The World Bank, in coordination with the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Economy, and the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Surveillance, is organizing the “Water Security in Bulgaria” workshop, to be held on September 18-19.
In recent years, the issue of water security has been gaining traction in the global political agenda and earning attention from national governments at the highest level. Water security offers opportunities for cooperation, collaboration, and for addressing challenges in a multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral way, to manage continued, sustainable development and growth.
Framing the water challenge in terms of water security suggests a dynamic construct that goes beyond single-issues, such as access to water or sanitation, and requires us to think more broadly about achievements with respect to water management.
For instance, in terms of water allocation, water security recognizes that there is not one temporal ‘optimal’ water allocation between multiple users. Any optimal allocation scenario is dynamic; the share of water allocated to a certain user may shift depending on changing environmental and socio-economic conditions. Achieving water security is a dynamic goal and the context for achievement is a constantly evolving world.
Despite the wealth of water resources, favorable soil and climatic conditions, and a strong institutional and regulatory framework, Bulgaria continues to face considerable challenges in the modernization of its water infrastructure and in the ability of its responsible institutions to meet development goals. Achieving appropriate levels of water security requires safeguarding sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable-quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development; for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters; and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability.
Effective implementation of concepts like integrated water resources management and integrated risk management of floods and droughts are essential in the process of adapting to the increased hydrological variability caused by climate change.
Adequate institutional capacity requires good information, competent institutions, and considerable financial resources. This is a challenge common to every country – how to effectively coordinate between different institutions and speak in one voice.
In the face of climate change, we believe that Bulgaria needs to increase the preparedness of its water sector to moderate the impact of recurrent floods and droughts and, at the same time, meet the needs of both the population and the demands of key economic sectors like agriculture, urban development, energy, and natural ecosystems.
Most dams in Bulgaria were built between 1956 and 1985. During the transition period that followed, all construction projects were abandoned - leaving thousands of Bulgarians without a reliable water supply. Although almost all Bulgarians have access to drinking water in their homes, a significant number of people still suffer seasonal water rationing owing to uncompleted dam projects.
These problems are compounded by the fact that many water networks now need to be upgraded and wastewater collection and treatment systems extended. Therefore, significant investments are needed to ensure that water quality and sustainable use of water resources comply with the requirements of relevant European Union (EU) directives.
Bulgaria is trying to achieve progress and advance this important agenda, but still more efforts are needed, including increased ownership and strengthened leadership in the area of water management and security.
World Bank engagement in the water sector in Bulgaria
The World Bank Group (WBG) - the largest multilateral source of financing for water supply and sanitation (WSS) in the world - currently supervises a WSS lending portfolio of approximately $13.5 billion, which represents more than half of all its water-related operations.
The World Bank has a long and fruitful partnership with the Government of Bulgaria. The World Bank currently supports the sustainability of water resources through an ongoing lending operation and past support strategy development in: (i) Water Supply and Sanitation and (ii) Irrigation, drainage and flood protection.
According to the new 10-year strategy for the sector, rehabilitation and construction of water supply and sewerage networks will require BGN 12 billion (€6 billion). However, EU funds will cover only 30–40% of the total capital investments needed until 2020. The rest should come from the national budget and the WSS utilities. This requires improved efficiency and adjusted pricing to ensure that financing for the water sector is affordable and sustainable.
The World Bank-supported Municipal Infrastructure Development Project responds to the government’s priorities of rehabilitating and completing construction of water supply and sewerage networks to improve service delivery and reduce health risks, as well as wastewater treatment systems in line with EU directives.
Two of the eight priority water supply dams (Luda Yana and Plovdivtsi) are included in this project, and a third (Studena) is included for rehabilitation. Upon completion of this project, it is expected that 170,000 more Bulgarians will benefit from a reliable and quality water supply.
Sept 18 | |
08.00 - 09.00 | Registration |
09.00 - 09.30
| Opening session – H.E. Nikolay Nankov, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Atanaska Nikolova, DM of Environment, David Michaud, Practice Manager, ECA Region, Tony Thompson, Country Manager |
09.30 - 11.00 | Water Security in Eastern Europe Coordinator Javier Zuleta, WB Key note speaker Richard Muller, Regional Director of GWP Panel member Dimitar Kislyakov, Member of Bulgarian Committee of Large Dams Panel member Anil Mishra, UNESCO, Programme Specialist, Section on Hydrological Systems and Water Scarcity Panel member Maria Babukchieva, Head River Basin Department, MoEW |
| Coffee break |
11.15 - 12.45 | Bulgaria’s Vulnerability to Climate-Related Water Risks Coordinator Eolina Milova, World Bank Panel member Rozalina Kozleva, World Bank Consultant, Environment and Water Panel member José Angel Rodriguez Cabellos, Guadiana River Basin Authority Panel member Boryana Kamenova, Director Climate Change Policy MOEW Panel member Rozalina Kozleva, World Bank Consultant, Water and Climate Change Panel member Wilfried Hundertmark, World Bank |
12:45 - 13:45 | Lunch |
13.45 - 15.15 | Water Security and WSS: Compliance with UWWTD (and WFD) Coordinator Philippe Marin, WB Key note speaker Bruno Rakedjian, Ministry of Environment, France Panel member Nikos Neocleous, Deputy Director, Water Development Department, Cyprus Panel member Ivanka Videnova, Director WSS Directorate, MRDPW Panel member Boryana Georgieva, Expert, Water Management Department, MoEW Panel member Diogo Faria de Oliveira, Portuguese Government |
15.15 – 15.30 | Coffee break |
15.30 – 17.00 | Managing Water Risks in Bulgaria’s Agriculture Coordinator Hans Christoph Kordik, WB Key note speaker Melvyn Kay, Irrigation Association, UK Panel member Wilfried Hundertmark, Sr Water Resource Specialist Panel member Dr Sonya Simeonova, Rural Dev. Program Department, MAFF Panel member Dr Zornitsa Popova, BAS Panel member Dimitar Mladenov, MAFF Panel member Tanya Dabnishka, Director BAAP
|
Sep 19 | |
09.00 - 10.30 am |
Regulatory and Institutional Aspects of Dam Safety Coordinator Orlin Dikov, WB Key note speaker Adrian Morales, Polytechnic of Valencia, Spain International panel member Nikos Neocleous, Deputy Director Water Resources Department, Cyprus Panel member Kiril Voynov, SAMTS Panel member Satoru Ueda, Lead dam specialist, WB Panel member Ekaterina Boneva, Power production, NEC
|
10.30 – 10.50 | Coffee break |
10.50 - 12.30 |
Rehabilitation of Dams: Financial Instruments, O&M and Sustainability Coordinator Javier Zuleta, WB Key note speaker Alessandro Palmieri, WB Panel member Karen Grigoryan, Armenia Infrastructure finance Nicola Saporiti - IFC Panel member Greg Paxson, Dam Expert, USA Panel member Rumen Stoykov, Dams and Cascades |
12.30 – 14.00 | Lunch |
14.00 - 15.30
|
Large Infrastructure and Dam’s Rehabilitation and Recent Experiences in Bulgaria Coordinator Toma Yanakiev, WB Key note speaker Greg Paxson, USA Panel member Adrian Morales, Valencia Polytechnic, Spain Panel member Ivanka Videnova, Director WSS Directorate Panel member Mr. Arjan Jovani, Director of Dam Safety, Albania
|
15.30 – 15.50 | Coffee break |
15.50 - 17.30
|
Water security in practice – World Bank technical assistance to municipalities in Bulgaria Coordinator Orlin Dikov, WB Key note speaker Wilfried Hundertmark, WB World Bank panel member Angel Zahariev, Dam Engineer Municipal authorities eng. Daniela Micheva, Head of Directorate, PernikMunicipality Municipal authorities Nikola Belishki, Mayor of Panagiurishte Municipality
|
17.30 – 18.00 | Closing remarks |
A Water Secure Path for Bulgaria’s Future
Adaptive Water Management towards Climate Risks
Adaptation measures WATER SECTOR
Cyprus Experience with Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
Cyprus Experience with Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
DAM Rehabilitation and Modernization in Albania
Dam Rehabilitation in the USA…History and Trends
Implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive in France
Managing water for agriculture in UK and other EU states
Regulatory and Institutional Frameworks for Smart Governance in Dam Safety
Rehabilitation of Dams: Financial instruments, O&M and sustainability
Rehabilitation of Dams: Financial Instruments, O&M and Sustainability – 1
Rehabilitation of Dams: Financial instruments, O&M and sustainability – 2
Dam Rehabilitation: Financial Instruments, O&M and Sustainability – 3
Regulatory Framework for Dam Safety
Water Governance in Spain and Risk Management
Water Security in Eastern Europe: Securing Water, Sustaining Growth
Water Security: Responses to Local, Regional and Global Challenges
Water security in practice – World Bank technical assistance to municipalities in Bulgaria
