Berat – Kucove (FB11)

Q1. Country name:

Albania

Q2. Partner name:

Water Supply and Sewerage Association of Albania

Q3. Partner – Final Beneficiary No.:

FB 11

Q4. Between country – water coming from (origin country (1)) and

Albania

Q5. Country (2) – water supplied to (delivered):

Albania

Q6. Water supply system name (English):

Regional Water supply system Berat-Kucove

Q7. Water supply system name (Country 1):

/

Q8. Water supply system name (Country 2):

/

Q9. Date/year established cross-border water supply:

2011

Q10. Management of origin side of the WSS:

Regional Water Supply System Berat-Kucove

Q11. Management of delivery side of the WSS:

WSS in each of the 2 Municipalities – Berat and Kucove

Q12. Amount of water supplied (as per contract/agreement):

Average = 540 l/s

Q13. General nature of the CBWS – emergency water supply, peak water supply, permanent water supply:

Permanent water supply.

Q14. Existing legal framework for the CBWS:

Legal Framework exist and will be described later on, when we get more details.

Q15. Top level CBWS management body (if mutually defined):

The Utility is established for regional WSS management according to National legal framework and policies.

Q16. Origin country reference body for the management body:

Albania

Q17. Delivery country reference body for the CBWS management body.

The Utility is established for regional WSS management according to National legal framework and policies.

Q18. Legal framework management – Contract party meetings (annual, even more frequent):

Yes, the independent company WSS Berat-Kucove have periodically meetings with Shareholders representatives of Municipalities and Communes.

Q19. Issues addressed on the local level:

Yes, the questions of minimum source yeild used for irrigation downstream of the source.

Q20. Issues addressed on the regional level:

No.

Q21. Issues addressed on the state level:

Financial issues (financially not sustainable).

Q22. Legal option to increase maximum annual entitlement?

Yes, it is possible technically and legally to increase the annual rights (is matter of demand and agreement of the shareholders involved).

Q23. Minimum amount of water delivery defined?

45 l/c/d

Q24. Which is the body assigned by the contract for the resolution of disputes?

The Shareholders Assembly .

Q25. Ownership of the cross-border infrastructure:

2 Municipalities and 4 Communes have participated in the ownership .

Q26. Are the water rights on the water resource assigned to the cross-border partner? In which way?

Yes,exist a contract between WSS and Water Basins Councils for water extraction.

Q27. Termination of the water delivery of contract

Yes, it is stated in the National Water Code of Albania.

Q28 Minimal water consumption legally defined?

Yes.

Q29. Is the legal heritage of the systems resolved

Yes.

Q30. Is the water price(charge) composed by different components?

Yes.

Q31. How is the pricing mechanism defined (water charges):

It is composed by a fixed and variable tariff.

Q32. Are the minimal charges foreseen? – Fixed charges, full for empty:

Yes.

Q33. Is the non-payment procedure regulated by the contract?

Yes, and the details will be describe later on.

Q34. Is there a special tariff (surcharge) for the excessive water supply?

No.

Q35. Insurance cost covered – insurance cost tariff, insurance model foreseen by the contract:

Not sure, we will confirm later, when we get additional information from the responsible authority.

Q36. Depreciaton of the infrastructure, investment/maintenance plans agreed ? (amortizacija, ammortamento):

No, the water price does not cover preventive maintenance and investments.

Q37. Penalties for unfulfilment of contractual obligations?

Yes.

Q38. Is the mutual inspection of records/book-keeping established? (due dilligence approach):

Yes, Benchmarking Unit and Water Regulatory Authority.

Q39. General assessment of the CBWS economics :

Generally yes, the water price covers only part of the expenses (salaries, overheads, chemicals, operation and emergency maintenance), but does not cover investment, planned and preventive maintenance.

Q40. Payment statistics for the last 5 years:

/

Q41. Other:

/

Q42. Measurement of water delivered:

Partially yes, 50 % of water supplied is measured.

Q43. Is continuity of water supply – intermittent water supply an issue?

Utility has an intermittent supply.

Q44. Agreed water quality issues:

There is not reported any water quality problem until now.

Q45. Water quality monitoring jointly controlled/verified:

Water quality is controlled from the Regional Sanitary Inspectoriate.

Q46. Temperature regulated by the contract?

Yes.

Q47. Pressure regulated by the contract?

Yes it’s definied by pressure zones.

Q48. Cross – border profile management:

No, the Utility manage all relevant issues.

Q49. Construction of project facilities:

Construction for the first (existing) stage is finalized. For the next stage (extension of the service area and rehabilitation of transmission main), the central goverment is in charge.

Q50. Is the daily dynamics of water demand/supply an issue ?

Yes, due to high administrative and technical losses (80%), the Utility cannot meet continues supply.

Q51. Is the seasonal dynamics of water demand/supply an issue ?

Yes, during hydrological dry years, in critical period (august – October) there is no enough water for consumers due to high NRW.

Q52. Management of water losses – are water losses in the supply, uptake side an issue?

Yes, water losses from the illegal connections in the transmission main is a big issue..

Q53. Is the water availability/demand an issue on supply country or demand country side?

The capacity of the water source can meet current water demand.

Q54. Transitional phenomena an issue?

Yes, problems with utility management.

Q55. Other technical issues?

Yes, distribution network is deteriorated.

Q56. Long term planning mechanisms established?

Yes, it exist a long term planning in the Water Strategy of Albania.

Q57. LIASON OFFICERS DETERMINED? Communication process determined and functioning?

All relevant issues are solved by Berat-Kucove Utility and their respectively Local Government Units.

Q58. Joint supervision of the Water Supply System?

The Regional Utility is established for WSS management (accompanied with the members of 2 Municipalities and 4 Communes).

Q59. Joint management of the water resource?

The Regional Utility together with Water Basins Council are responsible for the water resource management.

Q60. Contingency plans existing?

No.

Q61. Main problems identified:

Yes: 1. Infrastructure Investments Needs ( transmission main and distibution network); 2. Expand the service area;.

Q62. Other comments:

No.

Q63. Vision:

To provide a sustainable, reliable, and secure water supply, in sufficient quantity and proper quality, in compliance with the laws applicable in the Republic of Albania, at a reasonable price to all connected and potential urban and rural customers and to serve as a model, in Albania, of a regional company aiming at the improvement of service delivery to all customers, given the benefits of realizing economies of scale and optimal use of water resources.

Q64. Do you consider that the legal framework for the CB WSS is adequate, or under-defined:

No.

Q65. Do you consider that the economic framework for the CB WS is adequate, or under-defined:

No.

Q66. Do you consider that the technical framework for the CB WS is adequate, or under-defined:

No.

Q67. How would you assess general perception of the cross border water supply in public?

Quite positive.

Q68. Provide in the attachment shp file of the existing water supply network:

Provided.

Q69. Provide documents on general state-level framework for the cross-border water supply:

Provided.

Q70. Specific delivery contract:

Exists.

Q71. Regulations, technical documentation:

Yes, exists.

Q72. Statistics on the water supplied and payments provided for the last five years:

/