HOW DID WATER MANAGEMENT APPEAR AND DEVELOP?

The evolution of water management in Romania has been influenced by the hydrological regime of water resources, characterized by a very high variability in time and space.

Since the eighteenth century, the need for flood protection measures has led to the construction of hydrological stations, and non-permanent accumulations.

In the next century, namely in 1898, a first water law appeared which stipulated that the main watercourses, as well as the sea waters, up to a distance of “a cannon beat from the shore”, belong to the public domain.

In 1924, the “Law on Water Regimes” was adopted. For the first time, water management is explicitly included in the text of a law and is addressed, both quantitatively and qualitatively, such as the need to register rivers, but also the adoption of measures for the development of water courses.

The period 1924-1974 is a favorable stage for the development of the water field. The first attempts to design general hydrotechnical works were projects drawn up with their own means by various Romanian engineers. In 1925, the water management sector is organized into river basins.

Between 1951 and 1960, the first hydroelectric power plants were built, such as: Moroeni hydropower plant on the Ialomița River (started before the approval of the Electrification Plan), Sadu V hydroelectric power plant on the Sadu River, near Sibiu and Bicaz hydroelectric power plant on the Bistrita River. However, the program was too ambitious for Romania’s technical and economic possibilities in 1950. In 1954, work was discontinued on all but three hydroelectric plants that had been started. These arrangements were executed later, after 1960.

In 1956, the State Water Committee (SCA) was established, which took over the tasks of the General Hydrometeorological Directorate of the Ministry of Naval and Air Transport. It was for the first time when a central body was created in Romania to coordinate all water-related issues. In 1959, the State Water Committee was reorganized, giving it greater tasks than before, both in planning and execution. Among the important water management works of this period, we can cite the Straits dam on the Firiza River, the Paltinul dam on the Doftana River, the Poiana Uzului dam on the Uz River, the Vidraru dam on the Arges River, the Stânca-Costeşti dam on the Prut River and others. Various water management systems have also started, among which we can mention the system of reservoirs in the Bahlui River basin for the defense of Iasi municipality.

In 1967, the State Water Committee was disbanded and water management was transferred to the Department of Land Reclamation of the Ministry of Agriculture. The measure was a mistake (which was repeated in 2003) because water bodies are able to solve problems created by the often divergent interests of water uses, only if they are independent of all uses.

After the floods of 1970, more precisely in 1971, the National Water Council (CNA) is re-established. The National Water Council was subordinated to water directorates organized by river basins, water management offices, research, studies and design institutes, a construction-assembly trust, dredging enterprises for desilting riverbeds, specialized high schools, as well as a documentary information office for hydrotechnics. The coordination of the water management activity of the Danube and the territory of Dobrogea, including the Romanian Black Sea coast, was ensured directly by the National Water Council.

Between 1971 and 1975, investments in water management works were designed and carried out by the Department for Land Improvements, and those with hydropower specific by the Ministry of Electricity, water management studies and compliance with development plans being ensured by ICPGA. Following the floods of 1970, greater emphasis was placed on flood control works, through impoundments on the main inland rivers including Somes, Crisuri, Mures, Arges. Ialomița, Bârlad and Prut. In addition to impoundments, flood mitigation polders were executed in many basins, including the Tarnave basin and the Timiș-Bega basin. Also, a series of accumulations or enclosures were promoted to combat floods on Tarnave, in the Bârlad river basin and in other basins. Water quality management studies have been amplified. In this area, methods were sought to define minimum flows in riverbeds based on more scientific data, instead of considering these flows equal to etiage flows, as had been done in the development plans. Thus, the information system of the Upper Mures basin was first realized. followed by Arges, Siret Superior and Putna and Buzău subbasins.

Between 1971 and 1974, the institute also benefited from the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which, in order to help the Romanian government solve flood control problems, financed the development of a Multisectoral Improvement Plan for the Upper Mures Basin. However, despite these favourable premises, most new initiatives have had modest results or have been discontinued. The greatest difficulties in this regard were encountered by Paul Solacolu who coordinated the conception of water management systems in the Arges basin, which also included Dâmbovița. The promotion of rational and secure solutions was becoming increasingly difficult in the face of political diktats.

Between 1974 and 1990, national water management programs are elaborated, on medium and long term, and river basin planning schemes are drawn. These activities were done on the basis of the Water Law nr. 8 of March 29, 1974, Law nr. 1 of 15 April 1976 which adopts the “National Perspective Program for the Arrangement of River Basins in the Socialist Republic of Romania” and Law nr. 5 of 29 June 1989 on rational management, protection and quality assurance of water.

After 1989. coordination of water management issues was the responsibility of the Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection. In the field of water management, the transition to a new system, with a market economy, involved rethinking the entire vision of water management. Thus, the Water Law, approved on 25 September 1996, also contained numerous elements specific to an economy with central planning but incompatible with a market economy.

A series of subsequent normative acts imposed a new regime for the use and protection of waters. Thus, in 1990, the National Water Council is abolished and the Ministry of Environment is established.

By Romanian Government Decision nr. 196 of March 22, 1991, entered into force on February 19, 1993, the Water Directorates are abolished and 12 territorial branches are established, as subunits of the Autonomous Authority “Romanian Waters” Bucharest, as follows: Cluj Water Directorate, Olt Water Directorate, Targu-Mures Water Directorate, Timișoara Water Direction, Craiova Water Directorate, Ramnicu-Valcea Water Direction, Pitesti Water Directorate, Buzau Water Direction, Paltinu Exploitation Water Directorate, Bacau Water Directorate, Iasi Water Directorate, Constanta Water Direction. To these, there are added the research institutes: the Enterprise for the exploitation of hydrotechnical works Bucharest, the Stanca-Costesti Enterprise, the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology. The Bucharest “Romanian Waters” Autonomous Authority includes the Bucharest Computer Office, the Training Center, the Hidrotehnica Magazine.

Currently, the general legal regime of waters is established by the Water Law nr. Law no. 107 of 25 September 1996, with subsequent amendments and completions (Law no. 310 of 28 June 2004, Law no. 112 of 4 May 2006 and Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government no. 3 of 5 February 2010). The provisions of this law repeal the Water Law nr. 8/1974 and Law nr. 5/1989.

By Romanian Government Decision nr. 981 of December 29, 1998, the National Company “Romanian Waters” S.A. Bucharest is established, and 11 basin subunits return to the name of Water Directions, as follows: Someș – Tisa Water Directorate, organized at the level of the Someș – Tisa hydrographic area, based in Cluj-Napoca; Crișuri Water Directorate, organized at the level of the Crișuri hydrographic area, based in Oradea; Mures Water Directorate, organized at the level of the Mures hydrographic area, based in Targu Mures; Banat Water Directorate, organized at the level of the Banat hydrographic area, based in Timisoara; Jiu Water Directorate, organized at the level of Jiu hydrographic area; Olt Water Directorate, organized at the level of the Olt hydrographic area; Arges – Vedea Water Directorate, organized at the level of the Arges – Vedea hydrographic area, based in Pitesti; Water Directorate Ialomița – Buzău, organized at the level of the hydrographic area Ialomița – Buzau, based in Buzau; Siret Water Directorate, organized at the level of the Siret hydrographic area, based in Bacau; Prut Water Directorate, organized at the level of the Prut hydrographic area and the Bârlad River, based in Iasi; Dobrogea – Seaside Water Directorate, organized at the level of Dobrogea – Seaside hydrographic space, based in Constanta. To these, other subunits are added: Training Center and Hydrotechnical Magazine.

Romanian Government Emergency Ordinance nr. 107 of 20 September 2002 (amended and supplemented by Romanian Government Emergency Ordinance no. 73/2005, approved by Law no. 400 of 27 December 2005), approved by Law no. 404/2003, provides for the establishment of the National Administration “Romanian Waters” Bucharest, a public institution of national interest, with legal personality, which operates on the basis of management and economic autonomy. By Romanian Government Decision nr. 1176 of September 29, 2005 approves the Statute of organization and functioning of the National Administration “Romanian Waters” Bucharest.

HISTORY OF BASIN WATER ADMINISTRATIONS

The creation of a legal regime capable of responding to the needs of protection and protection of waters, of ensuring their complex and rational use, in order to preserve natural resources, led, in 1975, to the establishment of the National Water Council, by Decree nr. 156 of 24 December. Basin units, called Water Directions, are also established now.

Decree No. 156 of December 24, 1975 is the legal document based on which, in 1977, the Water Departments and the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology are established, as budgetary units with legal personality. The directorates are organized into three types of size, according to the organizational structures and criteria of establishment. Also, county water management units, called Water Management Offices, are established.

By Order of the Ministry of Environment nr. 11 of August 2, 1990, the Water Directorates are re-established, units with legal personality and own financial management and their subunits, called Hydrotechnical Works Exploitations. This document abolishes the Water Management Offices.

By Romanian Government Decision nr. 196 of March 22, 1991, entered into force on February 19, 1993, the Water Departments are abolished and 12 territorial branches are established, as subunits of the Autonomous Authority “Romanian Waters” Bucharest.

By Romanian Government Decision nr. 981 of December 29, 1998 the National Company “Romanian Waters” SA Bucharest is established, and the basin subunits return to the name of Water Directions.

Through the Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nr. 107 of 20 September 2002 (amended and supplemented by Romanian Government Emergency Ordinance no. 73/2005, approved by Law no. 400 of 27 December 2005), approved by Law no. 404/2003, which provides for the establishment of the National Administration “Romanian Waters” Bucharest, a public institution of national interest, with legal personality, the Water Directorate is maintained as a basin unit, but the Water Management Systems subunits are established.

Through the Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nr. 3 of February 5, 2010, amending and supplementing the Water Law nr. 107/1996, Water Directorate….becomes Basin Water Administration …..

HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HYDROLOGY AND WATER MANAGEMENT

In 1838, the first hydrometric station is established at Orşova on the Danube. It follows: Radna (Mures) – 1853, Drencova (Danube) – 1854, Savârşin (Mures) – 1859, Arad (Mures) – 1861.

By 1930, the hydrometric network reached 250 stations. During this period, observations and measurements were not organized in nature and consisted mainly of measuring levels. In 1925, the Romanian Hydrographic Service is established, which performs measurements of water flows, but interrupted in 1933.

Between 1951 and 1955, the foundations of modern hydrology were laid, by establishing the General Hydrometeorological Directorate and by resuming measurements. In 1951, the General Hydrometeorological Directorate was established, including both the Central Meteorological Institute and the Hydrological Sector, subordinated to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry, which operated between 1951-1959. In 1951, the General Hydrometeorological Directorate coordinated a meteorological network comprising 102 synoptic stations, 230 climatological stations, 1665 pluviometric stations and 250 phenological stations. In the period 1953-1956, but especially after 1960, intensive construction of the groundwater base network begins.

In 1957, the first organizational form of the current Institute was established, by bringing together research teams in the fields of hydrology, hydraulics, foundations and water quality within the Institute for Hydrotechnical Studies and Research (ISCH). In 1959-1969, it becomes the “Institute of Hydrotechnical Studies and Research”, and between 1969-1970, it becomes the “Institute of Studies and Research of Land Reclamation and Water Management”.

In 1977, it becomes the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology” which passes in 1977 under the subordination of the National Water Council, along with: the Institute for Research and Design for Water Management, based in Bucharest; Special hydrotechnical works enterprise based in Bucharest; Construction Trust for Land Improvements, based in Oradea; “Stânca” enterprise, based in Iasi; magazine “Hidrotehnica”.

By Romanian Government Decision nr. 981 of December 29, 1998, the National Company “Romanian Waters” SA Bucharest is established, and the National Institute of Meteorology and Water Management is detached from the structure of the Autonomous Authority “Romanian Waters” and subordinated to the Ministry of Waters, Forests and Environmental Protection and becomes “National Company National Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Water Management”.

Through the Emergency Ordinance of the Romanian Government nr. 107 of September 20, 2002, the National Administration “Romanian Waters” is established, and the activity of hydrology, hydrogeology and water management is taken over from the National Company “National Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Water Management” – S.A., which becomes the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management, under the authority of the National Administration “Romanian Waters”.