Project cofinanced by European Regional Development Fund Project cofinancé par le Fonds européen de développement régional 1G-MED08-515 “ Sustainable Water Management through Common Responsibility enhancement in Mediterranean River . ” Basins SWOT Analysis and Strategic Water Management Plan for Irminio River Basin October 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE 1.2. WORK METHODOLOGY 2. SYSTEM INDICATORS 2.1. DESCRIPTION OF INDICATORS USED 2.2. TABLE OF INDICATORS USED 3. SWOT ANALYSIS 4. PROPOSED STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN STRATEGY 1: OPTIMIZING THE USE OF WATER RESOURCES ACTION PROGRAM 1.1. OPTIMIZATION OF WATER USE IN THE URBAN SECTOR. PROJECT 1.1.1 INFRASTRUCTURAL OPERATIONS FOR REDUCING WATER LOSSES IN THE TOWN OF RAGUSA PROJECT 1.1.2 INFRASTRUCTURAL OPERATIONS FOR SUPPLYING RURAL AREAS AND COASTAL ZONES (MARINA DI RAGUSA) ACTION PROGRAM 1.2. OPTIMIZATION OF WATER USE IN AGRICULTURE. PROJECT 1.2.1. INFRASTRUCTURAL OPERATIONS FOR INCREASING WATER AVAILABILITY IN AGRICULTURE PROJECT 1.2.2. MANUAL OF GOOD PRACTICE FOR SAVING WATER IN AGRICULTURE PROJECT 1.2.3. PROMOTING THE REUSE OF RECLAIMED WASTEWATER ACTION PROGRAM 1.3. OPTIMIZATION OF WATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT .1.3.1. WATER MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AMONG DIFFERENT LOCAL AUTHORITIES STRATEGY 2: POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF IMPACTS ON WATER RESOURCES ACTION PROGRAM 2.1. PREVENTION OF POLLUTION BY DUMPING OF URBAN WASTEWATER. PROJECT 2.1.1. UPGRADING OF WWTPS PROJECT 2.1.2. ASSESSMENT AND CONTROL OF DISCHARGES OF DISPERSED VILLAGES. PROJECT 2.1.3 RIPARIAN BUFFER STRIPS TO TRAP AND REMOVE NON-POINT SOURCE POLLUTANTS ACTION PROGRAM 2.2. PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM AGRICULTURAL AND ZOOTECHNICAL ACTIVITIES. PROJECT 2.2.1. IMPROVEMENT OF NUTRIENT AND PESTICIDES MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURAL FARMS PROJECT 2.2.2 IMPROVEMENT OF WASTE DISCARGES FROM ZOOTECHNICAL FARMS STRATEGY 3: IMPROVEMENT OF LAND AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE BASIN ACTION PROGRAM 3.1. ENHANCEMENT OF THE RESERVE AND SITES OF COMMUNITY IMPORTANCE PROJECT 3.1.1. CREATING A "GREEN CORRIDOR" AMONG RESERVE AND SITES OF COMMUNITY IMPORTANCE PROJECT 3.1.2. PROMOTION OF SPORTS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN THE RIVER. PROJECT 3.1.3. INFORMATION AND PROMOTION CAMPAIGN OF THE BASIN. ACTION PROGRAM 3.2. APPLICATION OF AVAILABE PLANS IN THE IRMINIO BASIN PROJECT 3.2.1. CONTROL OF THE URBAN PLAN PROJECT 3.2.2 APPLICATION OF THE HYDROGEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE PLAN OF THE BASIN 2 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE The present report was drafted in the framework of the 1G-MED08-515 WATERinCORE project for the “Sustainable Water Management through Common Responsibility enhancement in Mediterranean River Basins”. The WATERinCORE project is implemented under the transnational programme of European territorial cooperation MED (http://www.programmemed.eu), Priority Axe 2: Environmental protection and promotion of a sustainable territorial development, Objective 2.1: Protection and enhancement of natural resources and cultural heritage. The project aims at the design, application and dissemination of a methodological frame for the integration of Local Agenda 21 principles in Water Resources Management in Mediterranean River Basins. Within the framework of the 3rd component of the project ―Water Management in the participants’ regions- Pilot River basin a list of Water Management indicators was formed (phase 3.3). Based on a specific SWOT methodology, the data provided by the compiled list of indicators for the basin (deliverable of phase 3.4), an overall brainstorming about the situation of water management issues for the basin, the strong and weak points presented in the chapters of water management analysis (phase 3.1) and the European and national legal framework, established a SWOT Matrix, in order to identify the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats in the study area (phase 3.4). The evaluation of the data for the indicators, the implementation of a SWOT analysis per pilot basin and the conclusions derived from the SWOT matrix will finally develop a Strategic Water Management Plan for each pilot basin of the participant regions (phase 3.4). This plan will be put in the core of the negotiation tables during phase 5.1. Within this context, ARPA developed a Strategic Water Management Plan for Irminio River Basin, which will be used as a basis for enabling stakeholders to actively participate in social dialogue in order to enhance their responsibility in water management. 3 1.2. WORK METHODOLOGY Prior to the development of this Strategic Plan has been carried out the analysis of a system of indicators to monitor, assess and report on the current situation regarding water management. From the results obtained during data search and calculation of indicators, has undertaken the evaluation of these, in order to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the study area in relation with water management. For this we have established a SWOT matrix and have looked at possible future scenarios, looking from management to behaviour of different environmental, social, economic and cultural vectors. The SWOT matrix is a kind of radiograph of the situation of water resources, its current status and future possibilities, which can draw some conclusions that will try to respond with different strategies. From the SWOT analysis and the results taken from the calculation of the indicators system, will develop a Strategic Plan that attempts both to maintain the strengths identified, as give response to problems identified, taking into account both the opportunities and current threats that face the management of water resources. Thus, the Plan of Action will include a package of priority actions and integrated environmental policies to overcome all the deficiencies identified. Specifically, the document shall include: • Strategic lines: will be proposed with relevant contribution of the municipalities involved in the project. Take into account the sectoral plans of existing local development. • Program: develop specific areas within each strategic line, so that carried out actions or projects aimed at similar purposes. • Projects: projects to be undertaken within each program will be the forecast of specific actions tailored to the actual needs and priorities section of the basin under study. 4 2. SYSTEM INDICATORS This phase corresponds to the previous work of analysis of existing information and the updating and incorporation of the necessary information in order to establish the balance in accordance with project requirements WATERinCORE. Information was updated by consulting various sources of documentation. Each of the sources used are defined in the section "data source" of the file for each of the indicators. 2.1. DESCRIPTION OF INDICATORS USED The indicators are defined within the database of indicators of the study area, follow the structure established by the Project Management WATERinCORE. The following is a summary of the records of the indicators defined: 5 2.2. TABLE OF INDICATORS USED TABLE OF INDICATORS Indicator Target Value Calculated Value Status and trends Decrease of forest From 2000 to 2006 the of forest and semi- (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) Land use aaanrgedrai cssu elamtnuidr-a niln aatcrureeraaasls e of nthaet uarrael aa roefa tsh ed ebcarseians e from 31.4 to 21.6 % of Ithne t htree nIrdm isin iuon bfaavsoinu rtahbel ea.g ricultural areas increased from 64.5 to 74.3 from 2000 to 2006, so (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) Population Not defined a target There has been a continuous growth of population in the study area and therefore the Density value for this indicator 142.2 Hab/km2 (Population data in 2010) population density, mainly due to the increase of population in Ragusa municipality. In the Irminio there are localized species. The dianthus rupicola is a specie at risk. The alluvial soil is characterized by the Platano-Salicetum pedicellatae iblean typical specie that grows along the perennial river banks. It is characterized by Platanus orientalis and Salix pedicellata. In the marshland part the Cyperetum longi can be found. The submerged vegetation is represented by the Zannichellietum obtusifolie, an association Plant communities typical of Iblean and Trapani area rivers. On the with a composition Generally there is a characteristic vegetation of degradation stages of the climax vegetation (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) Plant surfacing rocks, the Oxyrrhynchietum communities close to the climax rusciformis can be observed. In addition, the of the study area, close to the early stages of degradation in upland areas with steep slopes, stage of potential mainly due to reduced anthropogenic influence. Quercion ilicis can be found along the vegetation of the area calcareous slopes, dominated by Quercus ilex and characterized by some species of particular interest such as: Doronicum orientalis, Scutellaria rubiconda ssp. Linneana and Aristolochia longa var. microphylla. On the sunny rock slopes aspects of Macchia can be found, such as Oleo-Ceratonion. Due to the degradation of the soil, the Euphorbietosum dendroides and the Chamaeropo- Sarcopoterietum spinosi can be found. Maximum 986.75 m asl (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) Elevation Nvaoltu ed effoinr ethdi sa itnadrigceatt or Medium 470.0 75 m asl There is a trend-stationary state due to the characteristics of the indicator. Minimum 0 m asl (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) Not defined a target Slope value for this indicator Average slope 20.6% There is a steady state or trend due to the indicator characteristics. 6 TABLE OF INDICATORS Indicator Target Value Calculated Value Status and trends Inputs 146.9 Mm3/year Total water A surplus of water in In the study area shows a water average surplus of 6.6 Mm3/year, so the situation is (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) balance the study area. Outputs 140.0 Mm3/year considered stationary. Inputs- Outputs 6.6 Mm3/year Positive trend or (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) Water table increase in water level variation rate over the previous NOT AVAILABLE DATA year. Average annual rainfall at the stations The study area exhibits a mean annual precipitation which allows a reasonable amount of (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) Mean annual of Ragusa, precipitation. Monterosso Almo, 146.7Mm3/year (1921-2003) mm infiltration rate within the Irminio watershed area. It has to be noted a decreasing of the annual precipitation during the last years. Scicli, Palazzolo Acreide e Modica Runoff coefficient (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) Runoff corresponding to The temporal reliability of the precipitation series guarantee just enough water availability in coefficient available water in the 19% the watershed watershed Potable use 7.3 Mm3/year Total annual Consumption (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) water reduction over the Agricultural 8.4 Mm3/year Agriculture is the sector that consumes more water. consumption previous year. Industrial 7.6 Mm3/year WEI <20%: water- nom stressed region. The water exploitation index measures the relationship between water demand and water Water resources in the natural system and is defined as the annual average total deposits of fresh (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) 20% <WEI <40%: expilnoditeaxt ion water-stressed region. 40.3 % w(caatlecur,l adtievdid ceodn bsiyd ethrien ga vperreacgipei taantinouna/lr ufrneosfhf wdaattear inre 1so9u9r1c-e2s0.0 T3h aen rde seuvlat pooft rthaniss ipnidraetxio ins >da 4ta0 %in 1980-2000). WEI> 40%: strong competition for water 7 TABLE OF INDICATORS Indicator Target Value Calculated Value Status and trends Due to the fact that in the Irminio watershed the Santa Rosalia artificial reservoir was built, the maximum discharge was evaluated at the dam section of the hydrographic network. In the “Piano Stralcio di Bacino per l’Assetto Idrogeologico (P.A.I.)” three hypotheses of Flows below those Maximum flow rate from (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) Water artificial flood propagation were considered: that produce flood discharges structures of 12740.7 m3/sec discharge A: maximum discharge from bottom discharge structures (70.7 m3/s); risk. Santa Rosalia dam. B: maximum discharges from discharges structures (1240.7 m3/s in total, 1170.0 m3/s from superficial discharges structures and 70.7 m3/s from bottom discharge structures) C: hypothetic collapse of the dam in 1,75 hours. Not defined a target Sediment in the Santa Due to the fact that in the Irminio watershed the Santa Rosalia artificial reservoir was built, (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) Sediment value for this Rosalia reservoir from 5.8 t/ha the sediment discharged in the reservoir were evaluated. The sediment discharge in the discharge indicator. 1964 to 2009 Santa Rosalia reservoir is in the range of the value set in the project of the dam. 0,0169 m3/sec Reducing the (Ragusa) plus Production production of urban Volume of sewage. 0.006 m3/sec Due to the organic load in term of BOD5 equal to 1070 tonn/year, the urban discharges have (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) urban waste water from (Giarratana) a significant impact on the water quality of the Irminio river. wastewater previous years. Output per capita per 239 litros/hab / day. day Reducing the Production of production of (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) industrial industrial wastewater NOT AVAILABLE DATA wastewater from the previous year. Have a wastewater collection facility and Population treatment system by ☺☺☺☺ served by January 2006 in core WWTP population. 95 % The percentage of population served by WWTP (95%) is rather satisfactory. WWTP with a top population 2,000 equivalent. habitants. All industrial Industry (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) wastewater wsoamstee wkiantde ro fh ave NOT AVAILABLE DATA treatment treatment. 8 TABLE OF INDICATORS Indicator Target Value Calculated Value Status and trends The urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) of Giarratana discharges in the Irminio Not defined a target ☺☺☺☺ Reused Reused wastewater river above the dam and the WWTP of Ragusa discharges below the dam. A significant wastewater value for this percentage Significant part of the treated effluent is used by the Irrigation Consortia for irrigation. indicator. Total population. 76,000 Hab. Percentage of Population population centers in Permanent population The percentage of permanent population served by water supply networks (98%) is rather (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) connected to the municipality connected to water 98 %. satisfactory. Tourism in some areas often generates water shortage conditions with a not water network connected to the network. satisfactory water supply service. grid> 98%. Not permanent 90 % (Ragusa) – population connected to 95 % (Giarratana) water network. Increased irrigated Area under community 2,285 Ha area belonging to a irrigation ☺☺☺☺ Irrigated Area community of Irrigated area 3,100 Ha Water availability of the Irminio watershed is sufficient to meet irrigation water irrigators with respect consumption in the Consortium area to the total irrigated Percentage of the total 74 % area. irrigated area Upstream III dam. Mean quality Giacomo The ecological status of the Irminio river was determined following the Italian law II Classification of class bridge 152/1999. Pollution Level Indicators (P.L.I.) and Extended Biotic Index (E.B.I.) were Ecological (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) ecological status (CSEI, Iron compared in order to determine the Ecological state (E.S.) in different sections of the status of acoording to the 2009) for bridge. II Irminio river. The quality class III of the E.S. obtained for the Irminio rivers corresponds to surface waters Italian law 152/1999 Irminio Water a modified environment. River III-IV purifier stations S.Croce- III-II Scicli Bridge 9 TABLE OF INDICATORS Indicator Target Value Calculated Value Status and trends Following the Italian law 152/1999, is necessary to determine the chemical status in order Environmental Quality to set the Environmental Status by using the data relative to the Ecological Status. Chemical Standards for Priority (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) Environmental Status for For the Irminio river data for the Chemical status are not available. It was possible to status of Substances and other Irminio river Bad (2005-2006) determine the Environmental Status just for the year 2005-2006, because being the surface waters pollutants, of Italian Pollution Level Indicators (P.L.I.) in the forth class, the Environmental Status is bad for law 152/1999 each Chemical Status. Do not exceed the value of 0.8 in the oexploitation rate (IE). (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) Quantity of ground water. No artificial outflows NOT AVAILABLE DATA (S) exceed the inflows (E) in any the aquifer systems The bodies of groundwater shall not exceed the quality Chemical (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) standards by various status of national or Community NOT AVAILABLE DATA ground waters legislation, in particular Directive for human consumption. Quality values for (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) Bathing water bathing water are not quality exceeded in any bathing NOT AVAILABLE DATA zone in the study area Water tariffs Nvaoltu ed effoirn ethdi sa itnadrgiceat tor. Sinefeo rtmabalteiosn u anbdoeur t" cthaelc uinladtiecdat ovra.l ues" of the The water tariff is in the range Italian water tariff. (cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2)(cid:2) The total cost recovery of water services reached The cost recovery (%) is calculated, per each water service, as the ratio between the 41.8 % for Giarratana and 80.8 % for revenue invoiced and the total costs. The data related to the sewage and wastewater (cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1) Recovery of 80% of the Cost recovery Ragusa, being 61.0 % and 69.4 % for seawage- treatment services are coupled. Data on irrigation service are not available. Since the costs of services. wastewater treatment for Giarratana and Ragusa revenues are less than total costs for all the water services of Giarratana and Ragusa, the respectively cost recovery percentages are not satisfactory 10