EDLIRA BARAJ, ARMINA GJOKA, RAIMONDA LILO (TOTONI), ROZA ALLABASHI
Department of Chemistry, FIMIF, Polytechnic University of Tirana.
Faculty of Geology and Mining, Polytechnic University of Tirana.
BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna; Department of Water Atmosphere and Environment, Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Water Pollution Control
e-mail: edlirabaraj@yahoo.co.uk; arminagjoka@yahoo.com; rtotoni@gmail.com; roza.allabashi@boku.ac.at
Abstract
There is a complete legal framework at EU level, providing for the establishment of integrated water management systems in all Member States. Substantial part of this legislation concerning water resource management and monitoring has been transposed so far in Albania, although an adequate monitoring system as part of the integrated water management system, is still far from being established and fully operational. The purpose of this work is to provide an overview of water resource management in Albania, with a particular focus on the assessment of water monitoring system, based on the EU legislation and Austrian practice. Several problems and concerns regarding the degree of implementation of EU directives, particularly of Water Framework Directive (WFD), such as the discrepancies in the coordination between institutions; lack of sufficient and appropriate financial means; imperative need for the development of modern laboratory infrastructure, distributed in an artery-like network in order to monitor water resources; necessity for more qualified and trained staff, lack of an electronic database, and the need for raising awareness and participation of the public in decision-making process related to environmental issues, have been observed. Based on EU legislation (WFD) in general, and the Austrian practice in particular, recommendations for establishing the water monitoring system in Albania according to EU standards and laws have been also presented.
Keywords: Water Framework Directive, water monitoring system
