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Albania - Country Water Profiles

Framework Law

The main law applicable to water resources management, which covers all of the following areas: administration; management, conservation and use of freshwater resources; water rights; waterworks; water supply
Law No. 111/2012 on the integrated management of water resources.
Date of text: 15 November 2012

Constitutional provisions

Constitution of Albania.
Date of text: 21 November 1998

Right to water: No provisions regarding right to water.

Natural resources: Rational exploitation of forests, waters, pastures and other natural resources on the basis of the principle of sustainable development is included in the social objectives of Article 59.

Agriculture

Water used for irrigation, forestry and aquaculture
Law No. 7846 on the construction, administration, maintenance and operation of irrigation and drainage system.
Date of text: 21 July 1994
Law No. 8763 concerning an addition to Law No. 7908 on fishing and aquaculture.
Date of text: 02 April 2001
Law No. 7991 amending Law No. 7846 of 1994 on the construction, administration, maintenance and operation of irrigation and drainage system.

Water Supply and Sanitation

Provision of water services by public utilities or commercial organizations; water supply for domestic, industrial or other purposes; right to safe and clean drinking water and basic sanitation; quality of piped water; sewerage
Law No. 8102 on water supply and sanitation sector regulation.
Date of text: 29 April 1991
Law No. 8103 on the privatization of enterprises of the water supply sector.
Date of text: 28 March 1996
Guideline No. 3 on the management of potable water.
Date of text: 28 July 2004

Governance

The political, social, economic and administrative systems that govern water management and conservation; good practices; good governance; decentralization; water user’s associations
Law No. 8102 on water supply and sanitation sector regulation.
Date of text: 29 April 1991
Law No. 7846 on the construction, administration, maintenance and operation of irrigation and drainage system.
Date of text: 21 July 1994
Law No. 8681 on the design, construction, use and maintenance of dams and barrages.
Date of text: 02 November 2000

Infrastructure

Waterworks; water supply systems; dams; hydropower systems; irrigation systems
Law No. 7846 on the construction, administration, maintenance and operation of irrigation and drainage system.
Date of text: 21 July 1994
Law No. 8681 on the design, construction, use and maintenance of dams and barrages.
Date of text: 02 November 2000
Law No. 7991 amending Law No. 7846 of 1994 on the construction, administration, maintenance and operation of irrigation and drainage system.

Water Resources Management and Water Rights

Ownership and control of water resources; abstraction and diversion of water; allocation and quotas; riparian rights; priority of rights; free water use
Law No. 7846 on the construction, administration, maintenance and operation of irrigation and drainage system.
Date of text: 21 July 1994
Law No. 9103 on the protection of transboundary lakes.
Date of text: 10 July 2003
Law No. 6/2018 amending and supplementing Law No. 111/2012 on the integrated management of water resources.
Date of text: 08 February 2018

Water and Environment

Water in environmentally-sensitive areas; ‘water demand’ by ecosystems; protection forests; water conservation zones; environmental impact assessment
Law No. 7846 on the construction, administration, maintenance and operation of irrigation and drainage system.
Date of text: 21 July 1994
Law No. 91/2013 on strategic environmental assessment.
Date of text: 28 February 2013
Law No. 9103 on the protection of transboundary lakes.
Date of text: 10 July 2003

Water Quality and Pollution Control

Control of pollution and quality of freshwater bodies and groundwater; agricultural point and non-point sources of pollution; water quality standards
Law No. 8102 on water supply and sanitation sector regulation.
Date of text: 29 April 1991
Law No. 9115 concerning the environmental treatment of polluted waters.
Date of text: 24 July 2003
Law No. 34/2013 amending and supplementing Law No. 9115 concerning the environmental treatment of polluted waters.
Date of text: 14 February 2013

Groundwater

Freshwater resources located below the surface of the earth; aquifers; groundwater abstraction; well-sinking; boreholes; hydrogeology
Regulation No. 91 of 2015 supplementing Regulation No. 939 of 2013 on the scope of authority of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Water Administration.
Date of text: 04 February 2015

Disaster Resilience

Water-related hazards; flood; drought; water shortage; adaptation to climate change; early warning system/emergency intervention system
Law No. 24/2017 on the administration of irrigation and drainage.
Date of text: 09 March 2017

Transboundary Waters

Transboundary effects; international basin institutions; international agreements; transboundary coordination; transboundary aquifers
Law No. 35/2013 amending and supplementing Law No. 9103 on the protection of transboundary lakes.
Date of text: 14 February 2013
Law No. 9103 on the protection of transboundary lakes.
Date of text: 10 July 2003
Agreement between the Government of the Hellenic Republic and the Government of the Republic of Albania on the establishment of the permanent Greek-Albanian Commission on transboundary freshwater issues.
Date of text: 03 April 2003

Policies

Intersectoral Strategy for the Rural and Agricultural Development 2014-2020.
Date of text: 29 October 2014
National Strategy for Development and Integration 2007-2013.
Date of text: 01 March 2008
Intersectoral Strategy of Environment (National Strategy for Development and Integration).
Date of text: 23 October 2018

Main basins

Prespa Lakes
Mat
Ishëm–Erzen
Shkumbin
Seman
Drin
Drin/Seman
Vijose
Lim
Drinos river
Aoos-Vjosa River
Vjosë
Drina river
Danube