1. Presentation to South Eastern River Basin District Advisory Council Lisa Sheils Project Coordinator 28th April 2006

2. The Water Framework Directive Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 Establishes a framework for community action on water policy Rationalises and updates existing legislation Introduces river basin management planning USGS (1998) Groundwater Transitional & coastal waters Surface freshwaters

3. Overall objective of WFD achieve at least “good status” of all waters by 2015 maintain “high status” of waters where it exists prevent any deterioration in existing status of waters Waters = surface waters + groundwater Surface waters = rivers, lakes, transitional & coastal waters also canals & reservoirs Good Status = Good ecological status & good chemical status ECOLOGICAL STATUS HIGH GOOD MODERATE POOR BAD WFD Min Objective

4. WFD – Implementation Timetable YearDeadlines/ outputsWFD Ref. 2000Directive entered into forceArt. 25 2003WFD becomes law in individual EU countries The River Basin Districts and Authorities are decided Art. 24 Art. 3 2004/ ’ 05 Characterisation completed: including pressures, impacts and economic analysisArt. 5 2006Monitoring networks are established for River Basin Districts Latest possible start of public consultation Art. 8 Art. 14 2008Draft river basin management plans are publishedArt. 13 2009Finalise river basin management plan (incl. the measures necessary to achieve them)Art. 13 & 11 2010Introduce pricing policies for water useArt. 9 2012Implement a programme of management measures aimed at achieving good status by 2015Art. 11 2015Ensure that the river basin management plans have delivered the required environmental objectives Art. 4 2021First round of water management work endsArt. 4 & 13 2027Second round of management work ends. This is the final deadline for meeting WFD objectives Art. 4 & 13

5. National Legislation EC (Water Policy) Regulations & Amendments S.I. No. 722 of 2003 S.I. No. 413 of 2005 Co-ordination of actions by all relevant public authorities Responsibilities: EPA, Lead LA, Relevant Public Authorities Characterisation of each RBD Development of a Programme Of Measures to achieve WFD objectives Development and adoption of RBMP in each RBD and review every 6 years 8 RBDs

6. Schedule 1 - relevant public authorities · the Environmental Protection Agency ·the relevant local authorities · the regional authorities in the area · the regional fisheries boards in the area · the Geological Survey of Ireland · Teagasc · the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland · the Marine Institute · the Central Fisheries Board · the Electricity Supply Board · Waterways Ireland · Tourism Ireland · the Heritage Council · the Health and Safety Authority · the Local Government Computer Services Board · the Commissioners of Public Works · the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment · the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources · the Minister for Agriculture and Food

7. SERBD The South Eastern River Basin District (SERBD) Established in 2002: first project established for the implementation of the WFD Original project - 4 years (to April ’06) Extension proposal to December 2008 submitted to -allign project with those in other RBDs -to achieve delivery of RBMP Extension proposal- approved in principle by DEHLG Cost of approx 11 million euro.

8. River Basin District Advisory Council 13 LAs Carlow CoCo Lead LA Participating local authorities Contractor EG Pettit + RPS Co-ordinator River Basin Management Group+ SERBD Network Group Project Steering Group South Eastern River Basin District project GIS Manager & Monitoring Team

9. Project Tasks Task 1 – Background Information – Policy & Legislation Task 2 – Characterisation of SERBD (Article 5 of WFD) Task 3 – Develop River Basin Management System –Monitoring System –Computerised mapping system (GIS) –Programme of Measures –Public Awareness & Consultations –Environmental Management System (EMS) Task 4 – Implement River Basin Management System Task 5 – Prepare River Basin Management Strategy

10. Initial Characterisation Data collection - physical characteristics, water quality, pressures etc Data management included the development of GIS Foundation for the Article 5 Risk Assessment Characterisation report Article 5 Characterisation Process applied finalised risk assessment methodologies developed Nationally. Ireland’s Article 5 Characterisation Report (April, 2005) is available at www.wfdireland.ie What did Article 5 characterisation involve? Characterisation of SERBD

11. Water Bodies & Risk Assessment “Waterbodies”: the management units for Article 5 Characterisation & the WFD No. No. in 5 Water CategoryNationallySERBD –River Water Bodies: 4468655 –Lake water Bodies:74511 –Transitional (Estuarine) Water Bodies:19621 –Coastal Water Bodies:1139 –Ground Water Bodies: 758151 For each WB, an analysis of pressures and impacts was required: “Risk Assessment” an assessment of the degree of risk placed on water bodies by human activities “Risk” means the risk that a water body will not achieve “good” status by 2015 4 – category risk classification scheme was adopted: 2b Water Body not at risk and available information is comprehensive and / or conclusive 2a Water Body Probably not at risk but available information could be improved 1b Water Body Probably at risk 1a Water Body at risk What pressures were examined?

12. Pressure/ActivityMain Features Water abstraction and flow regulation Surface water abstraction Presence of major impoundments Morphological alterationsChannelisation & Dredging Flood Protection & Embankments Impounding (dams) Water regulation (locks & weirs) Intensive Land Use (urbanisation, peat extraction, arable & forestry) Point source pollutionWastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges Integrated pollution prevention & control (IPPC) industry discharges Local Authority Licensed (Section 4) industry discharges Combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharges Water Treatment Works (WTP) discharges Diffuse source pollution General diffuse – urban, grassland and arable areas Transport – road drainage (soluble copper, zinc, total hydrocarbons) Transport – railways Forestry – acidification, suspended solids, eutrophication Unsewered areas Priority substances – arable, sheep dip, forestry ImpactRiver biological survey & supporting physico-chemical data Protected species impact data Other assessments (Shadow)Alien species Protected area compliance

13. Risk categoryGroundwater bodies % (by number) (1a) At risk Main pressures 5% Diffuse source pollution Point source pollution (1b) Probably at risk Main pressures 56% Diffuse source pollution Point source pollution (1a+1b) Total at risk61% (2a) Probably not at risk23% (2b) Not at risk16% Groundwaters 61% WB at risk Article 5 Characterisation: Risk Assessment Results

14. Risk categoryRiver water bodies % (by number) (1a) At risk Main pressures 29% Diffuse source pollution Morphological alterations (1b) Probably at risk Main pressures 35% Morphological alterations Diffuse source pollution (1a+1b) Total at risk64% (2a) Probably not at risk20% (2b) Not at risk16% Rivers 64% WB at risk Article 5 Characterisation: Risk Assessment Results

15. Risk categoryLake water bodies % (by number) (1a) At risk Main pressures 18% Abstractions Diffuse pollution (1b) Probably at risk Main pressures 20% Abstractions Diffuse source pollution (1a+1b) Total at risk38% (2a) Probably not at risk13% (2b) Not at risk49% Lakes 38% WB at risk Article 5 Characterisation: Risk Assessment Results

16. Risk categoryTransitional water bodies % (by number) (1a) At risk Main pressures 30% Morphological alterations Pollution impacts (1b) Probably at risk Main pressures 23% Morphological alterations Pollution impacts (1a+1b) Total at risk53% (2a) Probably not at risk20% (2b) Not at risk27% Transitional 53% WB at risk Article 5 Characterisation: Risk Assessment Results

17. Risk categoryCoastal water bodies % (by number) (1a) At risk Main pressures 12% Morphological alterations Pollution impacts (1b) Probably at risk Main pressures 15% Morphological alterations Pollution impacts (1a+1b) Total at risk27% (2a) Probably not at risk31% (2b) Not at risk42% Coastal 27% WB at risk Article 5 Characterisation: Risk Assessment Results

18. Status May 2005 Where do we stand now ? WFD Implementation (May 2005)

20. Access to data through a map interface, or through data base queries Ready access to help on front page, and throughout site

21. Simple map interface with basic map navigation tools Simple step by step instructions

22. User selects feature of interest; selection shows on map and in box. Once a feature is selected, click on ‘Create Report’ button.

23. Report appears in new window as a PDF document.

24. Select from list of features returned by the query, then hit ‘Generate Report’ button.

25. So What Happens Next?

26. Water Policy Regulations Schedule DateRequirement 22-06-06Classification Systems: Monitoring Programme: shall publish a copy of the programme & a summary Timetable & work programme for the production of the RBMP also required by this date 22-12-06Monitoring programmes shall be operational 22-06-07Significant Water Management Issues (SWMI) Report shall be published. 22-06-08 Draft POM & Draft RBMP shall be published. 22-06-09Final POM shall be established/come into effect Final RBMP published

27. Programme priorities –Surveillance long term trends - range of status conditions all quality elements have to be recorded (therefore costly) –Operational record responses due to measures - sites experiencing pressures targeted quality elements (but perhaps more frequently) –Investigative unpredicted water quality problems or pollution events targeted quality elements Water Policy Regulation Timescales –June 2006 publish monitoring programmes –December 2006 programmes become operational WFD Monitoring

29. 71 Chemical Status Monitoring points 64 Quantitative/level points Groundwaters

30. 17 Surface Water sites 4 Eastern RBD 6 South Eastern RBD 4 Shannon RBD 2 South Western RBD 1 Western RBD 4 Groundwater sites 3 South Eastern RBD 1 Shannon WWTP Site – Eastern RBD Landfill Site – Eastern RBD Dangerous Substances Screening Monitoring Programme

31. Programme Of Measures (POM) POM: main element of the RBMP National POM Co-ordination Group (PCG) formed to oversee development of POM Priority pressure areas were agreed- study specifications for each topic approved Responsibility for studies divided amongst RBD projects. Each study will deliver to the Significant Water Management Issues report in 2007 and the draft River Basin Management Plan in 2008. Each will include consultation with stakeholders. Schedule of Approved Studies & Lead RBDs Leading RBDMeasures & Standards Study Name WRBD 1. On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems 2. Forest and Water ShRBD *3. Freshwater Morphology SERBD 4. Setting Chemical Water Quality Standards SWRBD 5. Industrial & Municipal Regulation *6. Dangerous Substances 7. Marine Morphology *8. Heavily Modified Water Bodies & Artificial Water Bodies *9. Water Balance Model for Setting Chemical Water Quality Standards ERBD 10. Abstraction Pressures 11. Groundwater Risk from Diffuse Mobile Organics 12. Urban Pressures in rivers, transitional and ground waters 13. Further Economic Characterisation

32. PoMS SERBD: Setting Chemical Water Quality Standards 4. SERBD: Setting Chemical Water Quality Standards Primary Study Objective to support the EPA in establishing Ireland’s environmental quality standards (EQSs) for selected supporting elements, in relevant water categories, by June 2006 Study Steering Committee Chair: EPA SERBD Project Co-ordinator (Representing Carlow Co.Co) Nominees from DEHLG, NPWS(DEHLG), Marine Institute (DCMNR) New information to be collated (sources) or generated (i.e. deliverables)? Benchmarking, Data Collection & Literature Review: other Member States, existing standards, Intercalibration Programme, expert input Identification of Phase 1 List: for which standards are necessary and feasible by 2006

33. PoMS SERBD: Setting Chemical Water Quality Standards (...new Information, continued.) Water balance Model: separate POMS Study establishing flow proportion from groundwaters Standards Compilation, Analysis and Trial Application Category and type specific, water phase only, ecological status boundaries for each pollutant Standards and Tool Delivery Fieldwork element? No. This is a desk study but will involve input from studies with a field element, such as the National Dangerous Substances Screening Programme. Study to be undertaken with application across all RBDs? Standards set by this POMS study will have National application.

34. Public Information & Consultation  Cornerstone of WFD_ Article 14  Advisory Council - 2006  Consultation on  Characterisation Report.2004-2005  Monitoring Programme  Significant Water Management Issues (SWMI)-2007  River Basin Management Plans 2008-2009  Public Awareness Campaign  SERBD & National Publications  eg DVD, NewsSheet etc

35. RBD Advisory Councils Article 16 of S.I. No. 722 of 2003, amended by S.I. No. 413 of 2005 DEHLG Circular WQ 03/05 2005 RBDAC -Terms of Reference : “to consider matters relating to the preparation of river basin management plans (RBMP) and other matters relevant to the protection and use of the aquatic environment and water resources in the district and to advise and make recommendations on these matters to the relevant public authorities.” SERBD Advisory Council ≈ 45 members 2 from each LA - elected member or sectoral representative = 26 6 from AMAI 13 from representative pillars/sectors

36. Public Participation Policy & Legislation report Initial characterisation Report SERBD Leaflet 2004 News sheet 2005 : non technical summary of Article 5 Char SERBD Characterisation Technical Summary Report DVD Also, other topic reports Available on SERBD website- public downloads page www.serbd.com

37. SERBD project Directive entered into force 2000 2002 2004 Publish overview of significant water management issues 2007 Publish RBMP 2009 Source: P. Duggan (DEHLG) Identify location and boundaries of RBDs Designate competent authorities Make administrative provisions Monitoring programmes operational Programme of measures Publish timetable for RBMP Identify location and boundaries of surface waters and groundwaters Identify types of water bodies Analysis of pressures and impacts Characterisation of surface water and groundwater bodies Economic analysis of water use Register of protected areas 2008 Publish draft RBMP 2006 The Water Framework Directive Programme 2005

38. Thank You