Roumen Arsov – författare

Urban water management issues are particularly important in the countries in transition in Central and Eastern Europe. During the last decade, political, economic and social changes in these countries have influenced almost every element of the public sector, including water services. There is an urgent need for the various countries to exchange information on this issue and to identify the best approaches to achieve this transition. This volume focuses on the acute problems in the field of Urban Water Management in Central and Eastern Europe countries in transition, giving an illustration of the transfer of know-how from traditional NATO countries. The following issues are discussed: wastewater impacts on receiving waters and groundwater; urban drainage planning and management; urban flood protection and management; combined sewer overflow management and control; challenges to urban water supply; wastewater technologies and management; urban river catchment management - case studies; private sector participation in urban water services delivery - case studies; and information technologies in urban water management - case studies (GIS, data management).

Urban population growth dramatically alters material and energy fluxes in the affected areas, with concomitant changes in landscape, altered fluxes of water, sediment, chemicals and pathogens and increased releases of waste heat. These changes then impact on urban ecosystems, including water resources and result in their degradation. Such circumstances make the provision of water services to urban populations even more challenging. Changing weather patterns, rising temperature and large variations in precipitation contr- ute to increased damages, caused by weather related disasters, including floods. Ones of the major contributors to increasing flood peaks are land use changes and particularl- urban development. Consequently, there is a need to look for low environmental impact land development and to manage runoff in urban areas by storm water management. Much progress in the management of urban waters has been achieved in the most - vanced jurisdictions, but much more remains to be done. In this respect the EC Water Framework Directive can provide some guidance. Urban water management issues are particularly important in the countries in transition in Central and Eastern Europe. During the last decade political, economical and social changes in the countries under transition have influenced almost every element of the public sector, including water services. There is an urgent need for exchange of information among various countries on this issue and for identification of best approaches to achieving this transition.