EMWIS Flash N°49-50, July-August 2007

EMWIS Flash - July- August 2007 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. For further information: http://www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- with the support of the E.C. It is available in English, French & Arabic.

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In this issue N°49-50 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/49)
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HEADLINE
1- EMWIS holds 7th NFP Coordination Seminar
IN BRIEF
2- The 4th Euromed & South-East European Water Directors conference, Alexandria, 10-11 December 2007
3- The 2nd MEDA Water Regional Event on Local Water Management
4- Mediterranean Foreign Ministers discuss Middle East and ENP
5- General Assembly of the Mediterranean Institute for Water
6- EUROPE-INBO 2007: International conference on the implementation of the European WFD
7- Mediterranean NO DIG "for a sustainable world"
8- Jordan: New SMAP activity starts in Jordan
9- Israel: Kinneret Basin Authority formed to revive area
10- Lebanon: USAID and Ministry of Energy and Water Extend their Cooperation in Water
11- Lebanon: USAID Wastewater Treatment Plants Inaugurated in various villages
12- Cyprus: Three new desalination units by 2013
13- Greece: Drought emergency on Greek islands
14- Turkey: Turkey rations water as cities hit by drought 
15- Governments Must Invest More in Anti-Water Scarcity Measures, according to SIWI
16- Bosnia-Herzegovina: EBRD loan for waste water system
17- Romania: EBRD helps improve water supply in northwestern Romania
18- MENA Region To Invest $61.2B In Power Water By 2011
19- MEDESOL project: Progress review of solar desalination
20- AquaStress project: First prototype of the Integrated Solution Support System (i3S)
21- SWIMED project: Europeans forge ahead with sustainable water resources in Mediterranean
22- Space-borne sensors help Africa tackle water shortage problems
23- WaterAid: Aid systems thwarts MDG progress
NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS   
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS
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HEADLINE
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1- The Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector (EMWIS) is holding its 7th National Focal Point (NFP) Coordination Seminar in Istanbul, Turkey on September 10-11. The seminar will review EMWIS and its NFP activity progress while the NFPs of the Mediterranean partner countries will present their progress. The seminar will also propose a common methodological approach to allow NFPs to carry out an analysis of user expectations in their country and to consolidate the results at the Mediterranean level. The indicative National and Regional programmes of the European Neighbourhood & Partnership Instrument (ENPI) will also be presented and analysed for the potential benefits to the NFPs. Finally, the seminar will make preparations for the December 2007 conference of water directors and the 2008 ministerial conference, in particular by identifying actions which could be implemented at a regional level over the next 10 years.  Further information on EMWIS website

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IN BRIEF
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2- The next Euromed and South-East European water Directors conference will take place in Alexandria (Egypt), 10-11 December 2007. Following the Conference held on November 2006 in Athens, the main objective of the 2007 Conference, will be the preparation of the Euromed water ministers' conference in 2008, including: - Progress review of key regional water initiatives and recommendations for further action; -  updated mandate for the Euro-Mediterranean and SEE Directors Forum taking into account recent developments; - Identification of the topics and main products (declaration, plan of action, etc) of the Ministerial Conference; - Action plan for the preparation of the Ministerial Meeting. Further information on EMWIS website

3- The Second MEDA Water Regional Event on Local Water Management is organized by the Regional Monitoring and Support Unit within the framework of the MEDA Water Programme “Euro-Mediterranean Regional Programme for Local Water Management” funded by the European Commission and in coherence with the Declaration of the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Local Water Management (Turin, 1999). This Second Event that will be held in Marrakech (Morocco) will be composed by the: Second MEDA Water Partners Workshop (28 and 29 April 2008) and Second MEDA Water Event (30 April 2008). It aims to: optimize the impact of the MEDA Water Projects results by exchanging experiences and know-how gained towards the different local, national & regional water actors, to discuss the MEDA Water Projects results and the need and possibilities for the continuation of similar initiatives in the future, in coherence with EU Water Initiative, Horizon 2020 and ENPI; and finally to give the opportunity for the local and regional practitioners working in the field of local water management to participate actively. Further information on EMWIS website

4- The Peace Process in the Middle East, the European Neighbourhood Policy, the migrations and the future of Europe are among the topics being discussed in Slovenia at the 4th Informal Meeting of the Mediterranean Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Portoroz-Koper, Slovenia (6 July). The ministers analyzed also together the recent French initiative for the Mediterranean Union. Further information on EMWIS website

5- The General Assembly of the Mediterranean Institute for Water (IME), held in Marseilles on 25 June, approved the five-year working plan 2007-2012 for the Institute’s future activities. IME is now able to maintain its mission in the Mediterranean region as a network for exchange and cooperation. Within the framework of this cooperation, the IME wishes to mobilize the Mediterranean Water Community and organize a regional initiative at the next World Water Forum which will be held in Istanbul in March 2009. Mr. Loïc Fauchon has called for the representatives of the Mediterranean Water Community to participate actively in this regional initiative. Further information on EMWIS website

6- The «EUROPE-INBO 2007» meeting will be organized simultaneously with the General Assembly of the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organizations (MENBO), which will also take place in Rome (Italy) at the same dates (08 - 10/11/2007). A meeting of the new INBO World Liaison Bureau will be held at the same time, following the 7th World General Assembly 2007, which took place in Debrecen in Hungary. The meeting will be organized around the main current topics on the Framework Directive implementation in the European River Basin Districts in 2007. As the meeting is taking place in Italy, special attention will be paid to the issues specific to water management in the Mediterranean region. The work will be in line with the recommendations and decisions made by the Committee of the European Union Water Directors and by the Strategic Coordination Group led by the Commission. Further information on EMWIS website

7- For the second time the important event of Mediterranean NO DIG "for a sustainable world" will be held in Italy. The themes of the event will be: Current and future technologies, New markets for trenchless technology, Trenchless technologies and sustainable development of the large cities, Trenchless technologies industry meet public administrations and Rehabilitation of underground utility pipelines. The conference will be based on scientific sessions with the presentation and discussion of papers by renowned experts on the installation, replacement and renovation of underground services by NO DIG methods. The adjacent Exhibition will include displays of all the very latest equipment and visits to working sites will enable delegates to see it in operation. Further information on EMWIS website

8- The Regional Euro-Mediterranean Programme for the Environment (SMAP) has announced that Memorandum of Understanding was signed recently with the Ministry of the Environment in Jordan to help the Monitoring and Assessment (M&A) department develop and apply environmental Indicators. Work is set to begin mid-August with SMAP III Technical Assistance experts using meetings, workshops, training and questionnaires to help M&A identify and use the indicators relevant to them. Jordan’s indicators will feed into the Horizon 2020 Initiative to help monitor and evaluate progress towards de-polluting the Mediterranean Sea. The Syrian Ministry of the Environment has also expressed an interest in taking part in workshops. The SMAP regional programme was set up with the objectives of reversing the trend of environmental degradation and contributing to the sustainable development of the Mediterranean region. Further information on EMWIS website

9- The Kinneret Basin Authority was established this week to protect the soil in the region surrounding Israel's largest freshwater source. Lake Kinneret has long been an environmental concern due to its receding water level, and most recently, last week's forced closing of its public beaches due to sewage contamination of the water. The new authority, chaired by Lower Galilee Regional Council mayor Moti Dotan, is not anticipated to incur any costs. Instead it is expected to save approximately NIS 55 million a year by precluding the need to extensively clean the surrounding rivers annually, and by preventing water runoff which will enable local farmers to preserve the water and reuse it, relieving some of the pumping strain already on the Kinneret itself. Further information on EMWIS website

10- USAID and the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for $1.3 million on August 3, 2007, to extend their partnership, strengthening water policies to bring clean water to Lebanese communities. The goal is to help Lebanese water establishments, such that of South Lebanon, grow into strong organizations with solid business procedures, providing the people of Lebanon with safe and reliable water. This MOU is the direct result of a long-term partnership between USAID and the Ministry of Energy and Water. It follows two previous agreements, all designed to support Lebanon in major reforms following the 221 law of May 2000 that restructured the water sector. Further information on EMWIS website

11- USAID Mission Director Raouf Youssef inaugurated 8 water treatments plants in Haytoura, Ayshiyyeh, Ghobbatieh/Benwati, Wadi Jezzine, Snayyah in Jezzine District (South Lebanon), Rashaya, Bakka, and El Housh in the Bekaa on July 26 - August 2, 2007. USAID provided almost $500,000 to build the plants and train municipal staff to operate and maintain them. The municipalities supplied the land and installed many of the sewage networks. Further information on EMWIS website (1 , 2).

12- The Water Development Department of Cyprus believes that building three new seawater desalination facilities by 2013 will solve the island's potable water shortage. The first unit, in Limassol, will be finished in three years, followed by plants in Paphos and Famagusta. Meanwhile, to cope with the current drought, Minister of Agriculture Fotis Fotiou announced that his ministry was constructing a temporary plant to produce 20,000 cubic meters of drinkable water per day. Reservoirs are only at 18% of capacity and Fotiou expects reserves to give out by April 2008. Further information on EMWIS website

13- Greece on 31st July declared a state of emergency on the Cyclades islands, including the popular holiday destinations of Mykonos and Santorini, because of water shortages caused by a drought and heat wave. The interior ministry said it took the decision to force officials to speed up work on improving water supplies. The mayor of the island of Kimolos warned the island was without water and the situation was unlikely to improve any time soon. Further information on EMWIS website

14- Turkey's two major cities are grappling with water shortages after record low levels of snow and rain in the winter and searing summer temperatures. Reservoirs are less than 5% full in the capital, Ankara, home to 4 million people, according to the country's water authority. On August 1st, the municipality began a water restriction policy of two days on, two days off. A project to divert water from a nearby river was launched in March, but the water is not expected to reach the city until November. Authorities were considering delaying the start of the school year until mid-October to avert the spread of disease, according to the mayor, Melih Gokcek. Hospitals were being supplied with ground water carried by tankers. Further information on EMWIS website

15- To meet the challenge of global water scarcity, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) called on August 13, for governments around the world to better manage how they use their existing water resources, taking necessary and sometimes painful measures to decrease losses in water delivery infrastructure and irrigation, to cut subsidies to agriculture, and to put in place realistic water-pricing measures – all before attempting to boost water supplies. Further information on EMWIS website

16- The EBRD is lending €7 million to the water authorities in the town of Bijeljina, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, to help finance construction of a waste water network that will reduce water pollution and cut health hazards in the city in Bosnia-Herzegovina. A further €4.5 million will be provided by the Bijeljina city authorities for the project that also aims to replace dilapidated asbestos cement water pipes.  The new network will address problems of pollution in the underground water system that is the only source of local drinking water for around 65,000 people. The project also aims to increase the provision of water services to achieve supply 24 hours a day and 90 percent coverage in the city, up from 70 percent now, and 65 per cent coverage in rural areas. The loan will also be used to modernise the water network, by replacing rundown water mains to reduce operating costs and increase efficiency. Also envisaged is the gradual upgrading of a water meter scheme, all of which will add to the positive environmental impact of the project. Further information on EMWIS website

17- Some 26,000 people living in northwestern Romania, near the Hungarian border, will benefit from cleaner water and reduced pollution as a result of a €18 million EBRD loan that will also extend the reach of the local water network. The significant environmental benefits of the loan also include the reduction of cross-border groundwater pollution in the Crisul Repede River on the border between Hungary and Romania. A €12 million portion of the loan will be used to co-finance the extension of the water and wastewater network in Oradea by constructing water and sewage pipes in parts of the city and 8 adjacent communities which are not currently connected to the network. These investments will be the first step in the company’s transformation into a sustainable regional operator - one of the key criteria for eligibility for EU cohesion funds. Further information on EMWIS website

18- The Middle East and North Africa region will invest $61.2 billion in its power and water sectors between 2007 and 2011, a research report by Arab Petroleum Investments Corp. Further information on EMWIS website

19- The MEDESOL project has released its public deliverable "Critical assessment of the state-of-the-art and bibliographic review on membrane distillation technology, solar collector technology and low-fouling heat transfer modified surfaces". The document's purpose is to address the project's relevant aspects of conventional desalination technologies, costs of reverse osmosis plants connected to the grid, renewable energy powered desalination, solar resources and databases available for EU and Mexico, solar collector technology, membrane distillation technology, thermal storage systems for storing solar heat and state-of-the art of low-fouling heat transfer surfaces. Further information on EMWIS website

20- The i3S (say i-tripple-S) is a web-based application intended to facilitate the use of available AquaStress data, information and software tools. User oriented, the i3S should help understand water stress from an integrated multi-sectoral perspective and will allow the combination of a wide variety of analysis and mitigation options to deliver optimal and adaptable solutions to water stress. The prototype is currently in its final phase of development. Contributions and suggestions about its functionality and content are appreciated. Further information on EMWIS website

21- Withdrawing fresh water faster than it can be recharged near a coastline results in seawater intrusion. The Mediterranean basin and other similar areas encounter this common, yet serious problem more often than not. Experts in Spain have identified the Mediterranean and south Atlantic coastlines as being the biggest victims of seawater intrusion, the culprit in groundwater pollution in a country that is located on a peninsula. In the EU-funded project SWIMED, researchers aimed to develop an integrated approach combining advanced computational tools and GIS for sustainable water resources management in coastal aquifers of the Mediterranean. Further information on EMWIS website

22- Zambian water authorities are integrating information based on satellite imagery to alleviate water shortages. With inadequate information causing many water-related problems, an ESA project has generated a variety of environmental maps to provide local policy makers with the necessary tools for effective water resource management. The IWAREMA (Integrated Water Resource management for Zambia)  project is carried out by the Belgium Company GIM (Geographic Information Management) in partnership with the University of Zambia and the Zambian water authorities. IWAREMA was one of the projects initiated under ESA’s TIGER initiative, launched in 2002 to assist African countries to overcome water-related problems and to bridge Africa's water information gap using satellite data.  Further information on EMWIS website

23- To mark the midpoint in the agreed timescale for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), WaterAid has launched a report asking donors to balance their investments more evenly across the essential services: health, education, water and sanitation. WaterAid says that progress towards meeting the MDGs is being held back because donors prefer to support 'global causes' rather than the development priorities of recipient countries. “Access to clean water is usually the first priority for the poor, but since 1990, aid spending on water has remained stagnant whilst spending on health and education has doubled”, WaterAid adds. Further information on EMWIS website
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NOMINATIONS & VACANCIES
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24- New Chair and new Steering Committee members of GWP Announced: Letitia A. Obeng is the new Chair of the Global Water Partnership (GWP), it was announced last August 14th. Dr. Obeng will assume her duties as Chair of the GWP at the end of the year. On the other hand, four new Steering Committee members who were approved by the Sponsoring Partners meeting on 14 August were nominated. The new members are: Ms Shaden Abdel-Gawad (Egypt), Ms Nafisa Barot (India), Ms Maria Alegria (Chile) and Mr Albert Diphoorn (The Netherlands). Ms Gawad, President of the National Water Research Center, Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt, has over 30 years experience in water quality management and environmental protection, assuming several leadership positions. Further information on EMWIS website

25- UNDP Project looking for consultant: The UNDP GEF Project on Transboundary Ecosystem Management of the Prespa Lakes Basin is seeking an international consultant for the Assessment of transboundary coordination for ecosystem management and sustainable development in the Prespa Lakes Basin. Further information on EMWIS website

26- On May 22nd 2007, Olcay Ünver became the new coordinator of UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP). Olcay Ünver, professor of water resources at Kent State University, has taken over as the new coordinator of UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP). WWAP is a UN programme that seeks to develop tools and skills to achieve a better understanding of management practices and policies that will improve the supply and quality of global freshwater resources. Further information on EMWIS website

27- WSSCC and SIWI Co-Sponsor 2008 WASH Media Award: The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and SIWI are co-sponsoring the second edition of the WASH Media Award competition, to be held between July 2007 and April 2008. This competition is open to journalists in developing countries who publish or broadcast original investigative reports on issues relating to water supply, sanitation or hygiene in their countries. Further information on EMWIS website

28- The Ministry of Capital Investments of the Republic of Serbia is looking for a programme manager for the River Information Services Programme. The Goal of this Programme is to improve the safety and efficiency of inland waterway navigation on the Danube. Further information on EMWIS website
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PUBLICATIONS
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29- The Regional Water Demand Initiative (WaDImena) of the International Development Research Centre has announced the launch of the second edition of our online "Water Demand Management glossary". The glossary is part of the Regional Water Demand Initiative in the Middle East and North Africa (WaDImena), and aims to contribute to a more in-depth and holistic understanding of water demand management (WDM) concepts  and terms. The glossary is developed in three languages: Arabic, English and French and targets policy makers, research groups, NGOs and other practitioners  working on water demand management and promoting the efficient, equitable and sustainable use of water. Further information on EMWIS website

30- WaDImena has produced a technical bulletin on greywater treatment and reuse in MENA. This bulletin introduces greywater as a Water Demand Management tool that has the potential to contribute to alleviating water scarcity in the dry countires of the MENA region. The bulletin captures local knowledge on greywater treatment and reuse in MENA, gained as a result of research projects funded and coordinated by IDRC. It is intended to highlight the future courses of action requisite to balance between the increasing challenges of water scarcity, food security and sustainable development. The bulletin also sheds light on the Aqaba declaration that came out as a result of the greywater experts meeting held back in February 2007. The bulletin is produced in English, French and Arabic. Further information on EMWIS website

31- SBA Publication: The Delta review, Issue 40, August 2007: In this issue, there is a section dedicated to Water resources: (- Water resources: an overview, - What is the limit of fossil water exploitation? - What perspectives for Morocco? - Impacts of climate change on water and - Water: a source of conflicts). Further information on EMWIS website

32- "From Right to Water to Water Right in Morocco and Elsewhere" – Houria Tazi Sadeq – ED. Eddif, Casablanca 2007-07-02: The book values the past of water hydraulics while explaining its socio-religious function. It also brings back into favour the traditional way of handling water, insists on the importance of social acceptance of change and stresses the relevancy for Morocco’s decision makers, as well as communities, to understand the value of water. Houria Tazi Sadeq,a lawyer and juridical expert, holds the title of interdisciplinary UNESCO Chair for Sustainable Water Management. She is also a governor for The World Water Council. She testifies, through this book, of water’s effect of mobilization through a social organizational factor and a democratic tenet. Further information on EMWIS website

33- A new book on the right to water: What critics should be addressed against the right to water? This report outlines a number of reasons for which the right to water, i.e. the right of access to drinking water and sanitation for all, should not be officially recognized and examines the possible consequences which would arise if such a right was recognized in developed countries mainly. It outlines various arguments against the right to water, assesses their validity and makes suggestions on means to overcome them. The conclusion is that there are no serious obstacles to recognize a right which is so essential for each citizen. Further information on EMWIS website

34- The Issue n°5 of the GEWAMED Newsletter (Mainstreaming Gender Dimensions Into Water Resources Development and Management in the Mediterranean Region) has been published.  This issue is about among others: the Second Meeting of the Consultation and Advisory Gender Committee, April 2007, Italy, the 6th Meeting of the Circle of Mediterranean Parliamentarians for Sustainable Development (COMPSUD 6), May 2007, Greece, the Mediterranean Woman: Her Contribution to the Promotion of Sustainable Development with a Focus on Water, June 2007, Greece, the Social Gender and Water Resources Management in Morocco, June 2007, Morocco, etc. Further information on EMWIS website

35- World Water Council (WWC) News Update n° 26. Further information on EMWIS website

36- Drought and Demand - Modeling the Impact of Restrictions on Demand During Drought, UKWIR Report: This study aims to quantify the impact of restrictions on demand during the drought, using a multiple linear regression model. Further information on EMWIS website

37- The Price of Water - Studies in Water Resource Economics and Management, Stephen Merett: The Second Edition of the Price of Water expands on the coverage of the first edition and ambitiously develops the theme of the proper management of river basins, both with respect to the control of rivers’ water quality and the defence of their quantitative flows from source to sea. Further information on EMWIS website

38- PoWER Newsletter July issue (7), 2007: PoWER Newsletter is an e-newsletter designed to enhance communication and keep you updated on the latest activities of the 19 PoWER partners working in the water education, research and training sectors. The PoWER program is aimed at enhancing partner's capacity building in both education and research utilising partnership, research clusters and networking establishment. Further information on EMWIS website

39- EU Report Series available from IWA Publishing: This EU Reports series resulted from a special agreement between the International Water Association and the European Commission and its Directorate-General for Research, aiming to articulate to researchers, policy makers and water practitioners scientific knowledge and innovative technologies for the sustainable management of natural resources, generated by multidisciplinary research projects supported in successive European Union's environmental research programmes. This series also intends to disseminate results for dedicated policy-oriented research undertaken in the context of Community Research Framework Programmes, especially research to support the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, the Drinking Water and Urban Waste Water Directives, as well as research to support the implementation of EU Water Initiative, a European commitment towards the Millennium Development Goals. Further information on EMWIS website

40- Assessing water quality in Europe using stratification techniques. The European Environment Agency has improved a methodology for assessing the quality of river water and to relate the assessment to evaluating the environmental effects of water-related EU environment policy (e.g. Nitrate Directive, Urban Waste Water Directive). This report offers experts both a tool to assess changes at water basins as well as an early warning system for water status change. It was tested and validated with comprehensive data provided by France, covering the period 1971-2005, prior to a large-scale application at the European level depending on data availability. Further information on EMWIS website

41- Summary of the Forum on Global Climate Strategies beyond 2012: On April 11-13 2007. This Forum was an independent initiative with the distinctive feature of bringing together -by invitation only- about one hundred people who have major roles in shaping future global climate strategies. The summary report of the meeting is now available online. This summary report offers the interpretation, by the organizers of this event, of the rich material and the diversity of opinions that were presented and debated during the Forum. Further information on EMWIS website

42- Israel and Emerging Water Markets: The Growing Demand For New Water Techno logy Systems: Israel boasts the world's largest desalination plant that is based on the highly efficient reverse osmosis method, and has authorized the construction of another large, reverse osmosis desalination plant. The country exported $1 billion in water purification and water management solutions in 2006, a 25% jump over the previous year's figure. At the same time, the country's universities are seeking to develop new water management solutions. Israeli startups and a few of the country's more mature companies are developing water technology solutions that are drawing attention from some big players in the world. Promising Israeli water technology companies may turn the country into the water technology's equivalent of Silicon Valley, with $5 billion in water-related exports by the end of the decade. Further information on EMWIS website

43- The third issue of th e-AquaStress Newsletter: This number is focusing on the EU initiatives to face climate change and on the AquaStress General Assembly (Nafplion, Greece, 12-16 February, 2007). In the "Project News in brief" columns several activities carried out in the project are described. Further information on EMWIS website

44- With half the developing world without basic sanitation, meeting the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target will require extraordinary efforts, according to a new UN report. At the current rate, the target of halving the proportion of people without basic sanitation by 2015, will be missed by 600 million. The region demanding most attention is sub-Saharan Africa, where the absolute number of people without access to sanitation actually increased – from 335 million in 1990 to 440 million people by the end of 2004. Open defecation, poor hygiene and lack of safe drinking water contribute to about 88 per cent of the annual deaths due to diarrhoeal diseases – more than 1.5 million – in children under age five. Further information on EMWIS website

45- New report: Eionet priority data flows, June 2006-April 2007. The purpose of the the tenth progress report on Eionet priority data flow is to show progress against agreed, stable, well-defined objectives in order to allow countries to focus their resources on putting regular reporting procedures in place. Progress has been assessed in 12 priority areas. This is the same thematic scope as last year. Information on two additional data flows (Contaminated soil and Eionet-Water quantity) has again been provided but not included in the assessment of progress. Further information on EMWIS website

46- Communication on water scarcity and droughts: The Communication on water scarcity and droughts adopted on 18 July 2007 and all related documents are now available online. Take note that this webpage also presents a recent report on the estimation of the EU water saving potential (see the end of the webpage, section 'recent study'). The outcomes of this report indicate that this potential is close to 40%. Further information on EMWIS website

47- Water Policy for Sustainable Development: This book examines river-basin management cases around the world to show how fresh water can be managed to sustain economic development while protecting the environment. The author argues that policy makers can employ adaptive management to avoid making decisions that could harm the environment, to recognize and correct mistakes, and to monitor environmental and socioeconomic changes caused by previous policies. Further information on EMWIS website

48- ENPI e-bulletin July 6 / IEVP ebulletin 6 juillet 2007: The European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument - ENPI: The European Union provides financial support to its eastern neighbours and those along the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean through the European Neighbourhood Partnership Instrument launched in January 2007. This instrument, within the European Neighbourhood Policy, promotes enhanced cooperation and progressive economic integration between the EU and its partner countries and builds on common values. The countries covered by the ENPI are: Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, the Palestinian Authority, Russia, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. Further information on EMWIS website

49- UK: DFID opened an E-Forum on water policy. As part of the consultation process on the update of its water and sanitation policy, the UK Department of International Development (DFID) opened a public e-forum during the period: 16 July until 6 August 2007. In the e-forum, DFID asked for opinions on specific questions related to its current and future work priorities, working with multilaterals, its priorities at country and at international level, and fragile states. The same questions were posed in a face-to-face meeting on 17 July 2007 between DFID and UK sector organisations. The two key messages which emerged from this meeting were that DFID should do more to involve civil society in water debates and that there was a huge lack of capacity in the water sector. Further information on EMWIS website

50- Desalination could aggravate global warming: In Geneva, Switzerland, the World Wildlife Fund released a report warning that the growing popularity of seawater desalination plants had the potential to aggravate global warming. Desalination is a popular solution to water shortages in Spain, Australia, and other arid countries and is becoming more common in the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and India; it supplies 60% of the potable water in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. Unfortunately, the desalination process emits climate-damaging greenhouse gases and facilities dump briny residues back into the sea, harming nearby marine organisms, said Director Jamie Pittock of the WWF's World Freshwater Program. Further information on EMWIS website

51- New LIFE Focus brochure out: "LIFE-Third Countries 1992-2006: Supporting Europe's neighbours in building capacity for environmental policy and action": The brochure shows the positive role that LIFE-TCY has played in helping to solve environmental problems, build institutional and administrative capacities in the environmental sector and increase the environmental protection in the EU-bordering regions. Further information on EMWIS website

52- Integrated water resource management plan guidelines for local authorities provides a tool to assist Local Authorities to meet the challenge of striking the right balance between their developmental role and the need to maintain environmental integrity in fulfilling the Constitutional obligations of sustainable development, socio-economic development and a safe and healthy environment, align with the Water Management Area’s Catchment Management Strategy and apply for the necessary water use authorisations. Further information on EMWIS website

53- The Data Report 2007: Keep the G8 Promise to Africa (Water & Sanitation, page 84-89): The 2007 DATA Report clarifies and offers specific interpretations of the commitments made in Gleneagles, so the G8's progress towards these 2010 goals can be tracked. This year's report updates the analysis on dept, development assistance, trade and HIV/AIDS, while adding analysis on additional health commitments, water and sanitation, education, governance, and peace and security. Further information on EMWIS website

54- Cities of the Future- Towards integrated sustainable water and landscape management, Vladimir Novotny, Paul Brown (eds): With urban waters as a focal point, this book will explore the links between urban water quality and hydrology, and the broader concepts of green cities and smart growth. It also addresses legal and social barriers to urban ecological sustainability and proposes practical ways to overcome those barriers. Further information on EMWIS website

55- New SMAP Bulletin available for download: The Bulletin is prepared by the SMAP III TA team, who have taken over the activity from the RMSU. The major change made is to publish the Bulletin in Arabic as well as French and English. This is part of the SMAP III TA team continuing commitment to reach out to all those people across the region who are working towards sustainable development. Further information on EMWIS website

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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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56- LIFE+ draft application guidelines just published: The European Commission has just published draft application guidelines for the 2007 call for proposals under the LIFE+ programme. These draft guidelines have been published in order to help project applicants begin work on their project proposals, ahead of the submission deadline of the first LIFE+ call for proposals (30/11/2007). The final application guidelines will be published together with the formal call of proposals in the second half of September. Further information on EMWIS website

60- EU-FP7 Call for proposals - European Reintegration Grants (ERG): Call identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-2-ERG, Indicative budget: 9.5 M€. The action offers the opportunity to experienced researchers from Member States or Associated countries, to capitalise on their trans-national mobility period after having participated in a Marie Curie action either under the Seventh or the previous Framework Programme. The mechanism will assist the professional (re)integration of the eligible researchers in a research organisation in a Member State or Associated country, including in their country nationality. Deadline for application: April 25, 2007 and October 17, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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61- Call for papers for the International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress that will be held in Vienna (Austria) in 7-12 September 2008. The Congress programme will include presentations from all facets of the water cycle and is divided into six tracks or themes. One of the tracks is health and the environment. Topics listed for this track include: water safety plans, environmental sanitation and hygiene, safety of recreational waters, health aspects of water reuse and many more. The deadline for submissions is September 15th 2007.  Further information on EMWIS website

62- A call for contributors to the first ever book on "The Finance of Climate Security" to be published in early 2008. Theoretical papers should be between 4,000 and 8,000 words and case studies between 3,000 and 5,000 words in length. Last date for the submission of 1-page abstracts for chapters: September 15, 2007. Further information on EMWIS website

63- Call for contributions for the 5th International Conference Conference on Solid waste, Sewage and Air emissions management. This conference will be held in Kharkiv (Ukraine) in 03-04 April 2008. Its objective is to support and promote the transfer and exchange of best practices and experience, and the development of environmentally sound waste management business; to present new developments, equipment and services; to establish and strengthen contacts between the interested parties; to attract attention of investors, industry managers, business community, public groups, government officials and mass media to the issue of waste management. Deadline for abstracts is 1 December 2007. Further information on EMWIS website

64- 1st announcement of the 3rd International Scientific Conference BALWOIS 2008: After the great success of BALWOIS 2004 and BALWOIS 2006 - more than 300 participants from 30 countries with 249 papers in 2004 and 304 in 2006 all available on www.balwois.net - the Third International Scientific Conference BALWOIS 2008, traditionally will be organized in Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia from 27th to 31st May 2008. The main topics of BALWOIS 2008 are : 1 - Climate and Environment; 2 - Hydrological regimes and water balances; 3 - Droughts and Floods; 4 - Integrated Water Resources Management; 5 - Water bodies protection and Ecohydrology; 6 - Lakes and wetlands; 7 - Hydrological modelling; 8 - Information systems. Deadline for the abstracts : 15 October 2007. Further information on EMWIS website

65-The international Congress: "Water and Waste" has announced a call for papers to be due in 15 September 2007. This congress which will take place in Oujda (Morocco) the 22 and 23 November, 2007, will be an occasion, for the researchers and the various operators in the field of the management of solid waste and liquids, to discuss priority strategic axes and shared objectives to work out on a strategy aiming at reinforcing the exchange of the know how between the Moroccan and foreign research teams. Further information on EMWIS website

66- Call for contributions to a University review: "Horizons maghrébins-the right to memory -2008 Alimentation & population in the Maghreb & the Middle East". The thematic scope is: Self-sufficiency or food dependence, agro-alimentary Policies, Food Quality, Revival of country agriculture and experiments of agro-ecology, urban Agriculture, Water Management & Farm prices. Deadline for contributions: 31 March 2008. Further information on EMWIS website
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TRAINING
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67- New Ph.D. Programme on Science and Management of Climate Change - Venice, Italy: This programme is jointly realised by the Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development (CESD) and the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC). The Ph. D. programme in Science and Management of Climate Change aims to provide doctoral students with an extensive and in-depth expertise in the scientific and economic aspects of climate change, and with a proven record of original research on modelling climate change, its impacts, and related mitigation and adaptation policies. All applications must be received by 12.00 a.m. of September 17th, 2007. The selection process will close at the end of September. Courses will be in English and will start at the end of October. Further information on EMWIS website

68- Water Resources Research and Management Training Course: The Royal Scientific Society (RSS) of Jordan and InterAcademy Panel (IAP) on International Issues are arranging the regional training course titled “Water Resources Research and Management” to be held during the period November 18-20, 2007 at the premises of the Royal Scientific Society in Amman-Jordan. The course aims to provide knowledge and develop understanding about the water research and water management in the national, regional and international levels. It provides the skills to assess, plan, execute and implement the actions in water resources research and management. Further information on EMWIS website

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EVENTS (Full Agenda)
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BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
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ABOUT EMWIS (Priorities, Activities, Objectives, Structure, Funding, Team)
WATER in the EURO-MED PARTNERSHIP (MEDA programme, Key dates)
EMWIS NATIONAL WEBSITES: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Belgium, Luxembourg
EMWIS WATER MULTILINGUAL THESAURUS (Available in English, French, Arabic, Spanish & Italian)- Water glossaries
WATER PROJECTS DATABASE (MEDA-NIPs, MEDA-Water, LIFE, SMAP, INCO-MED, FP4-FP6, INTERREG, etc)
DOCUMENTATION (EMWIS meetings, Documentary database, Funding for water, Key documents, Water Legislation)
WHO DOES WHAT IN THE WATER SECTOR (By contacts, organisations & information sources)
PARTNERS & SPONSORS (OIEau, CEDEX, SOGESID, EC, INBO, IME, GWP-Med, MED-EUWI, SMAP-RMSU)
MEDA-WATER PROJECTS (ADIRA, EMPOWERS, EMWater, IrWA, ISIIMM, MEDAWARE, MEDROPLAN, MEDWA, Zer0-M)
WATER INITIATIVES (MED-EUWI, WFD, INCO-MED, LIFE, MEDSTAT, SMAP, UNEP-MAP, MSSD, HORIZON 2020, EXACT), & ENPI
FORUM ; FAQ ; TOPICS (MedWIP, Water scarcity, groundwater, wastewater reuse, desalination, satellite data, etc)
SEARCH EMWIS WEBSITE
EMWIS SITEMAP
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CONTACT US
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