Freshwater - National Responses (Montenegro)

The new approach to the management of water resources imposes new obligations on Montenegro and requires amendments to the existing institutional framework and legislative basis. To this end, a national water board was established in December 2004 which has been working together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management to draw up the legislation required to implement the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Equivalent regulations are currently being prepared on drinking water safety to ensure that natural spring, stone and natural mineral water meet certain criteria. These regulations will serve to implement Council Directive 80/777/EEC, Directive 96/70/EC (which supplements the latter) and Commission Directive 2003/40/EC.

Regulations are currently being drafted to cover the detailed drinking water safety requirements under Directive 98/83/EC. The deadline for adoption of these regulations is 2010. So far, very little has been done to raise public awareness of the need to save and protect water. In 2005, the total volume of water delivered was 53 671 000 m³: 33 460 000 m³ to households, 13 165 000 m³ to businesses and 7 046 000 m³ to other consumers. Total losses were 48 195 000 m³.

The Water Act provides for the adoption of water management plans in water outflow areas. These plans include the identification of water bodies intended for water supply; a list of the priority goals for environmental protection of surface and groundwater; programmes of measures, methods and objectives for water consumption and protection and an itemisation of the significant impacts of human activities on the status of surface and groundwater. Montenegro is divided into two water areas: the Black Sea water area and the Adriatic basin water area. It therefore follows that two water area plans will be required and the deadline for their adoption is 2016. The criteria for their development are under discussion and, so far, a regulation has been prepared on the content and method of preparation of the water management plans in water areas.

References

Hydrological and Meteorological Service of Montenegro

Statistical Office of the Republic of Montenegro — MONSTAT

Master plan for cleaning and removing waste water from the Montenegrin coast and Cetinje municipality

Strategic master plan for sewerage and waste water in the central and northern regions of Montenegro