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The main investments that the Ministry of the Environment has made in water are designed to improve the quality of drinking water and better organise the collection and treatment of waste water. We have received a great deal of support in these areas from the European Union (EU) Cohesion Fund (CF) and the water conservation programme of the Environmental Investment Centre (EIC). We have also been assisted in controlling agricultural pollution by financing obtained through the Estonian Agricultural Registers and Information Board (EARIB) from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).
What has been done? Investment projects financed through the EU’s Cohesion Fund include the tunnel sewer in the city of Tartu completed in 2004; the Viljandi and Narva waste water treatment facilities opened in 2005; and the expansion work carried out on the drinking water and waste water pipelines in the city of Valga in 2006. A number of other large-scale CF projects are also underway, among them the reconstruction of the regional waste water treatment facilities in Kohtla-Järve; extension of the water and waste water pipelines in the city of Tartu; expansion of the water and waste water network in the city of Rapla and surrounding area (Kehtna); the Emajõgi River and Võhandu catchment area water project; the Western Islands water project; and the Matsalu catchment area water project, incorporating more than 70 local governments. Alongside these CF projects, many smaller projects have also been launched as part of the EIC’s water conservation programme as well as by water companies themselves. During the last three years, 15 drinking water treatment plants have been constructed or renovated in such places as Kiviõli, Märjamaa and Võru. In addition to the Narva and Viljandi waste water treatment facilities, plants in 12 other areas (including Kuusalu, Järva-Jaani and Avinurme) have been built or completely reconstructed in order to improve the state of their water. Investments have been made in pipelines as well as drinking water and waste water facilities. Confirmation of the work that has been done in this respect came with the ruling of the Baltic Sea Marine Environment Conservation Committee to remove the Pärnu, Tallinn and Paide districts from the list of sites endangering the Baltic Sea, as the waste water from these cities no longer poses a threat to the water quality of beaches or the marine ecosystem. Estonia’s uplands represent significant sources of ground water and require effective protection. Uplands (including Pandivere) cover 14% of Estonia and supply more than 40% of the water found in its ground water layers. Approximately 60% of the contaminants that threaten bodies of water originate in diffuse sources of pollution, affecting the quality of the ground water used to produce drinking water as well as leading to the eutrophication of waterways. A nitrate-sensitive zone has therefore been established in the Pandivere uplands and on the Adavere limestone plateau in order to reduce such contamination. Stricter measures on the use of fertilisers, manure and pesticides that threaten water quality have been introduced in the Pandivere and Adavere-Põltsamaa nitrate-sensitive zones so as to limit non-point source pollution from agricultural production. As a result of these restrictions there has been no worsening of the situation over the last few years, notwithstanding the renewed intensification of agricultural production. Oil spills and other such incidents at sea and blatant disregard of environmental requirements have seen both the public and supervisory bodies turn their attention to improved regulation. The Ministry of the Environment has supported and assisted the Border Guard in acquiring a new spill response vessel and the pollution identification and elimination equipment of the Rescue Services has been updated.
What is being done? Over the next seven years (2007-2013) Estonia is set to receive more than 52 billion kroons in European Union funding, with 24.7 billion kroons being allocated to development of the living environment. The most important sphere of activity, and financially the largest at 7 billion kroons, is water. For the fifth consecutive year, Estonia is actively involved in drinking water and waste water projects supported by EU funding. We have taken on the obligation of guaranteeing the collection and proper treatment of waste water from all residential areas in waste water collection zones with a pollution load of more than 2000 IE by the end of 2010 (IE being the unit of pollution load, with 1 IE equating to one person in a non-industrial area). Drinking water meeting all standards must be available to every settlement with more than 50 residents by the end of 2013. Currently around 78% of people in Estonia obtain their water from the public water supply; the aim is to increase this figure to 90%. According to the directive, waste water must be collect from all collection zones with an IE of more than 2000. Around 933,000 people – roughly 70% of the population – live in such areas in Estonia. 89% are connected to the sewerage network, and we plan to increase this to 95% by the end of 2010. Waste water collection in the remaining 5% of areas is better effected through the use of cesspits. As the saying goes, unity is strength. When local governments (LGs) began applying for EU funding several years ago to enhance their water management, they found that it would only prove possible if they worked together. One of the requirements of the 2004-2006 funding period was that the minimum amount of Cohesion Fund projects should be 10 million euros. However, our little LGs had no need of such large-scale projects. Instead they came up with large group projects, such as that in the Emajõgi River and Võhandu catchment area. To get these projects off the ground, the LGs formed joint water companies (coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment) which will begin to manage newly built and renovated systems in the future. These companies were founded and their projects initiated in 2001 and 2002. 75 local governments are currently involved in CF projects, a number of which have been completed (such as the new waste water treatment facilities in Viljandi and the updating of the facilities in Narva). At the same time, some projects are only at the half way point, such as the work on the regional waste water treatment plant in Kohtla-Järve. Its completion will resolve the waste water treatment-related problems of more than 60,000 people and local industry. Although it is up to local governments to manage water and waste water issues, the state has also contributed, supporting companies through both the Environmental Investment Centre and the national budget. Foreign aid has also been used in the past (such as PHARE and ISPA funding) as well as bilateral cooperation with countries like Finland, Sweden and Denmark. One of the factors that it always taken into account when developing projects is the rising cost of construction, but the boom in real estate development in 2005 and 2006 and subsequent doubling or more than doubling of prices was not something anyone could rightly predict. This led, for example, to the cost of the Rapla water and sewerage pipeline project in 2005 increasing by 22 million kroons, while the Matsalu public water supply project in 2006 exceeded its budget by an enormous 360 million kroons. What is worrying is the fact that these rising costs make the future very uncertain for many of the water projects awaiting nothing more than the announcement of a state tender. Money to cover additional costs has so far been found from the EIC; the revenue being generated by environmental and pollution fees is simply not enough for large-scale investment. Further support from the state is sorely needed. If it is not received, projects will not go ahead. This in turn would mean that Estonia was not meeting its commitments before the EU and could lead to breach proceedings and fines. To date the country has only had one experience of EU fines, for its horde of sugar. Among the plans for 2007 is one to reach the construction contract stage, such as for the Emajõgi River/Võhandu catchment area CF project. This would incorporate 28 local governments. Those leading the way with the projects hope to see them come to fruition so as to improve the quality of life and environment for the people in their districts and to create opportunities for the development of local enterprise. However, preparations for the completion of projects currently lack almost 2.6 billion kroons. To ensure that all of their goals are achieved, state support is needed through direct additional funding.
The Baltic Sea is a delicate environment In 2005 the Baltic Sea was declared a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area by the International Maritime Organisation in order to render its protection more effective. This enables tighter restrictions to be enforced on activities affecting the sea, primarily shipping. Planning of water management measures has become river basin-based, with development of river and sub-basin management plans and implementation of the first complete plans creating the opportunity for everybody to have their say in the future of water management. In order to plan for the future and reach the best decisions for the surrounding environment, all interested parties are guaranteed the chance to take part and air their views at water management planning meetings and through the publication of related documents by county environmental services. To deal with the problem of flooding, a big issue in recent years, the decision was taken to produce a joint action for the entire European Union. Everybody can contribute to clean water and its economical use. Even the simplest things can make a difference – turn off the tap while you are brushing your teeth and you have already taken a step towards sustainable water use. |
