Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Office in Skopje Water Management of Risto Ravanovski 8 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia cross-border waterbodies T + 389 / (2) 3217 075 [email protected] Possibilities for joint cooperation Wilfried Martens Centre for in coping with the challenges European Studies 20 Rue du Commerce 1000 Brussels, Belgium T + 32 / (0) 2 300 80 04 Darko Babunski, Zoran Markov [email protected] Iljco Jovanoski, Charalampos Skoulikaris, Atanasko Tuneski, Yiannis Xenidis, Antigoni Zafirakou ISBN 978-608-4648-57-4 www.kas.de Water Management of cross-border waterbodies Possibilities for joint cooperation in coping with the challenges Darko Babunski, Zoran Markov Iljco Jovanoski, Charalampos Skoulikaris, Atanasko Tuneski, Yiannis Xenidis, Antigoni Zafirakou IMPRESSUM Title: Water Management of Cross-Border Waterbodies – Possibilities for Joint Coopera- tion in Coping with the Challenges Publishers: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Office in North Macedonia Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies Editors: Babunski Darko, PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering-Skopje Markov Zoran, PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering-Skopje Contributors: Babunski Darko, PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje Jovanoski Iljco, PhD, Expert in Waste Water Management, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje Markov Zoran, PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje Skoulikaris Charalampos, PhD, UNESCO Chair of International Network of Water- Environment Centres for the Balkans (INWEB), Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Tuneski Atanasko, PhD, Professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje Xenidis Yiannis, PhD, Professor at the School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Zafirakou Antigoni, PhD, Professor at the School of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Coordination: Norbert Beckmann-Dierkes Daniela Popovska Proofreading: Perica Sardzoski Design and Printing: Vinsent Grafika DOO Skopje The publication can be downloaded for free at: kas.de/nordmazedonien martenscentre.eu/publication/ Disclaimer: This is a joint publication of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies. This publication receives funding from the European Parliament. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies and the European Parliament assume no responsibility for the facts and opinions expressed in this publication or in any subsequent use of the information contained therein. Sole responsibility lies with the authors. The processing of the publication was concluded in 2020. CONTENTS 1 Introduction 17 1.1 Transboundary water resources..............................................................................19 World global water quality crisis and the need for wastewater treatment plants....20 1.2 Aim of the publication................................................................................................21 2 Overview of the situation with the Water management of the Vardar/Axios River in North Macedonia and Greece 23 2.1 Description of the Vardar/Axios River Basin...........................................................27 The environmental protected area of Axios River’s delta...........................................30 2.2 Demographic characteristics and pressures on the environment......................31 2.3 Review on water management of Vardar/Axios River...........................................33 2.3.1 Background information ..................................................................33 2.3.2 Identified cross-border problems.....................................................34 2.3.3 Major funded programmes/projects for the Vardar/Axios...........36 2.3.3.1 The MIRVAX Project......................................................................38 2.3.3.2 Additional bilateral cooperation and agreements...................40 2.3.4 EU environmental legislation as a framework for cooperation....40 2.4 Perspectives of cooperation.................................................................42 2.4.1 Climate change adaptation................................................................43 2.4.2 EU funded cooperation opportunities............................................ 45 3 The Vardar/Axios as a case study for joint cooperation in the wastewater treatment: challenges, interests, and benefits for both sides 47 3.1 Wastewater management.........................................................................................53 3.1.1 World global water quality crisis and the need for wastewater treatment plants................................................................55 3.1.2 Wastewater collection........................................................................57 3.1.3 Wastewater treatment.......................................................................57 3.1.4 Wastewater disposal..........................................................................61 European Directives & Greek implemented Laws on Wastewater........62 3.1.5 Process of preparation of wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure project................................................................63 3.1.5.1 Background information.............................................................63 3.1.5.2 Methodology for selection of the most appropriate wastewater treatment technology.........................................................64 3.1.5.3 Input Data.....................................................................................64 3.1.5.4 Definition of the agglomeration in the sense of EU UWWT Directive.....................................................................................................66 3.1.6 Treatment level, unit operations and processes and method of treatment...........................................................................70 3.1.7 Treatment technology selection.....................................................72 3.1.8 Techno-economic and multi-criteria analysis.................................75 3.1.9 Cost-benefit analysis..........................................................................76 3.1.10 Preparation of technical designs...................................................77 3.2 Issues for transnational consultation.....................................................................79 3.3 Risk response goals for WWT Risks...........................................................................79 3.3.1 Integrated River Basin Management...............................................80 3.3.2 Register of protected areas..............................................................82 3.3.3 Wastewater reclamation and reuse.................................................82 3.4 Wastewater treatment in North Macedonia...........................................................85 3.4.1 River basins in North Macedonia......................................................85 3.4.2 Vardar River – shared economic benefits........................................86 3.4.2.1 Agriculture.....................................................................................86 3.4.2.2 Industry ........................................................................................87 3.4.2.3 Water supply.................................................................................87 3.4.2.4 Cattle Breeding/Shellfish and Mussels Production..................88 3.4.2.5 River Accumulations/Alterations – Energy production............88 3.5 Case study Skopje......................................................................................................88 3.5.1 Current status of the wastewater infrastructure............................89 3.5.2 Existing wastewater treatment facilities..........................................89 3.5.3 Existing wastewater collection infrastructur...................................90 3.5.4 Proposed measures for the wastewater collection system’s upgrade.........................................................................................93 3.5.5 Investigation works............................................................................94 3.5.6 Design data and Design parameters................................................94 3.5.7 Hydraulic modelling of the wastewater collection network..........94 3.5.8 Technical solution for wastewater collection system....................96 3.5.9 Proposed measures for wastewater treatment.............................96 3.5.10 Investigation work............................................................................98 3.5.11 Design data and parameters...........................................................98 3.5.12 WWTP site location...........................................................................100 3.5.13 Wastewater treatment plant option analysis................................101 3.5.14 Environmental and social benefits and risks................................116 3.5.15 Institutional setup for water supply and wastewater services...116 3.6 Wastewater treatment in Greece..........................................................................118 3.7 Case study – Thessaloniki.......................................................................................121 3.7.1 Thessaloniki’s wastewater treatment plant .................................125 3.7.2 Thessaloniki’s WWTP results and efficiency..................................130