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 km 3 . Of which 26.6 km 3 belong to Kura, remained to rivers falling into Caspian Sea(Including 2.1 km 3 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 km 2 (of which 58000 km 2 relates to Azerbaijan, 34700 km 2 to Georgia, 29800 km 2 to Armenia and 66000 km 2 to Iran and Turkey);
Water provision • As a water poor region, water supply over the Azerbaijan Republic territory makes up about 100 thousand m 3 / km 2 . • The quotient amounts to an average of about 1 thousand m 3 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 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%
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 offices 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 of 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 on efficient use of natural resources, improvement of health of 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 of 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 of 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 of 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.
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