Relationship between EUROWATERNET and the Water Framework Directive, and for broader water reporting Steve Nixon ETC/WTR

The aim of EUROWATERNET is to provide the EEA with “….timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information….” on the pressures on, state of, and impacts on Europe’s water resources

EUROWATERNET Provides representative information on Rivers, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater bodies Concept is being extended to transitional, coastal and marine waters Through the progressive implementation of: Basic Impact (specific pressure, substance, policy) and Fully representative networks

Representative 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

EUROWATERNET A non-statutory reporting obligation on EEA member countries EUROWATERNET is a ‘priority data flow’ - agreed by the NFP/EIONET group and EEA Management Board Information provided is NOT for legal compliance assessment (Commission’s job) Information can be used to assess the effectiveness of policies (e.g. are the objectives of Directives being met?)

EUROWATERNET Based on existing national and international monitoring networks Avoiding duplication of reporting where possible Assisting in improving existing data flows Will the Water Framework Directive improve national monitoring and information networks? Dependent on a Common Understanding, interpretation and ambition being obtained

Summary of EUROWATERNET aspects and components

Legal requirements for reporting to the Commission under Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plans and all subsequent updates (2010) Summary reports the analyses required under Article 5 (2005) monitoring programmes designed under Article 8 (2007) Interim report (2012) progress with the implementation of measures

Potential information output from River Basin Management Plans - Article 13 Maps (GIS) of location and boundaries of surface water and groundwater bodies, ecoregions and surface water body types monitoring networks results of the monitoring programmes in terms of water status Summary of significant pressures and impact of human activity

Data required to produce RBMPs Ideally the underlying data sets will be included with the graphical presentation on maps Member States will have to agree to do so as it is (not yet) a legal requirement Working Group 3.1 under the Common Implementation Strategy is developing a GIS for WFD usage Commission’s aim is to develop the GIS into a ‘European information system on River Basins and an instrument of policy evaluation’

Commission Reports - Article 18 (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

Commission Reports - Article 18 (3, 4) Progress report on implementation based on summary reports Interim report on progress with implementation based on MSs interim reports

Established data flows EUROWATERNET is providing “timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information” that is used to assess whether the broad objectives and targets of policies are being achieved Annual updates All water categories Relevant determinands EU, EFTA, EU Accession countries (NIS, Russia) Pressures, state and impact Guidelines to improve quality and comparability Electronic transfer of datasets and information

Objectives of Water Framework Directive To prevent deterioration of the status of all bodies of surface water To protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface water, except for artificial and heavily modified bodies of water, with the aim of achieving good surface water status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive

Objectives of Water Framework Directive To protect and enhance all artificial and heavily modified bodies of water, with the aim of achieving good ecological potential and good surface water chemical status at the latest 15 years from the date of entry into force of this Directive To progressively reduce pollution from priority substances and ceasing or phasing out emissions, discharges and losses of priority hazardous substances To prevent or limit the input of pollutants into groundwater and to prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater

Objectives of Water Framework Directive To protect, enhance and restore all bodies of groundwater, ensure a balance between abstraction and recharge of groundwater, with the aim of achieving good groundwater status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive To reverse any significant and sustained upward trend in the concentration of any pollutant resulting from the impact of human activity in order progressively to reduce pollution of groundwater

Objectives of Water Framework Directive For Protected areas to achieve compliance with any standards and objectives at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive, unless otherwise specified in the Community legislation under which the individual Protected Areas have been established

Objectives of other water Directives Nitrate To reduce water pollution caused or induced by nitrate from agricultural sources, and preventing further such pollution Urban Waste Water Treatment To protect the environment from the adverse effects of waste water discharges from urban waste water treatment works and waste water from certain industrial sectors To reduce the pollution of freshwater, estuarial and coastal waters by domestic sewage, industrial waste

Objectives of the Dangerous Substances Directive To eliminate pollution of waters by List I substances To reduce pollution of waters by List II substances

Future of EUROWATERNET Significant gaps in terms of the time when the information and data required under the WFD would become available Will countries make the datasets available as part of legal reporting to Commission? Geographic coverage at present different 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

How EUROWATERNET is delivering EEA’s needs Defining what is required and how it can be obtained - policy relevant indicators to “bridge the gap” Providing timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information Improving reporting process Improving information dissemination