2005 - 2006 - Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2012

CROATIA PART 2: COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Croatia
Economics (2003)
GDP per capita US$5,025
GDP per capita (PPP) US$10,610
GDP in Agriculture 8%
GDP in Industry 30%
GDP in Services 62%
Management
Hrvatske Vode (Croatian Waters) is the principal central government agency in charge of water
resource management. Municipal entities operate on a city level, for example the Split Water and
Sewerage Company (SWSC). The Law on Waters and the Law on Water Management Financing
were passed in 1995. Croatia aims to bring its environmental standards into line with EU standards
with the long term aim of meeting EU accession requirements. At the same time, effluent discharges
to bathing waters are being treated as part of reviving the Dalmatian Coast’s tourist industry. The
government seeks to raise the public water supply connection rate from 62% in 1991 and 73% by
2000 to 90% by 2005. Distribution losses were 46% in 1998 and 43% in 1999 and rose to 46% in
2003. During the 1991-92 war, 15-20% of the water system was destroyed.
Overall, in 2003 76% of people have piped water, 40% sewerage and 12% sewage treatment. There
are 81 sewage treatment works currently in operation:
Sewage treatment Total
Secondary 4%
Primary 6%
Pre-treatment 2%
Untreated 88%
Total 100%
The development of the sewerage networks is directly related to the size of urban settlements:
Population None Partial Extensive
2,000–10,000 85 63 41
10,000–50,000 0 4 27
> 50,000 0 0 7
Total 85 67 75
The average water price in Croatia is about €0.90 (6-7Kune) per m3. This includes VAT and all
contributions to Croatian Water. The internal price used for covering operating costs is probably less
than €0.5. For full cost recovery, the price should be about 12Kune, or €1.5.
Population
2003 (million) 4.4
2015 (million) 4.3
Urbanisation (2003) 59%
Urbanisation (2015) 65%
In urban agglomerations, 2015 26%
Implementation
From 1995, the complete regulation of water resources and water management in Croatia is based on
the Water Act, which includes a number of sub legal acts envisaged by the Act. Under the legislative
framework, administration and inspection is carried out by the State Water Directorate. The Croatian
Waters company is responsible for carrying out water management activities as defined by the Water
Act, in collaboration with local enterprises in various catchment areas. Croatian Waters also coordinate
and finance realisation of the surface water quality monitoring programme which is carried
out by the authorised laboratories.
75 Pinsent Masons Water Yearbook 2005 – 2006