Public access in water supply and
waste water treatment sector
Edlira DERSHA
Ministry of Environment of Albania
Geneva, December 2013
Recently steps for implementation of AC
Web base database for Environmental Information System EIS (start January 2014)
Finished the work for the population data until 2012. Data base was
designated to include 4 module: Public informatio requests, Permitting
process , inspections and monitoring, events and activities.
Positive cases for assess of environmental information from Municipalities
n
-Information Offices situated in the reception place.
-Regarding environment, the municipality's employees declare raising of the
number receiving requests for information.
- The level of awareness of the local government units shows some positive
signs with regards to information and participation of the citizens regarding
strategies, policies and plans and legislation (Tirana, Korça, Shkodra, Vlora
ect)
PUBLIC ACCESS IN WATER
SUPPLY AND WASTE WATER
TREATMENT SECTOR
Statistics on Albania and its
Water Sector
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Land area:
11.100 square miles
Average of fresh water:
8.700 m2 per capita per year
Number of river basins:
6
Water supply sources:
Springs and Groundwater
Population :
3.6 million people
Number of local governments: 373
Water supply and sewerage companies and utilities: 58
Number of the water/waste water companies: 2 companies
Population with access to drinking water: 69% in 2002 – 93.9% 2012
Population with access to sewerage: 64% in 2002 - 69% in 2012
WATER SECTOR –
THREE SEPARATE INSTITUTIONAL PILLARS
PILLAR
POLICY
REGULATION
EXECUTION
INSTITUTION
Originated by Council of Ministers,
Approved by the Parliament and
promoted by General Directorate of
Water Supply and Sewerage
Independent monopoly and economic
Water Regulatory Authority issues
licenses to utilities to supply water to the
public, and approves tariffs based on
defined methodology.
Water supply and sewerage companies
and utilities under the complete
ownership of Local Authority
Good Communication - Good Decision
Daily newspaper “Koha
Jone” 2011 wrote “Water
Regulatory Authority has
approved
yesterday
eventually higher tariffs for
drinking
water
for
households by 33 Al Lek per
cubic meter to actually pay
in 2012, will pay 45 AL Lek,
while the increase was
proposed by the Water
Enterprise in 55 ALL”
• The Water Regulatory Authority
has organized for two months
meeting with different target
groups and with general public.
• Organize for three week the
media campaign according the
new tariffs.
The decision coming after very
qualify information and the long
decision making process . Very
difficult decision but was resulted
successfully case.
New National Strategy
Public Information and Public Participation
• Public information and Public
Participation of the New National
Strategy for Water Supply and
Sewage (NWSSS) for period 20112017. Probably one of the biggest
consultation held by Albanian
Ministries.
• Launched
by
Prime
Minister in July, InterMinistry roundtables and
working groups, Regional
Meetings
throughout
Albania followed up 240
questionnaires.
• 672 NWSSS Information
Packs, 890 CDs and 370
printed
versions
of
‘Draft NWSSS’ were
circulated.
Public Services offered by Water Supply and
Sewerage Enterprises
The report on citizens’ perceptions of the quality of water supply and
sewerage services in Albania.
• The objective of this report is to provide hard data on citizens’ perceptions
of the quality of water supply and sewerage services. This data constitute:
an input into a dialogue between utility providers and customers with
a view to improve the quality of services;
a tool for the stakeholders and in particular the Regulatory Authority
to obtain hard data/document the current situation and monitor the
impact of reforms on the quality of this public service and take steps
for consumer protection;
a tool which the utility providers can adopt to set targets and monitor
themselves their customers’ perception of the quality of the services
they provide.
Existence/inexistence of an office for customers’ relations
Households
Public Institutions
Private companies
Total
Yes
49.9%
70.8%
62.7%
52.5%
No
26.6%
20.8%
13.7%
24.8%
I do not know
23.6%
8.3%
23.5%
22.7%
Easiness in finding the customers service unit (desk) and staff
helpfulness
It is easy to
find costomer
service offices
Have
employees
been helpful
Yes
87.9%
94.1%
93.8%
89.2%
No
12.1%
5.9%
6.3%
10.8%
yes
56.7%
75.0%
23.5%
22.7%
No
43.3%
25.0%
23.5%
40.0%
IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF
SERVICES
CREATED THE WEB SITES
Most of the water supply and sewerage
utilities of have active webpage when we
found the (i) tariff application for
different client groups, (ii) the necessary
legislation
(iii)
different
utilize
information for the public.
PUBLIC OFFICER for request/appeal from
public. Information Offices situated in the
reception place.
GOOD RELATION WITH DIFFERENT ACTORS
With the Water Supply and Sewerage Association
of Albania is a professional, not-for-profit
association of water supply and sewerage
professionals.
•
Organizes the only annual water supply and
sewerage conference and exhibition in Albania
•
Conducts a Children's Water Awareness
Program reaching over 3,000 3rd grade
students annually.
•
Conducts a University Student Summer
Internship Program that provides 40-60 water
and environmental engineering students with
practical work experience
•
Established the Young Water Professionals
Group of Albania which has 120 paid members
Wastewater
Treatment
Plans in Albania
Public hearing was organized for all this
WWTP in the early stage when have been
project proposal and the second public
hearing have been held in contents of the
EIA study.
Thank You
for Your Attention