River basin management plan for upper Dnieper pilot basin in the territories of Belarus and Ukraine

103 Pages·3.448 MB·English

Environmental Protection of
International River Basins (EPIRB)
Contract No 2011/279-666

A project funded by A project implemented by Consortium

the European Union led by Hulla & Co. Human Dynamics KG

RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR
UPPER DNIEPER PILOT BASIN
IN THE TERRITORIES OF BELARUS AND UKRAINE

COMPONENT A – RIVER BASIN ANALYSIS

Prepared by
the Republican Center for Radiation Control and Environmental Monitoring,
(Belarus)
and
the Ukrainian Center of Environmental and Water Projects of Academy of
Technological Sciences(Ukraine)

March 2013

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 4
1. BASIN OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................... 6
1.1. Executive summary ........................................................................................................ 6
1.1.1. International cooperation and coordination in the basin........................................... 7
1.1.2. Identification of authorities for implementation of RBMPs ....................................... 8
1.2. Natural conditions ....................................................................................................... 12
1.2.1. Geology and topography ........................................................................................... 12
1.2.2. Climate and vegetation ............................................................................................. 17
1.2.3. Protection of water sources ...................................................................................... 20
1.2.4. Protection of nature areas and ecosystems ............................................................. 24
1.3. Hydrological characteristics .......................................................................................... 26
1.3.1. Surface water resources ........................................................................................... 27
1.3.2. Groundwater resources ............................................................................................ 38
2. HUMAN ACTIVITIES ............................................................................................................... 44
2.1. Population and demography ........................................................................................ 44
2.2. History of economic activities ....................................................................................... 44
2.3. Industry and mining ..................................................................................................... 45
2.4. Agriculture and irrigation ............................................................................................. 47
2.5. Water withdrawal and wastewater discharge ............................................................... 49
2.6. Flood protection .......................................................................................................... 53
2.7. Hydropower generation ............................................................................................... 54
2.8. Fishing industry ............................................................................................................ 55
2.9. Transport and navigation ............................................................................................. 56
2.10. Forestry ....................................................................................................................... 57
2.11. Tourism and recreation ................................................................................................ 57
3. ANTHROPOGENIC PRESSURES AND IMPACTS ......................................................................... 58
3.1. River control and hydropower generation .................................................................... 59
3.2. Water withdrawal and wastewater discharge ............................................................... 61
3.3. Industry ....................................................................................................................... 68
3.4. Agriculture ................................................................................................................... 69
3.5. Waste generation......................................................................................................... 72
3.6. Trans-boundary pollution transfer ................................................................................ 75
3.7. Radioactive pollution of surface waters ........................................................................ 76
3.8. Key anthropogenic pressures and impacts .................................................................... 77
4. WATER QUALITY MONITORING .............................................................................................. 79
4.1. Surface water quality monitoring ................................................................................. 79
4.1.1. Monitoring infrastructure ......................................................................................... 79
4.1.2. Methodology ............................................................................................................. 82
4.1.3. Monitoring for priority substances ........................................................................... 85
4.1.4. Quality control .......................................................................................................... 88
4.2. Hydromorphological monitoring ................................................................................... 90
4.3. Hydrobiological monitoring .......................................................................................... 93
4.4. Hydrogeological monitoring ......................................................................................... 96

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ABBREVIATIONS

Belarus Republic of Belarus
BRGEI Belorussian Research Geological Exploration Institute (MNREP, Belarus)
BUVR River basin authority (Ukraine)
CGO Central Geophysical Observatory (UHMC, SES, Ukraine)
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States
EU European Union
HPP Hydroelectric power plant
IWRM Integrated water resources management
MAC Maximum allowable concentrations
MENR Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (former Ministry of Ecology, Ukraine)
MNREP Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (Belarus)
MOH Ministry of Health
MPD Maximum permissible discharge
NEMS National Environmental Monitoring System (Belarus)
NHMC National Hydrometeorological Center of Belarus (MNREP, Belarus)
NPP Nuclear power plant
PSPP Pumped storage power plant
RBMP River Basin Management Plan
RCRCEM Republican Center of Radiation Control and Environmental Monitoring (MNREP, Belarus)
Russia Russian Federation
SAWR State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine(Water Agency, former SCWM, State
Committee for Water Management, Ukraine)
SES State Emergency Service (former Ministry of Emergencies of Ukraine, Ukraine)
SKIOVO Schemes of comprehensive use and protection of water (Belarus)
SPA Specially Protected Area (Belarus)
SSGMR State Service for Geology and Mineral Resources of Ukraine
UHMC Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (SES, Ukraine)
UN United Nations
Water Convention United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) – Convention on the
protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes
WFD Water Framework Directive (EU)
WPI Water Pollution Index

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INTRODUCTION
Dnieper River is the third largest river in Europe after the Volga and the Danube and the second
largest river to feed into the Black Sea. The Dnieper River basin has total area of 511 000 km2 and
length of 2200 km. The river basin of the Dnieper is a trans-boundary system: 20% of its area is
situated within the Russian Federation, 23% within the Republic of Belarus, and 57% within Ukraine.
The Dnieper River basin is a multisectoral complex of high natural and socio-economic value. Besides
socially important natural resources (e.g. water, land, forests), the basin provides valuable resource
base to socio-economic stakeholders – commercial, industrial and government organizations,
manufacturers, land and water users, agencies for control and regulation, etc. In the Dnieper basin
are concentrated large conurbations and a range of smaller towns and townships.
The Dnieper basin is a classic example of unsustainable regional development as a result from an
attempt to transform the region’s traditional agrarian structure into industrial in just a few decades.
The situation is further complicated by economic difficulties, which press on countries in the basin.

Figure 0.1 Trans-boundary system of the Dnieper River basin

Promise to improve the Dnieper basin status lies in applying the experience of the European Union:
namely, the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), key of which is the development
of river basin management plans (RBMP). An RBMP should lean upon river basin status analysis, as
required by WFD Article 5, “Characteristics of the River Basin District, Review of Environmental
Impact of Human Activities and Economic Analysis of Water Use.”
The present river basin analysis considers the Upper Dnieper River basin situated within the bounds
of the Republic of Belarus, the state border section between Belarus and Ukraine, and the basin
section to the north of Kanev HPP in Ukraine.
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Key objective of this analysis has been to identify the main pressures on the Dnieper River and its
basin in the selected region. A comprehensive analysis of the river basin status has been carried out,
and particularly, a study of factors, which affect the basin.
The analysis includes: evaluation of ground and surface water resources; review of geographic,
climate and hydrological characteristics of ground and surface waters; identification and assessment
of protected areas and wetlands; analysis of economic activities – industries (including hydropower
generation and mineral extraction), wastewater discharge, agriculture, transport, etc.; economic
analysis of water use – identification of main anthropogenic loads and impacts, analysis of water
sources for household and industry water use; review of monitoring capacity and activities;
identification of local competent institutions and coordination agencies, who would be responsible
for implementation of river basin management plans.

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1. BASIN OVERVIEW
1.1. Executive summary
The Dnieper River is 2201 km long. Its first 485 km flow south-west across Smolensk Region in Russia.
In the territory of Belarus, the river course turns south near the town of Orsha. Of its entire length,
485 km (22%) are within Russia, 516 km (23%) within Belarus and 1200 km (55%) within Ukraine. The
width of the course near the village of Rechitsa, close to the Ukrainian border, is 200–300 m. During
high water, when the floodplain is flooded, the Dnieper can reach width of 3–5 km.
In Belarus, the catchment area of the Dnieper basin is 116 400 km2 – 56,5% of the total country
territory. Of this area, 63 700 km2 is the catchment area of the Dnieper and its tributaries (Berezina,
Sozh, Iput) and 52,700 km2 – of Pripyat River, which then enters the territory of Ukraine. The relief in
the basin is plain, formed under impact from glaciers in Quaternary. The southern part of the
catchment area is occupied by the Belorussian Polesye (woodlands), which is attached to the Central
Berezina Plain and the southern part of the Orsha-Mogilev Plateau. Surface elevations vary from 342
m (Minsk Upland) to 105 m (the encroachment line of the Dnieper at the border with Ukraine).
Administratively, the Dnieper River catchment area occupies 1% of Vitebsk, 46 % of Gomel, 31% of
Minsk and 95 % of Mogilev regions in Belarus. In terms of infrastructure, the area is well developed:
there is a dense network of highways and motorways, as well as water transport on Dnieper,
Berezina, Sozh and Pripyat rivers. In terms of available water supply, the basin (including the Pripyat)
has favourable conditions: the available water resources are sufficient to meet current and expected
water demand.

Figure 1.1 Dnieper River basin study area – entire and part in Ukraine (north of Kanev HPP)

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In Ukraine, the section of interest of the Dnieper basin is situated in northern Ukraine and bound by
the Ukrainian state border and Kanev HPP (Figure 1.1.). Its catchment area is approximately 20 000
km2. This section of the Upper Dnieper basin has distinctive peculiarities: 1) the river runoff is much
overregulated; 2) a rather large volume of river runoff forms in this part of the catchment area – due
to inflow of river water from Pripyat and Desna rivers; 3) the 1986 Chernobyl disaster happened
here. The largest city in the Dnieper basin is located here – Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. Intensive
conurbation adds much to the high negative anthropogenic impact in the section. Large-scale land
drainage projects also affect the status of water ecosystems.

1.1.1. International cooperation and coordination in the basin
Belarus
Belarus is party to the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses
and International Lakes – the Water Convention (by Presidential Decree No 161, of 21.04.2003 and
effective from 27.08.2003) and the Protocol on Water and Health of the Water Convention (by
Presidential Decree No 159 of 31.03.2009).
An intergovernmental agreement with the Russian Federation on the protection and rational use of
trans-boundary water bodies (Minsk 2002) sets up a task force the Dnieper basin. An
intergovernmental agreement with Ukraine on the joint use and protection of trans-boundary waters
(Kiev 2001) sets the framework for cooperation on the Dnieper and Pripyat river basins.
Box 1 International agreements on environmental protection – Belarus
1 Convention on the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes
2 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)
3 Convention on biodiversity
4 Convention on protection of wetlands
5 Convention on wetlands having international importance, primarily, as a waterfowl habitat
6 Convention on transboundary air pollution over great distances
7 Vienna Convention on protection of the Earth’s ozone layer
8 Convention on assessment of environmental impacts in the transboundary context
9 Stockholm Convention on steady organic pollutants
10 UN Convention on climate change
11 Convention on international trade of endangered fauna and flora species
12 Convention on the public’s access to information, participation in decision-making and access to
justice for treating environmental issues
13 Declaration of the UN Conference on environment and development
14 Agreement of the CIS countries on interaction for ecology and environmental protection

Ukraine
Intergovernmental agreements on the joint use and protection of trans-boundary waters in the
Dnieper basin have been signed to coordinate basin water use activities. An agreement between
Ukraine and the Russian Federation was signed in 1992. An agreement between Ukraine and the
Republic of Belarus was signed in 2001. Following these agreements, a number of working
documents have been developed: Procedure for necessary arrangements for managing water
resources in the Dnieper basin, Procedure for collaboration in case of emergency, Procedure for joint
analysis and control of water resource quality in state boundary sections.
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Within the signed agreements, an essential attention is given to water quality monitoring in the
points where rivers cross state borders. IN particular it concerns the Dnieper, Desna, Snov, Sem
Rivers and others. The usual periodicity for defining water quality is four times per year.
Every year, the authorized representatives of the above countries meet several times to address the
current issues. An example is the meeting of the authorized representatives of the Governments of
Ukraine and Belarus on July 10-11, 2012, held in the city of Pinsk on the issue of reconstruction of the
Orekhov Drainage Canal.
Government representatives from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus meet several times a year to address
issues related to trans-boundary waters. For instance, on 10–11 July 2012 in Pinsk, representatives of
Ukraine and Belarus discussed the reconstruction of the Orekhov drainage canal. On 21 November
2012, water feed system facilities were transferred by the Belorussian party to the Ukrainian party.
Intergovernmental agreements give special notice to water quality control in border sections of
trans-boundary rivers (typically four times a year) and exchange of hydrological and meteorological
information among the three countries. The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (under the State
Emergency Service) handles daily information exchange, which allows to forecast water content in
the Dnieper and correspondingly adjust operational conditions of reservoirs on the Dnieper.
On part of Ukraine, agencies responsible for international coordination of basin activities operate
under the State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine: Dnieper Basin Administration for Water
Resources (Dnieper BUVR), Desna Basin Administration for Water Resources (Desna BUVR), and
Regional Departments for Water Resources (OblVodResursiv).
An important element of intergovernmental agreements is the obligation to exchange the
hydrometeorological information among all the three countries. It allows compiling forecasts of the
Dnieper water content and adjusting the operation modes of the Dnieper reservoirs accordingly.
Such information arrives to the Ukrainian Hydro- Meteorological Centre on the daily basis.
Box 2 International agreements on environmental protection – Ukraine
1 Convention of World Meteorological Organizations
2 Convention on protection of ozone layer
3 Convention on Protection of the world’s cultural and natural heritage
4 Convention on wetlands having international importance, primarily, as a waterfowl habitat
5 Convention on transboundary air pollution over great distances
6 Vienna Convention on protection of the Earth’s ozone layer
7 Convention on control of transboundary transportation and removal of toxic waste
8 Convention on assessment of environmental impacts in the transboundary context
9 Stockholm Convention on steady organic pollutants
10 Convention on biodiversity
11 Convention on protection and use of transboundary watercourses and international lakes
12 Convention on prevention of sea pollution with waste and other discharges
13 Convention on protection of the Black Sea against pollution
14 Convention on international trade of endangered fauna and flora species (CITES)
15 Convention on protection of wildlife and its European habitat
16 Convention on protection of migrating wildlife
17 Convention on the public’s access to information, participation in decision-making and access to
justice for treating environmental issues
18 Declaration of the UN Conference on environment and development
19 Agreement of the CIS countries on interaction for ecology and environmental protection

1.1.2. Identification of authorities for implementation of RBMPs
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Belarus
Water use and protection in Belarus are regulated in the Water Code of the Republic Of Belarus (Law
No. 191-Z of 15.07.1998, last amended 13.06.2007). Article 7 of the Water Code stipulates that water
use and protection in Belarus are state controlled – by the President of the Republic of Belarus, the
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, local councils of deputies, executive and
administering bodies, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (MNREP) and
its territorial bodies, as well as other specially authorised government bodies.
The President of the Republic of Belarus defines a single government policy for the protection and
use of waters and approves state programs for the protection and use of waters.
The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus makes arrangements for compliance with the
single government policy on the protection and use of waters and its implementation; approves
limits for water use in regions and the city of Minsk; supervises the activities of government bodies
responsible for protection and use of waters; and supports inter-government collaboration.
The Council of Ministers is responsible for the development of procedures for: control and
surveillance over the use and protection of waters; maintenance of state water cadastre; issue of
permits for special water use; presenting water bodies (or their parts) for separate use; establishing
the sizes, boundaries and regimes of economic/other activities for protected water areas and coastal
lines of water bodies; renting out of water bodies (or their parts) for fisheries and other purposes;
and monitoring of surface waters and ground waters.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection (MNREP) realizes measures to
implement the single government policy on water use and protection, including economic and
scientific/engineering policies. MNREP administrates water use and protection at the national level;
carries out state control over water use and protection; makes arrangements for monitoring of
surface and ground waters; maintains the State Water Cadastre in association with other authorized
governmental bodies; approves and enforces water quality standards for water bodies used for
fisheries, in association with state sanitary surveillance agencies; develops draft normative legal acts
for water use and protection; coordinates sector programs and actions on the rational use and
protection of waters; issues, suspends and cancels permits for special water use as required by the
legislation of the Republic of Belarus; issues state certificates for separate use of water; supports the
fulfilment of obligations under international contracts of the Republic of Belarus with regard to water
use and protection; and maintains international cooperation.
Schemes of integrated use and protection of water
Article 93 of the Water Code mandates the development of Schemes of integrated use and
protection of water (SKIOVO). These are systematized studies and projects regarding the status,
future utilization and protection of water bodies. The purpose of SKIOVO is to identify water
management and other measures to meet the long-term demands of population and economic
activities for water resources, to support the rational use and protection of waters, and to prevent
and eliminate harmful impacts on water resources.
On 9 November 2007, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus adopted Resolution No
1286 “On Procedure for Development, Approval and Implementation of Schemes of Integrated Use
and Protection of Water” (last updated on 02.11.2012). In accordance with the Resolution, SKIOVO
should be prepared by MNREP in collaboration with relevant government bodies and organizations
for the basins of Dnieper, Pripyat, Western Dvina, Western Bug, and Neman rivers. For each river
basin and included regions, SKIOVO should include quantitative and qualitative data on the status of
water resources and conditions for water use. SKIOVO must be approved and used by the regional
executive bodies, whose territories are included in the river basins.
RBMPs
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In early 2013, a new version of the Water Code was prepared. At present, it is being reviewed for
approval. It is expected to come into effect in 2015. Under the new Water Code, SKIOVO will be
replaced with River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). RBMPs are introduced to retain and restore
water quality in water bodies and to attain integrated use of water resources in the Dnieper, Pripyat,
Western Dvina, Western Bug, and Neman river basins. RBMP will have legally binding status.
RBMPs include actions to: identify the ecological status of surface water bodies; determine ecological
problems of river basins and factors with negative impact on waters; identify solutions to problems.
RBMPs include a list of measures to improve the ecological status of surface water bodies, terms of
implementation, and expected results to be achieved by implementation of these measures.
RBMPs will be developed by MNREP in association with relevant government bodies and Basin
Councils for a time period of 5–10 years. RBMPs will be approved by joint decisions of RBMP regional
executive committees in the territories of river basins and Minsk city executive committee.
Basin Councils
Basin Councils are new inter-sectoral and inter-territorial consultative bodies, introduced by the new
Water Code. Their purpose is to develop recommendations on the protection and rational
(sustainable) use of water resources of the Dnieper, Pripyat, Western Dvina, Western Bug, and
Neman river basins. Decisions made by Basin Councils should be taken into consideration in the
development of RBMPs and programmes for water protection/use in the river basins.
Basin Councils will comprise representatives of specially authorized government bodies, water users,
public associations, and research organizations. If and when the new Water Code becomes effective,
the Dnieper River Basin Council will be responsible for implementation of the Water Code and the
development of Dnieper RBMP.

Ukraine
The State Agency for Water Resources of Ukraine (SAWR) holds the foremost place among national
institutions involved in the management of the Upper Dnieper basin. SAWR is a central body of
executive power. Its activities are directed and coordinated by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
through the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR).
Main tasks of SAWR are to:
 submit motions to shape government policies regarding the development of water
economy, land reclamation, and the management, use and remediation of surface water
resources;
 implement government policies regarding the management, use and regeneration of
surface water resources, the development of water economy, land reclamation, and the
operation of multi-purpose state-owned water facilities and central farm irrigation and
drainage systems.

The Dnieper Basin Administration for Water Resources (Dnieper BUVR) is a state-financed non-
profit organization as part of SAWR. Within its legally specified powers, Dnieper BUVR supports the
implementation of government policies on the management, use, regeneration and protection of
water resources, the development of water economy, and the operation of water facilities and
waterside structures within the Dnieper basin. Further, Dnieper BUVR addresses issues regarding
population and industry water supply, in association with state executive bodies and other
organizations and institutions. Finally, it coordinates water-related activities of SAWR agencies.
In its work, Dnieper BUVR collaborates with local state administrations, local self-government bodies,
territorial agencies of MENR, the State Emergency Service (SES), other central bodies of executive
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