Danish - Lithuanian Environmental Co-operation 1991-2000
Chapter 6
High priority to water quality
Projects described:
Improvement of Alytus Water Supply
Rehabilitation
and upgrading of Vilnius Waste Water Treatment Plant
Combating Oil Spills in the sea
From the beginning of the Danish-Lithuanian environmental cooperation, the protection and improvement of water quality have been given high priority in Lithuania and in connection with the Danish assistance. In the Danish-Lithuanian co-operation portfolio, projects relating to water quality improvements and water protection have by far the largest volume.
In the Danish-Lithuanian co-operation portfolio, projects relating to water quality improvements and water protection have by far the largest volume. 43 projects relating to water quality improvements have been supported directly by DANCEE with a total grant support of close to DKK 120 million (EUR 16.14 million). Approximately 50 per cent of the DANCEE support have addressed treatment of municipal waste water.
Protection and improvement of water quality are given high priority both in Lithuania and in connection with the Danish assistance. Actually, water quality improvements and water protection have by far the largest volume in the Danish-Lithuanian cooperation. In relation to water quality improvements, there are 40 projects that correspond to a direct DANCEE-grant support totalling DKK 106 million (EUR 14.25 million). In addition to this, the Danish soft loans scheme operating in 1994-1995 has disbursed loans to 13 waste water and water treatment facilities totalling DKK 150 million (EUR 20.17 million) with a subsidy element of DKK 37.5 million (EUR 5.04 million).
Substantial reductions of pollution
The support encompasses support to rehabilitation of waste water treatment plants, support to drinking water plants, renovation of sewer and drinking water networks, marine oil spill abatement, clean-up activities and remediation of soil and ground water contamination, monitoring of surface waters, and transposition and implementation of the nitrate directive.
The Danish effort has led to substantial reductions in pollution load from previously non-existent or inefficient waste water treatment plants. Hence, it has been calculated that this reduction equals an untreated load from 750.000 person equivalents.
Furthermore, the Danish effort has supported the Lithuanian challenge to upgrade its drinking water supply, and among the other results of the Danish support could also be mentioned that the Lithuanian coast authorities now have the equipment and training needed for marine oil spill abatement.
Waste water treatment
In 1999, about 4,561 million m3 of waste water were discharged into surface water bodies, 60 per cent of the amount being treated according to standards, 28 per cent treated and 12 per cent untreated. Introduction of biological treatment in waste water treatment plants (WWTP) which were under construction or reconstruction started in 1996. In 1999, nitrogen and phosphorus was treated according to standards in 10 cities.
Surface water quality is observed in 47 rivers and 13 lakes, at the points that most characteristically reflect impacts of municipal, industrial and farming activities hydrochemical analyses are performed.
The DANCEE-programme has supported a wide range of activities relating to soil- and ground water contamination and the protection of ground-water resources. The support encompasses such activities as:
|
It is anticipated that the load from the WWTPs supported by Danish assistance will result in a yearly pollution reduction of approximately:
 | 16,990 tons BOD |
| 5,106 tons total nitrogen |
| 471 tons total phosphorus. |
This amount roughly equals the load of 750,000 person equivalents nontreated waste water. In comparison, the total Danish waste water load to recipient waters in 1998 was:
| 3,525 tons BOD |
| 5,166 tons total nitrogen |
| 601 tons total phosphorus |
The projects supported cover a wide range of technologies and scales of rehabilitation ranging from minor rebuilds to new facilities.
Hence, the largest of these projects is the reconstruction of Vilnius Waste Water Treatment Plant, but support has been given to demonstration projects for small scale/low technology solutions in treatment of domestic waste water discharges as well.
Water supply
In Lithuania all drinking water is taken from ground water, and contamination of soil is a threat because of possible leaching into underground aquifers. In fact ground water pollution has been detected in almost one third of the country's territory.
The involvement in the water supply and networks has been rather limited but the construction of a new drinking water plant in Zarasai and the demonstration of the no dig methodology for pipe-renovations in Siaulia network are examples in this area.
Also a project on "Optimisation of Alytus Water Supply" was started in 2000 and is expected to result in sustainable water supply in Alytus conforming with the EU standards which can serve as model for similar water supplies in Lithuania.
Ground water protection and remediation
As mentioned, the water supply of Lithuania is based on ground water subtraction. The larger part of drinking water supply is abstracted from deep-laying primary aquifers, but in areas not connected to central drinking water supply, drinking water is taken from shallow dug wells taking water from secondary aquifers.
Generally, the drinking water quality of Lithuania is good even if the ground water in many areas have high contents of iron and manganese due to the natural conditions of Lithuanian aquifers.
A potential and specific threat to the ground water quality is soil and groundwater pollution at contaminated sites.
Among the most contaminated territories are the former Soviet military sites which cover 67,762 ha or 1.04 per cent of the country's territory. The military activities have had an adverse impact on all parts of ecosystem: Soil, deeper ground layers, hydrosphere, fauna and flora. In half of former military sites, a significant soil- and ground pollution with oil products, heavy metals, in some places rocket fuel is identified.
Oil spill abatement
In 1998, modern oil-spill abatement equipment was purchased and stationed in Klaipeda. The project was co-financed by contributions from Lithuania, Finland and Denmark and had a total cost of DKK 20 million (EUR 2.69 million).
The efforts to provide support in abatement of oil spill in the Baltic Sea are further implemented through projects regarding the implementation of waste management plans and facilities for ship-generated wastes in major CEE ports around the Baltic Sea. In Lithuania, it is the State Harbour of Klaipeda.
Monitoring
The DANCEE programme has also supported the establishment of an up-todate monitoring system for river quality through 2 projects which have assisted in the modernisation of water flow measurements and the updating of laboratory facilities.
EU approximation and the water sector
As is the case in other society sectors of Lithuania, recent priority-setting within the sector has, to a large extent, been influenced by an overall Lithuanian wish to join the European Union. Naturally, this priority is also reflected in the DANCEE portfolio.
In 1999, a project on the transposition and implementation of the EU Nitrate Directive (regulation of diffuse agricultural nitrate load) was launched with Danish support. This project will assist the Ministry in transposition of the Directive requirements and development of an implementation strategy. It is foreseen to continue activities in implementation of requirements by providing assistance to establish action programme for vulnerable zones, including mandatory measures.
Support to EU-approximation activities in this sector was extended in 2000 through a project to assist in the transposition of other EU requirements in the water sector, mainly water quality and emission standards.
A river basin management project and other activities relating to the Water Framework Directive will supplement the above projects.
In 1999-2000 the DANCEE programme has also provided support in elaboration of a financial strategy for the Lithuanian water sector. The project includes development of a methodology for preparing financing strategies. The strategy provides a detailed investment plan including funding sources.
Finally it should be mentioned that the efforts made in relation to the introduction of cleaner technologies and regulation of industrial discharges also impact water quality.
Future perspective
Support to the water sector is given high priority in the Country programme and the targets of Danish assistance are:
| Transposition of EU - water legislation |
| Institutional capacity building (at all levels) |
| Investment preparation (feasibility studies and financial schemes preparation) |
| Investment support |
| Water quality monitoring |
| Control and enforcement of outlet permits |
| Follow up activities on previous projects supported by DANCEE |
Improvement of Alytus Water Supply
Alytus is situated 70 km south-west of Vilnius with a population of 79,000. Approximately 82 per cent of the population are supplied with water from the Water Company. The water supply distribution network is old and corroded. This leads to large water and energy losses in the distribution system and brings furthermore brown-coloured groundwater to the tap of the consumers.
In 30 years of exploitation of the main Alytus well field, more than 100 wells have been redrilled. After the clogging of a well screen, new wells are drilled in close distance.
The main problem for the water supply today is high operational costs due to a short lifetime of the wells and due to leakage from the distribution network.
The objective
The objective of the project is a sustainable water supply in Alytus conforming to the EU standards. It is necessary to optimize groundwater exploitation in Alytus, i.e. select the environmentally and economically sound mode of water extraction, distribution and consumption. It is expected that this mode will demonstrate other water supply companies in Lithuania how to establish an integrated water supply management, improve water supply infrastructure, reduce significantly groundwater losses and save energy.
The procedure
The project covered establishment of investigation wells and a strategy against well clogging and a well field management plan. The staff of the Water Company has been trained in leakage detection and a plan for the continued leakage monitoring and repair of network has been established. The project also assessed an existing water consumption structure and set up an action plan for water saving at main water consumers. Existing drinking water treatment facilities have been evaluated and an action plan for rehabilitation of Alytus Water Work set up. The project has also pre-assessed the sewer system and has set up an action plan for detailed future inventory of the system.
The environmental result
The project improved the efficiency of Alytus Water company by improved well design, reduced energy consumption, reduced losses of water and a well field management plan based on the future demands, as well as plans for rehabilitation of main supply network and water treatment, for water savings and for future inventory of the sewer system. In the end of the project, the results have been discussed at a seminar with representatives from other Lithuanian water companies.
Rehabilitation and upgrading of Vilnius Waste Water Treatment Plant
The waste water from Vilnius, which is the capital of Lithuania and has some 575.000 inhabitants, is collected at the central waste water plant just outside the city. Ultimately the waste water is led to the Neris River which runs to the Baltic Sea through Vilnius and Kaunas. The plant is one of the environmental hot-spots identified in the HELCOM programme.
The waste water treatment plant in Vilnius is the largest waste water treatment plant in Lithuania. Despite its physical size the effectiveness of the plant and the operational costs were far from optimal when Lithuania regained its independence.
Insufficient cleaning of the water leads to pollution of the Neris River from where the pollution load will ultimately end up in the Baltic Sea. In addition, the high operational cost, impairs the economy of the plant. A number of projects supported by DANCEE have targeted the rehabilitation of Vilnius Waste Water Treatment Plant, and it is expected that the plant will comply with internationally agreed standards for waste water treatment, when the rehabilitation of the plant is completed in 2002.
The objective
Though a decade of DANCEE support to the rehabilitation of Vilnius the objective of the specific projects have changed, and the ambitions of waste water treatment efficiency have gradually increased.
From a target set at improving waste water cleaning at the plant and decrease operational costs the target is now compliance with international waste water treatment standards and economic sustainability.
The pollution load to the Neris River does not only affect the local environmental conditions the river also functions as a transport for nutrient pollution load which will ultimately end up in the Baltic Sea and hence add to the pollution of the sea.
Being one of the major sources of pollution in the Baltic Sea, the waste water treatment plant has been included in the HELCOM list of specific environmental hot-spots in the Baltic Sea region.
The procedure
The first projects supported from Danish side included the establishment of feasibility studies on how the rehabilitation of the Vilnius Waste Water Treatment Plant could most efficiently be carried out. Based on the outcome of the feasibility studies the rehabilitation of the treatment plant was started in order to upgrade treatment efficiency to the standards of a mechanical-biological treatment plant. This second project was initiated in 1995. During this work it was discovered that efficient removal of phosphorous and nitrogen from the waste water could be implemented with only little additional costs, and it was decided to incorporate nutrient removal into the project. The project is co-financed by Danish soft-loans, PHARE and the Water Company of Vilnius. The total estimated cost of the project is DKK 120 million (EUR 16.11 million).
The environmental result
When finalised in 2002-2003, the waste water treatment plant will comply with the EU outlet standards and the project will lead to yearly pollution load reductions of 500 tons BOD, 2.000 tons nitrogen and 155 tons phosphorus. The reductions will not only lead to immediate improvements of the environmental conditions in the Neris River; it will also reduce the pollution load to the Baltic Sea.
Combating Oil Spills in the sea
The Republic of Lithuania has joined a number of international conventions in relation to the protection of the coastal zone and the marine environment against pollution with oil and other harmful substances. The International MARPOL 73/78 Convention as the HELCOM Convention 1974/HELCOM Convention 1992, all related to the protection of the marine environment, have been acceded or signed and ratified.
Exercise in the use of oil spill abatement equipment.
As a signatory of the Helsinki Convention for environmental protection in the Baltic Sea, Lithuania has accepted a commitment to establish protective measures against marine oil pollution incidents.
The objective
The objective of the overall Danish assistance in combating oil spills in the Baltic Sea is to assist Lithuania in contributing to the protection and sustainable use of the natural resources and recreational amenities at the coastal areas of Lithuania by minimising the consequences and impacts of oil pollution caused by accidental or deliberate oil spills from ships and other potential oil pollution sources.
The procedure
The Danish government has conducted a preparatory study which comprised an overall oil pollution analysis including identification of ecological sensitive areas, risk assessments, evaluation of existing facilities, legislative and administrative set-up, and assessment of the technical, economic, and socio-economic impact of actual and potential oil pollution incidents.
Danish technical assistance was also used in the implementation of a National Marine Oil Spill Contingency Plan in Lithuania. This work has been carried out in close co-operation with the Klaipeda State Sea Port Authorities under the Ministry of Transport and the Lithuanian Ministry of Environment.
With Danish assistance, the operational requirements from a hardware standpoint with the aim to set up equipment requirements with spill response capacity have been determined.
A Lithuanian-Swedish co-operation project has resulted in the establishment of an information decision-making platform for national authorities responsible for combating marine oil spills. The project has helped in the application of maps of coastal areas that are sensitive to marine oil spills.
The environmental result
Lithuania has now the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan which helped to develop an appropriate administrative structure dealing with combating marine pollution and fulfil the international commitments due to ratification of international marine conventions.
Existing oil spill combating equipment setup has been rehabilitated and supplemented with the purchase of new equipment and facilities. The total value of the equipment purchased was DKK 20.278.185 (EUR 2.723.402). The financing of the equipment has been shared in equal parts by the Danish, the Finnish and the Lithuanian Governments.
Oil spill contingency projects have been parallel on-going in all three Baltic States, and they were used to develop subregional cooperation between Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in relation to marine oil spill contingency.