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European Union Support to Sustainable Management of Water Services in Bosnia and Herzegovina
EU4MEG
The legal framework for water supply and wastewater management services in BIH comprises the entity laws on water, on communal affairs and local governance. The 10 cantons in the FBIH have their own laws on water and communal affairs. Specific plans for implementing the EU legislation on drinking water, urban wastewater and flood risk management need to be adopted.
It is estimated that 75% of the population in BIH has access to safely managed drinking water services , i.e., is connected to controlled public water supply systems. In addition to disparities in terms of accessibility, water quality control varies among settlements. Water losses frequently amount to more than 55%, leading to system failures including shortages, overexploitation of water sources and high distribution costs. While 41% of the population is connected to public sewerage system, 90% of the collected wastewater is released into watercourses without treatment, causing serious contamination of the ecosystem.
EU4MEG Objective
The overall objective of the Action is to enhance administrative capacities in the field of water management in line with the environmental acquis and improve environmental infrastructure.
What we do
Key activities:
• Stock-taking analysis to determine up-to date information on progress in water services sector
• Concept for country-wide harmonised reform of legal and institutional framework in water services sector
• Development of a country-wide harmonized benchmarking system for water utilities in BIH
• Support PSAs development, institutionalization, and implementation in partner local governments.
• Support affordability survey and introduction of a gender-sensitive water supply and wastewater services subsidy system for users in social need
• Support fixed assets book completion and revalorization of fixed assets, as well as adoption of water tariff setting procedure and gender-sensitive employment policy for water utilities
• Support to enhancing organisational structure and staffing of water utilities
• Support improvements of technical and management capacities of water utilities
• Support upgrading water utilities’ financial management capacity
• Identification and selection of priority river sections to be cleaned from plastic and other waste
1. Relevant BIH authorities’ capacities strengthened to design policy and regulatory frameworks that advance water supply and wastewater management services.
2. Local government capacities and frameworks entailing sustainable partnerships with their water utilities enhanced to enable more effective, efficient and inclusive water supply and wastewater service delivery.
3. Financial and operational performance of water utilities improved.
Donors
EU Delegation to BIH, Embassy of Switzerland in BIH, Embassy of Sweden in BIH
Partners
BIH Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, FBIH Ministry of Justice, RS Ministry for Administration and Local Self-Government
FBIH Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry ,RS Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction and Ecology of RS AMCs, EU Delegation to BIH, Embassy of Switzerland in BIH, Embassy of Sweden in BIH
Focus area
Area of water services
Related Materials
Impact
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