“EU member states have been developing water economy plans since 2003, with the economy organised on the basis of catchment areas,” explained Indrek Tamberg, director of the ministry’s Water Department. “What this means is that a waterway has to be taken into consideration as a whole, regardless of which municipalities or counties different parts of it may be located in. With these economy plans we can then put together action plans so that all of The water economy plan provides an assessment of the state of the country’s waterways, establishes the objectives for each, outlines the monitoring principles of water conditions and lists the measures that need to be taken in order to ensure that all of the waterways are in good condition by 2015 at the latest. The economy plans for the hydrospheres or river basins are themselves based on similar plans for sub-basins (of which there are eight in The catchment area-based plans are to be developed for the three hydrospheres by the Ministry of the Environment in association with other state institutions and experts, and are due for completion by 2009. Waterway users will find themselves in a new situation due to the organisation of catchment area protection. For example, people situated by the headwaters of a river will have to take those in the lower reaches into account when using the water. Every resident of More information about participating in the development or implementation of the plans can be obtained from your local environmental services or from the Water Department of the Ministry of the Environment and from the ministry’s website at www.envir.ee/vesikond. For further information please contact: Rene Reisner Specialist, Water Department, Ministry of the Environment +372 626 2855 Agnes Jürgens Deputy Advisor, Public Relations Department, Ministry of the Environment +372 626 2811 |
