2015年-世界发展银行全球_Water_and_Wastewater_Services_in_the_Danube_Region___Bosnia_and_Herzegovina_Country_Note_16页_2mb

Bosnia and Herzegovina Country Note Summary

Core Content

This document provides an overview of the water and wastewater services sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as part of the Danube Water Program, highlighting key challenges, sector structure, service performance, and policy context.

Main Sector Challenges

• Tariff Setting: Water utilities in BiH do not generate sufficient revenues to maintain infrastructure. Tariffs are insufficient to cover operating and maintenance costs, and need to be based on sound cost recovery principles.
• Wastewater Treatment Coverage: The number and standards of sewerage systems and wastewater treatment plants are inadequate, posing serious health and environmental risks.
• Staff Competencies and Operational Efficiency: There is a lack of qualified staff in water and wastewater utilities, which hampers efficiency improvements.
• Water Quality in Rural Areas: Rural areas face issues with water turbidity, bacteriological contamination, and chemical presence (such as iron and manganese), making water undrinkable.

Sector Structure

• Service Providers: There are 142 formal water service providers, all public, managed by local government units.
• Ownership: Services are owned by local government units, with some exceptions.
• Geographic Scope: Most providers serve one to a few cities.
• Regulatory Framework: There is no national regulatory agency or official benchmarking system.
• Water Services Law: No national law exists for water services.
• Private Sector Participation: Limited to a few small water services.

Service Provision

• Population Served: The average population served by a utility is 15,641.
• Large Providers: Six large providers in Sarajevo and Mostar serve about 13% of the population.
• Small and Medium Providers: About 45% of the population is served by smaller municipal utilities.
• Self-Provision: The remaining 42% rely on self-provision.
• Service Scope: Most utilities provide both water and sanitation services, except in larger cities where they are separated.
• Coverage: Piped water access is 88%, flush toilet access is 91%, but access to public services is lower at 58% for water and 31% for sewerage.

Policy and Governance

• Administrative Structure: BiH is a federal republic with two entities (FBiH and RS) and one district (Brčko).
• Ministries: FBiH has the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Management and Forestry, while RS has the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.
• Water Agencies: Three Water Agencies were created under the 2006 Water Act, but the RS one has since become a public utility.
• Environmental Protection: The Environmental Protection Fund plays a key role in financing environmental activities, including water protection and flood prevention.

Service Performance

• Water Supply Continuity: Data is not available for service continuity, but the Danube average is 20 hours/day.
• Nonrevenue Water: 30 m³/km/day, higher than the Danube average of 35 m³/km/day.
• Water Utility Performance Index (WUPI): 52, below the Danube average of 69 and best practice of 94.
• Drinking Water Quality: 79% of samples are in full compliance with standards, compared to 93% in the Danube average and 99.9% in best practice.
• Customer Satisfaction: 76% of the population is satisfied with water services, in line with the regional average.

Economic and Environmental Context

• Economy: BiH's economy is heavily reliant on exports of metals, energy, textiles, and furniture. Industry accounts for 26.4% of GDP, but has declined significantly since the 1990s.
• Water Resources: BiH has abundant water resources (9,781 m³/capita/year), but they are unevenly distributed. The Danube and Adriatic basins are key sources.
• Water Scarcity: Occurs during June to September, a critical period for both population needs and irrigation.
• Flood Risk: Seasonal heavy rainfall causes severe flooding, which damages infrastructure and affects water services.
• Climate Change: Expected to negatively impact water availability and demand, but no specific strategies have been implemented.

Data Availability and Equity

• Data Reliability: No reliable, country-wide, publicly available data on water services performance.
• Equity in Access: While 81% and 82% of the bottom 40% of the population have access to piped water and flush toilets, respectively, the Roma population is marginalized and lacks basic facilities, including access to potable water.

Ongoing Reforms

• Water Policy Document: A strategic document "Water Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina" (VM 2011) outlines priorities until 2035, including improving coverage, sustainable use, flood protection, and wastewater treatment.
• Implementation Gaps: Only about 56% of the strategies and structures for monitoring and managing water supply have been implemented.
• UNDP Support: UNDP provides technical support to develop a more formal regulatory framework.

Key Documents for Further Reading

• EC. 2010. IPA Support to Bosnia and Herzegovina Water Policy.
• FMPVS. 2012. Water Management Strategy of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• HEIS & PR. 2011. General Assessment of the Water Supply Sector and its Human Development Function in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• MSPCEE & MinAg. 2012. Integrated Water Management Strategy of the Republic of Srpska.
• VM. 2011. Water Policy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sustainability Assessment

• Sector Sustainability Index: 57, below the Danube average of 64 and best practice of 96.

Infrastructure and Technology

• Old Infrastructure: Most water and sanitation infrastructure dates back to the former Yugoslavia, with many facilities over 35 years old.
• Material and Condition: In RS, the water network is made of asbestos and cement, which is prone to cracking and leakage.
• Wastewater Treatment Plants: Only a few are fully functioning; Trebinje treatment plant plays a key role in protecting drinking water in Croatia.
• Network Length: 16,291 km for water and 4,339 km for wastewater.
• Connections per km: 41 for water and 70 for wastewater.

Conclusion

Bosnia and Herzegovina faces significant challenges in the water and wastewater sector, including insufficient tariff coverage, inadequate wastewater treatment, lack of skilled staff, and poor infrastructure. While there is a strategic framework in place, implementation remains partial, and the sector lacks a formal regulatory structure and public performance indicators. Addressing these issues is essential for ensuring sustainable and equitable water services.