1 EUROPEAN TOPIC CENTRE ON WATER The relationship between EUROWATERNET and the Water Framework Directive.

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EUROPEAN TOPIC CENTRE ONWATER

The relationship between EUROWATERNET and the Water

Framework Directive

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Presentation contents

• Requirements of the Water Framework Directive

• Comparison with EUROWATERNET and other work of the ETC/WTR

• Gaps in information/requirements in terms of EEA and WFD needs

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Surface water status

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Water Framework DirectiveArticle 4 - Environmental Objectives

• To prevent deterioration of status of all surface water bodies

• To achieve good surface water status (15 years)

• For artificial and heavily modified waters (15 years)– Good ecological potential– Good chemical status

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Water Framework Directive Article 4 - Environmental Objectives

• Reduce pollution from priority substances and cease or phase out emissions, discharges and losses of priority hazardous substances

• Article 16.6 - Priority hazardous substances - appropriate timetable for cessation not exceeding 20 years after adoption of proposals by EP and Council

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Water Framework DirectiveSurface water status

• Quality elements for the classification of ecological status (Rivers, Lakes, Transitional waters, Coastal waters, Artificial and heavily modified surface water bodies

• Normative definitions for high, good and moderate ecological status classifications in all water types

• Definitions for maximum, good and moderate ecological potential for heavily modified or artificial water bodies

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Biological Quality Elements for the classification of ecological status

Aquaticflora (1)

Phyto-plankton

(2)

Benthicinvertebrates

(1)

Fish(3)

Transitionalwaters

(1)

Coastalwaters

1 = composition and abundance 2 = composition, abundance and biomass3 = composition, abundance and age structure

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Chemical and physicochemical elements supporting the biological

elementsTransparency Thermal

conditionsDO Salinity Nutrient

conditions

Transitionalwaters

Coastalwaters

Specific pollutants: Pollution by all priority substances identified as being discharged into the body of water

Pollution by other substances identified as being discharged into the body of water

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Hydromorphological elements supporting the biological elements

Transitionalwaters

Coastalwaters

Wave exposure

Depth variations

Quantity, structure andsubstrate of bed

Structure of riparianzone/shore /intertidal zone

Freshwater flow

Direction of dominantcurrents

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Typology, reference conditions and pressures

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Information required by Article 5 (Characterisation of River Basin District)

• typology of water bodies• type-specific reference conditions• significant point and diffuse sources • significant water abstraction, total annual demand,

and loss in distribution systems

significant water flow regulation significant morphological alterations other significant anthropogenic impacts estimation of land use patterns assessment of likelihood of failure to meet the

environmental quality objectives

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Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET

Water Framework Directive

• Identification of reference conditions for the surface water body types

EEA

• EUROWATERNET selection criteria and network could help with this process

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Water Framework Direct.• significant pressures

and impact of human activity

EEA/EUROWATERNET• Workbook/guidelines

including relationship with IPPC Directive

• (Workbook/guidelines including HARP and other initiatives)

• Proxy indicators based on Corine Land cover

• Eurowaternet-Quantity criteria and harmonised definitions with Eurostat

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Monitoring

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Monitoring required by the Water Framework Directive

Surface water monitoring network should:• provide a coherent and comprehensive overview of

ecological and chemical status, and ecological potential within each river basin and

• allow classification of water bodies • be shown on maps in River Basin Management Plan.• Have an acceptable level of precision and

confidence• Be operational within 6 years

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Surveillance monitoring

“Surveillance monitoring shall be carried out of sufficient surface water bodies to provide an assessment of the overall surface water status within each catchment or sub catchments within the River Basin District.

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Water Framework Directive - definitions

Surface water:

means inland waters except groundwater; transitional waters and coastal waters, except in respect of chemical status for which it shall also include territorial waters (~22 km).

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Water Framework Directive -operational monitoring

• status of bodies at risk of failing EOs, and• changes in status from programmes of

measures.• sufficient monitoring points in

• bodies at risk from significant point and diffuse source pressures,

• representative of relative risks of occurrence and of failure to achieve good status

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EUROWATERNET aims to provide information

Representative of:• Europe - all regions• country• water types within each country• pressures placed on the water environment• policies in place - effectiveness• changes with time• emerging/unforeseen issues

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Comparison of EUROWATERNET and Water Framework Directive

EUROWATERNET

Basic network

Fully representative network

Impact network

Water Framework Directive

Surveillance monitoring

Operational monitoring

Investigative monitoring

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Reporting

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Reporting to the Commission

• River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) and all subsequent updates

• Summary reports– the analyses required under Article 5 – monitoring programmes designed under

Article 8

• Interim reports– progress with the implementation of measures

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Commission Reports - Article 17 (1,2)

Review of progress in the implementation of the

Directive; status of surface water and groundwater in

the Community undertaken in co-ordination with EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT AGENCY;

Survey of River Basin Management Plans

Summary of any proposals, control measures and strategies developed under Article 16

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Format of information available for Commission reports?

• Most detailed information will be in RBMP - in national languages and potentially in different formats

• No detailed guidance as yet on how this information is to be delivered to Commission

• Much information as maps – format?– numerical data?

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Information and data arising from WFD DIFFICULTY

• Format of information: – paper reports– maps– language

• Long time-lag in reporting• 2004: First report - summary report • 2009: First RBMPs • EEA required to report much sooner

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Information and data arising from WFD OPPORTUNITY

• Develop EUROWATERNET – for the EEA and – as framework system for MSs reporting under

WFD

• Suitable electronic format is ESSENTIAL• Removal of duplication of effort• Improved data quality• Streamlining reporting process at European

level

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MAPPING• Maps of marine areas being produced by

ETC/WTR• European river network and river catchments

(the 1000 largest) maps.• JRC project• Electronic format with a common codification

and naming of catchments and rivers • Pan European maps will be produced.

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Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET- Commission Reports

• Representative information on – water types, – water body size, – state (quality and quantity) and – pressures

• in each River Basin and at a European level using EUROWATERNET

• Information on reference stations and unimpacted water bodies

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Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET- Commission Reports

• Information on riverine loads and direct discharges to coastal waters

• Electronic exchange of information and aggregated data using proforma and exchange modules

• Data and information stored in Waterbase• Data visualisation using Web applications

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Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET - Groundwater body characterisation

• Groundwater body characterisation– General description

– Meteorological characterisation

– Hydrogeology

– Human impacts

• Excel or Internet-Online Questionnaire• Map

– Location and boundaries

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Online Questionnaire

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• Significant gaps in terms of the time when the information and data required under the WFD would become available for use by the EEA.

• Thus the EEA will need to proceed with the full implementation of EUROWATERNET to bridge this gap in policy relevant information it requires to meet its obligations.

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Streamlining the reporting process

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Streamlining the reporting processRationalising the need for information

What type of information is required to• assess effectiveness of policies• identify gaps in policies• identify the need for new policies• detect unforeseen changes or problems

Relatively few questions in current reporting requirements on “effectiveness” of Directives

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Basic considerations

• Countries keen to maximise use of their monitoring information

• Prevent unnecessary duplication in terms of reporting to international organisations

• Information must be used to good effect and mutual benefit

• Too many ‘data-graveyards’. • Thus EUROWATERNET is firmly based on

national programmes

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Streamlining reporting and information flow

• Streamlining reporting does not necessarily mean a reduction or increase in monitoring - optimisation, use of models

• Monitoring maybe more targeted

• But there are large gaps in current national monitoring networks to meet current and future information needs - Commission, Water Framework Directive and EEA

• Targeted cost-effective monitoring and information needed - “bridging the gap”

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How EUROWATERNET can deliver EC/EEA needs

• Definition of what is required and how it can be obtained - policy relevant indicators to “bridge the gap”

• Provision of relevant information• Improve reporting process• Improve information dissemination

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Streamlining reporting at a European level

• EUROWATERNET used for reporting to the Commission

• facilitation of information transfer, as monitoring and assessment systems are developed for the WFD

• streamlining initiatives started with OSPAR Commission - RID and WATERBASE

• WATERBASE to store and disseminate the extensive data collected for the COMMPS procedure

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Use of EUROWATERNET for reporting on water at a European level

• EEA and DG(Environment) to produce a joint paper on how EUROWATERNET can be developed and extended to be the mechanism for reporting to Commission and EEA

• Nitrate, UWWT and Framework Directives• Extend to Marine Conventions?• Joint paper should be ready in November

2001

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Future developments of EUROWATERNET and Water Framework Directive

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Future priorities for action arising out of the Silkeborg workshop

• support focus of new ETC on all water issues, on EWN and indicators, and WFD as the key policy framework for assessment

• support co-operation between EEA/ETC and WFD Article 21 Committee in the development of reporting needs and process

• ask EEA/ETC to develop EWN/W’base and indicators (including biological) to incorporate transitional, coastal waters and marine waters consistent with WFD needs

• Ask EEA/ETC and DGEnv to prioritise development of definitions and measurement methods for ecology/hydromorphology and other areas of uncertainty for EWN/WFD

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Common Strategy on the Implementation of the WFD

Strategic Co-ordination Group

Expert Advisory Forum (EAF) on priority substances

EAF on groundwater

EAF on reporting

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Strategic Co-ordination Group EEA,ETC/WTR

Expert Advisory Forum (EAF) onpriority substances

ETC/WTR

EAF on groundwater ETC/WTR

EAF on reporting ETC/WTR

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Analysis of pressures and impacts ETC/WTR

Designation of heavily modified bodies of water None

Classification of surface water status, including a protocol foridentification of reference conditions

ETC/WTR

Development of typology and classification systems fortransitional and coastal waters

ETC/WTR

Establishing inter-calibration network/inter-calibration exercise ETC/WTR

Economic analysis None

Principles, approaches and protocols for monitoring ETC/WTR

Tools for the assessment and classification of groundwater ETC/WTR

Guidance on best practises in river basin planning ETC/WTR

Development of a GIS; ETC/WTR

Integrated testing in pilot river basins; None

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Working group on monitoring

• Starting point is the common understanding of the Directive’s monitoring requirements

• For example, size of water body covered• Monitoring frequency• Inventories of existing national monitoring

programmes - updating of earlier ETC work• Detailed guidance for monitoring each type

of water

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Concluding comments• Current national monitoring and assessment

systems do not allow the formulation of indicators of Ecological and Chemical Status in terms of the Directive

• These will be developed over time with the progressive implementation of the Directive by MSs

• Intercalibration required between national systems

• ETC/EEA indicators will accordingly be developed and refined over time

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Concluding comments

• Essential that the progressive and continued development/implementation of EUROWATERNET should go hand-in-hand with implementation of relevant aspects of WFD

• This will support initiatives to streamline and optimise the reporting burden at a European level

• A fully implemented EUROWATERNET will ‘bridge the gap’ in assessing effectiveness of EU legislation

1 EUROPEAN TOPIC CENTRE ON WATER The relationship between EUROWATERNET and the Water Framework Directive.

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