Freshwater - Drivers and pressures (Albania)

Rivers run near many towns and cities, industrial areas and areas with agriculture including livestock and discharges from all of these are the main sources of surface water pollution in Albania.
Urban wastewater and other industrial discharges directly deposited in watersheds and channels end up in rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
Most cities have common sewage systems for wastewater, rainwater and industrial activities.
Because of poor maintenance of wastewater sewers and small pipe dimensions, leaks from these sewers often carry the risk of pollution of the drinking water network.
Suburban areas and rural cities lack sewage systems and wastewater is collected in septic tanks. All industrial activities located near rivers discharge wastewater directly to them without pre-treatment. The uncontrolled dumping of urban waste in the banks of rivers further increases the problems of surface water pollution. Wastewater treatment plants are being built in Kavaja, Vlora and Pogradec and are under construction or design in other cities.