RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLANS 2016-2021 I. General Information about River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) 1. Legal Basis River Basin Management Plans are elaborated by the Director of the relevant River Basin Directorate for each river basin district in the country Danube River Basin District: Danube River, rivers west of Ogosta, Iskar, Vit, Osam, Yantra, Rusenski Lom, Danube Dobrudzha rivers, Erma, and Nishava. Black Sea River Basin District: Dobrudzha rivers, Provadiyska River, Kamchia River, North Burgas rivers, Mandrenski rivers, South Burgas rivers East Aegean River Basin District: the rivers Maritsa, Tundzha, Arda, and Byala West Aegean River Basin District: the rivers Struma, Mesta, and Dospat River Basin Management Plans are elaborated pursuant to Article 155(1), (para 2) of the Water Act (WA) and Article 13 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD, Directive 2000/60/EC) which has been transposed into the Bulgarian Water Act. RBMPs are strategic documents governing water management in RBDs; they are developed in parallel with Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) covering the same period of time. This is done to ensure consistency between the two strategic documents as elements of integrated river basin management. Pursuant to Article 14 WFD and Article 159(1) WA, RBMPs have to be reviewed and updated every six years after their initial publication. The first RBMPs covering the period 2010-2015 were elaborated and are now in force; at the same time, RBMPs for the 2016 2021 period were also being developed. The second set of RBMPs was expected to be finalised by the end of 2015 and reported to the European Commission (EC), as per WFD requirements, no later than March 2016. The adoption and reporting of RBMPs by the end of 2016 is crucial not only to ensure compliance with national obligations under Directive 2000/60/EC but also because it is a thematic exante conditionality for European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020 in the Water sector, having the same period of implementation. Failure to fulfil the ex-conditionality would create a risk for funding under Operational Programme Environment (OPE), the Rural Development Programme (RDP), and OP Innovation and Competitiveness. 2. Key Steps in Developing and Finalising RBMP RBMPs are elaborated and updated in stages; each stage involves consultations with the public and stakeholders:
a timetable and work programme for the production of the plan, including a statement of the consultation measures to be taken interim overview of significant water management issues draft RBMP and Programme of Measures The draft RBMP was published on 01.12.2015 for public consultations for a period of 6 months, as per WA. Subsequently, the consultation period was extended in order to accommodate the strategic environmental assessment procedure. Reports on the assessment of compliance with Natura 2000 protected areas were prepared for all RBMPs, together with environmental assessment reports which were published for consultation. In the process of consultations on the environmental assessment reports, public discussions were planned as follows: For the Danube River Basin District: 6.12.2016 Black Sea River Basin District: 1.12.2016 East Aegean River Basin District: 29.11.2016 West Aegean River Basin District: 2.12.2016 The supreme environmental expect Council (SEEC) meetings are planned to review the SEA reports for RBMPs, as follows: 13.12.2016 - for Strategic Environmental Assessment Reports (SEARs) on RBMPs concerning the Black Sea, East Aegean and West Aegean river basin districts 21.12.2016 - for SEAR on RBMP concerning Danube River Basin District A Council of Ministers meeting is scheduled for 28.12.2016 to officially adopt the RBMPs. Reporting of RBMPs to the EC is planned to be finalised by 30.12.2016. 3. Consultations with the Public and Stakeholders in Developing RBMPs In the course of elaboration of River Basin Management Plans, a timetable and work programme for RBMP development was prepared, including measures for public consultation; consultations were held in the period 21.12.2012 30.06.2013. Based on the results of the update of the river basin characterization, an overview of significant water management issues was prepared for each of the RBMPs; these were published on the websites of Basin Directorates (BDs) and the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW). Consultations were held in the period 05.11.2014-01.06.2015. The four draft RBMPs with their programmes of measures were published for public consultation on 1.12.2015. As part of the consultations on the draft RBMPs, 5 consultative meetings were held for each RBMP at the national level with ministries and their structures involved in RBMP-related measures (Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Regional Development and Public works, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Health), and meetings with economic sectors, organized jointly with the Bulgarian Industrial Chamber and the Bulgarian Water Association, were held in the period March - May 2015.
In each river basin district, a number of meetings were also held locally to discuss specific issues and measures for the RBMPs: For the Danube River Basin District: 3 consultative meetings were held. By the end of October, 109 opinion statements were received in the process of consultations on the draft RBMPs. 114 questionnaires were completed. For the Black Sea River Basin District: 4 consultative meetings were held. By the end of October, 40 opinion statements were received in the process of consultations on the draft RBMPs. 115 questionnaires were completed. For the East Aegean River Basin District: 32 consultative meetings were held (including five meetings with ministries). As of this time, 113 opinion statements have been received in the process of consultations on the draft RBMP. 65 questionnaires were completed; 16 of them contained proposals for new measures or changes in planned measures in the draft RBMPs. For the West Aegean River Basin District: 4 consultative meetings were held. By the end of October, 40 opinion statements were received in the process of consultations on the draft RBMPs. 55 questionnaires were completed. II. RBMP 2016-2021 1. RBMP Content RBMPs comprise the following sections: Section 1. Description of RBD characteristics: information on the identified surface and groundwater bodies, types of surface waters, reference conditions, heavily modified and artificial water bodies (WB) Section 2. Brief overview of significant pressures and impact from human activity on the status of surface and ground waters: an overview of the pressure on waters caused by human activity from point and diffuse sources of pollution, water abstraction, impoundments, alterations in the physical characteristics of rivers etc. Section 3. Updates to the Register of Protected Areas: a Register of Protected Areas (PAs) which includes: o PAs designated for the abstraction of water intended for human consumption (Directive 75/440/EC). o areas designated for the protection of economically significant aquatic species o PAs bodies of water designated as recreational waters, including areas designated as bathing waters (Directive 76/160/EC) o PAs - vulnerable zones (Directive 91/676/EC) o PAs - sensitive areas (Directive 91/271/EC) PAs areas designated for the protection of habitats or species where the maintenance or improvement of the status of water is an important factor in their protection (including relevant Natura 2000 sites designated under Directive 92/43/EEC (1) and Directive 79/409/EEC (2)
Section 4. Monitoring and assessment of the status of surface water, groundwaters, and water protection areas: information on the status of surface and ground waters and monitoring programmes Section 5. List of environmental objectives: objectives and exceptions concerning surface and ground water bodies and objectives for water protection areas pursuant to Art.156а(1) of WA Section 6. Brief overview of the economic analysis of water use: assessment of the economic and social importance of water use, assessment of developments compared to the situation described in the first RBMPs and the level of cost recovery ofwater services. Section 7. Brief overview of Programmes of Measures to achieve environmental objectives: measures envisaged in order to achieve RBMPs objectives, including funds planned and responsible authority. Section 8. Update of the register of all other plans and programmes within the scope of RBDs for individual basins, sectors, problems or water types: national, regional, district and municipal plans and programmes, including management plans for protected areas and water protection areas and regional master plans on water supply and collecting systems prepared by water operators Section 9. List of measures for public consultation, the results achieved in their implementation and relevant amendments to the plan (public consultation): information on the consultation process with the public and stakeholders at the various stages of RBMP development, including information on the consultation methods used and results thereof. Section 10. Transboundary coordination in updating RBMPs (2016 2021): information on transboundary consultations and exchange of information to develop RBMPs. Section 11. Competent authorities in water management: This section indicates the competent authorities in water management. Section 12. Contact persons and procedures for obtaining documentation and information on Programmes of Measures and monitoring data Section 13. Strategic environmental assessment of the draft RBMP. 2. Progress towards "Good Status" Objectives The key objective that should be achieved as a result of RBMPs implementation is the good status of water bodies, related ecosystems and protected areas, related to water. Therefore the starting point in developing RBMPs is to assess the status of surface and ground waters, identify the WBs with good status objectives already achieved, and analyse the causes for failure for the others and plan steps to meet the objectives. 2.1. Objectives achieved for surface water For surface WBs, objectives have been achieved when both the ecological and chemical status is at least good.
The table below provides information on surface water bodies for which the good status objective has been met (i.e. both their ecological status is good or high and their chemical status is good ) in four RBMPs, and aggregated data at national level. Table 1 Good status objectives met for surface WBs Surface water bodies/basin districs WestAegean EastAegean Danube Black Sea At National level Overall 183 311 256 205 955 With achieved objectives (number) 60 123 104 10 297 With achieved objectives (%) 33% 40% 41% 5% 31% 2.1.1. Ecological status/potential Ecological status is presented using a 5-point colour-coded scale as follows High Good Moderate Poor Bad The table provides information on the ecological status or ecological potential (for the designated heavily modified and artificial water bodies) of surface water bodies in the four RBMPs, and aggregated data at national level. Table 2 - Ecological status of surface water bodies Status/Basin districs WestAegean EastAegean Danube Black Sea At National level бр. % бр. % бр. % бр. % бр. % high 11 6 18 6 17 6.64 5 2.439 51 5.34 good 103 56.3 105 34 112 43.75 72 35.122 392 41.05 moderate 51 28 112 36 57 22.22 83 40.488 303 31.73 poor 8 4.3 26 8 22 8.5 25 12.195 81 8.48 bad 5 2.7 12 4 7 2.73 20 9.7561 44 4.61 unknown 5 2.7 38 12 41 6.01 0 0 84 8.8
The most common types of impact which are the cause for failure to achieve good environmental status in all RBDs are pollution by nutrients resulting in increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds and in the eutrophication of waters, and pollution by specific substances from industrial emitters.
The main causes for such pollution are the discharge of untreated or insufficiently treated municipal waste water, the discharge in insufficiently treated industrial waste water, farming activities etc. A specific type of pressure for the East Aegean, West Aegean, and Danube RBDs is the pollution from old mining facilities which results in higher concentrations of specific and priority substances in surface water bodies. One of the reasons for the increased number of water bodies in the Black Sea River District rated as having moderate and poor status is the increased range of monitored parameters during the period of the first RBMP: the monitoring of all biological and physic-chemical quality elements in coastal water during the first RBMP, as well as the hydromorphological studies conducted. 2.1.2. Chemical status The assessment of chemical status was carried out according to environmental quality standards (EQS) laid down in the Ordinance on environmental quality standards for priority substances and certain other pollutants (09.11.2010, adopted by Council of Ministers' Decree No. 256 of 01.11.2010). The chemical status assessment is presented in in two classes: Good This table provides information on the chemical status of surface water bodies in the four RBMPs and aggregated data at national level. Table 3 - Chemical status of surface water bodies Status/Basin districs Poor WestAegean EastAegean Danube Black Sea At National level бр. % бр. % бр. % бр. % бр. % good 63 34.4 49 16 165 65 45 22 322 33.72 bad 3 1.6 7 2 6 2 9 4 25 2.62 unknown 117 64 255 82 85 33 151 74 608 63.66 The failure to achieve good chemical status for WBs assessed in all RBMPs is caused by the excess concentrations of priority substances from industrial sources and/or old pollution. For the Black Sea River Basin District, good chemical status for inland surface water was not achieved due to the elevated levels of mercury, and for coastal water bodies the substances causing poor chemical status are DEHP, cadmium and Tributyltin compounds. For the Danube River Basin District, good chemical status could not be achieved due to the pollution of specific WBs by heavy metals: nickel, cadmium and trichloromethane. With regard to the East Aegean River Basin District, failure to achieve good chemical status was caused by metal pollution only: cadmium, lead, nickel and mercury (one water body) emitted by active and old mining and metal-processing facilities; In the West River Basin District, substances causing the poor chemical status are cadmium, nickel and lead. These pollutants are the result of old industrial operations in mining and enrichment of nonferrous ore, and discharges of insufficiently treated industrial waste water
2.2. Objectives achieved for groundwaters For groundwater WBs, objectives are achieved when both their quantitative and chemical status is assessed as good.
The table below provides information about groundwater bodies for which good status objectives have been met (both their quantitative status is good and their chemical status is good ) in four RBMPs, and aggregated data at national level. Table 4 Good status objectives achieved for groundwater WBs Goundwater bodies/basin districs WestAegean EastAegean Danube Black Sea At National level Overall 38 41 50 40 169 With achieved objectives (number) 32 23 28 23 106 With achieved objectives (%) 84% 56% 56% 58% 63% 2.2.1. Quantitative status for groundwaters An assessment of the quantitative status of groundwater was only carried out for GWBs identified as being at risk. According to the adopted approach, GWBs for which no risk of abstraction was identified, have been defined as being in good status. The quantitative status determination is based on the following tests: water balance, surface water flow, terrestrial ecosystems dependent on groundwaters, and intrusion of salty or contaminated water. The quantitative status is classified in two classes: good and poor. The following table provides information on the quantitative status of groundwater bodies in the four RBMPs and aggregated data at national level. Table 5 - Quantitative status of groundwater WBs Status/Basin districs WestAegean EastAegean Danube Black Sea At National level бр. % бр. % бр. % бр. % бр. % good quantitative 32 84.21 41 100 50 100 40 100 163 96.45 bad quantitative 6 15.8 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 3.55 2.2.2. Chemical status of groundwaters The status is classified into two classes: good and poor. The following table provides information on the chemical status of groundwater bodies in the four RBMPs and aggregated data at national level. Table 6 - Chemical status of groundwater WBs
Status/Basin districs WestAegean EastAegean Danube Black Sea At National level бр. % бр. % бр. % бр. % бр. % good chemical 37 97.37 23 56 28 56 23 57.5 111 65.68 bad chemical 1 2.63 18 44 22 18 17 42.5 58 34.32
In the Danube River Basin District, the pollutants identified as having concentrations that exceed established quality standards are nitrates, phosphates, ammonium, chromium, iron, and manganese. The causes for failing to achieve good status for GWBs are, as follows: - nitrates, phosphates and ammonium: for 14 GWBs; - specific pollutants (chromium, iron and manganese): 8 GWBs The main sources emitting nutrient pollution of groundwaters are agriculture, settlements without waste water collecting systems, municipal landfills, illegal dumpsites; old contamination from past activities. Significant sources of heavy metal contamination (iron, chromium, manganese) for groundwaters are mainly industrial plants, mining facilities /tailings, landfills/dumps. In the Black Sea River Basin District, 17 GWBs were classified as having poor status due to excessive levels for the following parameters: nitrates, orthophosphate, ammonium ions, sodium, chlorides, calcium, magnesium, manganese, iron, conductivity. In the East Aegean River Basin District, 18 groundwater WBs were classified as having poor chemical status due to the following indicators: nitrates, ammonium ions, chlorides, sulphates, manganese, iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, solidity (general), permanganate oxidation, phosphates. In the West Aegean River Basin District one groundwater body (GWB) changed from good to poor chemical status in comparison with the first RBMP due to the test "Significant deterioration of the ecological or chemical status of surface water bodies caused by the transfer of pollutants from the GWB. Deterioration was reported in the ecological status of the surface water body "Strumeshnitsa River from the Bulgarian-Macedonian border to Struma River", code BG4ST400R1072, due to the inflow of pollutants (NO 3 ) from GWB "Pore water in quaternary - Strumeshnitsa". 3. Programme of Measures in RBMPs 3.1. Expected outcomes The achievement of good water status is linked to the implementation of measures for the removal or reduction of the negative impact of human activity and improving the water status in each RBD. The implementation of measures envisaged in RBMPs aims to improve water status. It is consistent with the requirements of WFD, which allows, with the relevant justification given in RBMPs, for good status objectives to be postponed no later than 2027. The expected outcomes from the implementation of measures for each RBMP are presented in the charts below.
3.2. Approach in developing PoMs When planning measures for water bodies, a specific approach has been employed to take into account interdependent factors: driving force - pressure - impact - status - environmental objectives - actions, as shown in the figure below.
Such an approach aims to ensure the planning of measures which target specific types and sources of pressure causing the significant problems in water management while taking into account the specific conditions and status of individual water bodies. As part of PoMs update for 2015 RBMPs, the list of measures in 2010 2015 RBMPs has been revised. The planned measures were selected from a unified catalogue of measures developed at national level. 3.3. Measures in the Programme of Measures and Driving forces The Programmes of Measures in RBMPs include measures to control and reduce the impact on water and ecosystems from various human activities which are related to the driving forces that cause them: urbanization, industry, agriculture, forestry, climate change, energy hydropower plants, Energy - other than hydropower plants, fisheries and aquaculture, flood protection, tourism and recreation, transport, and unknown driving force (other). There are cases where a given measure is planned to deal with more than one driving force. Each measure provides for concrete action to achieve the relevant environmental objectives in response to the specific pressure. The measures and concrete actions in the Programmes of Measures in the four RBMPs comply with the catalogue of measures prepared at national level. 1. Urban areas: construction, reconstruction or modernization of collecting systems and urban wastewater treatment plants, construction, recultivation and closure of municipal waste landfills, efficiency in water use - Municipalities and Ministry of regional development and public works in partnership with Water supply and sewerage companies are responsible for implementation 2. Industry, incl. mining and old pollution sources: construction or modernization of waste water treatment plants for industrial waste water, reduction and prevention of pollution by persistent organic pollutants/priority substances, remediation of contaminated sites, efficiency in water use - owners of industrial enterprises are responsible for implementation, the Ministry of Economy is responsible for addressing the effects of old pollution 3. Agriculture: limiting the pollution with nitrates and pesticides from agricultural sources, raising farmers' awareness, reducing water losses in irrigation, improving the flow regime - farmers, Ministry of agriculture and forestry, Irrigation Systems Company are responsible for implementation 4. Forestry: improving forest management in the watershed of surface water bodies intended for drinking water supply (DWS), implementation of projects related to increasing forest cover and restoring forestry potential and similar actions for drinking water protection - Ministry of agriculture and forestry is responsible for implementation. 5. Energy: improving the hydro-morphological conditions of water bodies, improving the longitudinal continuity of rivers, protection and improving of protection areas etc., improving the flow regime - owners of hydropower plants, Ministry of Energy are responsible for implementation 6. Management: research to identify the pollution of surface and groundwater, improve monitoring, adopt/update legislation in the field of water protection, use and management etc. - MoEW and other ministries are responsible for implementation. 7. Transport: improve the longitudinal continuity of rivers, actions for prevention or control of pollution from transport activities, control on the collection and transport of ship waste, elaboration and application of instructions and measures to prevent the pollution of water from cargo loading and unloading activities etc. Ministry of Transport is responsible for implementation
8. Climate Change: measures for adaptation to climate change; elaboration and implementation of a Drought Management Plan; exploring the options for the construction of facilities to capture and use biogas in waste water treatment plants etc. Ministry of environment and water and other ministries are responsible for implementation. 9. Water protection areas in the Natura 2000 network: improve water management in water protection areas by setting the requirements for the quantity and quality of water in the process of elaboration of management plans for protected areas and territories dependent on surface or groundwater etc. - Ministry of environment and water is responsible for implementation 10. Flood protection: improve longitudinal continuity, actions for natural water retention, scientific research, improving the knowledge base to reduce uncertainty, improve the hydromorphological conditions of water bodies etc. Basin Directorates, Ministry of environment and water, municipalities, Irrigation Systems Company are responsible for implementation 11. Tourism and recreational activities: improve the longitudinal continuity of rivers, scientific research, improve the knowledge base to reduce uncertainty Basin Directorates, Ministry of environment and water, Ministry of transport are responsible for implementation 12. Fisheries and aquaculture: reduce the nutrient pollution from agriculture, improve longitudinal continuity, research, improve the knowledge base to reduce uncertainty, actions for prevention or control the adverse impacts of invasive alien species or imported diseases, improve management Basin Directorates, Ministry of agriculture and forestry, Regional inspectorates for environment and water, Executive agency for fisheries and aquaculture are responsible for implementation. 3.4. Financial resources for the Programme of Measures The total financial costs for the Programme of Measures in the RBMP 2016-2021 for the Danube River Basin District amount to BGN 1,796,461,083.62. The larger portion of these funds is intended for key measures whose implementation is mandatory. The measures envisaged in the Programme of Measures of the RBMP 2016-2021 for the East Aegean River Basin District are worth BGN 2,115,699,963. The total cost of the Programme of Measures in the RBMP 2016-2021 for the West Aegean River Basin District amount to BGN 380,351,248. The total cost of the Programme of Measures in the RBMP 2016-2021 for the Black sea River Basin District amount to BGN 884,945,582. Table 7 PoM cost, by driving force Driving force/basin district WestAegean EastAegean Danube Black Sea At national level Urban areas 308 512 624 BGN 1 948 931 102 BGN 1 782 603 986 BGN 864 953 332 BGN 4 905 001 044 BGN Industry 0 BGN 119 466 575 BGN 190 800 BGN 0 BGN 119 657 375 BGN Agriculture 0 BGN 21 771 489 BGN 2 643 266 BGN 7 567 250 BGN 31 982 005 BGN Forestry 0 BGN 0 BGN 25 000 BGN 0 BGN 25 000 BGN Fisheries and aquaculture 101 800 BGN 2 415 595 BGN 355 000 BGN 2 872 395 BGN Energy - hydropower plants 831 000 BGN 1 466 130 BGN 3 284 400 BGN 0 BGN 5 581 530 BGN Energy - without hydropower plants 38 610 BGN 0 BGN 0 BGN 38 610 BGN Tourism and recreation 47 025 BGN 0 BGN 0 BGN 47 025 BGN Transport 157 130 BGN 0 BGN 260 000 BGN 417 130 BGN Flood protection 228 400 BGN 5 508 891 BGN 0 BGN 52 500 BGN 5 789 791 BGN Climate change 0 BGN 0 BGN 0 BGN 0 BGN 0 BGN More than one driving force 70 677 423 BGN 15 897 416 BGN 7 713 632 BGN 11 757 500 BGN 106 045 971 BGN Overall cost 380 351 248 BGN 2 115 699 963 BGN 1 796 461 084 BGN 884 945 582 BGN 5 177 457 877 BGN
3.5. Funding sources and institutional analysis The sources of funding for the RBMP Programmes of Measures are as follows: National budget
Municipal budgets EU funds: o Operational Programme Environment 2014-2020 o Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 o Other ESIF programmes; Enterprise for Management of Environmental Activities (EMEPA); Private investment Funds from the national budget are within the budgets of the relevant central government institutions and municipalities, national public co-financing and other investment sources. 4. Improving Governance and Overcoming the Gaps Identified in the First RBMPs As a result of the implementation of the first RBMPs, progress has been achieved in other areas related to overcoming the gaps in the first RBMPs, improving the level of understanding of water status, assessments and the overall water management. These are related to: the adoption of a new type-specific five-level classification system for evaluation of the ecological status of surface water regulatory changes, including amendments to the Water Act and the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) to reflect the new classification systems, monitoring requirements and the integration of water policies into other sectoral policies (creation of a Coordination Council on Water, Ordinance H-4 on the characterization of surface water, Ordinance on water monitoring, Ordinance on environmental quality standards (EQS) for priority substances and certain other pollutants; reasoned opinions on the eligibility of investment intentions in relation to RBMPs as part of the Environmental protection act procedure etc.) Improvements in the scientific and methodological base: research - research tasks have been assigned at the national level to improve the knowledge base by studying the effects of climate change on water and developing adaptation measure, validation of specified types of surface water with the necessary measurements etc; a number of approaches ensuring coordination in the drafting of the four RBMPs were developed at national level and applied to the second RBMPs. Inter-calibrated methods for the analysis 5 biological quality elements for 6 inter-calibration types (more than one biological quality element for each type). Improved reliability of status estimates: the boundaries of surface water bodies were revised and the average length was reduced, allowing for a more accurate assessment; monitoring has been extended - the number of monitoring posts has been increased; new methods of analysis have been introduced; the scope of analysed indicators has been extended; In connection with the preparation of the Marine Strategy for Bulgaria and the 2016-2021 Programme of Measures, fulfilling the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/EC whose scope includes territorial water and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Bulgaria and builds on WFD provision to include coastal water, the second RBMP for the BSRBD contains measures aimed at integrating the activities under the two Directives in order to reduce certain types of anthropogenic pressure such as: the introduction of non-indigenous, frequently invasive species of plant and animal organisms (link to Descriptor 2 - non-indigenous species), solid waste of
anthropogenic origin in the marine environment, improper disposal of marine litter (link with Descriptor 10 - marine litter), loss of biodiversity as a result of trawling and the construction of ports and protection facilities (links with Descriptors 1 - Biodiversity, 6 Sea-floor integrity and 7 Hydrographical alteration), dredging and disposal of dredge (link with Descriptor 8 - Contaminants in the marine environment). Improved transbounday coordination with neighbouring countries - active participation in water management in the Danube international river basin coordinated by ICPDR for the Danube RBMPs which is coordinated with the RBMP of the international Danube basin district. Bilateral coordination and information exchange with Romania have been carried out at every stage of RBMP development, within the framework of a bilateral agreement. Declarations for cooperation in the field of water have been signed with Greece and Turkey, on the basis of which a number of meetings were held and information was exchanged in the process of RBMP development. Steps have been taken to ensure bilateral coordination with the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia. Analysis models and evaluation of pressures and impact on water in the Danube RBD have been applied - the MONERIS model (ICPDR) for analysis of pressure from nitrogen and phosphorus in the RBD, the PegOPERA model for analysis of the pressure and impact in the basins of the Iskar and Yantra rivers. 5. Improvements Needed in Implementation of the Second Set of RBMPs. In order to improve water management and the reliability of analysis-based estimates, some improvements are still needed; part of these are addressed in the RBMP Programme of Measures, such as: Expand the monitoring network by establishing new monitoring stations and providing conditions for monitoring and analysis, including methods for all quality indicators meeting the requirements of Directive 2009/90/EC. Improve the information base - organization and maintenance of information, provide conditions for wider application of models (software; data; training) Strengthen the capacity of the Basin Directorates (number of staff; expertise) Improve inter-sectoral coordination and exchange of information etc. Conduct timely and frequent specific research of surface and groundwater bodies to collect up-to-date and sufficiently large set of data for planning and implementation of additional monitoring and/or specific measures for to improve their status or maintenance, if a "good status" has already been achieved. 6. National Programmes. National programmes are being developed in connection with the responsibilities of the Coordination Council on Water for their discussion (Article 10e of the Water Act) and of the Council of Ministers for their adoption together with the adoption of River Basin Management Plans (Article 151 (2) (1) of the Water Act). National programmes have been developed based on the Programmes of Measures for RBMPs; they contain information on the cost of investment measures and their intended financial performance, by year.
The total cost of implementation programmes amounts to BGN 5,106,173,435, the break-down by year being as follows: Figure 1. Allocation of planned investments in the period 2017-2021, in BGN Year Investments, by river basin districts, BGN West Aegean East Aegean Danube Black Sea Total 2017 47,138,536 393,553,519 68,394,862 94,069,081 603,155,997 2018 125,649,887 942,493,278 110,477,540 147,680,962 1,326,301,667 2019 119,767,408 596,021,347 365,760,527 201,445,524 1,282,994,805 2020 55,667,768 80,191,574 755,739,689 244,950,395 1,136,549,426 2021 22,980,665 99,198,050 496,088,466 138,904,360 757,171,540 Total 371,204,263 2,111,457,767 1,796,461,084 827,050,322 5,106,173,435 Table 1. Planned investments, by year, for the period 2017-2021, BGN The measures in national programmes are broken down by policies, depending on the nature of the measure and of the key authority implementing the policy: Water supply and sewerage (Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works) Energy (Ministry of Energy) Industry (Ministry of Economy) Agriculture (Ministry of Agriculture and Food) Transport (Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications) Municipal policy (municipalities) Environment (Ministry of Environment and Water)
The bulk of necessary investments are planned in the water supply and sewerage systems sector; they relate to measures for the construction and reconstruction of water supply and sewerage systems and waste water treatment plants whose construction lags behind the deadlines specified in Bulgaria's Treaty of Accession to the EU. The distribution of the programmes of measures by sector is provided in Figure 2. Figure 2. Allocation of necessary investments, by sector, BGN Sector Investments, by river basin districts, BGN West Aegean East Aegean Danube Black Sea Total WSS 299,594,039 1,904,472,968 1,723,646,836 744,009,022 4,671,722,866 Other 0 0 770,000 0 770,000 Energy 731,000 3,863,972 3,244,400 0 7,839,372 Agriculture 57,000 21,633,454 1,955,766 0 23,646,220 Industry 0 117,086,122 190,800 26,660,000 143,936,922 Municipal policy 62,384,460 47,442,639 60,849,250 44,851,550 215,527,899 Environment 8,437,763 16,888,752 5,804,032 6,409,750 37,540,298
Transport 69,860 0 5,120,000 5,189,860 Total 371,204,263 2,111,457,767 1,796,461,084 827,050,322 5,106,173,435 Table 2. Planned investments, by sector, BGN National implementation programmes are developed for each of the four river basin districts: Danube RBD, center in Pleven Black Sea RBD, center in Varna East Aegean RBD, center in Plovdiv West Aegean RBD, center in Blagoevgrad Due to the fact that river basin districts vary in size, pressures and status of water, as well as and the varying degree of implementation the programme of measures for the first period 2009-2015, the funding needed for the implementation of programmes is different for each RBD. Information on the allocation of funds by RBDs is provided in Figure 3. Figure 3. Allocation of funds, by river basin district, BGN Investments, by river basin districts, BGN. Cost measures of West Aegean East Aegean Danube Black Sea Total 371,204,263 2,111,457,767 1,796,461,084 827,050,322 5,106,173,435 Table 3. Planned investments, by river basin district, BGN
To ensure better planning for the implementation of programmes, planned investments need to be properly targeted at the possible sources of funding. The programmes identified the following possible sources; the financing that has not yet been secured is also shown: European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Operational Programme Environment and Rural Development Programme National ESIF co-financing National budget Municipal budget Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities (EMEPA) Private investment (WSS operators, enterprises) State funding* * State funding funding that should be provided annually in the expenditure side of responsible ministries' budgets. For measures to be funded under EU programmes, the EU financing, national co-financing and own contribution (from Water Supply and Sewerage operator or municipality) are provided. The allocation of investments by source of funding, and funding that should be provided in the responsible ministries budgets, is shown in Figure 4. Figure 4. Investments in implementation programmes, by funding source, BGN
River District Basin ESIF National cofinancing National budget Municipal budget Private investment EMEPA State funding* West Aegean 18,818,174 3,320,854 4,284,763 3,727,540 2,812,003 31,803,460 306,437,468 East Aegean 192,407,428 26,272,519 8,795,100 6,291,787 53,144,162 42,447,579 1,782,099,192 Danube 351,429,912 62,017,043 165,000 40,211,133 17,771,691 47,694,438 1,277,171,866 Black Sea 211,067,186 37,247,150 821,000 20,812,651 49,780,144 32,244,264 475,077,927 Total 773,722,700 128,857,567 14,065,863 71,043,110 123,508,000 154,189,742 3,840,786,453 Table 4. Planned investments, by source of funding, BGN To ensure the successful implementation of the Programmes of Measures for which no funding is secured, such measures need to be planned in the budgets of relevant ministries/municipalities as part of the national budgeting procedures. 22