Assessments of transboundary water bodies in the UNECE region

Dr. Rainer E. Enderlein,consultant

Work to be undertaken

Preparation of an assessments of “European” transboundary water bodies (rivers, lakes, groundwaters) as a contribution to the sixth Ministerial Conference “Environment for Europe” in 2007.

The assessment should cover ALL major transboundary waters and not address some of them, as it was done in the past.

TRANSBOUNDARY WATERCOURSE, EUROPE

TRANSBOUNDARY WATERCOURSE, EUROPE

Status of assessment (Transboundary rivers discharging to the oceans, lakes or desert sinks as

final recipients, only)

Final recipients

1st order rivers Assessment done

Assessment in preparation

Pacific Ocean 3 0

Artic Sea 8 1 7

Caspian Sea 10 5

Aral Sea 3 3 ---

Desert sink 9 3

Status of assessment (Transboundary rivers discharging to the oceans, lakes or desert sinks as

final recipients, only)

Final recipient

1st order rivers Assessment done

Assessment in preparation

Baltic Sea 27 0 9

Black Sea 15 5 1

Med. Sea 14 0 3

Atlantic Ocean

23 0 3

Status of assessment of transboundary lakes

Category of lakes

Lakes Assessment

done

Assessment in preparation

Transboundary lakes

23 15 3

National lakes/reservoirswith agreements

2 0 1

National lakes in transboundary basins

3 0 0

Transboundary reservoirs

10 0 7

Aral Sea, Caspian Sea

2 1 1

Lessons learned

Water-quantity aspects

Water use by sectors

Western Central

Central

EECCA

NordicWestern Southern

Southern

Agriculture

Urban

Industry

Energy

Lessons learned

Water-quantity aspects

Much more attention should be paid to water use issues

Flow characterization by yearly maximum and minimum values is insufficient for rivers in arid and semi-arid climates

Lessons learned

Pressure factors

Diversity of challenges

Oil pollution is just another problem

Accidents on Songhua river (Harbin, Cina, 2005) in the Amur basin

Lessons learned

Pressure factors

A much more systematic approach is needed based on the UN classification of economic activities

Pressure factors

• Crop and animal production

• Mining and quarrying

Mining of metal ores

Extraction of crude petroleum

Pressure factors

• ManufacturingManufacture of refined petroleum products Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products Manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products Manufacture of paper and paper products

Other manufacturing industries

Pressure factors

• Electricity supply

Hydropower generation

Thermal power stations

Nuclear power plants

• Sewerage and waste management

Sewerage

Disposal activities

Pressure factors

• Transportation and storage

Land transport

Transport via pipelines

• Tour operator activities

Assessment of transboundary lakes

Status and trends

Transboundary lakes

Eutrophication is the worst phenomenon concerning transboundary lakes.

It is ever increasing, except in areas, where wastewater treatment has been effectively implemented, small improvements are visible.

Water pollution of the Balkash is ever increasing as urbanisation and industrialisation in the area grow rapidly. The main pollutants are copper and zinc and oil products.

Water pollution of the Balkash is ever increasing as urbanisation and industrialisation in the area grow rapidly. The main pollutants are copper and zinc and oil products.

The lake surface is shrinking because of over-use of water.

Extinction of species in the lake due to the shrinking of the lake surface as well as over-fishing activities are alarming, too.

Amu Darya and Syr Darya deltas

Only joint and stringent measures by China and Kazakhstan will prevent lake Balkash from following the fate of the Aral Sea

Reservoirs were not yet dealt with

Lake Emosson (CH)

Narva reservoir Iron Gates

Assessment of transboundary rivers

Pyanj (AF, TJ)

On many transboundary rivers, there is little or no monitoring. Even water levels are seldom measured.

Thus, assessments rely on expert judgements.

Status and trends

Transboundary rivers

Some 20% of all rivers (including most of the transboundary rivers and their tributaries) in the Caucasus and Central Asia are in high and good status.

However, some of these water bodies show already signs of increasing pollution or are potentially threatened by mining and ore processing.

Status and trends

Transboundary rivers

The majority of the rivers included in the present assessment fall into the category “water bodies with moderate

pollution” (national water-quality classes III and IV).

Status and trends

Transboundary rivers

“Polluted water bodies” are:

1. Transboundary rivers, which take up their pollution load in lowland areas with intensive agriculture

2. Transboundary rivers, which take up their pollution load in foothills with intensive industrial (including mining) or agricultural water use

Status and trends

Transboundary rivers

“Polluted water bodies” are also:

3. Rivers originating in the Ural mountains (Russian Federation) and discharging into the Ural River 4. River Ob in the Russian Federation

Status and trends

Transboundary rivers

Geochemical processes have been repeatedly seen as an issue of concern in some rivers

Deforestation, soil erosion and degradation of pastures will continue to be a problem for the proper functioning of water-related ecosystems and lead to higher risks of natural disasters

Status and trends

Transboundary rivers

Rise in air temperatures and contamination of rainwater are the major causes of the significant melting of glaciers, resulting in noteworthy changes of the rivers’ hydrological and ecological regimes

Water shortage and degradation of aquatic ecosystems are likely to continue to adversely affect economic development

Amu Darya

In the end, the assessment should culminate in a set of measures to further prevent degratation of watercourses and their living resources and achieve – in the long run – good status….

Amu Darya

Veleka (BG, TR)

We need a political message for the Belgrade Ministerial Confernce

Policy measures

Priorities for EECCA

Municipal sewage treatment

Non-point pollution in agriculture and livestock breeding

Point source control at new industrial installations

Safe storage, handling, transportation

“Cleaning” of catchment areas

Policy measures

Priorities for EECCA

Rational use of water (industry, agriculture, water losses in supply networks)

Sustainable flood management

Adaptation strategies climate change

Assessment of transboundary groundwaters

Assessment of transboundary groundwaters

1st phase:

Transboundary aquifers in South-Eastern Europe

Assessment of transboundary groundwaters

1st phase (cont’d):

Transboundary aquifers in the Caucasus and Central Asia

Source: WHYMAP mapping applications