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This is an article that explains how Kosovo is facing difficulties for clean water, especially the eastern part of Kosovo. This naturally difficult situation in Kosovo regarding water resources management has been aggravated due to the political instability during the past few years, leading to a poor state regarding planning and economical use of resources. In its cooperation with Eastern Europe, seco started a project to support the water resources management in Kosovo, addressing the present shortcomings. It also explains how some municipalities are taking further steps on creating a solution that would benefit the people that live in those areas. Surveillance and evaluation of 23 exploratory borehole drillings in the municipalities of Ferizaj and Gjilan proposal of possible production wells for groundwater use support in defining groundwater well protection zones support in appraising residual water issues support in developing a pilot river basin management for River Lepenc in accordance with integral planning and the EU Water Framework Directive development of a data base for managing water abstraction permits and water quality data development of a GIS-based water information system in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive support in establishing and operating a water quality and discharge monitoring network advice and comment on diverse subsidiary acts in connection with the new Kosovo water law development of a flood management for a section of the river Morava.

State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, (2007). Retrieved from: http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/news/2007/03/snews687424

This is a document about the air pollution in general, and it also shows the main environmental pollutant in Kosovo, which is KEK.

At the end of this article you can find a subtitle that is about the Environmental pollution impact in the health of the citizens of Kosovo.    

Drinking water and sanitation, waste issues, dust and heavy metals, other types of pollution produced by industries and heavy traffic are mentioned as the most important environmental problems that Kosovo faces with.

In this article you can also find several statistic that have been made on several issues, such as only 28 of population that has access to sewage system. Also drinking water in many areas is contaminated by wastewater, and according to this a high percentage of peoples are being infected from diffuser diseases.  

http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/kosovo/Kosovo_SOE_part1.pdf

"Veturat e stërvjetra të cilat kanë ngarkuar rrugët në çdo qosh të vendit, përpos tollovisë që krijojnë, bëjnë edhe një dëm më të madh. Nga shtëllungat e errëta që lënë si trajektore prapa tyre, ajri edhe ashtu i ndotur i Kosovës bëhet çdoherë e më shumë më i rrezikshëm për natyrën dhe qytetarët. Në vend llogaritet që janë rreth 350 mijë vetura, ku nga to më shumë dominojnë veturat e vjetra, të cilat krahasuar me ato të rejat, bëjnë lëshim më të madh të substancave kanceroze në ajër."

Express, G. (n.d.). InfoArkiva. Retrieved 2 22, 2012, from www.lajme.shqiperia.com: http://lajme.shqiperia.com/lajme/artikull/iden/1046843250/titulli/Katalizatoret-e-ndotjes

This article talks about an environmental problem – illegal exploitation of sand from the river banks in Kosovo. This environmental problem in Kosovo is probably one of the most important ones since it is spread all around Kosovo, and it is causing deaths and environmental degradation. This article is mainly focused in the degradation made along the banks of the river "Drini I Bardhë". Drini I Bardhë is the longest river in Kosovo (122 km long) and flows through the Western part of Kosovo. It is the most damaged river in Kosovo, and the deviations that are made in its banks are reflected in the ecosystem, respectively damaging the fertile land areas and water supply system. Moreover, there is an increased danger of floods. The article also includes some legal acts and decision that were made to stop this environmental degradation; however, the good results are not achieved yet.

Leonora, A. (2011, September 25). Lumi i Shkatërrimit të Madh. Gazeta Jeta në Kosovë. Retrieved January 10, 2012, from http://gazetajnk.com/?cid=1,978,92

This article written by Arben Salihu and published by "Institute for War & Peace Reporting" shows how people living in the villages near Obiliq/Kastriot are experiencing difficult times due to air pollution caused by Kosova A, which is one of the power stations of KEK. Moreover, in this article we can find statistical data regarding the effect of air pollution caused by Kosova A on people's health, i.e  lung cancer and respiratory diseases, particularly to those living in near villages. The article also shows how people living around complain that each family had experience a death as a result of high pollution emitted by Kosova A.

Reference:

Salihu, A. (2005, February 21). Kosovo Pollution Fears. Institute for War & Peace Reporting. Retrieved from http://iwpr.net/report-news/kosovo-pollution-fears

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Hyseni, V. (2009, December 8). BBCAlbanian.com | Rajoni | Kosova dhe problemet e     klimës. BBC - Homepage. Retrieved September 17, 2011, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/albanian/reg

The article “Climate Problems in Kosovo” explains; that although small, Kosovo has a major contribution to the worldwide problem of Global Warming.  It explains that one of the main issues is the electricity produced by coal. The article also has involved some of the concerns of the citizens of Kosovo. On the other hand, an environmentalist argues that the environmental issues have been left aside in Kosovo because of the huge economic problems that the country is facing.

References

1. Environmental Management in  Kosovo. (n.d.). rudar. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from rudar.ruc.dk/bitstream/1800/210/1/Environmental_management_in.pdf
2. KOSOVO  ENVIRONMENTAL  ACTION PLAN  2006 – 2010  . (n.d.). waterwiki. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from http://waterwiki.net/images/b/b9/KosovoEnvActionPlan.pdf
3. Kosovo Environment and Climate Analysis. (n.d.). sida. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from www.sida.se/Global/Countries%20and%20regions/Europe%20incl.%20Central%20Asia/Kosovo/Environmental%20policy%20brief%20Kosovo.pdf
4. Kosovo State of The Environment Report. (n.d.). enrin. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from enrin.grida.no/htmls/kosovo/Kosovo_SOE_part1.pdf
5. ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES ASSESSMENT (ETOA). (n.d.). usaid. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from http://www.usaid.gov/kosovo/eng/documents/reports/kosovo_etoa.pdf
6. Shah, A. (n.d.). Effects of Bombing on the Environment — Global Issues. Global Issues : social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all — Global Issues. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from http://www.globalissues.org/article/131/effects-of-bombing-on-the-environment

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Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning. Kosovo State of The Environment Report. Rep. UNMIK. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/kosovo/Kosovo_SOE_part1.pdf>.

This is the link to UNMIK report on environmental issues in Kosovo from 2003. It doesn't contain the latest info, but it might be useful for comparing the information from that time with presents ones.

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"UNDP Kosovo - Environment and Climate Change." UNDP Kosovo - Home. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://www.kosovo.undp.org/?cid=2,124>.

This link is UNDP's published material on Environment in Kosovo. It has information about climate change and it also has the list of completed and ongoing environmental projects in Kosovo.

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MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND SPATIAL PLANNING. "KOSOVO ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN 2006 – 2010." Apr. 2006. Web. 19 Sept. 2011. <http://waterwiki.net/images/b/b9/KosovoEnvActionPlan.pdf>.

This link will take you to the pdf document where you can see an Action Plan for Kosovo Environment from 2006 to 2010