Viru-Peipsi CAMP project seminars in counties

For successful implementation of the project, close contacts between the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and local authorities belonging to the project area are very important. For that purpose and to introduce the purposes of the project, the PIU in close co-operation with the County Environmental Services organized 4 seminars for introduction of the project. In addition to local authoritieas and county environmental services, representatives of land reclamation bureaus and local departments of the Health Protection Inspectorate also participated in the seminars. The seminars were held November 19 in Tartu (Tartu, Jõgeva and Viljandi counties), on November 20 in Räpina (Põlva, Võru and Valga counties), on November 26 in Rakvere (Lääne-Viru and Harju counties) and on November 27 in Jõhvi (Ida-Viru County).

All-together about 100 representatives from municipalities, county environmental services, land reclamation bureaus, departments of the Health Protection Inspectorate and other institutions dealing with water management participated in the seminars.

During the first part of the seminars project manager Ain Lääne and project manager assistant Peeter Marksoo introduced the principles of the Water Framework Directive and water management plans, the goals of the project, its time schedule and work packages. The role of local authorities and county environmental departments in implementation of the project, cooperation with PIU and dissemination (articles in press, booklet about the project, project homepage) of the results was discussed.

The second part of the seminars was devoted to local water management problems. Presentations were made by Hilja Kikas and Kristiina Kütt from Tartumaa Environmental Service, Enn Selgis from Jõgevamaa Environmental Service, Marina Hiiob, Ly Kaasik and Merle Laas from Võrumaa Environmental Service, Meelis Järvemägi from Põlvamaa Environmental Service, Virve Kask from Lääne-Virumaa Environmental Service and Tiiu Sizova from Ida-Virumaa Environmental Service.

Based on those reports the following conclusions concerning water use and protection problems in the project area can be made.

Similar to the whole Estonia domestic and industrial) water consumption in the project area has decreased (2.2 and 1.8 times respectively in 1995-2001). Drinking water resources are sufficient to cover the water demand in the whole region, with the exception of the oil shale region in Northeast Estonia. The main problems in water supply are water losses and deterioration of the water quality in pipelines caused by their age and depreciation.

Considerable progress has been made in reduction of the pollution load from industries and municipalities. Phosphorous and BOD load discharged into water bodies from urban and industrial areas has decreased 2.6 and 3.7 times respectively, the load of oil products has decreased more than 4 times and phenol’s load over 5 times. In addition to the industry, substantial progress has been made also in municipal waste water treatment. In recent years tens of waste water treatment plants have been constructed or reconstructed. Speaking about bigger towns, Tartu and Jõgeva have got new waste water treatment facilities and in Narva and Kohtla-Järve those have been reconstructed. Stressing the overall progress made in water management it should be mentioned, that lot of waste water treatment plants are old (15-20 years) and working inefficiently or don’t work at all. Densly populated areas on eastern (between Kallaste and Mustvee) and northern coast of Lake Peipsi are without sewerage system and the waste water is discharged without any treatment into the lake and the soil.

 According to the Estonian Public Water Supply and Sewerage Act water supply and waste water treatment systems should be developed according to the public water supply and sewerage development plans of local municipalities. Unfortunately only urban municipalities and only few of rural municipalities have elaborated their public water supply and sewerage development plans. The elaboration of those development plans have been also disturbed by postponement of administrative reform of the municipalities.

In all counties the unregistered and often ownerless drilled wells are a serious problem as potential pollution sources for groundwater bodies.

Although the agricultural pollution has due to the decrease of the number of livestock (about two times) and consumption of mineral fertilisers (3-4 times), there are still several unsolved problems in manure handling. The most important and most expensive among those is the construction of manure storages.

The State Environment Monitoring Programme does not provide enough information for assessment of the state of groundwater and water bodies. Therefore the monitoring on county level and especially the self-monitoring of industrial and water enterprises has a great importance. In new and reviewed water permits the obligation of the pollution source impact monitoring shall be put on the polluter. For example the AS Tartu Veevärk has six monitoring stations on River Emajõgi downstream from Tartu. Similar self-monitoring should be made by all bigger water enterprises and industries discharging directly into water bodies.

In the presentations the water quality problem of numerous man-made lakes and the question of dams was raised. Lot of man-made lakes are filled with sediments and are affected by eutrophication.

Agenda of the seminars of the LIFE-Environment  project “Viru-Peipsi Catchment Area Management Plan” (Viru-Peipsi CAMP)

11.00 – 11.10  Opening (by the head of the local county environmental service)

11.10 – 12.00  Overview about the LIFE-Environment project. Ain Lääne

12.00 – 12.30  About the co-operation between the project and local authorities. Peeter Marksoo

12.30 – 13.30  Coffee break

13.30 - 14.00   Vision of the county environmental services about the implementation of the WFD in the county

14.00 – 15.00  Discussion and summary of the seminar

19 November 2002

Tartu, Jõgeva and Viljandi Counties

Invited participants:

1) Tartu, Jõgeva ja Viljandi County Governments

2) Tartumaa, Jõgevamaa ja Viljandimaa Environmental Departments

3) Tartu, Jõgeva ja Viljandi Land Reclamation Bureaus

4) Tartumaa ja Viljandimaa Health Protection Departments

5) Tartu, Elva, Kallaste,  Jõgeva, Põltsamaa ja Mustvee City Governments

6) Communes of the Tartu County: Alatskivi, Haaslava, Kambja, Konguta, Laeva, Luunja, Meeksi, Mäksa, Nõo, Peipsiääre, Piirissaare, Puhja, Rannu, Rõngu, Tartu, Tähtvere, Vara, Võnnu, Ülenurme

7) Communes of the Jõgeva County: Jõgeva, Saare, Tabivere, Pajusi, Puurmani, Põltsamaa, Pala, Kasepää, Palamuse, Torma

8) Kolga-Jaani Commune from the Viljandi County

20 November 2002

Põlva, Võru and Valga Counties

Invited participants:

1) Põlva, Võru ja Valga County Governments

2) Põlvamaa, Võrumaa ja Valgamaa Environmental Departments

3) Põlva, Võru ja Valga Land Reclamation Bureaus

4) Põlvamaa, Võrumaa ja Valgamaa Health Protection Departments

5) Põlva, Räpina ja Võru City Governments

6) Communes of the Põlva County: Ahja, Kanepi, Kõlleste, Laheda, Mikitamäe, Mooste, Orava, Põlva, Räpina, Valgjärve, Vastse-Kuuste, Veriora, Värska

7) Communes of the Võru County: Haanja, Lasva, Meremäe, Rõuge, Sõmerpalu, Urvaste, Vastseliina, Võru

8) Communes of the Valga County: Otepää and Palupera

26 November 2002

Lääne-Viru, Järva ja Harju Counties

Invited participants:

1) Lääne-Viru, Järva ja Harju County Governments

2) Lääne-Virumaa, Järvamaa ja Harjumaa Environmental Departments

3) Viru, Järva ja Harju Land Reclamation Bureaus

4) Lääne-Virumaa Health Protection Department

5) Rakvere, Kunda ja Tamsalu City Governments

6) Communes of the Lääne-Viru County: Avanduse, Haljala, Kadrina, Laekvere, Rakke, Rakvere, Rägavere, Saksi, Sõmeru, Tamsalu, Vihula, Vinni, Viru-Nigula, Väike-Maarja

7) Communes of the Järva County: Järva-Jaani, Koeru ja Koigi

8) Communes of the Harju County: Kuusalu and Loksa 

27 November 2002

Ida –Viru County

Invited participants:

1) Ida-Viru County Governments 

2) Ida-Virumaa Environmental Department

3) Viru Land Reclamation Bureau

4) Ida-Virumaa Health Protection Department

5) Narva, Sillamäe, Jõhvi, Kiviõli, Kohtla-Järve, Narva-Jõesuu ja Püssi City Governments

6) Communes of the Ida-Viru County: Alajõe, Aseri, Avinurme, Iisaku, Illuka, Jõhvi, Kohtla, Kohtla-Nõmme, Lohusuu, Lüganuse, Maidla, Mäetaguse, Sonda, Toila, Tudulinna, Vaivara