Water Resources Issues in Azerbaijan Presented by Dr. Rafig - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Water Resources Issues in Azerbaijan

Presented by Dr. Rafig Verdiyev, and Sabina Klicheva Azerbaijan

Map of Azerbaijan Republic

Water Resources

• Total water resources of Azerbaijan make up 31.5 km3.

Of which 26.6 km3 belong to Kura, remained to rivers falling into Caspian Sea(Including 2.1 km3 of Samur river)

• Only one third of total water resources of rivers is

formed within the Azerbaijan Republic.

Kura Basin

• Kura is the main water artery of the Caucasus.
• The river flows through the territories of Turkey, Georgia and

Azerbaijan Republics. Its main tributary Araz flows through territories Turkey, Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan

• The total length of Kura river is 1364 km( of which 185 km relate to

the territory of Turkey, 390 to Georgia and 790 km to Azerbaijan);

• Total watershed area of 188000 km2(of which 58000 km2 relates to

Azerbaijan, 34700 km2 to Georgia, 29800 km2 to Armenia and 66000 km2 to Iran and Turkey);

Water provision

• As a water poor region, water supply over the

Azerbaijan Republic territory makes up about 100 thousand m3/ km2.

• The quotient amounts to an average of about 1

thousand m3 of water per person per year, putting the Azerbaijan Republic to one of the low rankings in the world.

• Water resources of the Republic are distributed very

irregularly over administrative districts. Absheron and Kura-Araz lowlands are the most water poor regions.

Water use

• At present water resources of Kura and Ganikh in Georgia and water

resources of Araz in Turkey, Iran and Armenia are decreased by 20% as a result of water intake.

• Also by taking into account the water losses from the Kura river bed at

its lower course, one may find that available at Azerbaijan Republic water resources of transboundary rivers of Eastern Caucasus at present is less than their potential amounts by 30 %.

• About 11-12 cubic km of water in the Kura river basin is being used for

different purposes. Of which 60-70 % goes to agriculture, 20-25% to economy and the rest for water supply of cities and other residential areas.

WATER ISSUES

• Main source of water supply, including drinking water is Kura river, pollution of

which is major problem.

• Of 75 towns and regional centers of the republic, only 35 are equipped with

treatment facilities, which are totally deteriorated and perform only mechanical treatment of wastewater.

• Due to unsatisfactory performance of treatment facilities in all three countries
• f the basin, discharge polluted wastewaters into the Kura river and its

tributaries.

• Concentration of heavy metals (copper, nickel, chrome, etc.) in natural waters

exceeds allowable concentrations.

• Due to lack of water supply network, and its bad condition, water losses reach

50%

WATER ISSUES

Main source of water supply, including drinking water is Kura river, pollution of which is major problem. Of 75 towns and regional centers of the republic, only 35 are equipped with treatment facilities, which are totally deteriorated and perform only mechanical treatment of wastewater. Due to unsatisfactory performance of treatment facilities all three countries of the basin, discharge polluted wastewaters into the Kura river and its tributaries. Concentration of heavy metals (copper, nickel, chrome, etc.) in natural waters exceeds allowable concentrations. Due to lack of water supply network, and its bad condition, water losses reach 50%

Monitoring and Data Management

• USAID has developed Water quality and quantity database for HM

and NM Departments, and rehabilitated some of monitoring stations in the region

• They also are provided by computers and necessary trainings
• Special Excel form prepared and provided to National and regional
• ffices for easier using of databases
• Database allow to convert data, improve data exchange conditions,

prepare reports and graphic

• Hydromets in the region discussed data exchange issues and decided to

use their web page developed by USAID (www.azhydromet.com)

Hydrological Monitoring Network of Azerbaijan Hydromet

There are 11 Regional Offices of Hydromet

• Water quantity

monitoring network:

Total number of station -108

• Acting-88
• Rehabilitated by DAI-1

Water quality monitoring points -54

Other Projects

TACIS JRM

water quality monitoring, quality standards, selection of hot spots, rehabilitation of laboratories and etc UNDP GEF, Reducing degradation of Kura-Araz river basins

NATO ”South Caucasus River Monitoring”:

• applying unified equipment and methods corresponding to

international standards.

• Operational information exchange and providing the users free

access to the project web-site(www.kura-araks-natosfp.org)

• Sampling, field measurements, and lab analysis in the Kura-

Araks Rivers basin

Water Policy inAzerbaijan

Water policy is mainly undertaking through water legislation, particularly, through Water Code - basic legislative act of the country regulating water sector. Based on Code, several Laws, and number of bylaws were adopted. Particularly:

• Law on Water Supply and Wastewaters,
• Law on Melioration and Irrigation,
• Law on Hydrometeorological Activities,
• Law on Municipal Water Economies,
• Law on Safety of Hydrotechnical Installations, etc.

Water Policy of the country is also implemented through National Plans, State Programs and Action Plans By the end of 1996, Government of Azerbaijan with support

• f World Bank, developed National environmental Action

Plan, which highlights importance of water resources management and protection. In 2006 by decree of president the State Program on improvement of ecological situation in Azerbaijan has been adopted Presently, environmental goals of Azerbaijan are focusing

• n efficient use of natural resources, improvement of health
• f population and prevention of loss of biological resources.

On February 18, 2003, Government of republic of Azerbaijan adopted National Program for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development of the Country in the environmental context Program aims at introduction of globally adopted concept of Sustainable Development in the country. One section of the Program is fully dedicated to the Water Policy

• issues. According to National Program, by 2010, every person in the

country shall have the access to the quality water. Program implies development of special program for rational use

• f water resources, encourages application of incentives for rational

use, improvement of drinking water quality, revision of laws regulating activities concerned with ecosystems, protection of transboundary rivers from pollution, and involving riparian countries in rational use of water resources.

In May, 2004, President of the country approved State Program on Effective Use of Summer and Winter Pastures, Hayfields, and Prevention of Desertification in Republic of Azerbaijan (2004-2010), which reflects requirements of Water Policy. There are several programs on socio-economic development in the country:

• State Program on Poverty Reduction and economical Development of the

Country for 2003-2005 (February 20, 2003);

• State Program on Socio-Economic Development of Regions of Republic of

Azerbaijan for 2004-2008 (February 11, 2004); - - State Program on Tourism Development in Azerbaijan for 2002-2005 (August 27, 2002). All these Programs pay special attention to water issues.

Improvements needed

The harmonization of the country’s water legislation with those adopted at the International level; Development of the best mechanism that enable laws to work more effectively; It is necessary to make required additions and changes in related acts( that include ecosystem approach, basin principles); To give importance to IWRM principles, stakeholder participation, access to information and gender aspects of water management Including water issues to key national development programs and their realization

Ratified related Conventions

• Convention on Access to formation, public

participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters;

• Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in

Transboundary Context

• Convention on the Transboundary Effects of Industrial

Accidents

• Convention on Protection and Use of Trans-boundary

Watercourses and International Lakes

• Protocol on Water and Health

Agreements in the Region

• Protocol of meeting of commissions of Azerbaijan and Russia on sharing
• f Samur river’s waters (Maharam settlement of Dagestan region,

07/10/1967)

• Protocol of results of negotiations between the Government delegations of

Azerbaijan and Georgia on use of water resources (Tbilisi, 25- 26/12/1997, continued in 2004)

• Agreement between the Government of Azerbaijan Turkey on

cooperation in the field of environment protection (Baku,09/07/2004)

• Memorandum of understanding between the Department of Environment
• f the Islam Republic of Iran and Ministry of Ecology and Natural

Resources of the Azerbaijan Republic (Baku,05/08/2004)

Water Agencies

The following major Agencies are dealing with the issues of water resources management in Azerbaijan:

• Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources;
• Agency of Amelioration and Water

Economy of MOA

• Azersy JSC
• State Architecture Committee and etc.

“Azersy” Joint-Stock Company:

Before 11 July 2004 the issues of water supply of the cities

• f Baku and Sumgait were managed by Absheron Joint-Stock

Company. In July 2004 the water supply and sewerage services of other regions of the country were also given to this Company and the “Azersu” Joint-Stock Company has been created. The basic function of “Azersu” is operation and rehabilitation

• f water supply and sewerage systems.

From all volumes of water supplied to the city of Baku annually (16 cub. m/sec) the purest are waters of Khachmaz and Shollar lines (about 4 cub. m/sec). Water from Djeiranbatan water intake (Samur-Absheron canal) is also of good quality (7.5 cub. m/sec) Water taken from Kura river is more polluted. The available system enables to conduct settlement, filtration and chlorination of water before it enters the distribution network. “Azersu” JSC established different tariffs on the use of water by residents,

• rganizations funded from budget and in industry (185 manats/m3 or 0.04

USD/m3, 800 manats/m3 and 2,200 manats/m3 respectively, by 2004). Owing to economic problems, lower tariffs were set for population (realistic tariffs are close to 500 manats/m3). The collection of bills is 80%. There are few water meters. The collected funds do not cover expenditure.

Institutional improvements needed

Preparation of a National Integrated Water Use and Water Protection Strategy and creation of relevant institutions for their realization; Strengthening (creation) of water management institutions on the basis of ecosystem approach Creation of State Water Commission Considering an integrated river basin planning approach more effective than administrative territorial water management and preparation proposals for development of IWRM plans; Creation of basin organizations Strengthening the mechanism for coordination of water management by active participation of different sectors;

At the regional level

• Clouse cooperation with

International Multilateral agreements

• Application of bilateral agreements

to practice

• Implementation of bilateral

demonstration programs on the integrated trans-boundary water resources management;

• Creation of Joint bodies to address

transboundary issues

• Regional cooperation schemes should

be drafted and TIWRM plans developed

Public Participation

• Law on Access to Information describes what type of environmental

information is assessable for population in timely manner,

• As shows the low the responsible state agency and municipalities should

create system of obtaining information on anticipated EIA, Informing on emergency situation, carry the information register and annually prepare reports and makes them accessible for population etc.

• MOE and its departments publish daily, monthly, seasonally and annual

information booklets about water resources, this information is also available through mass media and at Arhus center, created jointly with OSCE .

• There is direct telephone line through which interested can get

environmental information.

• Non-governmental Organizations :AIHP, ECOREC, RUZIGAR, SANIA,

ECOLEX, ECO-Monitoring are implementing projects on providing information to the public about the problems in the water sector through publishing bulletins, booklets, press articles and trainings.

Public participation Problems

• Unfortunately not always people

can get information required in timely manner;

• Mechanism for public

participation needs to be developed;

• Not all projects provide public

hearing and, process of selection

• f experts needs to be more open;
• There is very limited practical

cases on public involvement

• Activities of NGO needs to be

strengthened

Additional sources of Information

• MoE: www.eco.gov.az
• AzHydromet: www.azhydromet.com
• USAID: www.daiwater.com
• NATO: www.kura-araks-natosfp.org
• EU TACIS: www.jointrivers.org
• Eurasia, Ecolex etc: www.watercaucasus.org
• Arhus Centre: ecoforum@yahoogroups.com
• REC, AIHP,

ECORES: http://water-resources.iatp.az

Thank You!