MODERNIZATION OF LOCAL PUBLIC SERVICES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
INTERVENTION AREA 2: REGIONAL PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING
SECTORAL REGIONAL PROGRAM WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT REGION OF GAGAUZIA TAU (2018 – 2025)
2018
Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Registered office: Bonn and Eschborn, Germany
Friedrich-Ebert-Allee 40 53113 Bonn, Germany T +49 228 44 60-0 F +49 228 44 60-17 66
Dag-Hammarskjöld-Weg 1-5 65760 Eschborn, Germany T +49 61 96 79-0 F +49 61 96 79-11 15
E [email protected] I www.giz.de
Authors: Ghenadie Ivascenco, Vitalie Midari, Gheorghe Ciobanu, Adriana Pienaru
Developed by: Consortium GFA – Consulting Group – BCI Business Consulting Institute.-MM Mott Macdonald
Developed within: The project ‘Modernization of Local Public Services in the Republic of Moldova’, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and with support of Romanian Government, the Swedish International Cooperation Agency (Sida) and the Swiss Agency For Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Key partners: Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment of the Republic of Moldova Centre, North, South and Gagauzia TAU Regional Development Agencies
The opinions expressed in this paper belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the point of view of GIZ, BMZ, the Romanian Government, SDC and Sida.
Chisinau - Comrat, 2018
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CONTENTS:
ACRONYMS: 5
GLOSSARY OF TERMS: 6
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8
1 INTRODUCTION 10
2 ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION 11
2.1 LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK 11 2.2 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 17
2.3 SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHYC CONDITIONS 19 2.4 WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE INFRASTRUCTURE 24
2.5 SOCIAL AND GENDER ASPECTS 32 2.6 LEVEL OF FINANCING 34
2.7 DEMOGRAPHIC FORECAST AND WATER DEMAND 36 2.8 LESSONS LEARNED 40 2.9 CONCLUSIONS (SWOT ANALYSIS) 44
3 VISION AND OBJECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT 2025 45
3.1 VISION 45 3.2 PRIORITIES 45 3.3 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES 48
3.4 FINANCING OF THE SECTOR: NEEDS AND FORECASTS 52 3.5 OPPORTUNITIES AND REGIONALIZATION 54
4 ACTION PLAN: 56
5 ANNEXES: 61
5.1 ANNEX: PROFILE OF THE SECTOR IN COMRAT RAYON 62 5.2 ANNEX: PROFILE OF THE SECTOR IN CEADIR-LUNGA RAYON 65
5.3 ANNEX: PROFILE OF THE SECTOR IN VULCANESTI RAYON 68 5.4 ANNEX: WATER DEMAND FORECAST 70
5.5 ANNEX: FORECAST OF THE AMOUNT OF PROCESSED WASTEWATER 71 5.6 ANNEX: DEVELOPMENT OF THE SECTOR IN TERRITORIAL PROFILE (PER SETTLEMENTS) 72
5.7 ANNEX: MATRIX OF THE PROPOSED MEASURES IN TERRITORIAL PROFILE 74
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5.8 ANNEX: BASIS OF THE INVESTMENT COST ESTIMATES 77
5.9 ANNEX: REPORT ON PRIORITIZATION OF POSSIBLE PROJECT CONCEPTS 79
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ACRONYMS:
WS - Water supply
WSS - Water supply and sewerage
ADA - Austrian Development Agency
RDA - Regional Development Agency
NERA - National Energy Regulatory Agency
EIB - European Investment Bank
EBRD - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
CLAM - Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova
MTBF - Medium-Term Budgetary Framework
NEF - National Environmental Fund
NRDF - National Regional Development Fund
GIZ - German Agency for International Cooperation
MARDE - Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment
MDL - National currency, Moldovan Leu
MDG - Millennium Development Goals
UNO - United Nations Organization
ROp - Regional Operator
WSSP - Water Supply and Sanitation Plan
GDP - Gross Domestic Product
UNDP/ARDS - The 'Agriculture and Rural Development Support in Gagauzia and Taraclia’ project implemented by the United Nations Development Program with the EU funding
PPP - Public Private Partnership
SRP - Sectoral Regional Program
CDR - Centre Development Region
NDR - North Development Region
SDR - South Development Region
CRS - Construction Rules and Standards
SCADA - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System
SDC - Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
WWTP - Wastewater treatment plant
FS - Feasibility study
OS - Opportunity study
EU - European Union
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS:
Aquifer - Underground rock layer or layers or other types of geological layers with porosity and permeability enough to allow either a significant flow of groundwaters or catchment of significant quantities of groundwaters;
Penstock - Constructive system whereby transport of water from the catchment point to the tank is provided in full safety;
Agglomeration - Area where the population and/or businesses are located in a number enough to make it possible to collect urban wastewater and to direct it to a treatment plant or to a final outlet;
Water supply - All of the activities and works carried out for the purpose of catchment, treatment, transportation, storage and distribution of drinking water to consumers;
Drinking water - Water intended for human consumption, which meets the requirements of the Government Decision No. 934 of 15.08.2007, as follows: ✓ Any type of natural or post-treated water used for drinking, food preparation or other domestic purposes, regardless of origin and whether it is supplied through a distribution network, from a source or a tank, or is distributed in bottles or in other containers; ✓ All types of water used as a source in the food industry for manufacture, processing, preservation of, or trade in, products or substances intended for human consumption; ✓ Water from local sources, such as wells, springs, etc., used for drinking, food preparation or other household purposes. The Ministry of Health may make exceptions to the values of quality parameters, but without endangering the health of consumers.
Surface waters - Standing waters and running waters from the surface of the soil;
Groundwaters - Waters beneath the surface of the soil in the saturation zone and in direct contact with the soil or the subsoil;
Wastewater - Waters originating from domestic, social and economic activities containing pollutants or residues altering their initial physical, chemical and bacteriological features;
Industrial wastewater - All wastewater from premises used for business or industrial purposes other than municipal wastewater or discharge waters (wastewater from the industrial production process);
Municipal wastewater - Sewage originating from households, public institutions and services, arising from human metabolism, household and hygiene and sanitation activities, and which are discharged into the sewerage system;
Urban wastewater - Municipal wastewater or mixed municipal wastewater with industrial wastewater and/or discharge water;
Water connection - A part of the public water supply network providing connection between the water distribution network and the internal network of an enclosure or a building;
Sewerage and wastewater - All of the activities and works carried out for the purpose of collection, transportation, treatment and and rainwater treatment discharge of wastewater and rainwater into a natural intake;
Consumer A natural or legal person benefiting from public water supply and sewerage services on the basis of a - contract with the operator;
Appropriate treatment - Purification of wastewater through any process and/or system which, after discharging wastewater, allows the receptors to meet the relevant quality objectives set out in the technical standards and in water management permits and authorizations (in accordance with the requirements of Government Decision No. 950 11/25/2013);
Primary treatment - Purification of wastewater through a physical and/or chemical process involving decantation of suspended matters or through other processes where CBO5 of influent wastewater is reduced by at least 20% and the suspended matter by at least 50%;
Secondary treatment - Purification of wastewater through a biological process with secondary decantation or through another process that allows compliance with the conditions laid down in the regulations in force (in accordance with the requirements of Government Decision No. 950 of 25.11.2013);
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Operator - A legal person that has, directs, operates and maintains a public water supply and sewerage system and supplies to consumers the public water supply and sewerage service on a contract basis;
Water Supply and Sanitation - Investment planning document for the long-term development of the water supply and sanitation Plans (WSSP) infrastructure, developed for a particular region, rayon or settlement (municipality, city/town, village, commune) so that it fits perfectly with the available systems and facilities and with constraints related to local water sources and the provisions of the legislation in force;
Water resources - Surface waters, groundwaters and atmospheric precipitations on the territory of the Republic of Moldova;
Sewerage network - A construction of collecting channels, adjacent constructions, etc., which provides collection and transport of sewage to the treatment plant;
Public water distribution - A part of the public water supply system consisting of the pipeline network, fittings and adjacent network constructions that provide water distribution to two or more consumers;
Public water supply system - A set of process facilities, functional equipment and specific structures through which the public water supply service is performed. The public water supply system includes the following components: catchments, penstocks, treatment plants, pumping stations with or without hydrophore, storage tanks, public water transport networks, public water distribution networks;
Public sewerage system - A set of process facilities, functional equipment and specific structures through which the public sewerage service is performed. The public sewerage system includes, in particular, the following components: public sewerage networks, pumping stations, wastewater treatment plants, collectors for evacuation towards emissary.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At present, approx. 79% of the Gagauzia TAU population have access to the centralized water supply systems, of which 83% in the urban area and 76% in the rural one. According to this indicator, the region ranks first (after Chisinau municipality) among the other regions of the country, as the national average is only 54%.
All the settlements in the region (100%) have centralized water supply systems, compared to the national average of less than 50%. The only exception is Chiriet-Lunga village (Ceadir-Lunga rayon), where the rate of coverage is below 16%. Although the quality of the networks is as a whole relatively good, pipes need to be replaced urgently, especially in 2 urban settlements (Comrat, Vulcanesti) and 4 rural settlements (Besalma, Copceac, Joltai, Cismichioi).
As opposed to the high percentage of coverage with the water pipeline systems, the supplied water is mostly of poor quality and does not meet the drinking water criteria. In particular, in the groundwaters in the region (the sole source of water supply) the maximum admissible concentrations of compounds such as fluorine, boron, sodium and hydrogen sulphide are significantly exceeded, being supplemented by iron in Vulcanesti rayon as well. Given such impurities, state- of-the-art (with reverse osmosis) treatment technologies are needed, implying huge investments and operational costs. Due to the excessive costs (but also to the excessive fragmentation of location of the water supply wells, which would require a large number of treatment plants), the water is further supplied without any proper purification. A specific situation is noticed in Ceadir-Lunga municipality, where the treatment plant, which had been built due to the financial support of Turkey, was not put into operation because its operation would involve huge operational costs (around 1 Euro per m3).
The available pumps are in a satisfactory condition and are well maintained. Several pumps have been replaced with modern ones that require minimal maintenance costs. The technical condition of the water tanks is satisfactory, except for the tank in Comrat, which needs to be rehabilitated.
At the same time, according to the level of coverage with the sewerage services, the region has significantly cease developing (17% of the population, compared to the national average of about 40%), being behind all other regions of the country. Only 7 of the 26 settlements of the region (3 urban and 4 rural ones) have, as a whole, centralized sewerage systems. The service is not provided in the rural area almost at all, as only 2% of the population have access to the centralized sewerage services (compared to 37% of the coverage in the urban area).
The quality of the discharged waters is very poor (the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Comrat virtually does not work, in Ceadir-Lunga such a plant works partially and in Vulcanesti it operates at only 5% of its capacity). It is worth mentioning that as the WWTPs in Comrat and in Ceadir-Lunga are too obsolete and worn out, they cannot be reconstructed, and therefore new systems need to be build.
Over the past 8 years (2010-2017), the total amount of capital investments in the WSS sector in the region made up 208 million MDL, including the EBRD credit of 7.5 million Euros for JSC "Apa-Termo Ceadir-Lunga" (about 26 mln MDL annually compared to the required minimum of 50 mln MDL), almost equally divided between the centralized water supply and sewerage projects. More than 90% of the total funding was provided by the national and international donors, whose local and regional contributions were relatively small. In particular, the average annual investments of all 26 mayor’s offices in the region accounted for approx. 0.5 mln MDL, and the allocations from Gagauzia TAU budget - approx. 3.7 mln MDL annually.
At the same time, it is worth mentioning that in the last period (2011-2016), unlike the other regions, Gagauzia TAU used the least amount of the investments provided by donors (grants and credits): 965 MDL/capita, compared to 1.985 MDL/capita in the North Development Region (RD), 1,714 MDL/capita - in the Centre DR and 1,534 MDL/capita in the South DR.
As for the level of development and financing of the WSS sector, there are significant intra-regional discrepancies.
Thus, according to the level of coverage with the water supply services, the worse situation is in Vulcanesti rayon (60%), and the best in Comrat rayon (88%). In Ceadir-Lunga rayon the coverage with the water supply services makes up 76%.
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According to the level of development of the sewerage networks, Ceadir-Lunga rayon (20%) is the first, followed by Comrat and Vulcanesti rayons (both with 16% coverage). Moreover, it should be noted that Ceadir-Lunga has over 90% coverage (due to the EBRD/EIB credit), but the level of connection to the network makes up approx. 50%.
As for the structure of financing, many investments were made in Ceadir-Lunga rayon - 62% of the total investments in the water supply sector and about 90% in the sewerage sector. Respectively, the fewest investments were channelled to Vulcanesti rayon (4% of the total). Basically, out of the total of 208 million capital investments in the WSS sector over the past 7 years, about 160 million were provided to Ceadir-Lunga rayon.
The long-term vision (2030-2035) for the development of the sector consists in meeting in full the needs of the population and businesses with quality drinking water supply and sewerage services, provided with the highest possible economic, financial and technical effectiveness.
In order to achieve this vision, the Republic of Moldova committed in the medium term (2025) to provide over 80% of the country's population with centralized water supply services and at least 65% with sewerage services.
The analysis of the national strategic objectives above the current level of development of the sector in the Development Region of Gagauzia TAU reveals that: ▪ According to the current level of coverage with the water supply services (approx. 79%), the region has already achieved the national target set for 2025 (80%); ▪ As opposed to the high percentage of coverage with the water pipeline systems, the water supplied is mostly of poor quality and does not meet the drinking water criteria; ▪ In terms of the level of coverage with the sewerage services, the region ceased significantly developing (17% of the population compared to the national average of about 40%), being behind all the other regions of the country.
During the period of implementation 2018-2025, this Sectoral Program, in line with the national goals and regional issues, provides for the achievement of the following three major strategic regional objectives: 1. Overcoming the underdevelopment of the sewerage systems ▪ Provides for building centralized sewerage systems in all settlements with a population of over 5,000 inhabitants and increase of the coverage with the sewerage services from 17% to at least 65%. 2. Sistemc resolution of the water quality problem in the centralized systems ▪ Provides for the identification and implementation of an optimal solution for transport (including treatment) of the water from the Prut River in the settlements of the region. 3. Increasing efficiency of the water supply and sewerage services ▪ Provides for the identification and implementation of an optimal regionalization of the WSS services in the region.
In the course of implementation of the objectives of the Sectoral Regional Program in the Development Region of Gagauzia TAU, it is proposed to give priority to urban settlements rather than to the rural ones and to large rural settlements rather than to small ones.
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1 INTRODUCTION
The Sectoral Regional Program (SRP) is an operational tool of regional planning aimed at enhancing the capacity of the local public authorities (LPAs) to develop sustainable regional projects and to create conditions for development of a portfolio of Water Supply and Sewerage projects. This SRP incorporates the development needs of Gagauzia Territorial Administrative Unit (TAU), while keeping this document compliant with the sectoral policies, the existing practices and the relevant national strategic framework. The WSS SRP will continue to be used as a support for the development of some investment projects in Gagauzia TAU, and also: ▪ Incorporates the WSS development needs in line with the current strategic framework and with the policies stimulating improvement of drinking water quality and access to the water and sewerage services for the majority of citizens; ▪ Contributes to decision-making on the need to provide financial resources for further development of projects, provision of logistical support for the establishment of efficient regional structures for a better management of the water and sewerage services; ▪ Contributes to maintaining the dialogue with potential development partners, presenting a clear picture of the investment needs and development prospects in the WSS sector.
A series of consultations, analyzes and assessments of the current social and economic situation in Gagauzia TAU, for which the Regional Development Strategy for Gagauzia TAU (GRDS) 2017 – 2020 is available, were needed.
The GRDS is the main strategic planning document at the regional level, which defines the medium-term development priorities of Gagauzia TAU as a Development Region (DR). The GRDS was developed according to the basic documents of the Republic of Moldova in the field of regional development, and namely the Law on Regional Development, the National Development Strategy (NDS), the National Regional Development Strategy (NRDS) and the Social and Economic Development Strategy (SEDS) for Gagauzia TAU, according to the development rules and the unified requirements to the policy documents, as well as the basic methodological aspects defined by the former Ministry of Regional Development and Construction (MRDC) of the Republic of Moldova.
In this context, we need to highlight the importance of the WSS Sectoral Regional Programs developed for the North, Centre and South Development Regions between 2013 and 2014, due to which some project portfolios (12 water supply and sewerage projects) were identified and developed. According to the MRDC officials, due to these actions financing agreements for the regional development projects were signed, whereby the EU Delegation provided a grant for the development of the design documentation for 10 water supply and sewerage projects by the end of 2017.
This SRP was developed in several phases that provided an appropriate balance between the national objectives, local and regional needs and initiatives, and based on the information, consultation and involvement of stakeholders, with due regard to the following: ▪ Reference data collected from all mayor’s offices from Gagauzia Development Region, including the population and the economic aspects, information on the current level of development of the WSS services and the state of the infrastructure, the projects being funded by the National Environmental Fund (FEN), the National Regional Development Fund (NRDF) and the international community of donors/development partners; ▪ Functional indicators of all water-channel operators in the region ▪ Demographic forecasts and water demand in the future; ▪ Options for aggregation of settlements within the WSS services, analyzed and accompanied by recommendations on further implementation; ▪ International experience and lessons learned in the national context.
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2 ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT SITUATION
2.1 LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK
This Sectoral Regional Program [SRP] was developed both on the basis of the national and regional development legislation and objectives, and in line with the international commitments and obligations assumed by the Republic of Moldova.
2.1.1 National Policy Framework
The development policy of the Republic of Moldova is based on "Moldova 2020" National Development Strategy [NDS], approved by the Law No. 166 of 11.07.2012, which aims improving the national policies and bringing the legal framework in line with the Community acquis and the European standards. The NDS lays down a number of WSS sector development directions, including the national objectives for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the WSS area for the period 2015-2025.
The main policy document in the WSS sector is the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy [2014-2028], approved by the GD No. 199 of 20 March 2014. The overall objective of the Strategy is to ensure gradual access to quality water and adequate sewerage for all settlements of Moldova.
According to the provisions of the Strategy [brought in line with the United Nations Millennium Development Goals], at least 65% of the Moldovan population shall be provided with water supply (by 2020) and sewerage services [by 2025]. The estimate of the capital investments for the implementation of the Strategy, based on a realistic scenario, show that approx. 705 million Euros are needed in the period 2014-2028, of which 194 million Euros were planned to be invested in the first five years (2014-2018)1.
In order to implement these objectives, the Strategy provides for the following strategic directions for reforming the sector: ▪ Full decentralization of the public WSS services [Local Public Authorities of Level 1 (LPAs) are the main entities responsible for the setting up, organizing and controlling the functioning of the public WSS services]; ▪ Promotion of the market economy principles and attracting private capital to the sector. To this end, the municipal enterprises are to be reorganized into commercial companies; ▪ Promotion of the regionalization opportunities in the sector to reduce the costs and improve the quality of the provided services. In particular, creation (in the future) of regional operators to provide water supply and sewerage services for at least 100,000 inhabitants while excluding the communities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants in case of the sewerage services and fewer than 500 inhabitants in case of connection to the drinking water supply. The ultimate goal of the regionalization is creation of 3-5 regional companies for the provision of water supply and sewerage services to the entire population of Moldova, except for small villages. ▪ Professionalization of the WSS services by introducing compulsory licensing of operators in the field; ▪ Obligation to harmonize the national legal framework with the provisions of the Community acquis [for example the Directives No. 2000/60/EC - water framework, No. 91/271/- wastewater treatment, No. 98/83/EC - environmental quality standards for water use]. Also, revision and harmonization of the construction standards and technical rules; ▪ Prioritization of the public investments for water and sewerage, according to the number of inhabitants. In this respect, investments are planned to be allocated, as a matter of priority, to large urban communities that have networks that need to be rehabilitated and extended, thus covering in a relatively short period of time a larger number of inhabitants who will have access to quality services. ▪ Introduction of close and stepwise correlation between planning, designing and financing in the WSS sector [development of Water Supply and Sanitation Plans (WSSPs) - inclusion of priority investments in the Medium- Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF) - preparation of the Feasibility Study (FS) – allocation of financing];
1 The total investment costs derive from an estimate of the specific average costs per capita multiplied by the number of inhabitants in the area covered by the projects. 11
▪ "Depoliticization" of the tariff approval process, by transferring the tariff regulation competence from the LPAs to the National Energy Regulation Agency (NERA). ▪ Encouraging implementation of modern and decentralized sanitation solutions (for example, constructed wetlands, Ecosan toilets, environmentally friendly septic tanks, etc.).
In technical terms, the Action Plan gives priority to the implementation of several projects in Gagauzia TAU, including ▪ Construction and extension of the WSS systems in Ceadir-Lunga rayon; ▪ Development of the water supply system in Carbolia village [enclave community with a population of approx. 500 inhabitants, territorially broken by the Region of Gagauzia TAU]; ▪ Extension of the Prut-Leova penstock till Ceadir-Lunga municipality.
Another policy document of major importance for the development of the sector is the Environment Strategy 2014-2023, approved by the Government Decision No. 301 of 24.04.2014. The Strategy provides for the creation of an efficient environmental management system that will help to improve the quality of environmental factors and provide the population with the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable natural environment. To achieve the specific objectives, an action plan was developed, which provides for the following: ▪ Development of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure and ensuring access for about 80% of the population to safe water supply systems and services and for about 65% to sewerage services, and development of the regional water supply and sewerage systems Soroca - Balti, Vadul lui Voda - Chisinau - Straseni - Calarasi, Prut - Leova - Basarabeasca - Cimislia - Ceadir-Lunga, with a budget of 3,910 mln MDL and a deadline for implementation by 2023. The sources of financing the planned action are the state budget, investments and external support, the National Environmental Fund (NEF) and the National Regional Development Fund (NRDF). ▪ Development of the technical and investment programs for the implementation of the urban wastewater treatment requirements, in accordance with the provisions of the Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban wastewater treatment, with a budget of 2,825 mln MDL provided by the state budget and external support.
The National Regional Development Strategy 2016-2020 contains some important provisions related to the development of the WSS sector and Gagauzia TAU that shall be taken into account: ▪ Priority will be given to infrastructure projects with regional, rather than with local impact; ▪ Principles of regionalization in the organization of provision of the WSS services will be promoted; ▪ Highlighting Gagauzia TAU as "the most advanced" region in the field of water supply services and the most underdeveloped in the provision of sewerage services. The Action Plan on the Social and Economic Development of Gagauzia Territorial Autonomous Unit for the period 2016-2019, approved by the Government Decision No. 1328 of 13.12.2016. It provides for a number of actions for the development and rehabilitation of the infrastructure and environment sector in the settlements of Gagauzia TAU (Comrat, Vulcanesti, Ceadir-Lunga, Ferapontievca, Chiriet-Lunga). As of January 2018, the Plan was partially implemented.
2.1.2 Regional and Local Policy Framework
Due to the support of various development partners (the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), GIZ), the region has an updated strategic development framework: ▪ Social and Economic Development Strategy (2017 - 2022) ▪ Regional Development Strategy (2017-2022) ▪ Social and economic development strategies for all settlements in Gagauzia region (2017 - 2022+)
The Regional Development Strategy of Gagauzia TAU (2017-2020) addresses the main WSS issues, i.e.: ▪ The uneven development of the WSS systems in the region, particularly in both the rayons and the urban settlements compared to the rural ones;
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▪ Limited access to quality drinking water due to poor quality of the groundwater, which is the main source of the water supply in the region; ▪ Underdevelopment of the sewerage systems.
In the course of implementation, the Strategy is brought in line with the National Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028) and focuses on the following objectives: ▪ Increasing the share of surface water use in the region; ▪ Development of the inter-community cooperation; ▪ Modernization of the WSS infrastructure; ▪ Extending the coverage with the water supply and sewerage services; ▪ Development of the regional operators in the field; ▪ Increasing the operational efficiency of the WSS services.
The Social and Economic Development Strategy of Gagauzia TAU (2017-2022) also gives priority to the development of the water supply and sewerage services in the region. In particular, the Strategy provides for the following measures: ▪ Extension of the water supply and sewerage networks, with an estimated budget of 250 thousand Euros; ▪ Improvement of the record keeping of the water consumers and of the water consumption by installing at connections for 90% of consumers water meters and drawing up technical certificates for all water facilities. The term of implementation – the IIIrd quarter of 2018 and an estimated budget of 100 thousand Euros. ▪ Development and implementation of the program for connection of the housing fund to the sewerage network, with an estimated budget of 5 million Euros.
The achievement of these priorities is envisaged with the financial support from both the national budget and the local budgets. Obviously, the major focus is put on donor funding.
Due to the EU financial support provided through the UNDP ARDS project, all the settlements in the region have local social and economic development strategies updated in 2016. All the local strategies (without exception) give priority to the development of the WSS sector. However, most settlements have an individual approach to the efforts of development and operation of the WSS services without considering the opportunities for regionalization and inter- community cooperation. In this respect, only Comrat municipality planned to achieve the strategic objectives by concentrating the provided services at the region level and developing a partnership with other settlements.
2.1.3 Legal Framework
According to Article 111 of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova and the Law No. 344 of 23.12.1994 on the special legal status of Gagauzia (Gagauz Yeri), the region enjoys autonomy and a distinct legal status. This constitutional provision shall be taken into consideration in planning and developing and regionalizing the WSS services.
As for the direct regulation of the WSS sector in Moldova, the following 14 main legal and regulatory acts shall be noted: ▪ The Law No. 436 on Local Public Administration and the Law No. 435 on Administrative Decentralization (of 28.12.2006) define the water supply and sewerage services as competences and responsibilities of the local public administration of the first level. ▪ The Law on the Public Water Supply and Sewerage Service (No. 303 of 13.12.2013) establishes the legal framework for the provision of the WSS service. This Law was developed to promote the core objectives of the WSS Strategy2.
2 The Law defines that the public water and sewerage systems are the responsibility of the LPAs. All the assets in the WSS sect or are held by the local public administration, which is expected to have full authority over planning, developing the local development strategy, and prioritizing the investments. Thus, the LPAs are to assess and determine the most appropriate ways to aggregate the WSS services. The SRP shall therefore comply with these provisions.
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▪ The Water Law (No. 272 of 23.12.2011, in force since 26.10.2013) establishes the legal framework for the management, protection and efficient use of surface waters and groundwaters, defining two hydrographic basins (Nistru and Danube - Prut – the Black Sea). The Law aims to protect water against pollution and sets environmental quality standards. It also governs the wastewater discharges from the urban and rural areas. ▪ The Law of Public Utility Services (No. 1402 of 24.10.2002) defines the ownership to the WSS assets, stipulating that "public utility systems, including the adjacent land plots, which may be used, may be of public interest or utility, belong, by virtue of their nature or law, to the public area of the territorial-administrative units". ▪ The Drinking Water Law (No. 272 of 10.02.1999) establishes the requirements for the drinking water supply, the service being provided on the basis of a contract between operator and consumer. ▪ The Law on the State Enterprise and the Municipal Enterprise (No. 246 of 23.11.2017), sets out the procedure for the incorporation and registration of municipal enterprises, the regime of the assets of municipal enterprises, the administration and reorganization of the municipal enterprises. This law recommends the LPAs to consider the opportunity of reorganizing the municipal enterprises into other legal forms of organization provided by the legislation, ensuring improvement of the efficiency of the administration of the property transferred to them. ▪ The Standardization Law (No. 20 of 04.03.2016) establishes the national standardization system. ▪ The Metrology Law (No. 19 of 04.03.2016) establishes the structure of the national metrology system, the units of measurement allowed for use in Moldova, the principles of administration in the area of metrology, the categories of regulatory acts in the area of legal metrology, as well as the requirements to the measuring instruments and measurements in areas of public interest. ▪ The Government Decision No. 1466 of 30.12.2016 approving the Sanitary Regulation on Small Drinking Water Supply Systems, establishes the public health requirements for water quality, selection of location, arrangement and operation of the water capturing, storage and distribution facilities, as well as the adjacent territory. The Regulation applies to small functional or designed drinking water supply systems that provide less than 200 m3 on average per day or serve communities of less than 2,000 people and meet the population's needs for drinking and municipal water. ▪ The Government Decision No. 949 of 25.11.2013 approving the Regulation on the sanitary protection areas of water intakes, establishes rules for the delimitation, creation and operation of the sanitary protection areas of the water intakes from the surface waters and from the groundwaters. ▪ The Government Decision No.931 of 20.11.2013 approving the Regulation on groundwater quality requirements, partially transposing the EU Directive 2000/60/EC and containing groundwater quality requirements as well as groundwater standards, their management objectives, as well as the rules on how to use and protect the groundwaters against the effects of any pollution. ▪ The Government Decision No. 950 of 25.11.2013 on the Requirements for collection, treatment and discharging of wastewater in the sewerage system and/or in water bodies for urban and rural settlements. This Regulation is a partial transposition of the EU Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban wastewater treatment (UWWTD). ▪ The Government Decision No. 934 of 15.08.2007 on the establishment of the Automated Information System "State Register of Natural Mineral, Drinking Waters and Bottled Soft Drinks", and in particular Annex 2, regulates the quality of drinking water and establishes the requirements for water quality monitoring and reporting. ▪ The Government Decision No. 1063 of 16.09.2016 approving the National Program for the implementation of the Protocol on Water and Health in the Republic of Moldova for 2016-2025. The overall purpose of this Program is to improve the quality of life of the population and access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation. The overall objective of this Program is to reach the target indicators for the Protocol for the 20 areas by 2025. The specific objectives refer to ensuring by 2025 the provision of 100% of children's institutions with drinking water and access of up to 75% of the general population to the water pipeline system; provision of 100% of the population with access to improved sanitation systems, including up to 50% to the sewerage systems; reduction by 50% of discharges of untreated wastewater. The Program includes the indicators that shall be achieved through the approved action plan.
In order to implement the provisions of the Government Decision No. 199 of 20.03.2014, the Ministry of Environment issued Order No. 122 of 04.12.2015 for the approval of the Concept of regionalization of the public water supply and sewerage service and the Guide on the regionalization of the public water supply and sewerage service. 14
The NERA has developed, in accordance with the legal provisions, a set of regulations for the public WSS service, as follows: ▪ The Methodology for the determination, approval and application of tariffs for public water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment services, approved by the NERA Decision No. 741 of 18.12.2014; ▪ The Methodology on the approval and application of tariffs for additional services provided to consumers by operators of the public water supply and sewerage service, approved by the NERA Decision No. 270 of 16.12.2015; ▪ The Regulation on Public Water Supply and Sewerage Service, approved by the NERA Decision No. 271 of 16.12.2015; ▪ The Regulation on Quality Indicators of the Public Water Supply and Sewerage Service, approved by the NERA Decision No. 352 of 27.12.2016; ▪ The Regulation on procedures for the procurement of goods, works and services used in the activity of license holders engaged in electric energy, thermal energy, natural gas sectors and of operators providing the public water supply and sewerage service, approved by the NERA Decision No. 24/2017 of 26.01.2017; ▪ The Regulation on establishment and approval of the process consumption and water losses, for determination of tariffs, in public water supply systems, approved by the NERA Decision No. 180 of 10.06.2016;
Although the new legal regulations have not yet been fully implemented, the Government of Moldova considers several draft amendments to the Law No. 303 of 13.12.2013. The proposed amendments focus on the regionalization of the services and licensing of all the WSS service operators, regardless of the size, within a 5 year-period from the adoption. This provision will put in difficulty the small underdeveloped institutional operators and will stimulate the regionalization in the field. According to the Action Plan of the National Program for the implementation of the Protocol on Water and Health in the Republic of Moldova for 2016-2025, a law on drinking water quality is to be developed.
However, the progress is still not enough and secondary legal regulations (operation guides, construction standards and rules) are to be developed.
At the same time, further regulation of development of the sector shall be based on the commitments of Moldova assumed under the Association Agreement with the EU as well. Particularly, the environmental commitments in the Association Agreement are set out in Chapter 16 "Environment", which provides for specific activities of environmental protection. Therefore the 25 EU Directives and Regulations will be harmonized and implemented within a period ranging from a minimum of 3 years to a maximum of 10 years after the entry into force of the Association Agreement.
2.1.4 Construction Standards and Rules
In Moldova, designing and construction of the water supply and sewerage infrastructure was based for many years on the Soviet standards and rules (SNiP – construction standards and rules (CSRs) and state standards (STAS, GOST – Russian version). Most of them were based on the technologies used 30-40 years ago and (in many respects) excluded use of state-of-the-art technologies.
At the moment, the following 2 binding regulatory acts of the former USSR are still in force: ▪ SNiP 2.04.02-84 - Water supply. External networks and facilities; ▪ SNiP 3.05.04-85 - External water supply and sewerage networks.
Obsolete standards, but still in force are outdated and entail higher capital investments and costs. Further application of GOSTs and SNiPs, without being revised, leads to a situation in which: ▪ The new WSS infrastructure, perhaps over-sized one, will be designed, approved and implemented. The rules also prescribe a high level of safety. Due to these standards, the newly built WSS systems are often poor and too expensive in terms of capital investments and operational expenditure;
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▪ The best internationally accepted practices and new technologies cannot be implemented in Moldova, as the institutions in charge of design verification and expertise3 are still guided by the NCR and SNiP requirements.
Thus, revision of the existing GOSTs and SNiPs is an absolute need for the implementation of some environmentally friendly, efficient, affordable and sustainable water supply and sewerage systems.
However, lately, with the support of the development partners, a number of new regulations replacing the old Soviet provisions, was developed and approved, and namely: ▪ The Moldovan Construction Standard (MCS) G.03.02: 2015 - External sewerage networks and facilities, approved by the Order of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction No. 56 of 25.04.2016 that replaced SNiP 2.04.03-85: Sewerage. External networks and facilities; ▪ The MCS G.03.03: 2015 (MCS 4.01-02) - "Internal water supply and sewerage facilities", approved by the Order of the Ministry of Regional Development and Constructions No. 124 of 18.11.2015 that replaced SNiP 2.04.01-85 - Internal water supply and sewerage systems; ▪ The MCS G.03.01-2012 - Small municipal wastewater treatment plants, approved by the Order of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction No. 48 of 15.04.2013.
At the same time, a number of new Construction Codes of Practice was adopted in Moldova in the recent years, including: ▪ CP D.01.06-2012 Determination of admissible limits of harmful substances in superficial flows (discharges) for the conditions of the Republic of Moldova; ▪ CP G.03.01-2006 Design and installation of pipelines of external cold and hot water supply systems using polymer coated steel pipes; ▪ CP G.03.02-2006 Design and installation of pipelines of water supply and sewerage systems of polymer materials; ▪ CP G.03.03-2011 Design and installation of groundwater supply pipes from glass fiber reinforced plastic pipes; ▪ CP G.03.04-2011 Design, installation and operation of internal sewerage systems of polypropylene pipes; ▪ CP G.03.05-2011 Design and installation of internal water supply and heating systems of copper pipes for buildings; ▪ CP G.03.06-2011 Design and installation of underground sewerage pipelines of glass fiber reinforced plastic pipes; ▪ CP G.03.07:2016. Natural biological municipal wastewater treatment systems in filters with macrophytes (phyto- filters).
At present, the MCS G.03.00.2017 "Water supply and sewerage facilities and networks. Water supply systems with a capacity below 200 m3/day” is being developed.
3 Currently, the institution in charge of verification and expertise of projects is the SE "State Service for the Verification and Expertise of Projects and Buildings" subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment
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2.2 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
2.2.1 National Level
At present, the key actors in regulating and developing the WSS sector at the national level are the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment (MARDE) and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection (MHLSP). An important role is played by the Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure (MEI), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the State Chancellery, the National Energy Regulatory Agency (NERA), the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and donors.
The MARDE is the main state institution in charge of developing national policies, the legislative and regulatory framework, as well as the subsequent implementation of the policy documents, including scheduling and implementation of the necessary investments in the WSS infrastructure. The MARDE contributes substantially to planning and developing the WSS infrastructure through the three Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).
The MARDE also manages the National Environmental Fund (NEF) and the National Regional Development Fund (NRDF). These funds are the most important sources of national funding in the WSS sector.
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection deals with all aspects of drinking water quality.
The Ministry of Finance mobilizes and allocates the necessary budgetary funds according to the established practices.
The Ministry of Economy and Infrastructure, formed in accordance with the Law No. 136 of 07.07.2017 on the Government, is to establish its duties in the area. It will also take over the functions of the Ministry of Regional Development and Construction with regard to land management, territorial planning, architecture and urban planning.
The State Chancellery monitors, on behalf of the Government, implementation of the government programs by the relevant ministries. At the same time, coordination and monitoring of the international technical and financial assistance is ensured through the State Chancellery.
According to the Law No. 303 of 13.12.2013, the National Energy Regulation Agency (NERA) was entrusted with licensing the WSS4 operators and with tariff regulation for the water supply and sewerage services.
Statistics in the WSS sector are collected and processed by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on a regular basis.
There are two associative organizations at the national level, and namely: ▪ „Moldova Apa-Canal” Association of Water Operators from the Republic of Moldova (MACA), which promotes the interests of the operators in the relations with the local and central public administration and provides consulting assistance to its members (about 40 members); ▪ The Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CLAM) consisting of the majority of local public authorities in the Republic of Moldova (about 800 out of 898).
The donors and international financial institutions (IFIs) are an important source of funding for the sector. The main representatives of the WSS sector in Moldova are: the European Union (EU), the World Bank (WB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), etc. Most of the donors coordinate their activities through a mutually agreed Coordination Council.
4 The Law does not necessarily refer to the operators in the rural settlements. 17
2.2.2 Regional Level
The representative and legislative authority of Gagauzia TAU is the People's Assembly of Gagauzia (Gagauzianin Halk Toplusu), which, according to the provisions of the Law on the special legal status of Gagauzia, regulates the utilities in Gagauzia TAU.
The Governor (Bashkan) of Gagauzia is the highest official of Gagauzia TAU, who under the law runs the Executive Committee of Gagauzia. The Executive Committee of Gagauzia ensures the regulation, under the law, of the environmental protection and rational use of natural resources. The latter is responsible for the development of environmental programs and their implementation after approval by the People's Assembly. The Regional Development Council (RDC) is a deliberative functional structure at the level of the development region set up to coordinate and promote the regional development policy objectives at the local level. Implementation of the Regional Development Strategy is provided through the Regional Development Agency of Gagauzia TAU, a non-profit public institute subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment.
2.2.3 Local Level
Public administration in the rayons (dolay) is exercised by their administrations. Heads of rayon administrations are officials who exercise administration, management, order and control duties throughout the subordinate area.
The WSS services are the responsibility of LPAs of Level 1 in terms of both investments and establishment and provision of the services5.
In the Development Region of Gagauzia TAU, the WSS services in the urban area are provided by 3 WSS service operators, while in the villages the services are provided by the local service providers6. Among all water supply and sewerage service operators, only the JSC "Apa-Termo" is subordinated to the rayon public administration (Ceadir-Lunga). The other water operators are subordinated to the public administrations of the first level.
A tendency to regionalize the WSS services by assigning the competences of service provision in the rural settlements (Besghioz, Baurci, Cazaclia, Tomai villages) to the service operator from Ceadir-Lunga municipality may already be noticed in Ceadir-Lunga rayon.
2.2.4 Institutional Shortages and Opportunities
Currently, the biggest institutional problem - administrative fragmentation - is being solved due to the implementation of the central public administration reform. Thus, the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment has become the institution that has the governmental responsibilities in the sector and deals with the synchronized coordination of the 2 extra-budgetary sector financing funds (the NEF and the NRDF).
At the same time, due the NERA being recently charging with functional and tariff regulation of the sector, two major changes were possible: ▪ Depoliticization of the tariff policy (transfer of the competence from the Local Councils to the NERA); ▪ Licensing the WSS service operators, which will professionalize the services, but (in the future) will also stimulate the process of regionalization.
5 The competencies of the local public authorities in the WSS field are set forth in the Law 436 of 28.12.2006 and the Law no. 303 of 13.12.2013.
6 The Gagauzia TAU has about 151 thousand inhabitants. The Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028) provides for measures to create regional operators to provide water supply and sewerage services for at least 100,000 inhabitants. The largest operators will be analyzed as potential regional operators in more details, and namely: ME "Su-Canal" Comrat, JSC "Apa-Termo" Ceadir-Lunga and ME "Water-Canal" Vulcanesti.
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2.3 SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS
2.3.1 Territorial Organization and Population
Gagauzia Territorial Administrative Unit (TAU) is located in the south-eastern part of the country and is bordered to the north by Cimislia and Basarabeasca rayons, to the west by Leova, Cantemir and Cahul rayons, to the east and south by Ukraine and Taraclia rayon. The territory of Gagauzia TAU is divided into several parts and comprises the territory of Comrat and Ceadir-Lunga rayons located in the south-eastern part of the country, Vulcanesti rayon located in the south and the villages of Copceac and Carbalia located between the settlements of Taraclia rayon. The administrative centre of the region is Comrat municipality.
Figure 1: Location and territorial and administrative organization of Gagauzia TAU
The total area of the region is 1,848 km² or 5.4% of the total area of the country, being the smallest region by its area among the four basic regions of Moldova. The region has only one local public administration of the second level and 26 local public administrations of the first level, which comprise 23 rural settlements, 2 municipalities and a city.
The total present population of the Region of Gagauzia TAU makes up 151.0 thousand inhabitants or 4.6% of the country's population. The density of the population is 88 people per 1 km² or 29 people less than the country’s average.
The region has three rayons: Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga and Vulcanesti. Gagauzia consists of two municipalities, one city, three communes and twenty villages and accounts for about 2.9% of the total number of settlements of the country. In the last 10 years, the present population of the region slightly decreases by about 0.25% per year in both urban and rural areas. (Source: the National Bureau of Statistics, RM)
Most of the population live in rural areas, i.e. about 62.6% or 93.0 thousand inhabitants, and the urban area has about 58.1 thousand inhabitants accounting for 37.4% of the total population.
Of the total rural population, 57.0% live in settlements with a population of more than 5.000 inhabitants, 29.0% live in settlements with a population of 3.000 - 5.000 inhabitants, and about 14.0% of the rural population live in settlements of up to 3.000 inhabitants.
The urban population lives in 3 towns: Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga and Vulcanesti. The largest urban area in the region is Comrat with a population of approx. 23.5 thousand inhabitants, followed by Ceadir-Lunga municipality with 19.4 thousand inhabitants and Vulcanesti town with 15.2 thousand inhabitants.
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According to the ethnic structure, the Gagauzians account for 82.1% of the total population or 123.9 thousand citizens, Bulgarians - 5.1% (approx. 7.7 thousand citizens), Moldovans - 4.8% (7.2 thousand citizens), Russians - 3.8% (5.7 thousand citizens), Ukrainians - 3.2% (4.8 thousand citizens), citizens of other ethnicities - approx. 1%.
In the age structure of the population, the largest share is made up by the population of working age with 67.0% or about 101.2 thousand persons, followed by the population aged up to 15 years old with a share of 18.0% and 15.0% is the population above the working age.
The structure of the population in terms of employment in the branches of the economy of the Region of Gagauzia TAU is as follows: 29.2% of the population work in agriculture, 13.8% - in industry system, 16.8% - in education, 6.6% - in healthcare system.
2.3.2 Climate and Relief
The Region of Gagauzia TAU is situated in the Bugeac steppe, which is a part of the hilly plain in the south of Moldova. The relief of the region is characterized by steppes, broad valleys and small hills. Gagauzia, like the rest of Moldova, is located in the seismic area of the Carpathians.
The Region of Gagauzia TAU is the warmest and arid region in the country, with a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius during 179-187 days a year. The daily temperatures in the region are 2-3 degrees higher than in other regions. The active temperatures make up an aggregate of 3,300 degrees.
The climate is also characterized by a large number of sunny days – about 190 days a year or 2,354 hours of light per year.
The amount of precipitation over the year is uneven, drought periods are often. The average precipitation level is 350-370 mm.
In the recent years, desertification and the very high frequency of natural hazards and increased climate variability have been observed. Gagauzia, as well as the whole region in the south of Moldova, is characterized by a higher degree of climate risks than the centre and the north of the country.
Agriculture is often subject to dangerous meteorological phenomena. The greatest damage is caused by dry winds, hail, frost and drought, which occur every three years. This phenomenon is enhanced even more by the poor forestation of the region (only 13.8%, i.e. twice less than the required level). At the same time, the water resources in the region are not enough to protect the agriculture from drought.
The water resources come mainly from underground sources, making up a total of 8-10 million m3. The surface sources are limited.
The hydrological network of the region includes the Ialpug River basin and small river basins (Iapujel, Lunga and Lunguta). There are two large water reservoirs in the region: the Comrat reservoir with a water surface of 1.7 km2 and the Congaz reservoir with an area of 4.9 km2.
The Region of Gagauzia TAU has limited resources of quality drinking and irrigation water.
2.3.3 Availability of Water Resources
The water resources of Moldova consist of surface waters (3,621 water courses and 4,261 natural and artificial lakes) and groundwaters (4,842 artesian wells and 179,574 wells fed by phreatic waters) (according to the Annual Report of the State Ecological Inspectorate).
The currently estimated water reserves in Moldova make up annually about 500 m3 per inhabitant or even less, making Moldova a country with "limited water resources" in terms of existing water reserves.
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The recommended international thresholds define an amount of 1,700 m3/inhabitant/year as a safe level of availability of renewable freshwater resources.
If the available amount of water is less than 1,000 m3/inhabitant/year, this can affect the health and the standard of living of the population and the shortage of water resources may hinder the economic development.
Surface waters
Moldova shares the underground and surface water resources with Ukraine in the Nistru River Basin and the southern basins that flow into the Black Sea, and the Prut River Basin with Romania. The amount of the surface water in Moldova is estimated at about 1.32 billion m3.
The Nistru River is a cross-border river with a length of 1,362 km, which begins in the Ukrainian Carpathians, flows through Moldova and reaches Ukraine again near the Black Sea. The upper and lower course of Nistru in Ukraine reaches a total length of 629 km. A 225 km sector of the river is divided between Ukraine and Moldova, and 475 km flow in Moldova. The Nistru River is the major source of drinking water for Moldova, accounting for about 83% of the total amount of the water captured for drinking purposes.
The Prut River is the last major tributary of the Danube, till the Danube Delta. The area of the basin is 28,395 km2, covering some parts in Ukraine, the northeast of Romania and the east of Moldova. The amount of the water captured from the Prut River makes up only 2% of the total captured amount of the country.
At present, the settlements in the Region of Gagauzia TAU are not provided with water from the surface sources of the Nistru and Prut Rivers. May be in the future, provided the necessary investments are made, the settlements of the Comrat and Ceadir-Lunga rayons will be connected to the water intakes in Leova or Cantemir, and the settlements of Vulcanesti rayon will be connected to the water intake in Cahul.
Small 10-50 m deep wells are the main source of water in the rural areas where there are no centralized water supply systems.
Moldova signed the UNECE Water Convention and international cross-border agreements for the management of water resources with Romania and Ukraine. These agreements provide for the manner of strategic management of the water resources, enable cooperation and exchange of data between the countries. Under the agreements Moldova shall inform the neighbouring countries about the cross-border water resource development projects that have a significant impact on the quantity or quality of water in the rivers and on the groundwater resources. This will be considered in identifying the possible water sources.
Groundwaters
The daily renewable water reserves of Moldova are estimated at 3,478 million m3, out of which 2,138 million m3 are approved by the State Commission for Reserves of Useful Mineral Substances. About 2.121 million m3 of them are used by the population for drinking purposes. The aquifers are moderately productive and have a productivity of 2-5 l/sec or between 172.8 - 432 m3/day. The most intensely exploited are the Medium Sarmatian and Sarmatian Lower Badenian aquifer horizons. (Source: data from the Agency for Geology and Natural Resources).
During the Soviet period, a large number of hydrogeological studies were conducted in Moldova, which showed that at that time there were significant quantities of groundwater available and it meets the water quality standards. The studies from the Soviet period were based on the forecasts of 10,000 days (about 27 years). The available groundwater monitoring data show that the groundwater levels are stable in most regions of the country, and since 2005 the water level even rises in some parts of the country. It proves that the groundwaters are actively fed from precipitation and are a safe and sustainable source of water.
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Table 1: Groundwater reserves, m3/day Groundwater Groundwater Total groundwater Region reserves of drinking reserves of process reserves quality quality Chisinau Municipality 46,760 10,900 57,660 North Region 218,300 15,720 234,020 Centre Region 1,008,460 38,740 1,047,200 South Region 201,600 9,800 211,400 Region of Gagauzia TAU 31,500 15,800 47,300 Source: GIZ/MLPS, Report on available water resources, Gh. Jalalite, An. de Jong, 2013
Also, a considerable number of deep artesian wells with a production capacity of up to 10 m3/h were drilled during the Soviet period and can be found in virtually every settlement of the country.
The groundwater reserves explored in the Region of Gagauzia TAU make up about 2.2% of the country's total groundwater reserves. The production capacity is enough to cover the current needs for water of about 8,933 m3/day (2016) and the future needs for water of the Region of Gagauzia TAU, which is estimated at 14,740 m3/day (2025). These reserves can be considered in the process of planning the use of groundwater resources as a source of water supply of the settlements in the region.
The Figure below is a map of the groundwater resources explored and approved for the Region of Gagauzia TAU.
Figure 2: The main explored groundwater resources
Catchments of groundwaters of drinking quality Total resources (m3/day) Catchments of groundwaters of process quality Total resources (m3/day) Existing wells Source: GIZ/MLPS, Report on available water resources, Gh. Jalalite, An. de Jong, 2013
The groundwater reserves are available in almost every rayon of the region. With the existing artesian wells, these groundwater reserves can be considered as potential sources of drinking water for the settlements in the Region of Gagauzia TAU, provided these waters are treated.
Groundwater quality
The Moldovan geology is made up almost entirely of sedimentary rocks deepening from the north-east to the south-west. Most of the aquifers in Moldova consist of limestone and sandstone in the north, and more sand in the south. The direction of the groundwaters is in accordance with the geological structure. The oldest groundwaters may be found in the western
22 and southwestern parts of the country, where the groundwaters of the lower aquifers may be captured, are anaerobic and have a progressive salinity.
The Baden-Sarmatian aquifer is the most important aquifer in Moldova and consists of unconsolidated sand deposits located above the limestone rocks and massive reef limestone. The reef limestones are known as "hydrogeological windows" due to their high permeability, which allows rapid supply of groundwaters into and through the aquifer. This aquifer is the main source of groundwater in the central part of Moldova. Salinity of groundwaters increases along the increase of the depth in the southwest direction. In the western part of the country, the groundwaters have high concentrations of fluorine.
The upper aquifer, represented by phreatic groundwaters, is the most contaminated by the anthropogenic activities such as human and animal waste, use of fertilizers and pesticides. Most rural settlements use water from this aquifer through large diameter wells. Unpolluted groundwaters can exist in the upper aquifer if they flow upstream of the urban centres and farmlands. The case is the same for the springs located in the hydrographic basins covered with forests.
From the point of view of quality, in some areas, the groundwaters exceed the maximum admissible concentration laid down by the drinking water quality standards, especially in terms of the content of hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, fluorine, strontium, iron, nitrates, chlorides, arsenic and other pollutants. Therefore, all the necessary measures need to be undertaken to treat the water and bring it to the acceptable values provided for by the drinking water quality parameters.
The water quality in the deeper aquifers is very different; it degrades gradually downstream, especially in the western part of Moldova. Where the groundwaters are anaerobic, they have high concentrations of fluorine (F), boron (B), iron (Fe), hydrogen sulphide (H2S), ammonium (NH4-), dissolved organic carbon (COD) and sulphates (SO4). These elements and compounds, which are contained in the groundwaters in high concentrations, are of natural origin and the water can be treated by various methods.
In Moldova, water from the underground sources is not widely and successfully treated. There are currently a number of water treatment plants that had been built in different periods, but which have not worked even a day. The institutional capacities of the WSS operators need to be increased and the staff need to be trained; other groundwater treatment options shall be studied and identified to obtain drinking water for the population.
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2.4 WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE INFRASTRUCTURE
In order to analyze the current state of the WSS infrastructure in each of the 3 rayons of Gagauzia Development Region (GDR), detailed rayon profiles were developed (provided in Annexes 5.1, 5.2, 5.3).
2.4.1 Service Coverage
About 79% of the population of the region has access to the centralized water supply systems7, including 83% in the urban area and 76% in the rural area. Based on this indicator, the region ranks first (after Chisinau municipality) among the other development regions in the country, given that the national average is only 54%. All the settlements (100%) have centralized water supply systems.
At the same time, the centralized water supply is very uneven across the region. For example, in Comrat rayon 88% of the residential areas have access to the water supply, in Ceadir-Lunga rayon - 76.1% and in Vulcanesti rayon only 60%.
Respectively, in terms of the coverage with the centralized water supply services, the region exceeded the national target set by the National Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy, which is expected to reach 65% by 2020. However, this quantitative performance is not supported at the qualitative level as in most of the settlements in the region, the water is of poor quality and cannot be considered as a drinking water.
Figure 3: Coverage with the water supply services, 2016 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 92,6 93,9 90 85,6
80 74,1 64,5 70 53,7 60
50 % 40 30 20 10 0 Comrat Ceadîr-Lunga Vulcănești
Localități urbane cu sisteme de alimentare cu apă % Populația urbană conectată la sisteme de alimentare cu apă % Localități rurale cu sisteme de alimentare cu apă % Populația rurală conectată la sisteme de alimentare cu apă %
Comrat Ceadir-Lunga Vulcanesti Urban settlements with water supply systems, % Urban population connected to the water supply systems, % Rural settlements with water supply systems, % Rural population connected to the water supply systems, % Source: Experts’ calculations based on the data provided by mayor’s offices
The level of development of the centralized sewerage systems is much lower compared to the water supply systems. Thus, only 27% of the settlements have centralized sewerage systems (100% of the urban settlements and 17% of the rural settlements). Overall, only 37% of the urban population and 2% of the rural population are provided with the sewerage services. Thus, the coverage of the population with the sewerage services ranges from 20% in Ceadir-Lunga to 16% in Comrat and 16% in Vulcanesti.
7 The density of the water networks is 51 km/100 km2 suggesting that the GDR is below the national average 24
Figure 4: Coverage with the sewerage services, % 100 100 100 100 90 80 70
60 49,4
50 % 40 35,2 24,1 30 25
20 12 3,7 10 0,8 0 0 0 Comrat Ceadîr-Lunga Vulcănești
Localități urbane cu sisteme de canalizare % Populația urbană conectată la sisteme de canalizare % Localități rurale cu sisteme de canalizare % Populația rurală conectată la sisteme de canalizare %
Comrat Ceadir-Lunga Vulcanesti Urban settlements with sewerage systems, % Urban population connected to the sewerage systems, % Rural settlements with sewerage systems, % Rural population connected to the sewerage systems, % Source: Expert’s calculations based on the data provided by the mayor’s offices
A special situation is observed in Ceadir-Lunga municipality. The sewerage network (developed with the support of the EBRD/EIB project) covers over 90% of the settlement, but still less than 50% of households are connected to the network.
In conclusion, given the current level of development of the sewerage networks, the region is going to make considerable efforts to comply with the national target - 65% of the population shall be connected to the centralized sewerage networks by 2025.
2.4.2 Water Balance
Currently, the centralized water supply in the region is provided solely by the groundwater sources. According to the data of "Moldova Apa-Canal" Association (MACA), the total amount of water captured in the urban areas in the region in 2016 made up 2.1 mln. m3, including Comrat - 1.4 mln. m3 (66%), Ceadir-Lunga - 0.49 mln. m3 (23%), and Vulcanesti 0.26 mln. m3 (12%).
The centralized water supply systems in the region provide services mainly to households (88% of the water supplied) and budgetary institutions (7% of the total water). The industrial enterprises are supplied with water individually (or collectively) through private artesian wells.
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Figure 5: Total water production and consumption in the urban area, thousand m3/year, 2016
Captured amount of water Unbilled amount of water Billed amount of water Household consumers Other consumers Budgetary institutions Source: MACA data
According to the data provided by the service operators in the urban area (Comrat, Vulcanesti and Ceadir-Lunga), only approx. 40% of the water production is billed to consumers. About 59% of the captured water is unbilled water.
Table 2. Catchment, sale of water and unbilled water in the urban area, thousands m3/year Urban settlement Total Billed water Unbilled water captured Water used in the Losses and unbilled water technological process consumption and for own needs 1,371.4 445.9 523.2 402.3 Comrat municipality 100% 33% 38% 29% 485.6 297.7 5.4 182.5 Ceadir-Lunga municipality 100% 61% 1% 38% 254.4 132.5 43.8 78.1 Vulcanesti town 100% 52% 17% 31% 2,111.4 876.1 572.4 662.9 Total 100% 42% 27% 31% Source: MACA data
The share of the unbilled water varies considerably from one operator to another: Comrat - 67%, Ceadir-Lunga - 39%; Vulcanesti town - 48%.
The high share of the unbilled water in the urban areas is due both to the increased wear of the networks and the unauthorized consumption since many old networks were built on private land plots with limited access for control and monitoring.
The average specific water consumption in the urban area of the region is about 41.6 l/person/day, while the households use about 36.4 l/person/day, which is well below the national average. The current country rates (including Chisinau and Gagauzia) for the total water consumption are 102.7 l/person/day and 80 l/pers/day for the household consumption (MACA data).
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Table 3. Specific water consumption in the urban area, 2016 Urban settlement Estimated number of Total amount Amount of water Total Specific the covered of sold water, sold to the specific consumption of (connected) th. m3/year population, consumptio water by population, th. m3/year n of water, household th. persons l/pers/day consumers, l/pers/day Comrat municipality 26.3 445.9 383.7 46.5 40 Ceadir-Lunga 22.9 297.7 266 35.6 31.8 municipality Vulcanesti town 8.5 132.5 117.7 42.7 37.9 Total 57.7 876.1 767.4 41.6 36.4 Source: MACA data
The amount of wastewater in the urban area makes up on average 50% compared to the billed amount of water due to the underdevelopment of the sewerage systems. Non-household consumers account for about 32% of the total wastewater discharged into the public sewerage system.
Table 4. Amounts of received wastewater, th. m3/year Urban settlement Total amount Total amount of Amount of water received Wastewater passed of sold water received water from non-household through the treatment consumers plants
Comrat municipality 445.9 186.2 71.5 311.2 Ceadir-Lunga 297.7 195.1 53.9 200.2 municipality Vulcanesti town 132.5 45 10.8 45 Total 876.1 426.3 136.2 556.4 Source: MACA data
A specific situation is observed in Comrat municipality, where the amount of water processed at the treatment plant in Comrat municipality is higher than the amount of wastewater collected from consumers. This situation will be investigated in details, the reasons being the inadequate record keeping of the provided services, as well as the infiltration of the groundwaters (infiltrations) into the sewerage system.
2.4.3 Quality of Services
As a whole, the quality of the water supplied in the centralized networks in the region is poor. Centralized water supply in the region is provided exclusively (100%) from the underground sources. In most cases, the captured water does not meet the regulatory requirements of the drinking water quality in Moldova. Particularly, the maximum admissible concentrations of compounds such as fluorine, boron, sodium and hydrogen sulphide in the groundwaters in the region are exceeded. In Vulcanesti rayon the content of iron is exceeded. Also, the phreatic water has high content of nitrates and are contaminated with microbes. However, at least 41% of those connected to the centralized water supply systems in Gagauzia TAU, consume today process water.
As the water supply systems do not provide for water treatment, in most cases the supplied water is not drinking water (due to the natural contamination). Disinfection of the water with chlorine gas, lime chloride or chlorine dioxide is only provided in some water supply systems (in Comrat and Ceadir-Lunga municipalities and in Vulcanesti town). However, even in the urban settlements, the supplied water does not meet the requirements for drinking water quality. Thus, according to a study from 2016, funded by the Eastern European Foundation in Moldova on the quality of drinking water supplied by the centralized systems, the following maximum admissible limits (MALs) were exceeded in the urban settlements of the region:
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Table 5: Exceeded MALs in the urban area Urban settlement Parameters
Boron Iron Sodium Sulphates Mineralization Nitrites Hardness MAL 0.5 MAL 0.3 MAL 200 MAL 250 MAL 1,500 MAL 0.5 mg/l MAL >5 g.g. mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l mg/l Comrat municipality 1.19 0.59 424 1690 Ceadir-Lunga 1.5 1.36 413 344 0.5 municipality Vulcanesti town 0.81 342 Source: Study of water quality in the south of the Republic of Moldova, the East European Foundation, 2016
According to the available information, the following settlements have officially declared that the water delivered in the centralized systems does not meet the requirements and cannot be considered as "drinking water”: ▪ Comrat rayon: 4 rural settlements (Besalma village - 5,015 inhabitants, Chirsova village - 7,100 inhabitants, Dezghingea village - 5,216 inhabitants and Svetlii - 2,000 inhabitants); ▪ Ceadir-Lunga rayon: Ceadir-Lunga town and other 5 rural settlements (Baurci village - 8,250 inhabitants, Cazaclia village - 7,272 inhabitants, Chiriet-Lunga village - 2,517 inhabitants, Gaidar village - 4,600 inhabitants and Joltai village - 2,316 inhabitants);
A specific situation is recorded in Ceadir-Lunga municipality, where (with the support of the Turkish Government) a modern water treatment plant was built in 2006. Because of a number of factors, mainly the extremely high operational costs, this plant has not been used so far.
At the same time, even in the settlements that officially declare that the supplied water meets the requirements for drinking water, there are no certifications and complete confirmations.
The on-the-spot analysis showed that often in the course of examination of the samples by the National Public Health Agency, not all mandatory parameters are reported (according to the "State Register of Natural Mineral, Drinking Waters and Bottled Soft Drinks", approved by the Government Decision No. 934 of 15.08.2007).
In the rural areas, groundwater treatment is very expensive, as it would require a large number of treatment plants. Overall, at least 67,000 people in the region (43% of the total) will not have drinking water supply services without applying optimum and sustainable solutions to provide the region with drinking water.
A viable alternative for the region would be use of the surface sources (Prut River), and in this sense a large scale regionalization of the WSS services is an absolute need.
The problem of the drinking water quality can be solved in two ways: (i) groundwater treatment, and (ii) transport of treated drinking water from surface sources through the regional water pipelines.
Solving the problem of groundwater quality in Gagauzia TAU by treating it is less feasible (because it requires huge investment and operational costs). Therefore, the best solution to solve the problem of water quality in the region is to bring water from the Prut River.
Box 1: Needs and water treatment technologies for the DR of Gagauzia TAU
Groundwater treatment technology depends on the groundwater quality, i.e. on the indicators for which the maximum admissible value is exceeded. If a single indicator is exceeded, a simpler technology may be adopted to reduce it by biological methods (in case of nitrogen compounds) or with ion exchange facilities (in case of inorganic impurities). However, in the DR of Gagauzia TAU the groundwaters contain more impurities with high concentration. In this case, the water shall be treated by using the reverse osmosis technologies, entailing extremely high costs. At the same time, due to the fragmentation and dispersion of the artesian wells, this technology would require a large number of water treatment
28 plants, and in economic terms this solution is less feasible. At the same time, there is a very little and unsuccessful experience of implementation and exploitation of the groundwater treatment technologies in Moldova. An example may be Ceadir-Ceadir rayon where Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) made investments in the construction of a water treatment plant using the reverse osmosis technology. This plant does not work for many years, mainly due to high operational costs (approx. 1 Euro/m3).
In this respect, the available studies show that it is most appropriate to use the existing surface water intakes. Construction of new intakes is very expensive, and the process can be long as important environmental studies and coordination with Romania are needed. The closest existing intakes are located in the area of Cahul, Leova and Cantemir towns. Currently, the surface water intakes in these settlements are used at a much lower capacity than the design one.
The problem of drinking water supply in the settlements in the south of Moldova has been subject of several studies, which have proposed several possible variants of regional pipelines, including: • the Feasibility Study for water supply services in Leova rayon with options of regionalization (funded by GIZ) • the Feasibility Study for water supply of Cahul Rayon (funded by GIZ) • the Feasibility Study for water supply and sewerage of the settlements of Cahul rayon (funded by KfW), which also covers Vulcanesti town and the neighbouring villages. • the Execution Project for the main water pipeline Cahul - Lebedenco - Pelinei - Gavanoasa - Vulcanesti (villages) - Alexandru Ioan Cuza and the internal networks of Lebedenco, Hutulu, Ursoaia, Pelinei, Satuc, Gavanoasa, Vladimirovca and Nicolaevca villages (under development by "Fluxproiect" LLC). The Project envisages the connection of the existing tanks of 2xV = 1,000 m3 from Vulcanesti town, point of connection of the settlements of Cismichioi, Etulia and Etulia Noua, and recently a request was received to include in the Project the main water pipeline to Gura Vulcanesti, the distribution networks in Gara Vulcanesti and two water towers with V=50 m3. The implementation of this Project will allow to provide the settlements of Vulcanesti rayon with safe drinking water services.
It should be noted that the construction of the regional penstock Leova - Ceadir-Lunga (provided in the National Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy) is virtually compromised. Due to the lack of interest shown previously by the LPAs concerned, the project documentation was developed for Leova-Iargara main water pipeline and assumes a potential to supply with water 30 settlements in Leova rayon. The construction works are already underway.
As a whole, further provision of the water supply services is a problem. Only in Comrat and Ceadir-Lunga towns water is supplied 24 hours a day. In Vulcanesti town water is supplied only during the day time (04:00 - 23:00). In most rural settlements the water supply services are provided with interruptions, the continuity rate is considerably lower than 100% (24 hours a day).
The sewerage services are of a very poor quality. Although all urban areas have wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), their technical condition or way of operation does not enable an adequate wastewater treatment for it to be discharged into the environment (in effluent): ▪ In Comrat municipality, the WWTP does not work. The collected wastewater is pumped to the non-operating treatment plant and is a source of pollution for the Ialpug River, into which it is discharged. ▪ In Ceadir-Lunga municipality, at the WWTP only the mechanical process with biological ponds is carried out. The wastewater is not properly treated and is discharged into the Lunga River. ▪ In Vulcanesti town, the WWTP was renovated in 2011, its performance was reduced from 3.8 to 1.5 thousand m3/day and both the mechanical and the biological processes are carried out. Since the local sewerage networks are not enough developed, the wastewater treatment plant operates at a capacity of 5% only. The small amount of wastewater disrupts the operation of the biological process, i.e. the quality of the treated waters. Therefore, the discharged wastewater is a potential risk of pollution for the Cahul River.
In 2017 2 new treatment plants were built: (i) in Ferapontievca village, Comrat rayon: decentralized plant for gymnasium and kindergarten, and (ii) in Copciac village, Ceadir-Lunga, the centralized plant, the consumers are being connected.
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Construction of the treatment plant in Avdarma village is being completed.
The sewerage service operators do not have laboratories to check the quality of the discharged wastewater. Therefore, the operators in Ceadir-Lunga municipality and Vulcanesti town have concluded service contracts with authorized laboratories in Cahul municipality.
The consumers that are not connected to the centralized sewerage networks use local sewerage systems with infiltration of wastewater into the soil. This is a considerable source of pollution of the phreatic water in the area.
2.4.4 State of the Infrastructure
The state of the existing WSS infrastructure differs considerably from urban to rural areas. In the recent years, particularly due to donor funding (TIKA, NEF, EBRD/EIB), a positive dynamics is noticed in the sector. In particular, the following settlements benefited from donors' financial support: Ceadir-Lunga municipality, Tomai village, Baurci village, Besghioz village, Cazaclia village, Chioselia Rusa village, Gaidar village, Dezghinja village, Congazcic village, Avdarma village. However, as a whole, the distribution networks are highly worn and need to be urgently replaced.
The water supply networks in Gagauzia TAU are made of different materials (steel, cast iron, asbestos cement, plastics). The oldest networks were built in the 60s-80s of the last century of steel, cast iron and asbestos cement. New networks are built of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Steel and asbestos cement pipes are most of all worn8, produce the most losses and need to be replaced as a matter of priority. The most damaged networks are located in 2 urban and 4 rural settlements, and namely: ▪ Comrat municipality - priority must be given to replacing: 9.9 km of steel pipes and 8.4 km of asbestos cement pipes. ▪ Vulcanesti town - priority must be given to replacing: 26.9 km of steel pipes and 1.2 km of asbestos cement pipes. ▪ Besalma village - 0.5 km of steel pipes need to be replaced; ▪ Copciac village - 7.5 km of steel pipes need to be replaced; ▪ Joltai village - 4.7 km of steel pipes need to be replaced; ▪ Chismicoi village - 30 km of steel pipes and asbestos cement need to be replaced.
In Comrat and Vulcanesti towns, radical measures are needed to reduce the water losses in the water network.
Table 6: Lengths of the networks in the urban area Urban settlements Water pipeline system, Sewerage network, km km Comrat 126.2 26 Ceadir-Lunga 160.5 90
8 An indicator of the degree of wear of the network is the Linear Repair Indicator (LRI), which shows the number of repairs/km/year. The highest value of the LRI is recorded in Comrat - 4 repairs/km/year, while in Ceadir-Lunga municipality and Vulcanesti town the LRI is 1 repair/km/year. Another indicator of the network efficiency is the Linear Loss Indicator (LLI), which is the unbilled amount of water per kilometre per day. The highest value of the LLI is recorded in: • Comrat municipality – 20,7 m3/km/day, • Vulcanesti town – 7.3 m3/km/day, • and the lowest value in Ceadir-Lunga municipality – 3.2 m3/km/day.
The LLI in Comrat municipality is very high. According to the World Bank classification for the developing countries, this indicator implies inefficient use of resources, indicating inadequate maintenance and the state of the system as a whole. Implementation of the water loss reduction programs is required.
The LLI in Vulcanesti town is relatively high. According to the World Bank classification for the developing countries, this indicator can only be tolerated if the resources are abundant and cheap, i.e. this is not the case of Gagauzia TAU. Therefore programs for reduction of the water losses need to be implemented in this case. The LLI in Ceadir-Lunga municipality is good. According to the World Bank classification for the developing countries, further reduction of the water losses may be non-economic, unless there is a water crisis.
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Vulcanesti 46 17.8 Source: Experts’ calculations based on data provided by operators
The available pumps are in a satisfactory condition and are well maintained. Several pumps have been replaced with modern ones that require minimal maintenance costs. In 2011, Comrat municipality benefited from a pump replacement project at most pumping stations, and in 2017 the pumps from the regional pumping station were replaced. The pumps at the water pumping station in Vulcanesti town and at a pumping station in Ceadir-Lunga still need to be replaced.
The technical condition of the water tanks is satisfactory with the exception of the tank in Comrat municipality, which needs to be rehabilitated. The connection pipes and valves are to be rehabilitated, as necessary, in the next period.
The sewerage systems remain underdeveloped and require considerable investments to expand the municipal wastewater collection and transport networks, rehabilitation of the wastewater pumping stations and treatment plants. The sewerage services in the rural areas remain at the initial level of development. Only 4 rural settlements (Budgeac village, Svetlii commune, Ferapointevca and Copceac villages) have centralized sewerage networks. In Svetlii commune works for the construction of the sewerage networks and for the reconstruction of the pumping station are underway. In the other settlements decentralized sewerage systems based on latrines with direct infiltration of wastewater into the soil are used. The materials used in the 60s-80s of the last century are: ceramics, asbestos cement, cast iron and reinforced concrete. At present they use PVC or polypropylene.
The available sewage pumping stations are in a satisfactory condition and are well maintained. Several pumps have been replaced with modern ones that require lower operational costs.
There are only 5 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Gagauzia TAU, which do not work at all or work in part: ▪ WWTP from Comrat municipality - does not work; ▪ WWTP from Ceadir-Lunga municipality - only the mechanical process is carried out; ▪ WWTP from Vulcanesti town – the mechanical and biological processes are carried out; ▪ WWTP from Ferapontievca village - capacity of 8 m3/day, takes over the wastewater only from the gymnasium; ▪ WWTP from Copciac village - capacity of 100 m3/day from 2017.
The sewerage system shall be developed throughout the region and some treatment plants shall be built in the place of the existing ones in Comrat and Ceadir-Lunga municipalities and new networks and treatment plants shall be built.
2.4.5 Operational Efficiency
In 2015-2016 all the companies in the urban areas were licensed to work in accordance with the Law No. 303 of 13.12.2013 for a period of 25 years. This shows that these companies have a minimum need for qualified staff and technical facilities. Currently, no operator in the rural area holds a license of activity as it is not required by the legal framework.
The legal form of organization of the operators in the region is the "Municipal Enterprise" founded by the Local Councils. Exception is the operator in Ceadir-Lunga, which is organized as a "Joint-stock Company" ("Apa-Termo") and has a service contract concluded with the administration of the rayon.
Besides the water supply and sewerage services the JSC "Apa-Termo" in Ceadir-Lunga municipality also provides heating and sanitation services. The other operators in the urban settlements provide only water supply and sewerage services.
The operational efficiency of the available WSS services in the region is not even. All urban companies have too many employees (over 10 employees per 1,000 connections). The staffing indicator is 16 employees/1 thousand connections in the case of the ME "Apa-Canal" Vulcanesti, 13 employees/1 thousand connections - at the JSC "Apa-Termo Ceadir- Lunga"9, and 11 employees/1 thousand covered connections – at the ME "Su-Canal" Comrat.
9 It also offers other types of activity (sanitation and heat supply) 31
Provision with qualified staff is a problem. Just the JSC "Apa-Termo Ceadir-Lunga" has two employees with higher education in the field. However, it can be assumed that the urban operators have the necessary minimum qualified staff, confirmed by the licensing of the operators. This is largely due to the staff training program for the WSS service operators, launched by MACA in cooperation with the Technical University of Moldova (TUM) and supported by donors (GIZ, etc.)
The rural WSS systems are affected by the lack of specialists and are mainly managed directly by local authorities through structures of the mayor’s offices or forming municipal enterprises. There is a private operator providing WSS services in Chirsova village.
More than 90% of the connections of the consumers are fitted with water meters, enabling a proper record keeping of water consumption. The major problem here is the lack of a certified laboratory for metrological verification of water meters in the region. Consumers have to check the meters in Chisinau municipality or to replace the meters with an expired term of check with new ones.
From the point of view of provision with specialized equipment and tools, the JSC "Apa-Termo" from Ceadir-Lunga, which is best equipped, may be highlighted. This is primarily due to the funding provided by the EBRD/EIB to the operator. Other operators are not enough provided with specialized equipment and tools or they are very worn.
From a financial point of view, only the JSC "Apa-Termo" in Ceadir-Lunga recorded profit in 2016. The other urban operators recorded losses in 2016.
The development potential of the operators is limited due to the small number of served consumers.
The current energy consumption in the municipalities does not ensure compliance with the environmental standards and, as a consequence, this consumption will increase considerably after the implementation of an appropriate biological treatment technology, as planned in Vulcanesti town, where specific consumption for the sewerage system is much higher than in the municipalities.
Figure 6: Specific energy consumption for the WSS services in the urban area, kWh/m3
2,5
1,98 2 1,74 1,67
1,5
1,11
kWh/m3 1
0,54 0,5 0,42
0 mun. Comrat mun. Ceadîr-Lunga or. Vulcănești
Consumul specific de energie electrică - apă kWh/m3 Consumul specific de energie electrică - canalizare kWh/m3 Comrat mun. Ceadir-Lunga mun. Vulcanesti town Specific electricity consumption – water Specific electricity consumption - sewerage Source: Experts’ calculations based on data provided by operators Note: The WWTP from Comrat does not work. Electricity is consumed by the wastewater pumping stations. In Ceadir-Lunga municipality, biological wastewater treatment is not carried out, therefore the energy consumption for the sewerage services is relatively low.
2.5 SOCIAL AND GENDER ASPECTS
2.5.1 Social Aspects
From a social point of view, the region faces four major problems that impact the development of the water and sewerage services:
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• The region is mainly rural. About 60% of the population lives in the rural area, which means increased costs of the extension and exploitation of the water and sewerage networks. • External migration increases. Over 20% of the population of the settlements in the region is constantly or seasonally gone abroad and this influences the consumption of the water and sewerage services. • The population has low revenues. In 2016, the average salary (2016) amounted to 3,870 MDL (women - 3,700 and men - 4,000), being the lowest among the development regions (the average salary in Moldova amounted to 5,000 MDL.) The average pension in the region is 1,220 MDL (men 1,381 and women - 1,154). • Lack of employment opportunities. The employment rate is 16.1%, i.e. below the national average. There are 3.6 unemployed persons per 1 employed person. Currently, in the region, the average water tariff is 12.6 MDL/m3, including 16.1 MDL/m3 in the urban area and 11.9 MDL/m3 in the rural area. These tariffs are comparable to those charged in Moldova. According to the international practice, the per capita cost for both WSS services shall not exceed 3.5-4% of the average income of a family (household). This would mean approx. 300 MDL/household per month. Also, according to the provisions of the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028) the tariffs of the water supply and sanitation services will be set out taking into account the consumers' payment capacity and 3-5% of the average income of a household. As 5% of the household budget is the upper limit of a family's payment capacity in the developing countries, there is a concern that in Moldova services meeting a minimum quality standard may not be affordable for a large part of the population.
2.5.2 Gender Aspects
Gender, unlike biological sex, refers to the social roles adopted and attributed to men and women. There are several different gender roles, which vary according to the cultural, historical and economic circumstances. Gender roles are often closely linked to the rights and obligations of women and men in a given society, as well as to the power relations between them. Gender equality means women and men enjoying the same status. This implies that they have equal conditions for the exercise of human rights and realization of their potential to contribute to the national, political, economic, social and cultural development. Usually, women and men have different roles in the water and sewerage activities, and these differences are more obvious in rural areas. Women are most often users, suppliers and managers of water in rural households and are hygiene guards in the household. If the water system fails, women, not men, will most likely be affected because they should move to get water or use other means to meet the water and sanitation needs in the household. By addressing the different priorities of men and women in the WSS activities, the quality and sustainability of the WSS projects are improved, for example: • Women's needs for water become more a central point of a WSS project. These needs are often related to the small-scale activities (gardening, domestic use, small-scale breeding) that are vital to the household; • The design and location of the WSS facilities will better reflect the different needs of women and men. The correct location of the sanitary facilities is particularly important because hygiene is often the subject of cultural sensitivity that usually differs between men and women; • The adopted technology shall reflect, in particular, the needs of women; • The financial management skills of women show that they are ideal for saving and managing resources for the continuous operation and maintenance of the internal WSS facilities; • The demand for the sanitary facilities is high, as the strong desire of women and men to have private, convenient and safe facilities for them and their children is acknowledged; • There are great health benefits because all community members (men, women and children) are involved.
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2.6 LEVEL OF FINANCING
2.6.1 National Level
According to the estimates of the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy, at least 2 billion Euros of capital investments (1 billion Euro - for drinking water supply and 1 billion Euro - for wastewater management) are needed for the coverage with the waste and sewerage services of the population from all settlements of Moldova. In this respect, according to the Strategy, Moldova plans to mobilize and use by 2028 approx. 700 million Euros investments in the sector, of which about 200 million Euros already in the first stage (2014-2028). According to the OECD recommendations for the developing countries, the annual investments in water supply and sewerage should make up 1.2-6% of the GDP in order to solve the problem of coverage with quality services within a reasonable timeframe. According to these recommendations, Moldova should allocate about 1.5 - 8 billion MDL annually for the development of the sector (or 500 - 2,500 MDL per capita annually). Due to the low investment capacities of both LPAs and the WSS service operators, most of the investments in the field continue to be covered from external sources and the central budget, mainly through the National Environmental Fund, the National Regional Development Fund, as well as the projects of TIKA, EBRD, EU, GIZ, SDC, ADA, etc.
Table 7: Non-reimbursable (disbursed) financing in the WSS sector from the main sources, mln MDL Sources of financing 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Total National 7.4 26.5 222.5 261.1 175.6 15.7 708.7 Environmental Fund National Regional 89.9 55.0 0.0 32.8 0.0 3.8 181.5 Development Fund GIZ 4.7 0.0 3.0 111.4 0.0 0.0 119.2
SDC 0.0 0.0 8.3 11.4 15.8 23.5 59
Total 102 81.5 233.8 416.7 191.4 43.0 1068 Source: experts’ calculations based on donor data
According to the data of the State Chancellery of the Government of the Republic of Moldova, the annual foreign financial support for the WSS for Moldova is about 15 million Euros annually (13.1 million Euros in 2016, 17.3 million Euros - in 2015, 13.7 million Euros in 2014, and 12 million Euros in 2012], including grants and loans. In the light of the foreign credits provided for the WSS sector, the main donors still are the EBRD, the EIB and the World Bank. In particular, 3 EBRD/EIB projects with a total value of over 120 million Euros shall be noted: (i) the project for the North Zone - 30 million Euros, (ii) the project for Chisinau municipality - 61.8 million Euros, and (iii) the trans-regional project - for Floresti, Hancesti, Leova, Orhei, Soroca and Ceadir-Lunga rayons - 30 million Euros. It should be noted that the national and international donors have prioritized and supported in particular the most deprived settlements in terms of provision with water and sewerage services, especially those located in the North and Centre RDs:
Table 8: Financing disbursed in 2011 – 2016 (grants and credits) in the WSS sector from the main sources EIB/ERDB credit – Total per Development Grants, Total, national project, capita, regions mln MDL mln MDL mln MDL MDL Centre 422.1 194.5 616.6 1,714.5 North 278.8 218.4 497.2 1,985.9 South 291.1 56.1 347.2 1,533.8 Gagauzia TAU 11.9 155.8 167.7 965.3 34
Source: experts’ calculations based on donor data (NEF, NRDF, GIZ, SDC, ERDB, EIB, EU’s Neighbourhood Investment Facility (NIF)
Respectively, having the widest coverage with the water supply services among other regions, Gagauzia TAU used the least investments among the development regions - 965 MDL/capita, compared to 1,989 MDL/capita in the North DR, 1,714 MDL/capita - Centre DR and 1,533 MDL/capita in South DR.
2.6.2 Regional and Local Level
During the last 8 years (2010-2017), the total capital investments in the WSS sector in Gagauzia TAU amounted to 208 mln MDL (an average of approx. 26 mln MDL annually), almost equally divided between the centralized water supply and sewerage projects. During this period, over 90% of the total financing was provided by the national and international donors, with relatively low local and regional contributions. In particular, the average annual investments in the WSS sector of all the 26 mayor’s offices in the region made up about 0.5 mln MDL and the allocations from the budget of Gagauzia TAU - about 3.7 mln MDL annually.
Table 9: Sources of financing of the WSS sector in Gagauzia TAU, 2010-2017 Budget of Sources of Total, LPA budgets, Gagauzia TAU donors, % % % % Period 2010-2014 Water supply 100% 6.1 4.7 89.2 Sewerage 100% 3.7 1.8 94.5 Period 2015-2017 Water supply 100% 36.8 4.0 59.2 Sewerage 100% 14.3 2.9 82.8 Source: General Directorate for Economic Development of the Executive Committee of Gagauzia TAU
Territorially, many investments were made in Ceadir-Lunga rayon - 62% of the total investments in the water supply sector and about 90% in the sewerage sector. The fewest investments were channelled to Vulcanesti rayon (4% of the total). Basically, out of the total of 208 million capital investments in the WSS sector in the last 8 years, about 160 million were provided to Ceadir-Lunga rayon. Given the number of inhabitants, the discrepancy of financing by rayons in the last 8 years was very high: from about 10 thousand MDL/inhabitant in Ceadir-Lunga rayon to only 206 MDL/inhabitant in Vulcanesti rayon.
Table 10: Capital investments in the WSS in rayon profile during the period 2010-2017 Gagauzia TAU Comrat rayon Vulcanesti rayon Ceadir-Lunga rayon 102.6 30.9 7.6 64.1 Water supply, mln MDL 100% 30.1% 7.4% 62.5% Sewerage, mln MDL 105.5 10.4 0.6 94.5 100% 9.8% 0.6% 89.6% 208.1 41.2 8.2 158.6 Total, mln MDL 100.0% 19.8% 4.0% 76.2% Total investments/capita, 1342.7 2763 206 9994.6 MDL Source: Gagauzia TAU Executive, Experts’ calculations
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The comparative analysis of financing of the sector by regions highlights the extremely low capacity of the settlements of the DR of Gagauzia TAU to access the WSS grants. In particular, during the last 8 years the settlements in the region accessed only 17.4 mln MDL from the National Environmental Fund, which is 2% of the total financed projects.
Table 11: Disbursed grants in 2011 – 2016 in the WSS sector from the main sources for the DR, mln MDL National National Regional Development Environmental GIZ, SDC, Total, Development regions Fund, mln MDL mln MDL mln MDL Fund, mln MDL mln MDL Centre 448.2 48.1 - 59.0 555.3 Chisinau 44.7 - - - 44.7 North 238.5 72.3 25.1 - 335.9 South 230.4 32.2 94.1 - 356.6 Gagauzia TAU 17.4 - - - 17.4
Inter-regional - 28.8 - - 28.8 projects Total 979.2 181.5 119.2 59.0 1338.9 Source: Experts’ calculations based on donor data
At the same time, a unique experience at the national level of attracting private donor financing in the sector - 10.5 mln MDL for the extension of 42 km of the water pipeline in Avdarma village in Comrat rayon (funded by a wealthy local inhabitant) shall be noted. Currently the preparations for launching an important TIKA project in Gagauzia TAU in the WSS field is at the final phase. The objective of this project is to rehabilitate and extend the water supply system in Vulcanesti town (over 77 km of the networks, 3 artesian wells, a water tank of 1,000 m3). If it is successfully implemented, 100% of the population of Vulcanest town will be covered with the services.
2.7 DEMOGRAPHIC FORECAST AND WATER DEMAND
The demographic forecasts were prepared based on the statistics provided by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova, the National Commission for Population and Development. All the scenarios described in the official demographic forecasts include a slight decrease in the population by 2025 - which is the reference horizon of the Sectoral Regional Program (SRP). A more dramatic decline is expected in the coming period (2025-2050).
Figure 7: Official demographic forecast for the Republic of Moldova, thousand of people.
Scenario I – benchmark 36
Scenario II – medium Scenario III – optimistic Source: National Commission for Population and Development, Social Report, Demographic Profile of the Republic of Moldova, 2011. Forecast for the period 2012-2050
The demographic forecast of the region of Gagauzia TAU was prepared for the urban and rural areas as well as for the total population of the region based on three population evolution scenarios called: the optimistic scenario, the pessimistic scenario and the medium scenario. The demographic forecast period is 2017-2050. The optimistic scenario assumes that the population of the region will have a slightly positive trend and will increase between 2017-2050 with a growth rate of 0.17% per year. This scenario is estimated based on the demographic trend observed in the last 10 years for the stable population in the region, urban and rural areas, according to the statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics. The pessimistic scenario assumes that the population of the region will have the same evolutionary trend as the population of the country as a whole. According to this scenario, the demographic trend will be negative, and the population in the region will decline at a rate of about 0.64% per year. The medium scenario assumes an evolution of the population under a slightly negative trend. This scenario is considered the most realistic and is estimated based on the demographic development recorded in the last 10 years for the present urban, rural and total population of the region, according to the statistics provided by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova. It is assumed that in the next period the population of Gagauzia TAU will keep the evolution recorded in the last 10 years. The demographic trend is estimated to be negative making up - 0.25% per year for Gagauzia TAU, -0.36% per year for the rural area and -0.07% for the urban area. The figure below presents the demographic developments in the region as a whole and in the urban and rural areas in particular.
Figure 8: Demographic forecast for Gagauzia TAU, thousand of people.
Thousand people Gagauzia TAU optimistic Gagauzia TAU medium Gagauzia TAU pessimistic Rural optimistic Rural medium Rural pessimistic Urban optimistic Urban medium Urban pessimistic 37
To estimate the water demand, the demographic development was used according to the medium scenario, being considered the most realistic scenario. The water demand is the monthly billed amount of water used by residential consumers, public institutions and businesses (industry). The water demand was estimated based on the actual data of 2016 of the water operators of Gagauzia TAU. The calculations show an actual per capita consumption of 36.4 l/person/day for the urban residential consumer and 31.97 l/person/day for the rural residential consumer. The table below shows the actual consumption of water for 2016 per types of consumers.
Table 12: Actual consumption of water for 2016 Water consumption, [l/pers/day]
Code Type of Urban Rural consumption 1.1 Residential 36.4 31.97 1.2 Public institution 2.65 2.10 1.3 Industry 2.55 0.94 Total 41.6 35.01
In order to estimate the water demand, the values recommended in the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028), approved by the GD no. 199 of 20.03.2014, were used. These values are a general direction and target points for 2028. The table below shows the target values used in planning the water demand for the future periods.
Table 13: Specific water consumption [l/pers/day] # Type of consumption Urban Rural 1.1 Residential 110 50 1.2 Public institutions 20 10 1.3 Industry 30 15 Source: Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028), approved by the Government Decision no. 199 of 20.03.2014. Technical Report No. 19 (TR19-C4) of Technical Assistance EU SPSP,2012
In order to estimate the water demand as well as the amount of the collected wastewater, the following assumptions were used: • The population of the region of Gagauzia TAU will slightly decrease by about 0.25% per year until 2050 (the medium demographic scenario); • It is assumed that by 2025 about 80% of the population will have access to the centralized water supply services and 100% by 2035 in all the settlements of Gagauzia TAU. • Access to the sewerage services will be provided to 100% of the urban settlements and to 65% on average to the rural settlements, by 2025 • Water consumption for the residential consumers will reach 110 l/person/day for the urban population and 50 l/person/day for the rural population in 2028. The increase in the water consumption by the residential consumers is considered a linear increase. In 2016, the water demand for the domestic consumers was calculated using the actual data of the operators; • According to the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028), the water demand in the industry will amount to 30 l/person/day for the urban settlements (to be added to the residential consumption) and 15 l/person/day for the rural settlements. The increase in the water consumption for the industrial sector was considered as having a linear evolution; • According to the Technical Report No. 19 (TR19-C4) of the Technical Assistance EU SPSP, 2012, the water consumption for the public institutions will reach 20 l/person/day (which will be added to the residential
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consumption) for the urban settlements and 10 l/person/day for the rural settlements. The increase in the water consumption by the public consumers was considered as having a linear evolution. • Physical losses will drop from the current approx. 26.4% (estimated calculations) to approx. 20.0% by 2025, due to the rehabilitation of the worn networks and construction of new networks. • Commercial losses will drop from the current approx. 17.6% (estimated calculations) to approx. 10.0%, being influenced by the improvement of the institutional organization. • The infiltration rate of the wastewater will decrease from the current 28.4% (estimated calculations) to approx. 10.0% due to the construction of new sewerage systems in the region. • The ratio between the water supply service and the sewerage service is 1:1.
The estimates of the water demand for the period 2016-2035 are provided in the table below.
Table 14: Estimates of the water demand. Unit of N° Indicators 2016 2019 2022 2025 2030 2033 2035 measurement 1 Population in the area of coverage with the water supply services 1.1 Total number of consumers Persons 118,828 117,761 117,060 115,910 130,560 139,458 145,456 1.2 Urban settlements Persons 44,655 44,133 43,722 43,156 48,373 51,513 53,630 1.3 Rural settlements Persons 74,173 73,628 73,338 72,754 82,187 87,946 91,826 2 Annual amount of billed water (water demand), by categories of consumers 2.1 Annual amount of billed water m³/year 1,823,743 2,313,032 3,052,058 3,765,798 5,074,863 5,415,858 5,645,720 2.2 Residential consumers m³/year 1,633,072 1,890,077 2,282,992 2,659,635 3,442,096 3,673,246 3,829,063 2.3 Businesses m³/year 84,390 229,407 445,277 655,688 979,660 1,045,567 1,089,994 2.4 Public institutions m³/year 106,281 193,549 323,789 450,474 653,107 697,045 726,663 3 Annual amount of billed water (water demand), for urban and rural settlements 3.1 Urban settlements m³/year 875,749 1,176,767 1,628,330 2,063,785 2,824,995 3,008,342 3,131,979 3.2 Rural settlements m³/year 947,831 1,136,265 1,423,728 1,702,013 2,249,868 2,407,515 2,513,741 Annual amount of unbilled 4 water 4.1 Total amount of unbilled water m³/year 1,436,667 1,577,556 1,663,293 1,613,913 2,174,941 2,321,082 2,419,594 4.2 Commercial losses of water m³/year 574,667 611,569 606,375 537,971 724,980 773,694 806,531 4.3 Real (physical) losses of water m³/year 862,000 965,986 1,056,918 1,075,942 1,449,961 1,547,388 1,613,063 5 Amount of raw/captured water taking into account the coefficients of unevenness Annual amount of raw/captured 5.1 m³/year 3,260,410 3,890,588 4,715,350 5,379,711 7,249,804 7,736,940 8,065,314 water 5.2 Average daily flow m³/day 8,933 10,659 12,919 14,739 19,862 21,197 22,097 5.3 Maximum daily flow m³/day 9,432 11,293 13,755 15,771 21,253 22,681 23,644 5.4 Average hourly flow m³/h 372 444 538 614 828 883 921 5.5 Maximum hourly flow m³/ h 517 627 780 912 1,230 1,312 1,368
Therefore, according to the estimates, the water consumption will increase from the current 1,823.7 thousand m3 of water per year to about 3,765.8 thousand m3 of water per year. This increase is influenced by the increase in the per capita consumption from the current 36.4 l/person/day to a consumption of 110 l/person/day in 2028. The detailed calculation of the water demand is provided in Annex 5.4 . Estimate of the demand for taking over of the wastewater from consumers was also made proceeding from the actual amount of wastewater received in 2016, according to the data provided by the operators in the region. The calculations show that the actual amount of collected wastewater is 33.6/person/day for the residential consumer from the urban area and 23.14 l/person/day for the residential consumer from the rural area. At present, the rural area has underdeveloped sewerage systems, resulting in a lower per capita amount. The table below shows the actual amount of collected wastewater for 2016 by types of consumers.
Table 15: Amount of received wastewater, [l/pers/day] # Type of consumption Urban Rural 1.1 Residential 33.61 23.14 1.2 Public institutions 9.75 2.71 1.3 Industry 8.35 0.78 39
Total 51.71 26.63
Based on the assumptions above, the amount of wastewater received from the consumers for the period 2016-2035, which is presented in the table below, was estimated.
Table 16: Estimated amount of received wastewater in the period 2016-2035. Unit of N° Indicators 2016 2019 2022 2025 2030 2033 2035 measurement 1 Population in the area covered with the sewerage services 1.1 Total number of consumers Persons 22,804 41,253 71,000 103,131 115,820 116,908 117,633 1.2 Urban settlements Persons 21,134 28,073 38,916 50,184 53,238 52,640 52,242 1.3 Rural settlements Persons 1,670 13,180 32,085 52,947 62,583 64,268 65,391 2 Annual amount of received wastewater, by consumer categories Total amount of billed 2.1 m³/year 445,995 935,556 2,034,007 3,604,221 4,822,277 4,833,516 4,841,008 wastewater 2.2 Residential consumers m³/year 304,220 655,056 1,415,576 2,477,958 3,279,624 3,286,390 3,290,900 2.3 Businesses m³/year 64,884 142,085 343,218 656,293 925,592 928,276 930,065 2.4 Public institutions m³/year 76,891 138,415 275,213 469,970 617,061 618,851 620,043 3 Annual amount of billed wastewater, for urban and rural settlements 3.1 Urban settlements m³/year 445,995 765,142 1,464,665 2,409,735 3,109,072 3,074,186 3,050,929 3.2 Rural settlements m³/year 16,232 170,414 569,342 1,194,487 1,713,205 1,759,330 1,790,079 4 Amount of infiltrated wastewater determined based on the infiltration rate Amount of infiltrated 4.1 m³/year 126,678 222,687 343,773 360,422 482,228 483,352 484,101 wastewater 5 Amount of wastewater, taking into account the coefficients of unevenness 5.1 Average amount of wastewater m³/year 572,673 1,158,242 2,377,780 3,964,644 5,304,505 5,316,868 5,325,109 Maximum daily flow (dry 5.2 m³/day 1,691 3,430 7,072 11,849 15,854 15,891 15,916 weather) (Qdmax) Maximum dry weather flow 5.3 m³/day 120 246 519 892 1,193 1,196 1,198 (QDWF) Maximum hourly storm water 5.4 m³/hour 156 320 675 1,160 1,551 1,555 1,558 flow (QSWF)
According to the estimates, the amount of received wastewater will increase from the current amount of 446.0 thousand m3 of water per year to about 3,604.2 thousand m3 of water per year. This increase is due to the increase in the specific per capita amount from the current 33.61 l/person/day to 110 l/person/day in 2028. The increase of the amount of wastewater will also be due to the significant increase in the number of consumers from the current number of 22.8 thousand persons to 103.1 thousand persons in 2025, following the construction of new sewerage systems and extension of the existing ones. The detailed calculation of the expected amount of received wastewater is given in the Annex 5.5.
2.8 LESSONS LEARNED
Inclusion of a lesson learned chapter aims to provide a series of examples with specific experiences gained by different consultants/institutions/non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/national agencies, etc., in addressing sectoral challenges of water supply and sewerage.
Water sources and quality: ▪ Water quality varies significantly, with the general tendency to use water sources with the easiest possible access, deep water sources being preferred, as such water is not subsequently treated. The surface water sources, such as rivers, are used only by large urban settlements located in the immediate vicinity of the rivers (both Prut and Nistru) because this water requires advanced treatment; ▪ Extraction of water from deep wells does not guarantee a good water quality. The previous experience shows that drilling new wells can be a costly mistake (Ceadir-Lunga, Nisporeni towns, Sarata Noua (Leova), Balasesti (Sangerei) villages, etc.) because the water treatment requires very sophisticated technologies and high energy consumption, which ultimately entails high operational costs and unpredictable results; ✓ The water source in Ceadir-Lunga is groundwater with high concentration of boron and fluorine. In 2008, the water network was entirely rehabilitated and a new treatment plant (TP) was built. The investment in the form of a grant was made by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). The technology of the treatment 40
plant is based on reverse osmosis. However, the plant was never put into operation because the operational costs were not affordable to consumers. According to the estimates of the enterprise „Apa-Termo Ceadir-Lunga”, the operational costs of the TP would make up approx. 1 Euro/m3 of treated water. The decisions to build groundwater treatment plants should therefore be made only on the basis of a feasibility study; ✓ The operator „Apa-Termo” from Ceadir-Lunga did not receive operating instructions or other kind of documentation for the treatment plant and the plant has never been transferred to the company's balance sheet. Therefore, although there is a fully rehabilitated distribution network and a new treatment plant, the consumers cannot enjoy acceptable water quality. ▪ Most villages have taken the initiative to develop their own local systems by rehabilitating old water wells. In such cases, the water often remained of doubtful quality and is distributed without being treated, and only in some cases the water is chlorinated. ▪ The experience of some SDC-funded systems (Apasan) show that in some rural settlements catchment of surface springs can be a very convenient solution, especially if the quality of the row water is acceptable. There are, however, some problems related to the seasonal variation of the capacity of the springs (the risk of drying out in summer time, for example in Zberoaia village, Nisporeni rayon); ▪ The water extracted from deep wells is not treated in the rural areas, and chlorination is not sufficient and regular. Chlorination is only carried out after the repairs or subject to prescriptions of public health centres (such as the beginning of the school year, or when there is a risk of epidemics). In case of these rural systems, the water quality is not monitored on a regular basis and is usually carried out by sampling the water mainly at the water source and less at the water network. The regionalization projects implemented under the Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (ISPA) and the Sectoral Operational Programme (SOP) Environment in Romania focused on catchments from the surface water and groundwater sources for groups of settlements, and a significant improvement in the water quality monitoring and quality control has been achieved.
Water distribution: ▪ The World Bank Energy Audit Report10 (2012), just like the EBRD's FOPIP Diagnostic Report11 states that the existing urban water systems in Moldova are in a relatively inadequate state of operation, are affected by high water losses in the distribution systems (about 50% on average), most of them being physical losses, but there is also a significant number commercial losses (illegal connections, fraudulent handling of water meters, measurement errors, etc.). This has a negative impact on the quality of the provided water services and should be addressed by an important measure of improvement of service provision; ▪ Larger diameter pipes can be replaced using the pipe-in-pipe technology (whereby the excavation costs in the urban settlements are reduced) as used in Orhei, Floresti, Nisporeni towns, etc.; ▪ Very many water supply systems suffer from poor design concepts resulting in high operational costs (for energy). These situations are encountered in inappropriate location of the treatment plants/pumping stations, where pressure is not regulated, etc., therefore resulting in higher unnecessary costs. An illustrative example is Balti Municipality (the World Bank, the National Water Supply and Sewerage Project), where two pumping stations have proven to be unuseful for a reliable water system operation, and simple decommissioning of these facilities has enabled energy savings (up to 30 %). Such relatively low investments with high impact can be made in other urban areas as well; ▪ With very few exceptions, Moldovan water companies are not capable to properly monitor and control the distribution systems - debit meters are either not installed or not functional, pressure gauges are not calibrated or are broken, control valves are partially functional or are blocked. The water company from Floresti has implemented an ambitious SCADA system that revealed higher water losses than the expected ones, but having more accurate measurements it is able now to control the losses better and more efficiently. Such practices need to be proven on a large scale in Moldova. This can also reduce the number of operators at the pumping stations.
10 World Bank, the National Water Supply and Sewerage Project (NWSSP), Energy Component 11 ERDB-EIB-NIF, Water and Sewerage Company Development Program (WSCDP) in Moldova, the Financial and Operational Performance Improvement Program (FOPIP) 41
As a whole, the water enterprises have a large number of staff. They need to attract more qualified/paid staff, but in a smaller number. Similar SCADA systems are implemented in Cahul and Orhei; ▪ Most rural settlements operating new or rehabilitated water distribution systems (including water users’ associations created with the SDC support) continue to exist and operate passively. Most monitoring and control systems are not functional (control meters, pressure gauges, etc.). Besides the increase of the operational costs, another more serious problem arises – the systems are operated without repairs and rehabilitation, and thus any occurring damage is not expected by the operators. ▪ Use of water for irrigation is specific to the rural areas as well. It poses a high risk for the system operation – shortage of water, insufficient pressure and increased share of stolen water. Some water users’ associations have successfully applied higher water tariffs for amounts of water that exceed the share fixed for a family; ▪ Some water users’ associations have introduced a monthly subscription. This practice is the most convenient way to address the problem of increasing number of inactive connections (vacant housing due to migration).
It may be concluded that, without improving the operation practices of the urban distribution systems, extension of the area of coverage with the services is unlikely to be cost-effective and reliable. As noticed in Romania, the urban settlements are the driving force supporting provision of the water distribution services in the rural areas. Unless an effective level of operation is achieved in the town, as the area of coverage with the services extends to other areas, faulty practices will spread to new areas as well.
Wastewater collection and treatment:
Capital expenditures for wastewater collection and treatment are much higher than for water supply. Wastewater collection is an absolute need for the urban settlements, in particular for multi-storey buildings. The rural settlements tend to lag behind with their sewerage systems, although in some cases they benefit from a good coverage with the water supply service. The main lesson learned from the experience gained in both Romania (ISPA, ENV SOP) and in Moldova (GIZ/MLPS) reflects the reluctance of the population to connect to the centralized sewerage systems. The experience of the neighbouring country, Romania, with the new centralized rural systems, but largely unused, is not positive in approaching sewerage and wastewater treatment due to the uneven concentration of houses, low connectivity, small amount of produced waters, etc.
In Moldova, as a whole, the treatment plants are located in the places where there is a wastewater collection system, but their operation is doubtful.
New wastewater treatment technologies: The cases in Soroca and Orhei towns are relatively similar and specific because they have implemented new technologies – constructed wetlands in large settlements, although the results were different. The design of the wastewater treatment plant in Soroca town (the World Bank's Environmental Infrastructure Project for Moldova) was aimed at improving the quality of the sewerage services in Soroca town, reducing the discharge of pollutants, including the nutrients produced by the town and discharged into the Nistru River and the Black Sea, respectively, and proving feasible methods and technologies for reduction of nutrients for the benefit of Moldova and the countries of the Black Sea Region. The Project also addressed the concerns of the Soroca population regarding the treatment of their own wastewater. In addition, the Project had to help Moldova to comply with the provisions of an international treaty with Ukraine aimed at reducing the pollution of the Nistru River.
However, such a technical solution for water treatment has not been implemented in Moldova and the lessons learned are the following: ▪ The results were very unsatisfactory, the performance was rather poor, and the beneficiaries of the credit (local public authorities) and the project implementation unit had fairly poor performance12; ▪ The donor should be pro-active in deciding whether to withdraw funding or should be able to take alternative measures to change the course of a project if critical implementation issues cannot be resolved in due time;
12 World Bank, Finalization Report and Results (TF-58310), Global Environment Facility, 2012 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/06/16518512/moldova-environmental-infrastructure-project 42
▪ The constructed wetland technology (CWT) is new for Moldova, where conventional oversized treatment plants (TPs) a normally operate but they are often not properly operated. The new technology was perceived as a poor one and therefore unacceptable.
However, the lessons learned from Soroca have been taken into consideration, and a new, environmentally friendly and energy efficient wastewater treatment plant was built and put into operation in September 2013 in Orhei town. The plant uses the constructed wetland technology that has lower maintenance and operational costs compared to the traditional technologies. The objectives of the "Orhei Wastewater Treatment Plant" project were to improve the conditions of the sewerage services of Orhei town, to reduce discharges of pollutants, including nutrients, produced by the town and discharged into the Raut River, and to prove and disclose the technologies for reduction of nutrients in the urban wastewater.
Other projects based on the constructed wetland technology were built with the financial support provided by the SDC in Rusca, Sarata Galbena vilalges, etc. Operation of the systems has proven that monitoring by the qualified staff and ongoing maintenance are required to ensure their functionality.
Regionalization of the services: The Final Report of the FOPIP Program financed by the EBRD (FOPIP)13 states that the capacity of the water enterprises in six regions of Moldova is very low. Several severe shortages concerning energy consumption, water losses and human resource management were identified. All these problems resulting in very high operational costs have a significant negative impact on the tariff level. As the estimates show, in some companies the operational costs are 40-50% higher due to the operational deficiencies. In these circumstances, before extending the services of the water companies, an important step shall be made to improve the internal efficiency of the companies.
The lack of qualified staff able to bring and promote innovative ideas and to improve the efficiency of system operation was also noticed. In some cases, the companies prefer to focus on the day-to-day maintenance routines, as necessary, rather than dealing with planning, monitoring, analyzing and improving the entire activity. The main lesson learned is that any regionalization of the services shall take into account investments and measures to improve the financial and operational performance of the water companies.
✓ Regional operators. In Romania, the biggest change in the perception of the service quality appeared due to the introduction of mandatory licensing of water operators that required compliance with certain quality indicators established by law. This reform is expected to be implemented in Moldova in the near future as the Moldovan Parliament adopted the Law on public water and sanitation services. Licensing of the operators is expected to speed up the regionalization of the water supply services and boost the inter-municipal cooperation between local public authorities. ✓ Tariffs. The concept of a common tariff for the entire service area, as proposed to be implemented in Romania, was introduced by the EBRD-funded Program for the Development of Water and Sewerage Companies (PDWSC) for six regions of Moldova. The main obstacle in Moldova was resistance of the local authorities to accept a common tariff, which is usually higher than the tariff charged in case of the decentralized solutions. As a rule, this situation is due to the fact that in the case of decentralized solutions a low-quality service without sustainability and with lower operational costs is offered. ✓ Inter-community cooperation. In Romania the regionalised services are managed based on the inter-municipal cooperation within the Inter-Community Development Associations (ICDAs). In Moldova, creation of such associations is not perceived as a possible practice within the current legislative framework. Therefore, the EBRD-funded PDWSC implements a simplified joint-stock company model, in which the local public authorities participate as shareholders. Currently, no clear directions are established at the government level on the institutional model for the regionalization of the WSS services, which is viewed as an obstacle to further regional development, although there have been some initiatives in this respect.
13 EBRD Moldova, Water Company Development Program, Financial and Operational Performance Improvement Programme, Final Report, SWECO International AB, 2013 43
2.9 CONCLUSIONS (SWOT ANALYSIS)
Strengths Weaknesses ▪ Relatively extensive network of centralized water supply ▪ Very poor development of the sewerage systems (about systems (coverage of 78% of the population, compared 17% of the population have access to the sewerage to the national average of only 54%). services, compared to the national average of about 40%). The 5 treatment plants in the region operate ▪ All the 26 settlements in the region have centralized partially or do not operate at all. drinking water supply systems (compared to the national average of less than 50% of settlements). ▪ Water quality in the centralized water supply networks is very poor, in most settlements it is does not comply with ▪ The relatively good state of the water pipeline networks the drinking water standards (100% of the water is in the rural area (19 out of 23 settlements have a system captured from the underground sources and has of networks of acceptable quality, which as a whole does concentrations of fluorine, boron, sodium, hydrogen not need to be replaced in the short and medium term). sulphide, iron, etc. above the admissible values, requiring ▪ The high quality of the centralized water supply system special treatment technologies). in Ceadir-Lunga municipality. ▪ Excessive fragmentation of the water catchment sources ▪ Relatively high territorial concentration of the population in the settlements (few wells in a settlement) does not (over 70% of the population live in settlements with more allow implementation of adequate water treatment than 5,000 inhabitants, compared to the national systems due to the extremely high construction and average of only 13%). Moreover, over 50% of the operational costs. population of the region live in the five largest ▪ The LPAs in the region have a very low capacity to attract settlements (Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga, Vulcanesti, Congaz grants from the national and international donors and Copceac). ▪ Very high wear of the water pipeline networks in 2 urban ▪ All the 3 WSS service providers in the urban area have and 4 rural settlements (Comrat and Vulcanesti + recently received a license of activity, which suggests Besalma, Copceac, Joltai and Cismichioi). that they have satisfactory capacities to organize a qualitative provision of the WSS services. ▪ Existence of several territorial "exclaves" (e.g. Copceac and Cabalia villages, Vulcanesti rayon).
Opportunities Risks ▪ Solving the problem of water quality by re-orientation to ▪ Population aging and migration, with impact on population the surface sources (Prut River) through cooperation number, payment capacity and consumption of services. with the South Development Region. ▪ Resistance of the LPAs against the regionalization of the ▪ Successful implementation of the (planned) project of services and the inter-community cooperation in the area modernization of the WSS systems in Vulcanesti rayon of WSS, for political, economic and tariff reasons. funded by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination ▪ Compromised opportunity to access the surface water Agency (TIKA). source in the Prut River through the designed Leova- ▪ Regionalization of the WSS services to increase the Ceadir-Lunga water pipeline (due to previous lack of operational efficiency and the investment capacity interest in the region it was decided to extend the water pipeline to Iargara with an undervalued flow rate). ▪ Interregional cooperation with the South Development Region to increase efficiency of the WSS systems in the ▪ Possible national and regional political inconsistencies exclaves. that may affect the amount and the destination of the external financing. ▪ Increasing the regional and local capacities to attract and use financing in the sector from national and international donors.
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3 VISION AND OBJECTIVES OF DEVELOPMENT 2025
3.1 VISION
The long-term vision (2030-2035) for the development of the sector consists in meeting all of the needs of the population and businesses with quality drinking water supply and sewerage services, provided in conditions of maximum economic, financial and technical efficiency.
In order to achieve this vision, Moldova committed14 to provide in the medium term (2025) over 80% of the country's population with centralized water supply services and at least 65% with sewerage services.
Transposition of the national strategic objectives beyond the current level of development of the sector in the Development Region of Gagauzia TAU reveals that: ▪ According to the current level of coverage with the water supply services (approx. 79%), the region is already achieving the national target set for 2025 (80%). ▪ Contrary to the high percentage of coverage with the water pipeline systems, the water supplied is mostly of poor quality and does not meet the drinking water criteria. ▪ In terms of the level of coverage with the sewerage services, the region lags significantly (17% of the population, compared to the national average of approx. 40%), being behind all the other regions of the country.
Therefore, for the implementation period 2018-2025, this Sectoral Program envisages achievement of three major strategic objectives:
1. Overcoming the underdevelopment of the sewerage systems 2. Regular resolution of the quality problem of the water supplied in the centralized systems 3. Increasing efficiency of the water supply and sewerage services
3.2 PRIORITIES
According to the general provisions of the National Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028), the following approaches are proposed to prioritize and phase out the interventions: • Cities/towns will have priority over villages; • Large villages will have priority over small ones; • Interventions will conform to some standardized logical phases as follows:
Field Standardized logical phases Sewerage ▪ Rehabilitation and extension of the existing sewerage systems in the urban areas to enhance efficiency of the systems and improve the quality of the services, will be implemented first; ▪ Extension of the existing urban networks in the neighbouring rural areas will be the next step; ▪ Construction of new water supply systems in the uncovered rural settlements and construction of sewerage systems in large rural settlements; ▪ Implementation of decentralized sewerage systems in the rural settlements along with construction of water supply systems; Wastewater ▪ Rehabilitation/extension of the WWTPs existing the urban areas to cover a larger number of treatment wastewater generators in the neighbouring settlements; ▪ Implementation of non-conventional technologies with low associated costs (e.g. constructed wetlands with underground flow) in the rural areas;
14 According to the National Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028), at least 65% of the population shall be provided with drinking water by 2020 and with sewage by 2025. Additionally, the National Environmental Strategy (2014-2023) provides, as an objective, for ensuring the access of about 80% of the population to the centralized water supply services and about 65% to the sewerage services by 2023.
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Field Standardized logical phases ▪ In small-scale rural communities, use of decentralized sewerage solutions (septic tanks, Ecosan toilets, compact WWTPs for public/commercial buildings); ▪ Construction of new regional conventional WWTPs, covering the clustered urban and rural areas. Water supply ▪ Firstly, interventions will be made in the urban areas (construction, rehabilitation, extension); ▪ Secondly, the large rural areas will be addressed; ▪ Thirdly, the small rural settlements will be targeted. Development and ▪ Extension of management of the WSS services from the urban areas existing in the strengthening of the neighbouring rural areas, regardless of the physical connection to the urban systems; regional operators ▪ Development and implementation of the Financial and Operational Performance Improvement Program (FOPIP) of the WSS services operators; ▪ Implementation of the automation systems and of the SCADA systems for monitoring and control of the WSS technological processes.
Figure 9: Phased approach to the development of the sewerage services
Extension IV – centralized systems with non-conventional TP (CWL) or descentralized systems Descentralized sewerage system – Ecosan/septic tanks Extension II – centralized system Extension III – centralized system Extension V – Regional treatment plant ZONE OF COMMON MANAGEMENT OF THE SEWERAGE AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT SERVICES Rural satellite Rural argumentation Urban area Rural settlement Rehabilitation I – centralized system with modernized TP
Figure 10: Phased approach to the development and grouping of the water supply services 46
Extension IV, II, III …. Rural satellite Rural argumentation Urban area Rural settlement Regional water pipeline Rehabilitation I ZONE OF COMMON MANAGEMENT OF THE WATER SUPPLY SERVICES
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3.3 STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Strategic Objective 1: Overcoming the underdevelopment of the sewerage systems Existing situation: ▪ Only 17% of the population have access to the centralized sewerage services (37% in the urban area and 2% in the rural area). ▪ Only 7 settlements (3 urban and 4 rural ones) have centralized sewerage systems ▪ The quality of the discharged waters is very poor (the treatment plant in Comrat virtually does not work, in Ceadir- Lunga it works partially and in Vulcanesti it operates at 5% of its capacity only). ▪ In Chioselia Rusa village, sewerage networks are being built, but construction of the treatment plant is not planned (no financing is available). ▪ A new treatment plant (in 2017) was built in Copceac village and networks will be built. ▪ In Svetlii village a complex sewerage system with a treatment plant is being completed. ▪ A decentralized treatment plant for the gymnasium and the kindergarten was built in Ferapontievca village Specific objectives: Measures: 1:1 Rehabilitation and extension of the ▪ Extension of the sewerage networks for Vulcanesti town (75 km)* existing sewerage networks ▪ Rehabilitation and extension of the existing sewerage systems in Comrat municipality to cover 100% of the population (100 km of new networks are needed) ▪ Extension of the sewerage networks in rural settlements where there are functional wastewater treatment plants (in Copceac village 30 km of networks). 1.2 Construction of new sewerage ▪ Construction of centralized sewerage systems for large rural systems settlements ▪ Firstly for those with a population of over 7,000 inhabitants (Congaz, Chirsova, Baurci and Cazaclia villages) with a total need of 200 km of networks ▪ Secondly for those with a population of over 5,000 inhabitants (Besalma, Dezghincea and Tomai villages) with a total need of approx. 100 km of networks. ▪ Construction of decentralized sewerage systems15 for small rural settlements (Carbalia, Cotovscoe, Ferapontievca). 1.3 Improvement of quality of the ▪ Construction of new treatment plants in Ceadir-Lunga and Comrat discharged waters municipalities (the old ones cannot be rehabilitated) ▪ Ensuring wastewater treatment in rural settlements with sewerage networks (Bugeac and Chioselia Rusa villages). ▪ Transport of wastewater to a regional wastewater treatment plant (TP). For example, the wastewater from Congaz, Baurci, Cazaclia and Besalma villages can be pumped to a common regional TP. ▪ Projects for regional TPs for small settlements can also be feasible (Etulia village - 3 settlements with Cismichioi village from Vulcanesti rayon, with a possible connection of Alexandru Ion Cuza village from Cahul rayon). Expected results: ▪ Increased coverage with the centralized sewerage systems from 17% to at least 65% ▪ Ensured qualitative wastewater treatment at least in all the settlements with more than 5,000 inhabitants.
15 The National Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy provides for the decentralized solutions for small settlements.
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Strategic Objective 2: Resolution of the problem of poor water quality
Existing situation: ▪ All water pipeline systems in the region are supplied with groundwaters only. The quality of the groundwaters is very poor, since the maximum admissible concentrations of compounds such as fluorine, boron, sodium, iron and hydrogen sulphide are exceeded. ▪ The problem of the water quality at the level of a settlement cannot be solved due to high investment and operational costs for such treatment plants*. ▪ Development of the execution project for the regional main water pipeline Cahul - Lebedenco - Pelinei- Gavanoasa - Vulcanesti (villages) - Alexandru Ioan Cuza.
Specific objectives: Measures: 2.1 Identification of the optimal solution ▪ Evaluation of the feasibility of using the existing intakes* in Leova for the supply of the settlements in the and Cantemir for water supply of the settlements in the region with region with surface water (from the Prut water from the Prut River (at present, these intakes are used at River) much lower capacities than the designed ones). ▪ Evaluation of the optimal solutions of treatment and transport of water from the Prut River to the settlements in the region.
2.2 Implementation of the optimal ▪ Rehabilitation and adjustment of the existing intakes of water from solution for transport of water from the the Prut River in order to adapt to the new need for catchment Prut River in the settlements of the ▪ Adjustment of the existing Prut water treatment systems region ▪ Construction of the regional networks for transport of water from the Prut River ▪ Connection of the settlements in the region to the regional pipeline supplying water from the Prut River ▪ Readjustment of the existing artesian wells into backup sources for water supply ▪ Optimizing the operation of the pumping stations ▪ Ensuring the disinfection of water in the storage tanks and water towers Expected results: ▪ Resolved problem of water quality in the region ▪ The water in the centralized system meets the drinking water standards
* Note 2: Construction of new water intakes is not rational because it would require (i) huge capital investments and (ii) development of environment impact assessment (EIA) studies and their coordination with Romania.
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Strategic Objective 3: Increasing efficiency of service provision
Existing situation: ▪ In 2 urban settlements (Comrat and Vulcanesti) and 4 rural settlements (Copceac, Joltai, Cismicioi and Besalma), the existing water pipeline networks are very obsolete and worn out, therefore disruptions of the service provision and very high water losses in the network occur. ▪ The region is experiencing a shortage of qualified staff (only the operator in Ceadir-Lunga has specialists with higher education in the field), which leads to lower operational efficiency and too many less qualified staff. ▪ The provision of the operators with technical facilities is very low (with the exception of the operator in Ceadir-Lunga municipality) ▪ A new financial assistance project of TIKA, which provides for the complete rehabilitation of the water supply system in Vulcanesti town, is at the initial phase. Specific objectives: Measures: 3.1 Promoting the regionalization and ▪ Evaluating the feasibility of grouping of the settlements in the inter-community cooperation in the region to operate micro-regional wastewater treatment plants organization of the water supply and ▪ Evaluating the feasibility of the regionalization of the water supply sewerage services and sewerage services
3.2 Implementing complex training and ▪ Assessing the need for staff in the field depending on the extent of empowering programs for the staff reorganization of the operators engaged in the sector ▪ Developing continuous staff training programs ▪ Ensuring funding or promoting in the field of training of specialists in the field
3.3 Supporting the technical provision ▪ Assessing the need for technical equipment and machinery of the operators (means of transport according to the planned extent of coverage of the consumers and machinery) following the regionalization process ▪ Providing financing for provision with technical equipment and machinery ▪ Training staff to use the new technology 3.4 Changing the water networks in the ▪ Replacing about 20 km of the networks in Comrat municipality* most problematic segments ▪ Replacing about 43 km of the networks in the rural area (Besalma, Copceac, Joltai and Cismichioi villages) Expected results: ▪ The main service operators are provided with minimum equipment and staff needed. ▪ Determined and approved optimal variant of regionalization of the water supply and sewerage services in the region ▪ Reduced water losses on the most problematic sectors (replacement of the old networks) and improved quality of the provided services.
*Note: Comrat municipality currently does not have the component of the General Urban Plan (GUP) on the „water supply networks”, which leads to the rehabilitation and development of the networks without project documentation. Development of this GUP component is a pressing need.
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Priority projects:
In the course of developing the Sectoral Regional Program, in order to increase the implementability of the proposed measures, the working group has initiated and developed a first portfolio of priority projects, the initiation of which is expected at the first phase.
In this context, during December 2017, an open and transparent process of call for/receiving possible project ideas from all stakeholders (local and regional public authorities, service operators, civil society organizations, etc.) was organized. As a result, the Regional Development Agency of Gagauzia TAU has received forms of 23 possible project ideas of development of the water supply and sewerage systems, that were submitted by 13 settlements from the region.
Possible project ideas were analyzed, evaluated and ranked in strict compliance with the pre-established prioritization criteria, which derive from the provisions of the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy of Moldova (2014-2018) and the objectives for development of the sector in Gagauzia TAU: ✓ Correspondence between the strategic directions and the priorities of the Sectoral Regional Program; ✓ Correspondence of minimum project coverage requirements (5,000 inhabitants for the construction of the sewerage systems and 500 inhabitants for the water supply systems); ✓ The cities/towns have priority over villages; ✓ Large villages have priority over small villages (due to the large number of inhabitants); ✓ Development of the sector will follow standardized phasing approaches (modernization of the urban systems - extension to suburbs - extension in close villages - decentralized systems for small villages); ✓ Impact (number of beneficiaries who will gain access to services following the implementation of the project concerned); ✓ Existence of the project documentation and/or Feasibility Studies; ✓ Approach to the regionalization of the services.
Accordingly, following the analysis and evaluation, the following 6 priority concepts of possible projects were decided and included for implementation within the Sectoral Regional Development Program of the Water Supply and Sewerage Sector of Gagauzia TAU: 1. Construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Ceadir-Lunga municipality; 2. Development of the water supply and sewerage systems in Comrat municipality; 3. Reconstruction and extension of the sewerage networks in Vulcanesti town; 4. Extension of the centralized water supply system in Chiriet-Lunga village; 5. Development and modernization of the water supply and sewerage systems in Copceac village; 6. Reconstruction of the water supply system in Cismichioi village.
Additionally, following the decision of the working group, detailed Sheets for other 3 "soft" projects were decided and developed in order to seek for funding opportunities as priority regional projects: 1. Development of the Feasibility Study on grouping (clustering) of the settlements in the region in order to determine the optimal variant of construction and operation of some micro-regional wastewater treatment plants; 2. Development of the Feasibility Study to provide the region with drinking water through the water pipeline(s) from the Prut River; 3. Development of the Opportunity Study on the regionalization of the centralized water supply and sewerage services in Gagauzia TAU. The detailed report on the evaluation and selection of these 9 priority projects is presented in Annex No. 5.9
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3.4 FINANCING OF THE SECTOR: NEEDS AND FORECASTS
3.4.1 Financing needs
According to the estimates, provision of the entire population of the region (100%) with quality water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment services requires approx. 80 million Euros, including 12.2 million Euros for the water supply systems and 68 million Euros for the sewerage systems and wastewater treatment16.
Table 17: Estimates of the investments needed to provide 100% of the population with the water supply systems Population Population not Present Investment Total Total connected to the connected to the Type of settlement population, costs per investment investment water supply water supply system, people person, Euros costs, Euros costs, MDL system, people people
Urban settlements 56,242 44,655 11,587 340 3,939,580 82,054,360 Rural settlements 98,339 74,173 24,166 340 8,216,440 171,133,656 Total 154,581 118,828 35,753 12,156,020 253,188,016
The need for investments for provision of 100% of the population with the centralized sewerage systems as well as for full provision with the wastewater treatment systems is estimated at about 68.5 mln Euros or 1.427.2 mln MDL. The estimation of the investment costs for the sewerage and wastewater treatment systems is given in the table below.
Table 18: Estimates of the investments needed to provide 100% of the population with the sewerage services and WWTP
Population Population not Present Investment Total Total connected to the connected to the Type of settlement population, costs per investment investment sewerage system, sewerage system, people person, Euros costs, Euros costs, MDL people people
Urban settlements 56,242 21,134 35,108 520 18,256,160 380,242,952 Rural settlements 98,339 1,670 96,669 520 50,267,880 1,046,989,458 Total 154,581 22,804 131,777 68,524,040 1,427,232,410
In order to provide Gagauzia TAU with drinking water from the Prut River, the investment costs related to the construction of the regional water transport pipelines from the Prut River were estimated. According to the Pre-Feasibility Study "Development of a water and wastewater infrastructure improvement program in the southern area of the RM" executed by the consulting company BDO (Romania) in 2011, there are several options for the construction of the regional water transport pipelines for the water from the Prut River. The table below provides the investment costs per segments of the water pipeline of two most economically viable options for supplying Gagauzia TAU with quality drinking water.
Table 19: Estimates of the investments needed to construct the regional water pipelines
Unit of Length, Cost per Estimated Estimated Objectives Activities DN, mm measurement km unit, Euros costs, Euros costs, MDL
Building regional Construction of
water pipelines for water pipelines: transportation of Cantemir - Chirsova km 600 44.55 204,000 9,088,200 189,290,847 water from the Prut River - Option 1 Chirsova- Comrat km 315 6.70 139,000 931,300 19,397,303 Chirsova-Congaz km 400 14.67 174,000 2,552,580 53,165,647 Congaz- Ceadir-Lunga km 315 23.00 139,000 3,197,000 66,587,755 Cahul-Vulcanesti km 315 34.80 139,000 4,837,200 100,750,169 Total 20,606,280 429,191,721
16 The methodology used to estimate the costs is presented in Annex 5.8 52
Unit of Length, Cost per Estimated Estimated Objectives Activities DN, mm measurement km unit, Euros costs, Euros costs, MDL
Construction of Construction of
regional water water pipes: pipelines for Leava- Cenac km 800 transportation of 35.90 245,000 8,795,500 183,194,433 water from the Prut Cenac-Comrat km 700 23.60 225,000 5,310,000 110,597,742 River - Option 2 Comrat- Congaz km 500 21.50 194,000 4,171,000 86,874,422 Congaz – Ceadir- km 315 Lunga 20.80 139,000 2,891,200 60,218,492 Congaz - Vulcanesti km 315 65.15 139,000 9,055,850 188,617,055 Total 30,223,550 629,502,144 Source: GIZ/MLPS, experts’ estimates, 2017
Option 1 provides two elements of water pipelines. The first is water supply from the water intake from Cantemir of Chirsova, Comrat, Congaz, Ceadir-Lunga. The second element of the water pipelines provides for water supply of Vulcanesti town from the water intake from Cahul. The investment costs of this option make up about 429.2 mln MDL.
Option 2 provides for water supply from the water intake from Leova of Comrat, Congaz, Ceadir-Lunga and Vulcanesti. The investment costs make up about 629.5 mln MDL.
Option 1 is therefore less expensive by about 200.3 mln MDL, and covers the same territorial area with the water supply services. The foreign exchange rate used in the estimates is 20.8282 MDL for 1 Euro, the average exchange rate for 2017.
3.4.2 Financing forecasts
According to the estimates, about 93.0 million Euros will be needed to implement the objectives assumed by 2025. The forecast investments were estimated to provide sufficient resources to cover the costs of achieving the targets set by 2025. The main directions of investments are the expansion and the rehabilitation of the sewerage networks in the urban areas, the construction of centralized sewerage systems for large rural settlements, the construction of decentralized sewerage systems for small settlements, the construction of wastewater treatment plants and rehabilitation of the water networks.
Table 20: Estimated costs of forecast investments Estimated Unit of Estimated Objectives Measures Quantity costs, mln measurement costs, mln MDL Euros 1.1: Extension and modernization of the sewerage networks in Vulcanesti town km 75.0 5.38 112.1 1.2: Rehabilitation and extension of the sewerage networks in the Comrat, 1. Rehabilitation and extension km 250.0 16.82 350.4 of the existing sewerage Chirsovo, Budgeac, Dezghingea, Balsama networks cluster 1.3: Extension of the sewerage network in km 30 2.32 48.3 Copceac village 1.4: Extension of the sewerage network in km 24.8 1.59 33.2 Avdarma village 2.1. Construction of the sewerage systems in large rural areas (over 7,000 inhabitants) km 155 13.44 280.0 2. Construction of new sewerage - Congaz, Baurci and Cazaclia systems 2.2. Construction of the sewerage systems in medium rural settlements (5-7 thousand km 30 2.08 43.3 inhabitants) – Tomai 3.1: Construction of a regional wastewater 3. Improvement of quality of the treatment plant in Ceadir-Lunga persons 40,000 9.87 205.6 discharged waters municipality
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Estimated Unit of Estimated Objectives Measures Quantity costs, mln measurement costs, mln MDL Euros 3.2: Construction of a regional wastewater persons 45,000 11,18 232.96 treatment plant in Comrat municipality 4.1. Construction of the regional water 4. Identification and km 89.0 17.15 357.1 pipeline Prut – Comrat – Ceadir-Lunga implementation of the optimal 4.2. Construction of the regional water water transport solution for water pipeline Prut – Vulcanesti and Vulcanesti km 34.8 4.85 101.1 from the Prut River station 5.1. Development of the Opportunity Study on the regionalization of the water supply and sewerage services in Gagauzia TAU units 1 0.1 2 5. Promoting regionalization in the organization of the water 5.2.1: Development of the Feasibility Study supply and sewerage services on grouping (clustering) of the settlements in the region on the construction and units 1 0.1 2 operation of some regional wastewater treatment plants 6.1: Modernization and extension of the km 53.0 2.05 42.7 water supply system in Comrat municipality 6.2. Modernization and extension of the km 77.0 2.88 60.0 water supply system in Vulcanesti town 6.3. Development of the water supply km 22.3 0.90 18.7 6. Replacement of the water system in Copceac village networks in the most 6.4. Development of the water supply problematic segments system in Chiriet-Lunga village km 24.5 0.71 14.8 6.5 Modernization and development of the km 30.0 1.36 28.4 water supply system in Cismichioi village 6.6. Replacement of old pipes in the most problematic sectors in Besalma and Joltai km 5.3 0.27 5.7 villages Total 93.07 1.938.4 Source: GIZ/MLPS, experts’ estimates, 2017
The prices used to estimate the investment costs were taken from the supporting documents for similar projects executed in the country in the recent years. The foreign exchange rate used in the estimates is 20.8282 MDL for 1 Euro, i.e. the average foreign exchange rate for the year 2017.
3.5 OPPORTUNITIES AND REGIONALIZATION
One of the strategic objectives for the development of the WSS sector in Moldova is regionalization of the services17, aiming to (i) strengthen the technical and technological capacities, (ii) reduce the production costs, (iii) improve the quality of the provided services, (iv) increase the fund raising capacity for modernization, and (v) facilitate partnership with the private sector.
At the same time, by signing of the Association Agreement with the European Union, Moldova undertaken obligations involving important investments in the water supply and sewerage services, in order to improve the living conditions of the population and the activity of the entrepreneurs, by ensuring the access to the public water supply and sewerage service and compliance with the EU environmental standards.
17 A regional public water supply and sewerage system is a technological, operational and managerial unit set up by pooling two or more local water supply and sewerage systems 54
In accordance with the provisions of the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy (2014-2028), several large water supply and sewerage companies will be set up in Moldova, covering at least 100 thousand inhabitants each. The ultimate goal of the regionalization is creation of 3-5 regional water supply and sewage companies covering the whole country18.
In the operational terms, in accordance with the Concept of regionalization of the water supply and sewerage service in Moldova19 and the Guidance on the regionalization of the public service water supply and sewerage service, the regionalization involves bringing the service providers together in a single administrative and/or physical structure to improve their services and efficiency, and implies: ▪ Both the inter-connection of the physical infrastructure systems between several territorial and administrative units; ▪ As well as the organizational cooperation between the local public authorities (or service providers) in order to improve their services and effectiveness, meaning the integration of the financial and accounting systems and procedures, commercial systems and procedures (customer relations, billing and charging the bills), human resources and management systems and procedures.
Virtually, based on the general and specific strategic and political context, the regionalization of the WSS services in Gagauzia TAU could have one of the following forms: ▪ Setting up a unique regional operator providing WSS services for the whole territory of Gagauzia TAU (26 settlements with about 155 thousand inhabitants); ▪ (Provisional) setting up (based on the operators existing in the towns) 3 micro-regional operators providing WSS services (Ceadir-Lunga - 9 settlements with 63,000 inhabitants, Comrat - 13 settlements with 67,000 inhabitants, and Vulcanesti - 4 settlements with 25,000 inhabitants).
In line with the Concept and the Guide on regionalization of the water supply and sewerage service in the Republic of Moldova20, a first step in initiating the regionalization process is development of an Opportunity Study. This Opportunity Study is to assess the technical, economic, financial and infrastructure conditions for the optimal organization of services and organization of the regional operator(s).
The Opportunity Study (and the approved version) will underpin further developments regarding (i) the establishment of the Inter-Community Development Association21, (ii) the creation of the regional operator(s), and (iii) the approval and implementation of the delegation decisions by each Local Council of the local WSS services in the management of the regional operator(s).
At the same time, along with the institutional regionalization process, it is recommended to assess the feasibility and implementation of the infrastructure regionalization solutions, in particular through (i) the construction of regional pipelines for water transport from the Prut River, and (ii) the construction or extension of micro-regional wastewater treatment plants. In this respect, the following Feasibility Studies will to be carried out: ▪ FS on catchment and transport of water from the Prut River in the settlements of Gagauzia TAU; ▪ FS on the construction of the micro-regional wastewater treatment plants for human agglomerations around Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga, Congaz, Copceac (in partnership with Taraclia town) and Vulcanesti.
18 With exclusion of small settlements where the decentralized services are to be created (less than 5,000 inhabitants for sewerage and less than 500 inhabitants for water supply) 19 Approved by the Order of the Ministry of Environment No. 122 of 04.12.2015 20 Approved by the Order of the Ministry of Environment No. 122 of 04.12.2015 21 There is still no legislative basis in Moldova to regulate establishment and activity of the IDAs. That is why Intercommunity Development Associations have not yet been set up in our country. 55
4 ACTION PLAN:
Specific Objectives Measures Actions Terms of Expected Institutions in Estimated Possible implementatio results: charge and budget, mln financing n partners MDL sources Strategic objective 1: Overcoming the underdevelopment of the sewerage systems
1: Rehabilitation and 1.1: Extension and 1.1.1: Development of the project 2018 ~ 75 km of new Mayor’s office of Donors, the LPAs, 7.5 extension of the existing modernization of the documentation networks Vulcanesti town in the local operator sewerage networks sewerage networks in 1.1.2: Construction works 2019-2025 ~ coverage of partnership with Donors, co- Vulcanesti town 90% of the Gagauzia RDA, funding from the population with Regional executive LPAs and the 104.6 services (in 2018 body and donor population = 24%) institutions
1.2: Rehabilitation and 1.2.2: Development of the project 2019 ~ 100 km of new Mayor’s office of Donors, the LPAs, extension of the sewerage documentation networks Comrat municipality 22.0 the local operator networks in Comrat ~ coverage of in partnership with municipality*** and the rural 1.2.3: Construction of 110 km of 2020-2025 100% of the Gagauzia RDA, Donors, co- settlements close to networks in Comrat municipality population with Regional executive funding from the 142.0 Chirsovo, Budgeac, (according to the project services (in 2018 body and donor LPAs and the Dezghingea and Besalma documentation) = 35%) institutions population 1.2.3: Construction of 60 km of new 2021-2025 ~ 60 km of new networks in Chirsovo and Bugeac networks 76.1
1.2.4: Construction of 60 km of new 2022-2025 ~ 90 km of new networks in Dezghingea and Besalma networks 110.3
1.3: Extension of the 1.3.1: Development of the project 2018 ~ 30 km of new Mayor’s office of Donors, co- sewerage network in documentation networks Copceac village in funding from the Copceac village ~ coverage of partnership with 3.06 LPAs and the 90% of the Gagauzia RDA, population population with Regional executive 1.3.2: Construction of 30 km of new 2019-2022 services (in 2018 body and donor networks = below 10%) institutions 45.2
1.4: Extension of the 1.3.1: Construction of 24.8 km of new 2018-2022 ~ 24,8 km of new Mayor’s office of Donors, co- sewerage network in networks (based on the available networks Avdarma village in 33.2 funding from the Avdarma village project documentation) ~ coverage of partnership with LPAs and the 56
Specific Objectives Measures Actions Terms of Expected Institutions in Estimated Possible implementatio results: charge and budget, mln financing n partners MDL sources 100% of the Gagauzia RDA, population population with Regional executive services body and donor institutions 2: Construction of new 2.1: (Firstly) Construction of 2.1.1: Development of the project 2019 ~ 155 km of new Mayor’s offices of Donors, the LPAs, 20.0 sewerage systems sewerage systems in large documentation networks Congaz, Baurci and the local operator rural settlements (over 7000 2.1.2: Construction works 2020-2025 ~ coverage of Cazaclia villages in Donors, co- inhabitants) - Congaz, over 90% of the partnership with funding from the Baurci and Cazaclia population with Gagauzia RDA, LPAs and the 260.0 services Regional executive population body and donor institutions 2.2: (Secondly) 2.2.1: Development of the project 2019 ~ 30 km of new Mayor’s offices of Donors, the LPAs, 2.8 Construction of sewerage documentation networks Besalma and Tomai the local operator systems in medium rural 2.2.2: Construction works 2020-2025 ~ coverage of villages in Donors, co- settlements (5-7 thousand over 90% of the partnership with funding from the inhabitants) - Tomai population with Gagauzia RDA, LPAs and the 40.5 services Regional executive population body and donor institutions 3.1: Construction of the 3.1.2 Development of the Feasibility 2018 ~ Functional Mayor’s office of Donors, the LPAs, 3: Improvement of 4.0 regional wastewater Study regional treatment Ceadir-Lunga the local operator quality of the treatment plant in Ceadir- 3.1.2: Development of the project 2019, plant municipality in discharged waters 9.6 Lunga municipality documentation and performance of the 2020-2022 partnership with construction works Gagauzia RDA, Donors, co- Regional executive funding from the 192.0 body and donor LPAs institutions 3.2: Construction of the 3.2.1: Development of the Feasibility 2018 ~ Functional Mayor’s office of Donors, the LPAs, 4.0 regional wastewater Study regional treatment Comrat municipality the local operator treatment plant in Comrat 3.2.2: Development of the project 2019, plant in partnership with 12.96 municipality*** documentation and performance of the 2020-2022 Gagauzia RDA Donors, co- construction works Gagauzia, Regional funding from the 216.0 executive body and LPAs donor institutions Strategic objective 2: Resolution of the problem of poor quality of the supplied water
4.1: Preparatory measures 4.1.1: Development of the Feasibility 2018 Provision of Regional Executive 4.0 State budget of 4: Identification and 57
Specific Objectives Measures Actions Terms of Expected Institutions in Estimated Possible implementatio results: charge and budget, mln financing n partners MDL sources implementation of the Study for the transport of water from the Comrat and body, Gagauzia the RM, regional optimal solution for Prut River in the settlements of Comrat Ceadir-Lunga with TAU in partnership budget of supply of the and Ceadir-Lunga rayons quality drinking with the Moldovan Gagauzia TAU, settlements of the 4.1.2: Development of the project 2019 - 2020 water Government, institutional region with surface documentation for the construction of Gagauzia RDA, the donors, NRDF, 23.1 water (from the Prut the regional water pipeline Prut- Comrat LPAs in the region NEF river) – Ceadir-Lunga and the donor 4.2: Construction works 4.2.1: Construction of the regional 2021-2025 institutions water pipeline Prut – Comrat – Ceadir- 330.0 Lunga 4.2.2: Construction of the regional 2021-2022* water pipeline Prut – Vulcanesti and 101.1 Vulcanesti station* Strategic objective 3: Increasing efficiency of service provision
5: Promoting 5.1: Assessment of 5.1.1: Development of the Opportunity 2018-2019 Approved Gagauzia RDA in Donors, NRDF, regionalization and feasibility and determination Study on the regionalization of the Opportunity Study partnership with the NEF inter-community of optimal directions of water supply and sewerage services in Regional Executive 2.0 cooperation in the regionalization Gagauzia TAU body, the LPAs and organization of the the donor water supply and institutions sewerage services 5.2 Assessment of the 5.2.1: Development of the Feasibility 2018 Approved FS Gagauzia RDA in feasibility of clustering the Study on clustering of settlements in partnership with the settlements in the region to the region on the construction and Regional Executive, 2.0 operate some regional operation of some regional wastewater body, the LPAs and wastewater treatment plants treatment plants the donor institutions 6: Implementing 6.1: Support for raising the 6.1.1: Comprehensive assessment of Service operators in Assessment and complex training and professional level of the the human capacity of the operators cooperation with 2019 approved н/а empowering programs employees in the sector and development of recommendations Gagauzia RDA recommendations for the staff in the sector 6.1.2: Financial and methodological Service operators in Service operators, support for training programs for cooperation with Strengthening the donors specialists in the sector MACA Association, professional 2% of the Constantly the Technical capacity of the payroll University of operators Moldova and donors 58
Specific Objectives Measures Actions Terms of Expected Institutions in Estimated Possible implementatio results: charge and budget, mln financing n partners MDL sources 7: Supporting provision 7.1: Support for appropriate 7.1.1: Assessment of the need for the Service operators in of the operators with of provision of operators with technical equipment and machinery, cooperation with technical facilities technical facilities depending on the planned extent of 2019 Gagauzia RDA, the (vehicles and coverage of the consumers following Technical University Service operators, Improving the machinery) the regionalization process of Moldova and At least 2 mln institutional quality of provided 7.1.2: Financing of projects for donors MDL per year donors, NEF, WSS services provision of operators with technical Constantly NRDF equipment 7.1.3: Training of specialists to use the Constantly new equipment 8: Replacement of the 8.1: Modernization and 8.1.1: Development of the Feasibility Mayor’s office of the LPAs, the 2018 4.0 water networks in the extension of the water Study Comrat operator, donors most problematic supply system in Comrat 8.2.2. Development of the project ~ 53 km of new municipality, the 2019 2.5 segments municipality*** documentation networks service operator in 8.2.3 Replacement of 20 km and cooperation with extension of the networks by 33 km 2020-2025 Gagauzia RDA and 36.2 Donor institutions donors 8.2: Modernization and 8.2.1 Design and construction of 77 km ~ Coverage of Mayor’s office of extension of the water of networks (replacement and 100% of the 2018-2021 Vulcanesti town, the 60.0 TIKA supply system in Vulcanesti extension) population with service operator town services 8.3 Development of the 8.3.1 Development of the Feasibility Mayor’s office of International water supply system in Study on the possibility of using as a ~ 22.3 km of Copceac village, the donors, NEF, Copceac village source of drinking water the spring 2018-2019 networks service operator in 0.6 NRDF located 7 km to the west from the cooperation with settlement**** donors 8.3.2 Development of the project documentation for (i) the reconstruction of 7.5 km of the water pipeline 2018-2019 2.2 networks, (ii) the construction of 14.8 km of new water pipeline networks 8.3.3: Development of the project documentation and execution of works ~ Provision with for the installation of 2 refreshment drinking water (in 2018-2019 0.4 rooms and provision of the educational short term) of the and medical institutions with water inhabitants filters****
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Specific Objectives Measures Actions Terms of Expected Institutions in Estimated Possible implementatio results: charge and budget, mln financing n partners MDL sources 8.3.4: Construction of 22.3 km of water ~ Replacement of networks 7.5 km and 2019- 2025 construction of 15.5 14.8 km of networks 8.4 Development of the 8.4.1 Adjusting (correcting) the existing 2018 0.46 water supply system in project documentation Chiriet-Lunga village 8.4.2: Development of the project ~ Provision with Mayor’s office of documentation and installation of a drinking water of Chiriet Lunga 2018-2019 1.1 International refreshment room, and provision of the the inhabitants (in village in donors, NEF, educational institutions with water filters short term) partnership with NRDF 8.4.3: Construction works ~ 100% coverage Gagauzia RDA and with services donors 2019 - 2021 13.2 ~ 24.5 km of new networks 8.5 Modernization and 8.5.1 Development of the project ~ Replacement of Mayor’s office of International development of the water documentation 2018 28 and Cismichioi village in 1.7 donors, NEF, supply system in Cismichioi construction of 30 partnership with NRDF village 8.5.2 Construction works km of networks Gagauzia RDA and ~ Replacement of donors 2019 - 2022 26.7 5 water towers
8.6: Replacement of old 8.6.1 Development of the project 0.4 pipes in the most documentation 2018-2019** Besalma and Joltai Replacement of International problematic sectors in mayor’s offices in 5.3 km of donors, NEF, Besalma and Joltai villages 8.6.2 Construction works partnership with networks NRDF 2020-2021 donors 5.3
Notes:
* The implementation period depends on the completion of the construction phase of the water pipeline in the settlements of Cahul rayon. ** Development of the project documentation for Besalma and Joltai will begins only after completion of the Feasibility Study on the transport of water from the Prut River in Comrat and Ceadir-Lunga *** It is recommended to implement concurrently the sewerage and water supply development projects in Comrat municipality (including the development of an integrated Feasibility Study). **** The action will be undertaken subject to confirmation that the water quality of the artificial wells in Copceac village does not meet the drinking water requirements.
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5 ANNEXES:
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5.1 ANNEX: PROFILE OF THE SECTOR IN COMRAT RAYON
▪ Comrat municipality: covers 92.6% of the population ▪ Svetlii village: covers 100% of the population (year of construction 2010). ▪ Congazcic village: covers 90% of the population (year of construction 2016). ▪ Besalma village: covers 90% of the population (year of construction 2007). ▪ Dezghingea village: covers 70% of the population (year of construction 2010). ▪ Ferapontievca village: covers 90% of the population. ▪ Cioc-Maidan village: covers 76% of the population (year of construction 2008).
Comrat rayon is the first among the 3 rayons of ▪ Avdarma village: covers 100% of the population Gagauzia TAU in terms of the number of population. The (year of construction 2008). The water is treated by rayon has 67,000 inhabitants. It consists of Comrat means of decantation at the local treatment plant. municipality and 12 rural local public administrations. ▪ Chirsovo village: covers 99% of the population (year The largest settlements are Comrat municipality (26.000 of construction 2010). inhabitants), Congaz village (12.3 thousand inhabitants) and Chirsovo municipality (7 thousand inhabitants). ▪ Cotovscoie village: covers 80% of the population (year of construction 2011). Urban Rural Total ▪ Congaz village: covers 91% of the population (year General data of construction 2010). Only 0.5 km of the steel 2 Area [km ] 16.4 837.9 854.3 networks need to be replaced. Population [pers] NBS data 26.200 37.49 63.69 No. of communes/settlements 1 12/16 13/17 ▪ Bugeac village: covers 90% of the population (year Infrastructure of the water supply systems of construction 2012, 2017). Number of operational water 1 12 13 supply systems ▪ Chioselia Rusa village: covers 73% of the population Rate of coverage [%] 92.6 85.6 88 (year of construction 2014). Length of the water supply 120 331.1 451.1 networks [km] Photo 1: Rayon pumping station renovated in 2017 Infrastructure of the sewerage and wastewater treatment systems Number of the sewerage 1 2 3 systems Rate of coverage [%] 35.2 4 16 Number of the wastewater 0 0 0 treatment plants Length of the sewerage 26.4 6 32.4 networks [km] Institutional and financial part Number of service operators 1 13 14 Average tariff - population 16 11.7 - [MDL/m3] - water
- sewerage 16 - - The major consumer of water is Comrat municipality.
The system in Comrat has a network of water pipelines Water supply: with a total length of 122.2 km. The municipality is
supplied with water from a catchment area consisting of According to the level of coverage with the centralized 12 artesian wells functioning with 25 m3 water towers. water supply services, Comrat rayon is one of the most The water storage capacity is 2*300 m3, 2*2.500 m3, advanced in Moldova. All the settlements in the rayon 1.000 m3, 500 m3. The existing tanks need to be have centralized systems. 62 rehabilitated based on additional calculations. If In Chioselia Rusa village sewerage networks are necessary, the water is disinfected with liquid chlorine. currently built. The average specific water consumption is 46 l/person/day. Due to the wear of the water pipes, the Photo 3: The main wastewater pumping station in Comrat water losses in the network are very high - about 67% of municipality the captured water is not billed. The specific energy consumption is approx. 1.74 kWh/m3. The main consumer group is the population. The industrial consumers have a very low share of water consumption because they are mostly supplied from individual private wells.
Photo 2: Water tower in Comrat municipality
Service providers:
All the settlements in the rayon have specialized water- channel companies. In most cases they are organized as "Municipal Enterprises" and founded by the Local Councils. Exceptions are Ferapontievca, Cotovscoe, Chioselia Rusa and Cioc-Maidan villages, where the services are provided directly by the mayor’s offices. At the same time, in Chirsovo village the services are provided by a private operator.
In Comrat municipality the water supply and sewerage services are provided by the M.E. "Su-Canal Comrat", which has a license for the activity in the field. The operator issues technical conditions for connection and Sewerage: installation of water meters, and has contracts with water consumers. The operator in Comrat municipality has the Only 3 settlements in the rayon (Comrat, Svetlii and potential to extend the water supply services to other Bugeac) have centralized sewerage systems: close settlements both in Comrat rayon and in the
neighbouring rayons. ▪ Svetlii village - 3 km of networks. Currently,
sewerage networks are being built and the pumping Photo 4: Non-functional water tank in Comrat municipality station is being reconstructed. ▪ Bugeac village - 3 km of networks. ▪ Comrat municipality - 16.4 km of networks, 1 pumping station (with new pumps) and a (non- functional) wastewater treatment plant. The specific energy consumption of the sewerage system in Comrat municipality is approx. 0.42 kWh/m3.
Sewerage in Comrat municipality can be extended, provided a new treatment plant is built and a pumping system is adapted to the demand.
Ferapontievca village has a decentralized sewerage system (0.2 km) and a wastewater treatment plant with a Key challenges: capacity of 8 m3/day (built in 2017), which serves only the local gymnasium and kindergarten. ▪ Underdevelopment of the sewerage systems;
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▪ The quality of the water delivered to the consumers Priorities: does not meet the standards in force; ▪ The excessively high losses in the system in Comrat ▪ Development of the sewerage systems; municipality, due to the wear of the networks (9,9 km ▪ Provision of a quality drinking water source (delivery of steel pipes and 8,4 km of asbestos cement pipes from the Prut River); have expired useful life); ▪ Regionalization of the WSS services based on the ▪ Shortage of qualified staff. The operators do not operator in Comrat municipality; have employees with higher education in the field; ▪ Provision of the operators with technical facilities; ▪ The operators are poorly provided with technical facilities; ▪ Modernization of the water pipeline networks in Comrat municipality (replacement of the obsolete ▪ The wastewater treatment plant in Comrat does not and worn out parts). work and is a source of pollution for the Ialpug River.
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5.2 ANNEX: PROFILE OF THE SECTOR IN CEADIR-LUNGA RAYON
Water supply:
According to the level of coverage with the centralized water supply services, Ceadir-Lunga rayon is one of the most advanced in Moldova.
All the 8 rural settlements in the rayon have centralized water supply systems: ▪ Ceadir-Lunga municipality: covers over 94% (recently modernized system). ▪ Copceac village: covers 44% of the population (year of construction 1960); ▪ Tomai village: covers 83% of the population (year of construction/modernization 2014); ▪ Joltai village: covers 78% of the population (year of construction 1971). As part of the UNDP/ARDS Ceadir-Lunga is the second largest rayon in Gagauzia program rehabilitation of 14 km of the water pipeline TAU. The rayon has approx. 63,000 inhabitants. The network was designed. At the moment, 2 artesian rayon includes Ceadir-Lunga municipality and 8 rural wells, 3 water towers and construction of 1.7 km of territorial-administrative units. the water pipeline are being rehabilitated within this project; Urban Rural Total General information ▪ Gaidar village: covers 75% of the population (year of Area [km2] 9.6 651.5 661.1 construction/ modernization 2015-2016); Population [pers] NBS data 22.700 43.63 66.33 ▪ Baurci village: covers 70% of the population (year of No. of communes/settlements 1 8 9 construction/ modernization 2014); Infrastructure of the water supply systems Number of operational water 1 2 3 ▪ Cazaclia village: covers 73% of the population (4.5 supply systems km of the steel network need to be rehabilitated); Rate of coverage [%] 94 64 76 ▪ Chiriet Lunga village: covers 16% of the population Length of the water supply 160.5 216.7 377.2 networks [km] (year of construction/modernization 2008); Infrastructure of the sewerage and wastewater treatment ▪ Besghioz village: covers 77% of the population (year systems of construction/modernization 2013). Number of the sewerage 1 1 2 systems Photo 5: The main water pumping station from Ceadir- Rate of coverage [%] 49 0.7 20 Lunga municipality Number of the wastewater 1 1 2 treatment plants Length of the sewerage 90 5.35 95.35 networks [km] Institutional and financial part Number of service operators 1 8 9 Average tariff - population 16.2 13.2 - [MDL/m3] - water - sewerage 13 - -
The largest settlements are Ceadir-Lunga municipality (about 23 thousand inhabitants), Copceac village (10 The largest consumer of water in the rayon is Ceadir- thousand inhabitants), Baurci village (8.7 thousand Lunga municipality. The system in Ceadir-Lunga inhabitants) and Cazaclia village (7.3 thousand municipality consists of a network with a length of 160.5 inhabitants). km and 39 artesian wells (28 are functional). Only 5 km 65 of the network need to be extended. There are 3 reverse osmosis. However, the plant has never been put regional pumping stations that pump water from water into operation because of the unaffordable operational tanks with a volume of 2*250 m3, 2*500 m3, 2*1000 m3. costs for the consumers (approx. 1 Euro/m3 of treated The water, if necessary, is disinfected with chlorine water). dioxide. The main water consumption group is the population. 99.5% of consumers from Ceadir-Lunga Sewerage: municipality have water meters. Only Ceadir-Lunga municipality and Copceac village Industrial consumers make up a very low share of water have centralized sewerage systems. consumer, as most of them consume water from private individual artesian wells. The centralized system is Copceac village has a 5.35 km sewerage network (2 km supplied only with process water through 18 very deep build in 1977 and 3.35 km build in 2017) and a water artesian wells. treatment plant with a 100 m3/day capacity (built in 2017). Photo 6: Water distribution point in Ceadir-Lunga mun. The existing sewerage system in Ceadir-Lunga municipality consists of a sewerage network with a total length of about 90 km, 9 properly equipped pumping stations and a partially used wastewater treatment plant, after which the water is distributed in biological ponds.
Photo 8: Specialized vehicle
Provision of the population in the municipality with drinking water is carried out through 10 external water distributors located on the territory of the city, which are The need to extend the sewerage network in the town is fed from 10 artesian wells with lower depth and flow 5 km. The specific energy consumption of the sewerage rate. Water is delivered to the population for free. All system in Ceadir-Lunga municipality is approx. 0.54 expenses are covered by the JSC "Apa-Termo Ceadir- kWh/m3. Lunga". The specific average water consumption is 36 l/person/day. The share of the unbilled water is approx. Photo 9: The main wastewater pumping station in Ceadir- 39%. The specific electric energy consumption is Lunga municipality approx. 1.67 kWh/m3.
Photo 7: The water treatment plant (TIKA project) in Ceadir-Lunga municipality
Service providers:
All the settlements have specialized enterprises,
founded by Local Councils in the form of "Municipal In 2006, with the financial support of the Turkish Enterprises". The only exception is Ceadir-Lunga Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), a modern municipality, where the enterprise is a "Joint-Stock water treatment plant was built in Ceadir-Lunga Company” by its legal form of organization. municipality. The treatment plant technology is based on
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Photo 10: Wastewater treatment plant in Ceadir-Lunga the extension of the services to the settlements of municipality Cazaclia, Tomai, Baurci, Besghioz is being negotiated.
Key challenges: ▪ Underdevelopment of the sewerage systems; ▪ The quality of the water supplied to the consumers does not meet the standards in force; ▪ About 10 km of the water pipelines have expired useful life and require urgent replacement;
▪ The wastewater treatment plant in Ceadir-Lunga Water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment municipality works only partially. services in Ceadir-Lunga municipality are provided by the JSC "Apa-Termo Ceadir-Lunga", which has a license Priorities: for the activity in this field and has signed a public service contract with the public administration of the ▪ Provision of a quality drinking water source (delivery rayon. The company is among the best one provided from the Prut River); with technical facilities in the country due to the recent ▪ Development of the sewerage systems EBRD/EIB financing (project of approx. 7.4 million Euros). The staff of the JSC "Apa-Termo" is well-trained ▪ Regionalization of the WSS services based on the operator in Ceadir-Lunga municipality. and highly educated in the field. The operator in Ceadir- Lunga has potential for extension of the water supply services to other settlements in the rayon. At present,
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5.3 ANNEX: PROFILE OF THE SECTOR IN VULCANESTI RAYON
Water supply:
According to the level of coverage with centralized water supply services, the rayon is the last in Gagauzia TAU, although the centralized systems operate in all settlements: ▪ Vulcanesti town: covers 54% of the population. ▪ Cismichioi village: covers 67% of the population (year of construction 1971). ▪ Carbaclia village: covers 68% of the population (year of construction 2017). ▪ Etulia village: covers 86% of the population (year of construction 2003-2006).
It can be concluded that the rate of coverage with the water supply service in the rural sector is higher than in Vulcanesti is the smallest and most isolated rayon in the urban sector. Gagauzia TAU. The rayon has an area of only 327.4 km2 and about 26,000 inhabitants. It consists of Vulcanesti Photo 11: Water tank V-1,000 m3 in Vulcanesti town town (16,700 inhabitants) and 3 rural local public administrations: Cismichioi (5,000 inhabitants), Etulia (3,300 inhabitants) and Cabalia (500 inhabitants).
Urban Rural Total General information Area [km2] 15 312 327 Population [pers] NBS data 15.7 8.77 24.47 No. of communes/settlements 1 3/5 4/6 Infrastructure of the water supply systems Number of operational water 1 3 4 supply systems There is a water supply system in Vulcanesti town with a Rate of coverage [%] 54 74 60 total length of 46 km of the networks, 10 artesian wells Length of the water supply 46,0 69 115 (including 5 functional ones), 5 catchments (including 1 network [km] functional) and a pumping station. The water storage Infrastructure of the sewerage and wastewater capacity is 2*250 m3 and 2*1000 m3. The average treatment systems specific water consumption is 43 l/person/day. Due to Number of the sewerage 1 0 1 the wear of the pipes, the water losses in the network systems Rate of coverage [%] 24 0 16 are very high - the unbilled water in the system makes Number of the wastewater 1 0 1 up approx. 48%. The specific energy consumption is 3 treatment plants approx. 1.1 kWh/m . The main group of water Length of the sewerage 17,8 0 17,8 consumption is the population. 99.7% of consumers of network [km] Vulcanesti town have water meters according to which Institutional and financial part the water consumption is recorded. Industrial consumers Number of service operators 1 0 1 make up a small share of water consumers. 77 km of the Average tariff - population 16/16 - - network need to be extended and renovated. [MDL/m3] - water The quality of the supplied water does not meet the - sewerage 16 - - drinking water requirements.
The rayon has groundwater sources and surface waters The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (Cahul lake with a salinity of 0.8-1.5 g/l, Cahul River and (TIKA) developed a project for the rehabilitation and the reservoir "Comsomolist Lake”). extension of the water supply system in Vulcanesti town. This project is to be funded by TIKA and provides for the 68 construction of 77 km of the water pipeline networks, In Vulcanesti town Vulcanesti railway station is served construction of 3 artesian wells and construction of a by the ME "Apa-Canal Vulcanesti", which has a license 1,000 m3 water tank. Implementation of this project will for the activity in the field. The operator issues technical considerably reduce the water losses and will ensure a conditions for the connection and installation of water connection rate of 100% of the population of Vulcanesti meters, and signs contracts with water consumers. The town. operator has the potential to extend the water supply services to other settlements in Vulcanesti rayon. The Sewerage: services are billed by "Infosapr" LLC.
Only Vulcanesti town has a centralized sewerage Key challenges: system. The existing system consists of a pipeline network with a total length of 17.6 km, 2 renovated ▪ Underdevelopment of the sewerage systems; pumping stations and a wastewater treatment plant. The sewerage network in the town need to be extended by ▪ The quality of the water supplied to the 75 km. The treatment plant was rehabilitated in 2011 consumers does not meet the standards in with a reduction in the design capacity from 3,800 force; m3/day to 1,500 m3/day, but the capacity used continues ▪ The high level of losses in the system in to make up about 5%. The wastewater is treated Vulcanesti town, due to old age (27 km of steel mechanically and biologically. pipes and 1.2 km of pipes of asbestos cement
have expired useful life and require urgent Photo 12: The treatment plant in Vulcanesti town replacement); ▪ Discontinuity of the water supply services (from 04:00 to 23:00) in Vulcanesti town because of the old age of the networks; ▪ Inappropriate technical equipment of the operators.
Priorities: ▪ Development of the sewerage systems;
The specific energy consumption of the sewerage ▪ Provision of a quality drinking water source system in Vulcanesti town is about 1,99 kWh/m3. (delivery from the Prut River); ▪ Effective implementation of the TIKA project in Photo 13: The blower station at the treatment plant in Vulcanesti town for the rehabilitation and Vulcanesti town extension of 77 km of the water pipeline networks, drilling 3 artesian wells and building a tank with a volume of 1,000m3.
Photo 14: Cahul River
Service providers:
Vulcanesti town and Etulia and Cismichioi villages have operational specialized water-channel enterprises organized in the form of "Municipal Enterprises" and founded by the Local Councils. The LPAs in Cabalia village currently considers the opportunity to set up its own municipal enterprise in the field.
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5.4 ANNEX: WATER DEMAND FORECAST Unit of N° Indicators measurem 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 ent 1 Population in the area of coverage with the water supply services 1.1 Total number of consumers Persons 118,828 118,221 117,992 117,761 117,529 117,295 117,060 116,823 116,585 115,910 118,822 121,743 124,673 127,612 130,560 133,517 136,483 139,458 142,443 145,456 1.2 Urban settlements Persons 44,655 44,407 44,270 44,133 43,996 43,859 43,722 43,585 43,448 43,156 44,198 45,241 46,284 47,328 48,373 49,419 50,465 51,513 52,561 53,630 1.3 Rural settlements Persons 74,173 73,815 73,722 73,628 73,533 73,436 73,338 73,238 73,137 72,754 74,624 76,502 78,389 80,284 82,187 84,098 86,018 87,946 89,882 91,826 2 Annual amount of billed water (water demand), by categories of consumers
2.1 Annual amount of billed water m³/year 1,823,743 1,814,134 2,064,200 2,313,032 2,560,624 2,806,968 3,052,058 3,295,887 3,538,448 3,765,798 4,114,246 4,475,262 4,848,887 4,961,740 5,074,863 5,188,257 5,301,922 5,415,858 5,530,064 5,645,720 2.2 Residential consumers m³/year 1,633,072 1,624,604 1,757,692 1,890,077 2,021,758 2,152,731 2,282,992 2,412,539 2,541,369 2,659,635 2,862,623 3,072,372 3,288,904 3,365,409 3,442,096 3,518,964 3,596,014 3,673,246 3,750,658 3,829,063 2.3 Businesses m³/year 84,390 83,838 156,786 229,407 301,696 373,654 445,277 516,563 587,510 655,688 745,499 838,928 935,990 957,798 979,660 1,001,576 1,023,545 1,045,567 1,067,643 1,089,994 2.4 Public institutions m³/year 106,281 105,691 149,722 193,549 237,170 280,584 323,789 366,785 409,570 450,474 506,124 563,961 623,993 638,532 653,107 667,717 682,363 697,045 711,762 726,663
3 Annual amount of billed water (water demand), for urban and rural settlements 3.1 Urban settlements m³/year 875,749 870,882 1,024,308 1,176,767 1,328,258 1,478,779 1,628,330 1,776,909 1,924,514 2,063,785 2,269,460 2,482,526 2,702,990 2,763,970 2,824,995 2,886,066 2,947,181 3,008,342 3,069,549 3,131,979 3.2 Rural settlements m³/year 947,831 943,252 1,039,892 1,136,265 1,232,366 1,328,189 1,423,728 1,518,978 1,613,934 1,702,013 1,844,785 1,992,736 2,145,897 2,197,770 2,249,868 2,302,192 2,354,741 2,407,515 2,460,516 2,513,741 4 Annual amount of unbilled water
4.1 Total amount of unbilled water m³/year 1,436,667 1,429,097 1,513,642 1,577,556 1,622,719 1,650,801 1,663,293 1,661,527 1,646,699 1,613,913 1,763,248 1,917,969 2,078,094 2,126,460 2,174,941 2,223,539 2,272,252 2,321,082 2,370,028 2,419,594 4.2 Commercial losses of water m³/year 574,667 571,639 596,512 611,569 617,712 615,743 606,375 590,249 567,939 537,971 587,749 639,323 692,698 708,820 724,980 741,180 757,417 773,694 790,009 806,531 4.3 Real (physical) losses of water m³/year 862,000 857,458 917,130 965,986 1,005,006 1,035,058 1,056,918 1,071,277 1,078,759 1,075,942 1,175,499 1,278,646 1,385,396 1,417,640 1,449,961 1,482,359 1,514,835 1,547,388 1,580,018 1,613,063 5 Amount of raw/captured water taking into account the coefficients of unevenness Annual amount of 5.1 m³/year 3,260,410 3,243,231 3,577,842 3,890,588 4,183,343 4,457,769 4,715,350 4,957,413 5,185,147 5,379,711 5,877,494 6,393,231 6,926,981 7,088,199 7,249,804 7,411,796 7,574,174 7,736,940 7,900,092 8,065,314 raw/captured water 5.2 Average daily flow m³/day 8,933 8,886 9,802 10,659 11,461 12,213 12,919 13,582 14,206 14,739 16,103 17,516 18,978 19,420 19,862 20,306 20,751 21,197 21,644 22,097 5.3 Maximum daily flow m³/day 9,432 9,383 10,368 11,293 12,163 12,982 13,755 14,485 15,175 15,771 17,230 18,742 20,306 20,779 21,253 21,728 22,204 22,681 23,159 23,644 5.4 Average hourly flow m³/hour 372 370 408 444 478 509 538 566 592 614 671 730 791 809 828 846 865 883 902 921 5.5 Maximum hourly flow m³/hour 517 514 572 627 680 731 780 827 872 912 997 1,084 1,175 1,202 1,230 1,257 1,285 1,312 1,340 1,368
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5.5 ANNEX: FORECAST OF THE AMOUNT OF PROCESSED WASTEWATER Unit of N° Indicators measurem 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 ent 1 Population in the area covered with the sewerage services 1.1 Total number of consumers Persons 22,804 22,745 29,879 37,248 44,855 52,697 60,777 69,092 77,645 86,433 95,458 96,411 97,364 98,316 99,269 100,222 101,174 102,127 103,080 104,032 1.2 Urban settlements Persons 21,134 21,081 22,565 24,069 25,591 27,132 28,692 30,271 31,869 33,486 35,122 35,513 35,904 36,295 36,686 37,077 37,468 37,859 38,250 38,641 1.3 Rural settlements Persons 1,670 1,664 7,313 13,180 19,264 25,566 32,085 38,821 45,775 52,947 60,336 60,898 61,460 62,021 62,583 63,144 63,706 64,268 64,829 65,391
2 Annual amount of received wastewater, by consumer categories Total amount of billed 2.1 m³/year 445,995 444,841 619,757 826,409 1,066,040 1,339,895 1,649,218 1,995,253 2,379,245 2,802,437 3,266,075 3,520,411 3,779,256 3,817,465 3,855,674 3,893,883 3,932,093 3,970,302 4,008,511 4,046,720 wastewater 2.2 Residential consumers m³/year 304,220 303,449 432,258 580,843 749,923 940,216 1,152,440 1,387,313 1,645,553 1,927,880 2,235,010 2,397,659 2,563,187 2,589,136 2,615,084 2,641,033 2,666,981 2,692,930 2,718,878 2,744,827 2.3 Businesses m³/year 64,884 64,724 90,517 124,126 165,900 216,186 275,335 343,695 421,614 509,442 607,527 668,038 729,641 736,998 744,354 751,710 759,067 766,423 773,780 781,136 2.4 Public institutions m³/year 76,891 76,669 96,982 121,439 150,217 183,492 221,443 264,245 312,077 365,116 423,538 454,714 486,427 491,332 496,236 501,140 506,045 510,949 515,853 520,757
3 Annual amount of billed wastewater, for urban and rural settlements 3.1 Urban settlements m³/year 445,995 428,668 536,936 655,995 786,039 927,267 1,079,876 1,244,061 1,420,020 1,607,951 1,808,049 1,951,071 2,096,800 2,119,634 2,142,469 2,165,303 2,188,138 2,210,972 2,233,807 2,256,641 3.2 Rural settlements m³/year 16,232 16,174 82,821 170,414 280,000 412,627 569,342 751,192 959,225 1,194,487 1,458,026 1,569,339 1,682,456 1,697,831 1,713,205 1,728,580 1,743,955 1,759,330 1,774,705 1,790,079
4 Amount of infiltrated wastewater determined based on the infiltration rate Amount of infiltrated 4.1 m³/year 126,678 126,350 161,775 196,707 229,222 257,283 278,739 291,324 292,657 280,244 326,607 352,041 377,926 381,746 385,567 389,388 393,209 397,030 400,851 404,672 wastewater 5 Amount of wastewater, taking into account the coefficients of unevenness Average amount of 5.1 m³/year 572,673 571,192 781,533 1,023,115 1,295,261 1,597,178 1,927,957 2,286,577 2,671,902 3,082,681 3,592,682 3,872,452 4,157,181 4,199,211 4,241,242 4,283,272 4,325,302 4,367,332 4,409,362 4,451,392 wastewater Maximum daily flow (dry 5.2 m³/day 1,691 1,687 2,311 3,029 3,841 4,743 5,734 6,811 7,972 9,213 10,738 11,574 12,425 12,551 12,676 12,802 12,927 13,053 13,179 13,304 weather) (Qdmax) Maximum dry weather flow 5.3 m³/day 120 119 165 218 278 346 421 504 595 694 808 871 935 945 954 964 973 983 992 1,002 (QDWF) Maximum hourly storm water 5.4 m³/hour 156 155 214 283 361 449 548 656 774 902 1,051 1,133 1,216 1,228 1,241 1,253 1,265 1,277 1,290 1,302 flow (QSWF)
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5.6 ANNEX: DEVELOPMENT OF THE SECTOR IN TERRITORIAL PROFILE (PER SETTLEMENTS)
Coverage with centralized water supply services Length of the networks, km Tariff
Population*, Settlement thousand of people Water supply Sewerage Water supply Sewerage Water supply Sewerage Service operator COMRAT RAYON
Comrat 26,200 93% 35% 120 26.4 16 (42) 16 (40) ME ”Su Canal” Avdarma 3,873 88% 45.1 14 ME ”Avdarmaninsuyu” Besalma 5,015 84% 29 12 ME ”Sezljuk” Bugeac 1,681 90% 52% 13 3 10 (30) ME ”Bugeac Sulari” Chioselia Rusa 760 73% 10.5 12 Mayor’s office Chirsova 7,100 99% 45 10 (11) ME ”Eni Canal” and a private operator Cioc Maidan 3,898 76% 40 12 Mayor’s office Congaz 12,236 91% 60 12 (30) ME ”Congaz Sulari” Congazcic 2,120 81% 16 12 (20) ME ”Izmet Congazcic” Cotovscoe 1,003 80% 7 10 Mayor’s office Dezghingea 5,216 70% 38.5 12 (36) ME ”Tertiplic” Ferapontievca 1,047 90% 12 0.2 10 (15) Mayor’s office Svetlii commune 2,000 88% 25% 15 3 14.6 (41.4) ME ”Dnevita” TOTAL Comrat 63,690 88% 16% 451.1 32.6 CEADIR-LUNGA RAYON Ceadir-Lunga 22,700 94% 49% 160.5 90 16.2 13 JSC ”Apa Termo” Copceac 10,151 44% 4% 36.7 5.35 11 (30) ME ”Canal Cipciac” Baurci 8,250 70% 40 16.2 ME ”Baurprim” Cazaclia 7,272 73% 41.5 16.2 ME ”Supacservis” Chiriet Lunga 2,517 16% 1.5 10 ME ”Chirietprim” Gaidar 4,600 75% 22 10 ME ”Aidar suiu” Joltai 2,316 78% 17.5 16 ME ”Joltai Su” Besghioz 3,514 77% 25.5 ME ”Temiz Su” 72
Coverage with centralized water supply services Length of the networks, km Tariff
Population*, Settlement thousand of people Water supply Sewerage Water supply Sewerage Water supply Sewerage Service operator Tomai 5,006 83% 32 16.2 8 ME ”Tomai-Servis” TOTAL C.Lunga 66,326 76% 20% 377,2 95,35 VULCANESTI RAYON Vulcanesti 15,700 54% 24% 46 17.8 16 16 ME ”Apa Canal” Etulia 3,331 86% 27 10 ME ”Etsuprim” Cismichioi 4,943 67% 35 10 ME ”Indat Prim” Carbalia 496 68% 7 Mayor’s office TOTAL Vulcanesti 24,470 60% 16% 115 17.8 TOTAL Gagauzia TAU 15,4486 79% 17% 943.3 145.75
*Note: The data on the number of the population present the estimates of the LPAs
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5.7 ANNEX: MATRIX OF THE PROPOSED MEASURES IN TERRITORIAL PROFILE # Settlements Planned measures Goals and expected results Reflection in the Sectoral Program Comrat rayon 1 Comrat Modernization and extension of ~ 100 km of new networks in Comrat municipality Measure No.1.2 of the Action Plan the sewerage system ~ Increasing the coverage with the sewerage services from *** 35% to 100% of inhabitants Project sheet No.ААС001 Construction of a regional Putting into operation of a modern wastewater treatment Measure No.3.2 of the Action Plan wastewater treatment plant plant *** Project sheet No.ААС001 Modernization and extension of ~ 53 km of new water pipeline of networks Measure No.8.1 of the Action Plan the water supply system *** Project sheet No.ААС001 2 Budgeac Construction of sewerage 60 km of new sewerage networks Measure No.1.2 of the Action Plan networks *** Project sheet No.ААС001 3 Dezghingea Construction of sewerage 50 km of new sewerage networks Measure No.1.2 of the Action Plan networks *** Project sheet No.ААС001 4 Avdarma Extension of the sewerage ~ 24,8 km of new networks Measure No.1.4 of the Action Plan networks ~ Coverage of 100% of the households with the sewerage services 5 Besalma Construction of a centralized In accordance with the conclusions of the Feasibility Study Measure No.2.1 of the Action Plan sewerage system on clustering (grouping) of settlements for the construction and operation of some regional wastewater treatment plants Replacement of pipes of the water Replacement of very worn out networks Measure No.8.6 of the Action Plan pipeline on the most worn out segments
6 In accordance with the conclusions of the Feasibility Study Measure No.2.1 of the Action Plan on clustering (grouping) of settlements for the construction Construction of a centralized and operation of some regional wastewater treatment Congaz sewerage system plants 7 Chioselia Rusa Determination of the most optimal Development in accordance with the conclusions of the Measure No.5.2 of the Action Plan 8 Chirsova variant of grouping the settlements Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of settlements for *** 9 Cioc Maidan for the construction of micro- the construction and operation of some regional Project sheet No.ААС008 10 Congazcic regional wastewater treatment wastewater treatment plants 11 Cotovscoie plants 12 Ferapontievca 74
# Settlements Planned measures Goals and expected results Reflection in the Sectoral Program 13 Svetlii Ceadir-Lunga rayon 14 Construction of a regional Putting into operation of a modern wastewater treatment Measure No.3.1 of the Action Plan wastewater treatment plant plant *** Ceadir-Lunga Project sheet No.ААС002 15 Copceac Extension of the sewerage ~ 30 km of new networks Measure No.1.3 of the Action Plan networks ~ increasing the coverage with the services from 10% to *** over 90% of the households Project sheet No.ААС005 Development of the water supply 100% of coverage with the water supply services Measure No.8.3 of the Action Plan system *** Project sheet No.ААС005 16 Baurci Construction of a centralized Development in accordance with the conclusions of the Measure No.2.1 of the Action Plan sewerage system Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of settlements for the construction and operation of some regional wastewater treatment plants 17 Cazaclia Construction of a centralized Development in accordance with the conclusions of the Measure No.2.1 of the Action Plan sewerage system Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of settlements for the construction and operation of some regional wastewater treatment plants 18 Chiriet - Lunga Development of the water supply ~ coverage of 100% of the households with the water Measure No.8.4 of the Action Plan system supply services *** ~ Extension of the water supply system with 24.5 km Project sheet No.ААС004 19 Joltai Replacement of pipes of the water Replacement of very worn out networks Measure No.8.6 of the Action Plan pipeline on the most worn out segments
20 Тomai Construction of a centralized Development in accordance with the conclusions of the Measure No.2.2 of the Action Plan sewerage system Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of settlements for *** the construction and operation of some regional Project sheet No.ААС008 wastewater treatment plants 21 Gaidar Determination of the most optimal Development in accordance with the conclusions of the Measure No.5.2 of the Action Plan variant of grouping the settlements Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of settlements for *** for the construction and operation the construction and operation of some regional Project sheet No.ААС008 of some micro-regional wastewater treatment plants wastewater treatment plants 22 Besghioz Determination of the most optimal Development in accordance with the conclusions of the Measure No.5.2 of the Action Plan variant of grouping the settlements Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of settlements for *** for the construction and operation the construction and operation of some regional Project sheet No.ААС008 of some micro-regional wastewater treatment plants 75
# Settlements Planned measures Goals and expected results Reflection in the Sectoral Program wastewater treatment plants
Vulcanesti rayon 23 Vulcanesti Modernization and extension of ~ 75 km of new networks Measure No.1.1 of the Action Plan the sewerage system ~ increasing the coverage of the services from 24% to over *** 90% Project sheet No.ААС003 Modernization and extension of Coverage of Vulcanesti town with 100% of the water supply Measure No.8.2 of the Action Plan the water supply system services *** Project sheet No.ААС003 24 Cismichioi Modernization and extension of ~ Replacement of 28 km of the networks, construction of Measure No.8.5 of the Action Plan the water supply system 30 km of water pipeline networks *** ~ Replacement of 5 towers Project sheet No.ААС006
25 Eutlia and Etulia Noua Determination of the most optimal Development in accordance with the conclusions of the Measure No.5.2 of the Action Plan variant of grouping the settlements Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of settlements for *** for the construction and operation the construction and operation of some regional Project sheet No.ААС008 of some micro-regional wastewater treatment plants wastewater treatment plants 26 Carbalia Determination of the most optimal Development in accordance with the conclusions of the Measure No.5.2 of the Action Plan variant of grouping the settlements Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of settlements for *** for the construction and operation the construction and operation of some regional Project sheet No.ААС008 of some micro-regional wastewater treatment plants wastewater treatment plants
Notes:
1: The program is expected to provide assistance in strengthening the human capacities of the operators (in line with the directions of the regionalization) – measure 6.1 of the Action Plan 2: The program is expected to regularly resolve the water quality problem in all the settlements of the region (the specific objective 4) 3: The program is expected to provide technical and financial assistance for the strengthening of the technical and financial capacities of the operators (in accordance with the directions of the regionalization) – measure 7.1 of the Action Plan
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5.8 ANNEX: BASIS OF THE INVESTMENT COST ESTIMATES
The investment costs were estimated based on the costs used in the project documentation for similar projects implemented in the recent years in Moldova.
The investment costs for the extension and rehabilitation of the sewerage networks were estimated based on the calculation of the costs for the construction of the sewerage networks and the costs for connection of the consumers to the sewerage network.
The estimated costs for the construction of the sewerage networks were estimated based on the length of the sewerage networks and the cost per km of the sewerage network, which is about 1.0 million MDL.
The costs for connecting the consumers were estimated based on the number of forecast connections and the cost of a connection, which is about 7.0 thousand MDL.
The investment costs for the extension and rehabilitation of the water networks were estimated based on the calculation of the costs for the construction of the water networks and the costs of connecting consumers to the water pipeline network.
The costs for the construction of the water networks were estimated based on the length of the water pipeline networks and the cost per km of the network, which is estimated at about 400.0 thousand MDL.
The costs for connecting consumers to the water pipeline network were estimated based on the number of planned connections and the cost of one connection, which is about 5,000 MDL.
The costs of developing the project documentation were estimated at about 7.0% of the value of the construction works of the sewerage networks, water pipeline or treatment plants.
The investment costs for the construction of the treatment plants (including mechanical and biological treatment, earthworks and construction and mounting works, electromechanical equipment) were estimated based on the costs used in the feasibility studies and the project documentation for the projects implemented in the country. The investment costs per unit of measurement (equivalent population) are shown in the table below. Estimated investment costs for the treatment plants: Investment costs # Name Note Unit of Unitary cost measurement 1 Wastewater treatment plant P.E. 1000 EUR/P.E. 500 2 Wastewater treatment plant P.E. 2500 EUR/P.E. 390 3 Wastewater treatment plant P.E. 5000 EUR/P.E. 340 4 Wastewater treatment plant P.E. 10000 EUR/P.E. 300 5 Wastewater treatment plant P.E. 20000 EUR/P.E. 260 6 Wastewater treatment plant P.E. 30000 EUR/P.E. 250 7 Wastewater treatment plant P.E. 35000 EUR/P.E. 240
The investment costs for the construction of the regional water pipelines (including PEHD100 SDR17 PN10 pipes, fittings, earthworks and construction and mounting works) per unit of measurement are presented in the table below.
Estimated investment costs for the construction of the regional water pipelines: Investment costs # Name Note Costs per unit of Unit of measurement measurement 1 Pipe DN 75 EUR/m 60 2 Pipe DN 90 EUR/m 62
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Investment costs # Name Note Costs per unit of Unit of measurement measurement 3 Pipe DN 110 EUR/m 65 4 Pipe DN 125 EUR/m 67 5 Pipe DN 140 EUR/m 70 6 Pipe DN 160 EUR/m 75 7 Pipe DN 180 EUR/m 82 8 Pipe DN 200 EUR/m 90 9 Pipe DN 225 EUR/m 97 10 Pipe DN 250 EUR/m 104 11 Pipe DN 280 EUR/m 124 12 Pipe DN 315 EUR/m 139 13 Pipe DN 355 EUR/m 154 14 Pipe DN 400 EUR/m 174
The costs for developing the feasibility studies and the opportunity studies were estimated based on the costs of the feasibility studies developed in the last period.
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5.9 ANNEX: REPORT ON PRIORITIZATION OF POSSIBLE PROJECT CONCEPTS
CONTEXT:
On 16 November 2017, the sectoral working group of Gagauzia RDA approved the conclusions of the diagnostic analysis and the strategic directions for the development of the water supply and sewerage sector in Gagauzia TAU until 2025.
In particular, the following strategic objectives for 2025 were approved:
✓ Strategic Objective 1: Overcoming the underdevelopment of the sewerage systems
✓ Strategic Objective 2: Regular resolution of the quality problem of the water supplied in the centralized systems
✓ Strategic Objective 3: Increasing efficiency of the water supply and sewerage services
The next step was to select and prioritize 5-10 possible project ideas to be further conceptualized and included as a priority within the Program Implementation Action Plan.
In this context, during December 2017, an open and transparent process of calling for/receiving possible project ideas was organized by all involved stakeholders (local and regional public authorities, service operators, civil society organizations, etc.)
RECEIVED IDEAS OF POSSIBLE PROJECTS:
By the end of December 2017, the Regional Development Agency of Gagauzia TAU received forms of 23 possible project ideas in the field of development of the water supply and sewerage systems, including ✓ 11 projects in the field of sewerage, 8 projects in the field of centralized water supply, 4 mixed (water and sewerage) projects; ✓ 3 projects in the settlements of Vulcanesti rayon, 5 in Ceadir-Lunga rayon and 15 in Comrat rayon; ✓ Design documentation exists only for 5 out of 23 received project ideas. Two other projects have partially developed documentation ✓ The total estimated cost of the received project ideas is over 600 mln MDL.
In particular, the following project ideas were received:
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Table 1: List of received forms of possible project ideas # Settlement Population, Project idea Goal of the project Project impact Existence of project Estimated inhabitants (estimated number documentation costs, mln of beneficiaries) MDL
1 Vulcanesti 15,238 Reconstruction and extension of Provision of 100% of the town with sewerage 15,238 Was not developed 57,4 the sewerage system services (replacement of 17.6 km of networks and construction of 57.4 km of new networks)
2 Ceadir-Lunga 22,700 Construction of a new wastewater Solving the problem of wastewater treatment in 22,700 A Feasibility Study is available (2016) 57,8 treatment plant Ceadir-Lunga municipality 3 Comrat 23,556 Modernization of the sewerage Creation of a modern and complex sewerage 23,556 No (does not exist for the treatment 138,6 system system in Comrat municipality plant, but it is already old and needs updating/adjustment) 4 Comrat 23,556 Reconstruction of the collector Solving the problem of the collector, which is n/a Was not developed (2017) 13,12 currently 95% closed (the technical expertise has shown a construction error).
5 Comrat 23,556 # Reconstruction of the water The project presents the general goals for the n/a Was not developed 100 pipeline - 50 km development of the sewerage system and water # Construction of 100 km of the pipeline in Comrat municipality sewerage systems 6 Comrat 23,556 Water supply of Turna – Soka, Provision with the water supply services of 350 Was not developed (2017) 13,2 Salcam – Soca streets, Antei TV Antena TV quarter quarter. 7 Comrat 23,556 Reconstruction of the water # Replacement of old and worn out networks 1500 Was not developed (2017) 13,1 pipeline networks and construction # Construction of a sewerage system of a sewerage system for ”Geofizica” quarter 8 Comrat 23,556 Reconstruction of the water supply Ensuring the water supply of TANK quarter from 1000 Was not developed (2016) 16,8 and sewerage system for „TANK” the source of the Cioc-Maidan catchment quarter (currently being supplied from the GAGAUZCOOP catchment, which does not correspond to STAS). 9 Comrat 23,556 Remote control system Implementation of the remote control system for n/a Was not developed 0,2 2 pumps (Maidan Cioc catchment) 10 Comrat 23,556 Replacement of transformers Replacement of transformers at the Cioc- n/a Was not developed (2016) 1,3 Maidan catchment 11 Copceac 10,151 Construction of the refreshment Provision of the inhabitants with drinking water 10151 Was not developed 1,5 room
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# Settlement Population, Project idea Goal of the project Project impact Existence of project Estimated inhabitants (estimated number documentation costs, mln of beneficiaries) MDL
12 Copceac 10,151 Construction of a reservoir (Ialpug) Provision with water pipeline of the north- 900 Was not developed 18 and of the related water supply eastern part of the settlement (213 households system and 22 businesses). 13 Copceac 10,151 Construction of a new water Provision with water of 1/3 of the inhabitants of 900 Was not developed 0,2 pipeline (4.36 km) on Ianacoglo the village street and provision of water supply services for Molodiojnaia, Cosmanautilor, Comsomolului, Pionerilor, Frunze, 28 iunie and Sadovaia streets. 14 Congaz 11,565 Construction of a sewerage system Provision of the entire settlement with the 11565 Was partially developed 21,5 sewerage services # was not developed for the central part of the village (2015) # was not developed for the treatment plant 15 Etulia 800 Reconstruction and capital repair of Improving the quality of the water supplied in 800 A project documentation is available 1,5 water catchments No. 1424 and Etulia Noua village. No. 649 in Etulia Noua village. 16 Cismichioi 5,003 Reconstruction of the water supply Replacement of the old networks and 2,000 Was not developed 13 system construction of new water pipeline networks in the settlement 17 Chirsovo 7,040 Construction of a sewerage system Provision of the settlement with sewerage 7,040 Was not developed 30 services
18 Dezghingea 5,214 Construction of sewerage networks Covering the entire territory of the settlement 5,214 Was not developed 7 with the water pipeline services 19 Baurci 8,000 Construction of a sewerage system Provision of the entire settlement with the 8,000 Was not developed ? sewerage services (currently – 5% of the population)
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# Settlement Population, Project idea Goal of the project Project impact Existence of project Estimated inhabitants (estimated number documentation costs, mln of beneficiaries) MDL
20 Ferapontievca - 10,640 Sewerage system and common Construction of an integrated sewerage system 10,640 There is no single documentation and 66 Tomai - Gaidar wastewater treatment plant for for Ferapontievca, Tomai and Gaidar Feasibility Study, but: Ferapontievca, Tomai and Gaidar settlements. # for Gaidar village there is a villages. fragmented documentation (2015) # in Tomai village geological and topographic research works were carried out # for Ferapontievca village the documentation is being developed
21 Tomai 5,006 Construction of a sewerage system Provision of the entire settlement with the 5,006 Was not developed 35 sewerage services (including wastewater treatment) 22 Ferapontievca 1,030 Construction of a sewerage system Provision of the entire settlement with the 1,030 Was not developed 8 sewerage services 23 Chiriet Lunga 2,561 Extension of the water supply Provision of the entire settlement with the 2,561 Partially (first phase – water supply) ? system and construction of a sewerage and water supply services sewerage system
GROUPING THE RECEIVED POSSIBLE PROJECT IDEAS:
Further, the received possible project ideas were analyzed in details and processed to group (or fragment) them to match the logical system development approaches. Accordingly, 23 received project ideas were grouped in 16 possible projects:
Table 2: Grouping the received possible project ideas # Settlement Received possible project ideas Grouping the possible project ideas 1 Vulcanesti Reconstruction and extension of the sewerage system Reconstruction and extension of the sewerage system 2 Ceadir-Lunga Construction of a new wastewater treatment plant Construction of a new wastewater treatment plant 3 Comrat Modernization of the sewerage system Modernization of the sewerage system in Comrat municipality 4 Comrat Reconstruction of the collector (construction of treatment plants and extension of the sewerage networks) 5 Comrat Construction of sewerage networks (100 km) and Reconstruction of the water pipeline networks -50 km Reconstruction and extension of the centralized water supply system in 6 Comrat Construction of water pipeline networks on Turna - Soca, Salcamilor – Soca streets, Anenei TV Comrat municipality quarter 7 Comrat Reconstruction of water pipeline networks in ”Geofizica” quarter 82
# Settlement Received possible project ideas Grouping the possible project ideas 8 Comrat Reconstruction of water pipeline networks in ”Tanc” quarter 9 Comrat Remote control system Remote control system 10 Comrat Replacement of transformers Replacement of transformers 11 Copceac Construction of the refreshment room Development and modernization of the water supply system in Copceac 12 Copceac Construction of a reservoir (Ialpug) and of the related water supply system village 13 Copceac Construction of a new water pipeline (4.36 km) on Ianacoglo street and provision of water supply services for Molodiojnaia, Cosmanautilor, Comsomolului, Pionerilor, Frunze, 28 iunie and Sadovaia streets. 14 Congaz Construction of a sewerage system Construction of a sewerage system 15 Dezghingea Construction of sewerage networks Construction of sewerage networks
16 Etulia Reconstruction and capital repair of water catchments No. 1424 and No. 649 in Etulia Noua Reconstruction and capital repair of water catchments No. 1424 and No. village. 649 in Etulia Noua village. 17 Cismichioi Reconstruction of the water supply system Reconstruction of the water supply system 18 Chirosovo Construction of a sewerage system Construction of a sewerage system 19 Baurci Construction of a sewerage system Construction of a sewerage system 20 Ferapontievca - Tomai - Sewerage system and common wastewater treatment plant for Ferapontievca, Tomai and Gaidar Sewerage system and common wastewater treatment plant for Gaidar villages. Ferapontievca, Tomai and Gaidar villages. 21 Tomai Construction of a sewerage system 22 Ferapontiecva Construction of a sewerage system 23 Chiriet Lunga Extension of the water supply system and construction of a sewerage system Extension of the water supply system Construction of a sewerage system
ANALYSIS OF THE IMPLEMENTABILITY OF THE RECEIVED POSSIBLE PROJECT IDEAS: Further, the received possible project ideas were analyzed in details and related to the conclusions and recommendations of the Sectoral Regional Development Program for the water supply and sewerage sector for Gagauzia TAU. Respectively, this analysis has shown: 1: The absolute majority of the sewerage system development projects in the region continues to address individual solutions for the construction of the wastewater treatment plants (according to the principle "each settlement shall have its own wastewater treatment plant"). This situation is explained by the fact that the region has so far failed to formulate a clear vision of the grouping of the settlements for the construction and operation of some micro-regional wastewater treatment plants. 2: To a large extent, the local public administration authorities still do not address the regionalization of the water supply and sewerage services as the most optimal alternative for the development and modernization of the sector. This situation is explained by the fact that the region has not yet built a clear vision of the prospects and directions of the regionalization of the sector in the region, which is a derivation of the still poor awareness of the benefits that the regionalization of the services can bring. 3: In the absence of a clear vision of the region regarding the transport of water from the Prut River (to solve the regular water quality problem in the systems of the region), most local public authorities and operators continue to focus strictly on the exploitation of the groundwater sources.
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Therefore, in line with the strategic development directions of the sector in the region, the implementation of most of the projects in the region requires the initial development and approval of several priority Feasibility Studies of major importance:
Table 3: Analysis of implementability of the possible project ideas # LPA Possible project ideas Comments
1 Comrat Modernization of the sewerage system in Comrat municipality At the first phase a Feasibility Study shall be developed on grouping (clustering) of the settlements of the (construction of the treatment plant and extension of the sewerage region regarding determination of the optimal variant for the construction and operation of some micro- networks) regional wastewater treatment plants. Only after the approval of these clusters it will be possible to 2 Ceadir-Lunga Construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Ceadir-Lunga proceed to the next phase of development of the project documentation for each settlement in part (or municipality together). 3 Congaz Construction of a sewerage system for Congaz village 4 Baurci Construction of a sewerage system for Baurci village ** Note: The technical design of the sewerage system in Chiriet Lunga village does not meet the minimum 5 Chirsovo Construction of a sewerage system for Chirosovo village legal requirements for investment eligibility (at least 5 thousand inhabitants for the centralized sewerage 6 Dezghingea Construction of a sewerage system for Dezghingea village systems and 500 for the centralized water pipeline systems). In this case, there are 2 alternatives for the 7 Chiriet Lunga Construction of a sewerage system for Chiriet Lunga village settlement: (i) either affiliation to a larger regional project, or (ii) development of a decentralized sewerage 8 Ferapontievca - Sewerage system and common wastewater treatment plant for system. Tomai - Gaidar Ferapontievca, Tomai and Gaidar villages. 9 Etulia Reconstruction and capital repair of water catchments No. 1424 and Alternative: provision with drinking water through the pipelines for the water from the Prut River (initially, it No. 649 in Etulia Noua village. is necessary to argue/decide on the strategic source of the water supply and only after that the related investments shall be initiated). 10 Comrat Reconstruction and extension of the water supply system in Comrat Initially, a Feasibility Study shall be developed on provision of the region with drinking water through the municipality regional pipeline for the water from the Prut River. Only after the approval of the Feasibility Study and the location of the micro-regional wastewater treatment plants it will be possible to initiate the phase of 11 Cismichioi Reconstruction of the water supply system in Cismichioi village development of the design documentation of the project. 12 Copceac Development and modernization of the water supply system in Copceac village 13 Chiriet Lunga Expansion of the centralized water supply system in Chiriet Lunga village 14 Vulcanesti Reconstruction and extension of the sewerage networks in Vulcanesti It is possible to initiate the works for development of the project documentation. There is no need to wait town until the Feasibility Study on clustering (grouping) of the settlements of the region for the development of the micro-regional wastewater treatment plants is completed. 15 Comrat Implementation of the remote control system The project documentation is already under development. Implementation of the project can be initiated. 16 Comrat Replacement of transformers
Accordingly, effective implementation of most of the sector's development projects in the region is subject to the following 3 preconditions: ✓ Development of the Feasibility Study for provision of the region with drinking water through the water pipeline(s) from the Prut River. ✓ Development of the Feasibility Study on grouping (clustering) of the settlements in the region in order to determine the optimal variant of construction and operation of some micro-regional wastewater treatment plants. 84
✓ Development of the Opportunity Study on the regionalization of the centralized water supply and sewerage services in Gagauzia TAU.
Assessment of the received possible project ideas:
According to the provisions of the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy of the Republic of Moldova (2014-2018), development of the centralized water supply and sewerage systems is subject to the following prioritization criteria: ✓ Cities/towns will have priority over villages; ✓ Large villages will have priority over small ones (by the number of the population).; ✓ Development of the sector will follow standardized phasing approaches (modernization of systems in cities/towns - extension to the suburbs - extension to the neighbouring villages - decentralized systems for small villages).
At the same time, the strategic objectives of development of the sector in the region of Gagauzia TAU imply a clear prioritization of the sewerage system development projects against the centralized water supply system development projects. Also, the Working Group that met on 16 November 2017 approved the following additional prioritization criteria: ✓ Impact (number of beneficiaries who will have access to the services following the implementation of the project) ✓ Economic efficiency(the ratio between the requested investments and the expected results, the cost of a new connection to the sewerage services or to the water pipeline). ✓ Existence of project documentation and/or Feasibility Studies. ✓ Approach to the regionalization of the services.
Respectively, the following matrix of prioritization (hierarchy) of possible project ideas was determined:
Table 4: Prioritization of possible project ideas # LPA Project idea Type of settlement Type of project Impact Existence of the design Existence of the Total (number of documentation approach of score beneficiaries) regionalization City/town/village Score Water Score Th. Score Yes/No Score Yes/No Score supply/sewera inhabitants ge City/town = 4 points Water supply = 2 points Over 20,000 = 5 points Exists = 4 points Exists = 4 points Large village (>10 th.) = 3 points Sewerage = 4 points 15-20 th. = 4 points Partially = 2 points Partially = 2 points Average village (5 – 10 th.) = 2 10-15 th. = 3 points Does not exist = 0 points Does not exist= 0 points 5 – 10 th. = 2 points points Small village (<5 th.) = 1 point <5 th.= 1 point
1 Ceadir-Lunga Construction of a new Town 4 К 4 22.7 5 Partially 2 No 0 15 wastewater treatment plant 2 Comrat Replacement of transformers Town 4 В 2 23.6 5 Yes 4 No 0 15 (centralized water supply)
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# LPA Project idea Type of settlement Type of project Impact Existence of the design Existence of the Total (number of documentation approach of score beneficiaries) regionalization City/town/village Score Water Score Th. Score Yes/No Score Yes/No Score supply/sewera inhabitants ge 3 Comrat Modernization of the Town 4 К 4 23.5 5 Partially 2 No 0 15 sewerage system in Comrat municipality (construction of a treatment plant and extension of the sewerage networks) 4 Vulcanesti Reconstruction and extension Town 4 К 4 15.2 4 No Partially 2 14 of the sewerage system in Vulcanesti town 5 Comrat Reconstruction and extension Town 4 В 2 23.6 5 Partially 2 No 0 13 of the centralized water supply system in Comrat 6 Congaz Construction of a sewerage Large village 3 К 4 11.5 3 Partially 2 No 0 12 system in Congaz village 7 Comrat Automation and Town 4 В 2 23.6 5 No 0 No 0 11 implementation of the remote control system of the water supply system in Comrat (SCADA) 8 Ferapontievca - Construction of a sewerage Agglomeration 3 К 4 10.6 3 No 0 No** 0 12 Tomai - Gaidar system and a common of small and wastewater treatment plant average Ferapontievca, Tomai and villages (= Gaidar villages. Large village) 9 Baurci Construction of a sewerage Average village 2 К 4 8.0 2 No 0 No 0 8 system in Baurci village 10 Chirsovo Construction of a sewerage Average village 2 К 4 7.0 2 No 0 No 0 8 system in Chirsovo village 11 Dezghingea Construction of a sewerage Average village 2 К 4 5.2 2 No 0 No 0 8 system in Dezghingea village 12 Etulila Reconstruction and capital Small village 1 В 2 0.8 1 No 4 No 0 8 repair of water catchments No. 1424 and No. 649 in Etulia Noua village. 13 Chiriet Lunga Extension of the water supply Small village 1 В 2 2.5 1 No 4 No 0 8 system in Chiriet Lunga village
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# LPA Project idea Type of settlement Type of project Impact Existence of the design Existence of the Total (number of documentation approach of score beneficiaries) regionalization City/town/village Score Water Score Th. Score Yes/No Score Yes/No Score supply/sewera inhabitants ge 14 Copceac Development and Large village 3 В 2 10.2 3 No 0 No 0 8 modernization of the centralized water supply system in Copceac village 15 Cismichioi Reconstruction of the water Average village 3 В 2 2.0 1 No 0 No 0 6 supply system ** Note: Gaidar mayor’s office has already developed and Tomai mayor’s office is currently developing the project documentation without taking into account the approach of regionalization.
Regrettably, since no project documentation and expense estimates have been developed, it is not possible at this phase to evaluate and compare the projects based on the criterion of economic efficiency.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Accordingly, based on the analysis and the evaluation carried out, it is proposed at this phase to develop the following 6 priority concepts of possible projects and their inclusion in the implementation of the Sectoral Regional Program for the Development of the Water Supply and Sewerage Sector in Gagauzia TAU:
# Project idea Comment 1. Construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Ceadir-Lunga municipality At the first phase, the Feasibility Study on grouping (clustering) of the settlements in the region shall be developed to 2. Development of water supply and sewerage systems in Comrat municipality* determine the optimal variant of construction and operation of some micro-regional wastewater treatment plants. Only after the approval of these clusters, will it be possible to pass to the next phase of development of the project documentation for each settlement in part (or together). 3. Reconstruction and extension of the sewerage networks from Vulcanesti town This project is unique in the field of sewerage development, which is not conditional upon the initial completion of the Feasibility Study on grouping (clustering) of the settlements in the region for the construction and operation of some regional micro-wastewater treatment plants. 4 Extension of the centralized water supply system in Chiriet-Lunga village The operational water supply system in Chiriet-Lunga village is the most underdeveloped in Gagauzia TAU (about 16% coverage). 5 Development and modernization of the water supply and sewerage systems in Copceac village 6 Reconstruction of the water supply system in Cismichioi village * Note: It is recommended to synchronize the preparation and implementation of the projects for the development of the water supply and sewerage systems in Comrat municipality.
The experts also propose to develop Detailed Concepts for the following "soft" projects, to find funding opportunities as priority regional projects:
1. Development of the Feasibility Study on grouping (clustering) of the settlements in the This project (recommended by the experts) is an absolute regional priority. Without a clear vision of the regionalization region in order to determine the optimal variant of construction and operation of some of the wastewater treatment infrastructure, the region is exposed to high risks of strategic mistakes in the further micro-regional wastewater treatment plants. development of the sector, inefficient use of investment resources and unjustified increase in the future operational costs 87
of the systems. 2. Development of the Feasibility Study to provide the region with drinking water through the This project (recommended by the experts) is the second absolute priority of the region, as it provides for using the best water pipeline(s) from the Prut River. scenario of systemic and strategic resolution of the water quality problem of the centralized water supply systems in the region. 3. Development of the Opportunity Study on the regionalization of the centralized water Evaluation of the opportunity and optimal variants of the regionalization of the sewerage and water supply services in supply and sewerage services in Gagauzia TAU. the region is a mandatory precondition stipulated in the Water Supply and Sanitation Strategy of the Republic of Moldova. The condition of regionalization is an important prerequisite for mobilization and use of the technical and financial assistance provided by the donors.
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MINISTERUL МИНИСТЕРСТВО AGRICULTURII, СЕЛЬСКОГО ХОЗЯЙСТВА, DEZVOLTARII REGIONALE РЕГИОНАЛЬНОГО РАЗВИТИЯ И §1 MEDIULUI ОКРУЖАЮЩЕЙ СРЕДЫ AL REPUBLICII MOLDOVA РЕСПУБЛИКИ МОЛДОВА AGEINJIA АГЕНТСТВО DE DEZVOLTARE REGIONALA РЕГИОНАЛЬНОГО РАЗВИТИЯ UTA GAGAUZIA А ГО ГАГАУЗИЯ MD-3801, Republica Moldova, Н А Gngauzia, т.Control, str.Pobeda, 511 Tel. Jax II 298 22603; I) 298 ПЗ^/счпаН: < ujr: m ЩШ genu I. с ■от
II P И К A 3№ 01-11/18
or 13 сентября 2017 года
«О создании рабочей группы по подготовке региональной секторальной программы по воде и канализации региона развития АТО Гагаузия»
В целях подготовки региональной секторальной программы по воде и канализации региона развития АТО Гагаузия, ПРИКАЗЫВАЮ: 1. Образовать рабочую группу по подготовке региональной секторальной программы по воде и канализации региона развития АТО Гагаузия в следующем составе:
Председатель рабочей группы: Яниогло В.Ф. - Директор Агентства регионального развития АТО Гагаузия.
Члены рабочей группы: Цапиш В.А. - начальник управления политик и регионального развития Министерства сельского хозяйства, регионального развития и окружающей среды; Тарнавский А. Г. - заместитель председателя НОГ; Рая НТВ - председатель комиссии НСГ по промышленности, строительству, транспорту, связи и сфере обслуживания; Арнаут И.Т. - заместитель начальника Главного управления строительства и инфраструктуры АТО Гагаузия; Петриоглу В.Н. - примар г.Вулканешты; Гагауз В.Д. - директор МП «Су-Канал», м.Комрат; Торлак И.П. - директор АО «Апэ-Термо», м.Чадыр-Лунга; Готишан Н.Г. - председатель Ассоциации примаров АТО Гагаузия. заместитель председателя РСР АТО Гагаузия; Есир М.И. - примар с.Конгаз; Маджар П.Г. -примар с.Чишмикиой; Шальвир М.Н. - исполнительный директор НПО «Центр региональных инициатив»; Лупашку Е. В. - региональный консультант G1Z/MSPL; Ерадинар С.Ф. - начальник отдела стратеги чес кого планирования и программ, АРР АТО Гагаузия; "
Митиогло В.И. - специалист отдела управления проектами АРР АТО Гагаузия; Георгица А.Н. - специалист отдела стратегического планирования и программ АРР АТО Гагаузия, секретарь рабочей группы.
2. Рабочей группе с октября 2017 г. приступить к разработке региональной секторальной программы в области энергоэффективности общественных зданий региона развития АТО Гагаузия.
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