The Agricultural University of Tirana organized a meeting within the framework of the AMORE-AL project, during which the results achieved so far and the progress of the main environmental monitoring activities were presented, including the installation of Albania’s first long-term automatic system for water quality monitoring.
The meeting was opened with welcoming remarks by the Rector of the Agricultural University of Tirana (UBT), Prof. Dr. Fatbardh Sallaku. This was followed by interventions from Prof. Dr. Thomas Ertl, AMORE-AL Project Coordinator from BOKU, and the Project Coordinator from UBT, Prof. Dr. Seit Shallari. Also present were representatives from TU Vienna, Project Assistant Meiqi Liu, the Director General of the Water Resources Management Agency, Ms. Anila Shehu, and Ms. Liljana Lata from the Institute of Geosciences (IGEO).
The AMoRE-AL project aims to strengthen the scientific basis for river basin management in Albania by harmonizing international best practices in monitoring with the requirements of the European Union’s Water Framework Directive. Through an integrated approach that links field monitoring with scientific modeling, the project contributes to the development of an emissions inventory and supports the River Basin Management Plan.
The meeting focused on the practical implementation of new methodologies for water quality monitoring, as well as on the analysis of data collected during the first phase of the project. Albania’s first long-term automatic water quality monitoring system has been installed near the village of Derven, on the Ishëm River. The system has been operational since March 2025 and is part of a project financed by the Austrian Development Agency, implemented in cooperation with the Agricultural University of Tirana and international academic partners.
Within the framework of continuous monitoring, MiniDOT loggers have been installed at various monitoring stations, including Derven and Tërkuza 2. The initial data indicate clear seasonal variations and critical episodes of reduced oxygen levels, linked to river discharge and pollutant loads, providing a detailed, real-time insight into the dynamics of water quality.
During the meeting, the activities carried out within the AMoRE-AL project were presented, with PhD candidates Fatos Huqi, Vjola Bakillari, and Xhuljo Sema showcasing their contributions to monitoring pollution sources, building the database, and modeling emissions using the MoRE (Modelling of Regionalized Emissions) model in the Ishëm River basin.
The main monitoring activities include:
Monitoring of river water quality
The monitoring is carried out through a network of stations across the Ishëm River basin, with regular sampling campaigns and continuous measurements of dissolved oxygen and temperature using MiniDOT loggers.
Monitoring of inputs from agricultural areas
The monitoring is conducted on experimental plots at the Agricultural University of Tirana (UBT), under natural conditions or simulated rainfall events, in order to assess the impact of agricultural activities on water quality.
Monitoring of urban surface runoff
Monitoring of stormwater in urban areas is carried out using the automated ISCO system, enabling the analysis of pollutant loads originating from impermeable surfaces.
Monitoring of wastewater and industrial discharges
The monitoring is carried out through sampling within the sewerage system along the Lana River. In parallel, an inventory of pressures from industrial activities has been developed in cooperation with the relevant institutions.
Monitoring and quantification of loads at the basin outlet
For the first time in Albania, a Large Volume Sampler (LVS) system has been installed for long-term monitoring of water quality and for the quantification of pollutant loads at the outlet of the Ishëm River basin.
Modelling of Regionalized Emissions (MoRE)
One of the key innovations of the project is the use of the MoRE (Modelling of Regionalized Emissions) model, which is widely applied in countries such as Austria and Germany to assess pollutant emissions at the river basin level.
Within the AMoRE-AL project, this model is being adapted for the first time to Albanian conditions, integrating monitoring data, hydrological parameters, and land use in order to analyze pollution sources and loads in the Ishëm River.
The AMoRE-AL project represents a concrete step toward data-driven river basin management based on scientific evidence and European standards, contributing to the improvement of environmental policies and supporting the country’s European integration process.
