Romania
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Highlights
GEF SGP Event in Bucharest - 11 Nov 2005
New WWF Study on the potential of floodplain protection and restoration to support flood risk mitigation for people living along the Danube and its major tributaries reviews the recent 2006 flood disasters along the Danube and selected and to produce a first overview about the physical restoration potential in four case studies along the Lower Danube Green Corridor (LDGC).
Experience and Lessons
- Contributions to Water Knowledge Fair 2006
- Romania - Partnership with Coca-Cola in Water Management
- Romania - Rehabilitation of the Water Supply/Sewerage Public Service in Medgidia
- Romania - Sustainable Management of the “Tur River” Natural Reserve
Overview of Water Resources
Country Water Profile
Water Resources in Romania
Romania's water supplies are quite modest. They are provided by the rivers, which meet 89 percent of the present demand (48 percent from the Danube and 41 percent from the interior rivers), and by the underground sources which account for about 4 percent. The water supplies are also important to the biodiversity of Romania. The Danube Delta, where the river flows into the Black Sea, is an ecological system unique in Europe and has been declared a protected area and a world natural heritage site.
In 2000, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine signed a Declaration on Cooperation to protect key wetlands and flood plain forests along the Danube as part of the Lower Danube Green Corridor initiative supported by WWF.
Water is perhaps one of the most important issues in Romania, and has both quantity (supply) and quality dimensions. The total available resources of water are estimated at 216 billion m3/year, with current estimates of amounts actually available for abstraction ranging from 26 billion m3/year to 41 billion m3/year. In 2002, total water use amounted to 7.24 billion m3, down substantially from use levels a decade earlier (water use in 1990 was around 20 billion m3/year). While both agricultural and industrial demand for water has decreased since 1989, overall, water demand is expected to rise in the future.
Water and the Romanian Economy
Water resources play a key role in the economy of Romania - between 35-40 percent of the country's total electricity production is generated from hydro-power plants mostly on the Danube River; and about 30 percent of the cropland is irrigated. Romania's water system is broadly developed. Its water resources are sufficient to cover its water demand.
Water Management
The water supply deficit is caused by the absence of, or insufficient, infrastructure in some regions: 66% of the rural population, representing approximately 6,75 million people, does not have access to centralized water supply and only 92% of Romania's urban inhabitants have access to the system. The ability to pursue infrastructure expansion, rehabilitation and modernization has been limited by a lack of investment and financial resources. Supply issues are further influenced by excessive consumption of water resources due to low water tariffs and a general lack of awareness of the importance of water conservation among the population.
A major cause of nutrient pollution in Romania is the inadequate treatment of wastewater. Of the total volume of used water discharged in 2001 requiring treatment, only 16.5% received proper treatment, with 48% being insufficiently treated and 35% receiving no treatment at all. Inadequate treatment is rooted in inefficient, or absence of, infrastructure. Industrial pollution is also a consequence of outdated infrastructure, weak enforcement of regulations and the absence of economic incentives to promote cleaner production. In turn, infrastructure weaknesses are rooted in the limited availability of finances for upgrading and modernization.
The trends in development of water resources aim at enhancing the water storage capacity by damming some river courses and by optimising water consumption. Romania's water management system was established by the 1995 Water Strategy, the 1996 Water Law and the 1995 Law on Environmental Protection. The current water policy is based on international recognized principles of good water management - namely integrated water resources management.
With regard to transboundary water management, Romania has agreements with Hungary, Bulgaria, and Moldova for their shared rivers (Danube and the Prut).
Fact and Figures
- Total Available Renewable Water Resources [1] -- 212 km2/yr (25,877 L/day/cap)
- Renewed as:
- - Surface water produced internally -- 42.4 km3/yr (20%)
- - Groundwater recharge -- 8.48 km3/yr (4%)
- - Incoming waters -- 169.6 km3/year (80%)
Used by man -- 23.32 km3/yr (11%)
Rainfall -- 600 mm/year
- Water Usage [2] -- 23.32 km3/yr (100%)
- By Sector:
- - Agriculture -- 13.76 km3/yr (59%)
- - Industry -- 7.70 km3/yr (11%)
- - Domestic -- 7.40 km3/yr (6%)
- Population [3] without Safe Access to..
.. an improved water source (2004) [4] -- 9,580,400 (43%)
- - Average in Urban Areas -- 9 %
- - Average in Rural Areas -- 84 %
.. improved sanitation (2004) -- no data available)
- - Average in Urban Areas -- 11%
- - Average in Rural Areas -- no data available
Projects
UNDP-Projects
National:
Regional:
Project Idea:
Integrated River Basin Management in the Prut River Basin
First draft proposal / idea
Others
Romania - USAID – Strengthening Water Users Associations
TYPE STATUS HERE
Reports
Romania Freshwater Country Profile
Romania, Sanitation Country Profile
Romania Millennium Development Goals Report
Romania Environmental Performance Review Chapter 7 Water Management
Romania Human Development Report 2005
Water Resources Management in South Eastern Europe, The World Bank (2003)
Resources and Links
Contacts
- CoP-Members
- User:Yegor.volovik
- User:Roxana.suciu
- User:Roxana.schiopu
- User:Monica.Moldovan
- User:Mihaela.dupleac
- User:Florin.Banateanu
- Contacts
External Links
UNDP Romania: http://www.undp.ro/
Ministry of Environment and Water Management http://www.mmediu.ro/
National Company "Romanian Waters" http://www.rowater.ro/
Romania Water Association (NGO) http://www.ara.ro/
