Assessment of Pollutant Emissions to support River Basin Management in Albania according to the EU Water Framework Directive

Project coordinator: Thomas Ertl

Coordinating institution: University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna

Partner institutions: Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien), Agricultural University of Tirana

Partner country: Albania

Project duration: 1 February 2024 – 31 January 2027

Albania is a country rich in water resources. Safeguarding these water resources is of paramount importance for economic and social development of the country. Albania has the status of a candidate country for the European Union (EU), and as such it has adapted the water legislation framework to that of the EU. In this context river basin management plans (RBMP) are used to achieve a holistic management of surface waters according to the EU Water Framework Directive. However, Albania has a significant need for data as a basis for RBMPs, especially the data regarding the pollutant emissions and pathways from the river basins. The Amore-AL project aims at filling these gaps for pollutant emissions by establishing an appropriate monitoring strategy coupled with modelling of pollutant pathways. Through this, the project aims at supporting Albanian institutions with their need for basic tools to improve river basins management plans. Amore-AL is in line with the ADC country strategies for Albania, specifically “Managing water resources in a sustainable way”.

In this project the development of a tool to assess the nutrient and pollution emissions at river basin scale is planned. The Modelling of Regionalized Emissions (MoRE) tool will be adapted and further developed for Mediterranean climatic and social conditions. The point and diffuse emission pathways for Ishmi river catchment, known as the most polluted in Europe, will be investigated. Each of the possible pollutant pathways will be investigated separately and the pollution load will be quantified. The focus will be set on demonstrating the applicability of the tool for this river basin with the aim of transferring the model to other river basins in Albania and in the neighboring countries. The model will be used as a decision support system from the responsible authorities to improve the overall water quality of the river and to plan the required measures for reducing the pollutant emissions in the surface waters. Due to its multidimensionality, the project can provide a valuable data base for setting targeted measures to improve the water quality of Ishmi river. Initially, monitoring activities are planned for determining the pollution degree. Secondly, extensive modeling will be performed from Austrian and Albanian researchers in order to define the pollutant sources and quantify the pathways of specific substance fluxes. Finally, the results will be validated by measuring the overall pollution flux at the catchments outlet with the aim of improving the model accuracy.

The final goal of this project is not only to develop a tool for identifying pollutant emissions and suitable mitigation measures for one specific Albanian river basin, but to widen and facilitate the applicability to other river basins in Albania and neighboring countries. In order to assure the further development and application of the model, capacity building and knowledge transfer will be a focal point of this project. During the three years of project duration, several workshops, conferences, and training activities are foreseen for the Albanian scientists and water resources specialists. These workshops and the additional activities planned in the project for the development of MoRE will strengthen the scientific capacities in the Albanian water sector. In order to promote social inclusion and gender equality also activities regarding schoolchildren and workshops with the inhabitants of the areas affected from water quality deterioration are planned.