Which water management issues do you find to be the most challengingin your country?

The main water problems in Azerbaijanare connected to quality and scarcity, butthere are also some related legal andinstitutional issues. Azerbaijan is still farfrom achieving international integratedwater resources management (IWRM)standards, but the government hasmade efforts to do so in recent years.For quite some time now Azerbaijan hasbeen improving its institutional structureand legislation in the area of waterresources protection. At the same time,there are currently no internationalprojects and no concrete proposals ordocuments promoting the integration ofour legislation with European legislation.There is a need to develop a mechanismfor the application of a basin-wideapproach in Azerbaijan. Watermonitoring and assessment systems areoutdated and need to be brought intocompliance with the EU WaterFramework Directive (WFD).

What, in your opinion, is the EPIRBproject doing successfully to helpaddress these issues?

The project provides training for specialistson water sampling and assessment. In theGanja–Gazakh pilot area (Central Kura),joint field surveys are helping us test bio-monitoring in the pilot area for the firsttime. We are also conducting sampling andanalyses of hydromorphological andphysico-chemical elements according tointernational standards. I think the waterclassification system developed by theproject will be good tool for riskassessment and the development ofprogrammes of measures that will improvethe status of “at risk” water bodies.

The project also plays an important rolein developing an integrated river basinmanagement plan for the pilot basin. Forthe first time our river basin planning is in

compliance with the WFD, and this canbe a basis for future river basin planningin other regions of the country.

Should the EPIRB project be involvedwith any other particular issues?

The project can help develop amechanism to apply a WFD-compliantbasin approach in Azerbaijan. We alsoneed support from project experts todevelop surveillance and operationalmonitoring programmes, both in thepilot area and at national level. We alsohope that the project classificationsystem can be used in Azerbaijan fornationwide water assessment.

The project is funded by the European Union

This project is implemented by a consortiumled by Hulla & Co. Human Dynamics KG

E P I R BEnvironmental Protection of International River Basins

Issue 4 ● September 2014 Newsletter of the Environmental Protection of International River Basins project

Breaking ground: Pilot projectsand measures introduce newtools for river basin protection

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Picture this: Project video andhandouts teach reliable watersampling techniques

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Matanat Avazova Deputy Director, National Environmental Monitoring Department,MENR of Azerbaijan Republic

Balancing human and environmental needs

GETTING RESULTS: The new water sampling and assessment techniques being applied in thepilot river basin can be used in the future to improve the status of all river basins in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is in the process ofaligning its national legaldocuments to the EU WaterFramework Directive (WFD) andthe principles of integratedwater resources management(IWRM). The National WaterStrategy has been drafted and isexpected to be adopted in 2014.

Source:http://www.oecd.org/environment/outreach/euwi-azerbaijan.pdf

Monitoring in the Akhuryan basinmanagement area (Armenia)

Part of the Akhuryan pilot basin islocated in the Ararat Valley. In 2013, thetotal groundwater use was 1.6 timesthe level approved by the StateCommittee on Reserves in 1984.Groundwater use by fish farms aloneexceeded this level.

Due to artesian groundwater depletion,conflicts with other artesiangroundwater uses – irrigation,domestic and industrial supply, andcooling waters – are increasing, andthere is concern about the possibledepletion of these resources if thetrend continues. To address theproblem, it has been proposed to revisegroundwater monitoring in the basin,which will provide more accurateinformation and at the same timeimprove decision making on waterallocation. Refurbishment of thegroundwater monitoring network willstart with the construction of at leastone new borehole that will be equippedwith modern electronic water-level and

temperature meters and a telemetricstation for data transfer. The 18-monthpilot project is expected to end inOctober 2015.

Improving groundwater status in a Minsk aquifer (Belarus)

Groundwater is the main source ofdrinking water in Belarus. Long-termintensive groundwater abstraction hasresulted in a significant drawdown ofthe groundwater level. Groundwaterabstraction also accelerates thepollution of productive aquifers. TheNovinki well field, one of the oldest inMinsk, has been supplying water to thecity since 1932. Groundwatermonitoring reveals the development ofanthropogenic pollution of the aquifers,mainly by nitrates. A detailedassessment concerning pollutionsources will be carried out to addressthe problem. The assessment willinclude an analysis of point and non-point pollution sources andmathematical modelling ofgroundwater flow. The 13-monthproject is due to end in July 2015.

Investigating causes of salinisation inthe Prut basin (Moldova)

Anthropogenically induced saline waterintrusion results in the poor status ofgroundwater bodies. However, somegroundwater bodies in the Prut Riverbasin have naturally elevated levels ofsalinity due to the geochemistry of theaquifer. High mineralisation levels poseproblems with respect to the use ofgroundwater for drinking purposes.

In order to analyse trends in salt-waterintrusion influenced by abstraction, thegroundwater monitoring network in thePrut basin will be refurbished andelectronic water-level and salinitymeters will be installed in 15 observationwells. A new monitoring well will bedrilled near the city of Ungheni.

The monitoring network will beequipped with a telemetric datatransfer device that will sendinformation directly to theHydrogeological Expedition of Moldovafor further processing. The pilot projectis due to last up to 18 months.

September 2014 ● Issue 4

BASIN SPOTLIGHT

WELL AHEAD: Competition for groundwater resources is depleting and degrading aquifers in Armenia, Belarus and Moldova. The monitoring ofgroundwater quality and quantity is essential in order to provide accurate data for informed decision making on the protection of this resource.

The primary objectives of the EPIRB pilot projects are to improvegroundwater status, protect groundwater from pollution, and balancewater use in the pilot basins.

Pilot projects focus on groundwater

A new e-learning video on groundwatersampling is based on the EPIRB Manualfor Groundwater Field Surveys. Thevideo includes brand new images ofgroundwater joint field surveys andprovides practical recommendations onhow to take reliable groundwatersamples — techniques that are specificto the EPIRB project. Just under 10minutes in length, the video comes witha handout identifying project targets andlocal experts involved in the monitoringactivities. The materials are currentlyavailable in English, but will also bereleased in Russian in September.

Issue 4 ● September 2014

EPIRB IN ACTION

E-LEARNING VIDEO ONGROUNDWATER SAMPLING

Groundwater is an indispensable element of the water cycle and a naturally protectedsource of drinking, industrial and agricultural water supply.

According to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), surface waters andgroundwater have equal status, as sub-surface waters have a key role not only forhuman beings but also for the natural environment. The monitoring of interactionsbetween surface water and groundwater is an important element of the WFD.

In order to fulfil the requirements of the WFD, the delineation and classification ofgroundwater bodies have been completed in all pilot river basins of EPIRB countries.Guidelines for WFD-compliant groundwater monitoring have been prepared forcountries in the Caucasus.

Groundwater field surveys are an important project activity and are used to fill gaps indata on groundwater quality and as a tool for training local experts to performgroundwater monitoring using modern equipment. The field surveys carried out under

the project required the collection of samples from 20to 40 groundwater points (monitoring and exploitationwells and springs) in each pilot basin. Field parameterswere analysed at the sampling point and all sampleswere taken for laboratory analysis of the main cationsand anions, trace elements and organic compounds. Atotal of 30 national experts from project countrieshave been trained to carry out WFD-compliantgroundwater monitoring.

The results of the field surveys show that the chemicalstatus of groundwater in all pilot river basins is good(with the exception of some parts of the Prut basin inMoldova, where the natural quality of the groundwateris not good). In the Armavir and Aknashen areas of

Armenia, concentrations of arsenic were found to be up to 25 times higher thanEuropean norms. This finding was checked during additional sample surveys, and theorigin of the arsenic will soon be identified.

Groundwater bodies in pilot basins in Metsamor (Armenia) and Minsk (Belarus) havebeen categorised as at risk of not achieving WFD environmental objectives due to over-exploitation and negative impacts on surface water bodies. Groundwater abstraction isnot only causing large water-level drawdowns but is also reducing the flows of smallrivers. Rivers are feeding depleted aquifers and losing water during low-flow periods.

Detailed information and photos from the groundwater field surveys are available onthe project website.

LOOKING BENEATH THE SURFACE

GAP ANALYSIS: Joint groundwater surveys are used to obtain vital data and as a tool for traininglocal experts in the use of modern monitoring equipment.

SEE HOW IT’S DONE: The project video helps localexperts with tips on water sampling techniques.

Measure staticwater level and well depth

Record field datain a field book andthe ‘GroundwaterSampling FieldData Sheet’

Collecting sampleswith a stainlesssteel bailer

The Groundwater Sampling Guide isavailable at:

http://blacksea-riverbasins.net/en/e-learning-materials

In a Eurobarometer poll,47% of respondentsnamed water pollutionas the environmentalissue they were mostworried about. TheWater FrameworkDirective is a responseto public concerns.

Joint field surveys continued in the Khrami/Debed and Alazani/Ganikh sub-basinsof the Kura River basin. The objective of the surveys was to follow up on resultsfrom the Kura Phase-III project in accordance with EU WFD methodology, and tofurther customise solutions to meet the local needs of beneficiary countries. Thisrequired collecting diverse samples of macro-invertebrates (macro-habitatapproach), physico-chemical parameters and hydromorphological qualityelements. Earlier rainfall accounted for the fact that river flow discharges weregreater that those of the previous season at all locations.

A survey in Azerbaijan’s Alazani/Ganikh River basin confirmed that tributariesare typically braided river systems characterised by a highly dynamic response

to natural and anthropogenic changes indrainage catchment areas.

In Georgia’s Khrami River basin, there werevisible differences between the referenceconditions of sampling locations and impactedlocations (mining activities, untreatedwastewater and water abstraction).

In the Alazani River basin, also in Georgia, it wasobserved that the town of Kvareli has hadsignificant impact on macro-invertebrates in theBursa River.

As with previous rounds of sampling, thismission provides further confirmation that the

complexity of river ecosystems in the pilot river basins are due to natural factorssuch as climate and hydrological, morphological and hydraulics conditions.

News from the field

CURRENT STATUS: Results from joint field surveys carried out in Azerbaijan and Georgiaconfirm the impacts of natural and anthropogenic changes in catchment areas.

MOVING FORWARD CALENDAR

In the Flow is available on the web at:www.blacksea-riverbasins.net

For a free subscription to In the Flow EPIRBproject newsletter please send a message to wmt@rec.org

Editors: Jovanka Ignjatovic • Imola Koszta

Contributors: Matanat Avazova • Victor Bujac •Bernardas Paukstys • Peter Roncak • AlexandrStankevich • Vahagn Tonoyan • Rafig Verdiyev

Design and layout: Tricia Barna • Juan Torneros

Copyediting and proofreading:Rachel Hideg •Nathan Johnson

Photographs: EPIRB partners • BernardasPaukstys • Vahagn Tonoyan • Rafig Verdiyev

Publisher: The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe

Legal notice: The views expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the Human DynamicsConsortium implementing the project and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

© 2014 – The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe

September• 2: National Coordination Committee andstakeholder consultation meeting, Baku,Azerbaijan

• 3–4: Sub-regional hydromorphologicaltraining in Moldova

• 3–5: Second round of joint field surveys forecological status and groundwatermonitoring in Moldova

• 8–12: Second round of joint field studies forsurface water monitoring in Moldova, Belarusand Ukraine (Prut and Upper Dnieper)

• 22–26: Second round of joint field surveysfor surface water monitoring in Ukraine(Prut basin)

October• 6: Third river basin management planworkshop on setting environmentalobjectives and development of programmeof measures, Minsk, Belarus

• 7: Third Regional Steering Committeemeeting, Minsk, Belarus

• tbd: Surveys in Caucasus and EasternEurope

• 9–31: Fourth round of joint field surveys onthe Kura River

November• tbd: Training on water body delineation andtypology, and on the development ofecological status classification systems,Tbilisi or Kiev

For final dates please consult the online EPIRB calendar,available at www.blacksea-riverbasins.net

September 2014 ● Issue 4

Braided rivers areformed when a thresholdlevel of sediment load is reached. They areever-changing channelsweaving betweentemporary shingleislands.