A study on water security for central Kosovo

A study on water security for central Kosovo

13 June 2012

13.06.2012. World Bank

At the request of the Government to contribute to the update of the Water Strategy and Plan, to offer guidance for the new sector policy; to identify practical and priority investments; and to assist in alignment with the EU acquis and its policies, the World Bank conducted a study titled Water Security for Central Kosovo. This study included the Ibër River Basin and the Ibër-Lepenc Hydrosystem. The objective of the study was to identify water sources, water demands, as well as to assess the water balance and the program of measures that should be undertaken in the study area.

The specific objectives of the study have been: to assist the government of Kosovo in improving the planning and management of river basins, by providing a replicable tool/simulation model for the integrated planning and management of river basins, and to support the government in identifying priority measures of structural and non-structural nature to help strengthen the performance of the water resources sector. Meanwhile, the sources for financing the proposed projects will need to be further identified by the government since the World Bank has not committed to involvement in this sector.

The study has documented the importance of investing in water security in central Kosovo and has identified priority measures for the short term within a planning period of 3-6 years. The study will need to be supplemented with deeper analyses, particularly to confirm that the proposed measures are indeed the best and most cost-effective option to address the increasing scarcity of supply security. Nevertheless, the proposed measures are likely essential to reduce Kosovo's economic vulnerability to water scarcity in dry years due to supply interruptions and pollution, as well as climate change that would significantly worsen the water balance after 2020.