Very high costs!!!! • Assuring the funds!!!!

17. CONCLUSIONS • Actionsto continue implementing measures for proper operation of the wastewater infrastructure • Making a financial prioritization, given the funds identified through a coherent strategy • Ensuring the financing of measures without identified funding sources • Creating a mechanism to support the infrastructure of wastewater in rural areas Ensuring compliance with European requirements

18. Thank you! You are welcome in Romania! Protect water, you need it!