Water Agenda

Water Agenda: Development and implementation of IWRM policy to a river basin, through the application of a social wide local agreement, based on the principles of Agenda 21 and the provisions of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/ΕC

The project is a LIFE Environment Programme, financed by the EU (Contract No: LIFE04/ENV/GR/000099), and spans a duration of 3 years (2004-2007).


Project Objectives

  • Development and application of a sustainable water resources management policy to the Anthemounta river basin, in Northern Greece, in order to reverse current trends of water resources degradation and depletion considering the development characteristics and the natural and human resources of the area.
  • The integration of this policy into other sectorial policies in the greater area and Greece. Configuration of a social wide agreement on water resources management between the stakeholders and consumers in the area as well as the social motivation and supervision on its implementation.
  • The development of social, technical, administrative and financial tools in order to achieve integrated water resources management in practice.
  • The exploitation of European best practices and know-how on water resources management. The reinforcement of the water resources management in Greece and other European and Mediterranean countries according to the provisions of Water Framework Directive 200/60/EC and principles of Agenda 21.



Work plan

Task 1: Operation of administrative structure for the water resources management of Anthemountas basin.

  • Hydrogeological and environmental evaluation and enrichment of the existing database
  • Planning, acquiring and installing meteorological monitoring network Stretching and operating the current quality and quantity parameters monitoring network.
  • Annual calculation of hydraulic inflow and outflow and of the hydrologic balance of the river basin district.
  • Construction of a Geographical Information System (GIS) – GIS based monitoring /managing by specialized scientists working together with the appropriate authorities.
  • Evaluation of viability prospects of the formed Water Resources Management Unit.
     

Task 2: Implementation of the provisions of the WFD at the River Basin of Anthemountas.

  • Identification and clarification of the objectives of the WFD and combination with the provisions of relevant existing legislation in order to implement the WFD.
  • Identification of surface waters and groundwater bodies
  • Estimation of various human made pressures in the river basin district
  • Estimation of the outcome of pollutants in surface waters through mathematical modelling
  • Evaluation of quality of water bodies and assessment and classification of current status of water bodies according to the provisions of WFD through the establishment of a surveillance-monitoring programme of the surface waters and groundwater bodies as well as the development of the environmental objectives.
     

Task 3: Economic Analysis of Water Uses and Services – Development of Pricing Policy.

  • Objectives of the WFD and relevant legislation and Economic analysis of water uses and services.
  • Evaluation of existing policies and strategies for water pricing and Development of alternative water pricing schemes aiming at the full cost recovery
  • Cost benefit analysis
     

Task 4.1: Formulation of sustainable water management policy.

  • Estimation of the water reserves and formulation of development scenarios of the basin.
  • Development of a decision support tool for the evaluation of the various scenarios of the rational water management
  • Development and evaluation of water management scenarios and formulation of integrated water management strategy
  • Development of action plans for each geographical area and production and social sector.
  • Conceptual design of necessary water management infrastructures.
     

Task 4.2: Development and application of a social local agreement for the water management – WATER AGENDA.

  • Design of the necessary initiatives for the conclusion of a social agreement for water management at the basin district.
  • Implementation of the initiatives, demonstrative and training actions and a comprehensive campaign, for the proposed sustainable water policy.
  • Establishment of the process of the social dialogue among the interested parties and formulation of a “social local agreement” for the sustainable management of the water resources.
  • Up dating of the proposed sustainable water management strategy and assessment and evaluation of the results of the implementation of the social local agreement.
     

Task 5: Euro-Mediterranean cooperation network.

  • Network members: Hellenic partner scheme, Comune di Milano, Catalonia, Province of Alpes – Cote d’Azur.
  • Conduction of a survey on water management in the region of each transnational partner (Catalonia – Spain, Lombardia-Italy).
  • Organization of workshops by the transnational partners and participation of Hellenic partner scheme.
  • Network’s operation and enlargement process. Administrative support of ANATOLIKI s.a.
     

Dissemination Task: Dissemination of project and its results.

  • Participation and contribution to relevant scientific and sectorial conferences and publications.
  • Production and dissemination of a summary brochure and extensive supporting documentation in printed and electronic form.
  • Creation of a website as a front-end to the knowledge base evolving through the project implementation and additionally of a hosted Virtual Water Park, promoting social awareness on water issues.
  • Comprehensive media work (press releases, articles and media opportunities) and contact (mailing list, channels) development.
  • Organization of the Conference and final Symposium of the project.



Expected Results

  • The water resources rational management and improvement in Anthemounta’s river basin.
  • The project’s results and know-how exchange and utilization to the other Hellenic regions and Mediterranean countries with positive multiply results on the available water resources status.
  • The pilot implementation of WFD 2000/60/EC provisions in a Hellenic river basin and the formation of water –pricing policy as a tool for the rationalization of water management.
  • The permanent operation of a water management unit focusing on the supervision and reinforcement of the water management policy in the project’s area.
  • The attainment of a social local agreement on the integrated water resources management policy based on the principles of Agenda 21.
  • The water users information and awareness on the sustainable water use via the permanent operation of Virtual Water Park.
  • The stable operation of an effective international partner network exploiting participant’s experience and know-how.


Project Participants

  • ANATOLIKI S.A.  (Project Coordinator)
  • R.C.M., Region of Central Macedonia
  • NTUA, National Technical University of Athens 
  • MU.TH., Municipality of Thermi
  • N.C.E.S.D, National Center of Environment & Sustainable Development
  • COMUNE DI MILANO, Italy
  • FUNDACION AGBAR