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.
Events
Water Security in Bulgaria
September 18-19, 2017
Grand Hotel Sofia, Bulgaria
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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.
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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
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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