MODULE 1 Water Framework Directive Senad Ploco

Published in the official Journal of the European Union on 22nd December WFD has been developed over the past 14 years. It is a result of the concerns of European Member States on the deterioration of water resources It is also an outcome of moving towards integrated water management approach advocated by some World conferences WFD applies its provisions to inland surface waters, groundwaters, transitional (estuarine) and coastal waters Aim to reach the „good status” of aquatic ecosystems by the year 2015 and further preserve it. WFD – Introduction WFD, “Water is not a commercial product like any other but, rather, a heritage which must be protected, defended and treated as such”.

EU Population density

River Rhine Why WFD ?

A cooherent framework Bathing Water Directive Birds Protection Directive Habitats Directive Seveso Directive Pesticides Directive IPPC Directive Nitrates Directive Urban Waste Water Directive Env. Impact Assessment Directive Sewage Sludge Directive Drinking Water Directive WFD objectives and programme of measures

This is an introductory presentation and it will include some elements that you will repeatedly have the opportunity to listen in more details in subsuqent presentations.

Wat is an EU Directive (legal instrument) Wat is an EU Directive (legal instrument) Protecting all waters, surface and ground waters Protecting all waters, surface and ground waters covering all impacts on waters; good quality (‘good status’) to be achieved, as a rule, by 2015; water quality comprehensively defined in terms of biology, chemistry and morphology; water management based on river basins; monitoring programmes for surface and groundwaters, both as a planning tool and as an assessment instrument; economic instruments: getting the prices right - to promote prudent use of water; mandatory public participation; … and complemented/guided by an unprecedented cooperation on implementation. WFD Objectives

Ecological Objectives alterations HIGH GOOD MODERATE POOR BAD Non-deterioration Restauration Ecological status Slight { Moderate { Major { Severe { No or minimal {

Good surface water status = good ecological + good chemical statusGood surface water status = good ecological + good chemical status Good groundwater status = good quantity + good chemical statusGood groundwater status = good quantity + good chemical status Good ecological potential for ‘heavily modified and artificial water bodies’Good ecological potential for ‘heavily modified and artificial water bodies’ Priority “hazardous” substances reduced (for both)Priority “hazardous” substances reduced (for both) „One out all out”„One out all out” Good Surface Water Status

Good quality in generalGood quality in general Specific quality for drinking waterSpecific quality for drinking water Sufficient rechargeSufficient recharge Sanitation of polluted aquifersSanitation of polluted aquifers Standards for quality given by existing regulations and directivesStandards for quality given by existing regulations and directives Good status of groundwater

Observed problems Problems: Solutions: Overuse of assigning AWB or HMWB status as reason of less stringent ‘good ecological potential’ objective Only when justified and mitigation measures for improvement undertaken Reasons stated in RBMP Control and public review Lack of common and homogenous approach in reaching the good status objective (EQR, class boundaries) Extensive cooperation and intercalibration exercises from early stages of implementation Overuse of extensions and derogations for achieving good ecological water status Enhancing public participation, consultation and review process

Objectives of intercalibration 13 Setting of good status class boundaries: Consistent with WFD definitions Comparable between all 28 Member States IC is required by WFD high good moderate poor bad OK Restoration needed EQR

The River Basin Concept

Shared River Basins

WFD – Integrated water management Legal and administrative integration WFD as umbrella for other directives and regulations River Basin District chosen as logical unit of management Unification and harmonization of national water management legislation International harmonization and integration - the chalange of shared river basins Cost Recovery and Equitable Charging Public participation Hydrological cycle managed as a whole Surface and subsurface water Coastal and transitional waters Water quality, quantity and aquatic environment Ecological and environmental objectives

WFD – Integration is the concept Multi-sectoral approach and co-ordination Land, atmosphere, biosphere Multi-disciplinary perspective Integration of land, water and air Integration of technical, behavioral, gamma sciences Holistic and cross-cutting integrating approach International harmonization and balance Intergenerational sustainability Integration in time In summary: integration in space, interest, time, law and administration

1.Formal transposition into national law 2.Environmental analysis, economic analysis 3.Monitoring programmes operational 4.Public participation at the latest 5.Identify water management issues/projects 6.Draft river basin management plans 7.Final river basin management plans 8.Implementation, assessment and adjustment WFD Implementation - Continuos Process

WFD Implementation - Key Phases Public Participation River Basin Management Plan Environmental objectives Gap analysis Programme of Measures Current status of waters RBMP update Monitoring Programmes Interim report on implementation status Water issues revision Implementation of Programme of Measures Phases of implementation process: Phase 1Phase 2Phase 3

Key Implementation Steps

Challenges for all administrations/stakeholders Many large river basins in Europe are shared Common understanding of the Directive is critical Has led to: The Common Implementation Strategy Involves all stakeholders Example of Good European Governance CIS – Common Implementation Strategy

WFD is a central piece of EU environmental policy with links to many other EU actions. The CIS is an extremely effective vehicle for supporting the implementation of the directive. The CIS involves all Member States and all stakeholders. 28 EU Member States Industry - EUREAU, CEFIC, ECPA, EURELECTRIC, Irrigators, Land-Owners etc etc NGOs - WWF, EEB, BirdLife, etc In total over 1000 people actively involved WFD and CIS

29 Guidance documents (economy, water bodies, typology, IMPRESS, HMWB, Transitional and Coastal Waters, Monitoring, Public participation, GIS, RBM Planning, Wetlands, Groundwater;...) More than 10 technical reports WISE – Water Information System CIS Guidances

Pilot River Basins B, F, NL (Scheldt), D, F, L (Moselle-Sarre) F (Marne) IRL (Shannon) DK (Odense Fjord) SF (Oulujoki) P (Guadiana) E (Júcar) GR (Pinios) H, RO (Somes) CZ, D, PL (Neisse) I (Tevere, Cecina) N ( Suldalsvassdraget) UK (Ribble)

Good status of surface water: Good ecological status for ‘natural water bodies’ Good ecological potential for ‘heavily modified and artificial water bodies’ Good chemical status (for both) Priority substances contained (for both) Priority “hazardous” substances reduced (for both) WFD – EU Wider Dimension

Dealing with pollution of waters at two levels: the Water Quality Objective approach (WQO), and the Emission Limit Value (ELV) approach. WFD – EU Wider Dimension Water Quality Objectives (WQO) Emission Limit Values (ELV) WATER FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE + WQO defines the minimum quality requirements of water to limit the cumulative impact of emissions; ELV focuses on the maximum allowed quantities of pollutants that may be discharged from a particular source into the aquatic environment. WFD deals both with the WQO and ELV resulting in a more rigorous approach

Water pricing and cost recovery of water resources Full cost recovery for water including environmental and resource costs Possible exemptions due to social, environmental, economic, climatic, geographic reasons

Public participation The provisions of the Directive will not be successful unless proper information, consultation and involvement of different sectors of interest including public and users from the earliest stages of WFD implementation is ensured

Rehabilitation of Rivers

Removal of fish bariers

EU Significant pressures Preliminary results from analysis of 144 RBD reported by 24 EU Member States to the WISE-WFD database (number of Member States)

Ecological status/potential in EU Preliminary results from analysis of 144 RBD reported by 24 EU Member States to the WISE-WFD database

Ecological status of rivers in EU (number of Member States)

WFD is innovative instrument to address challenges of water management for the next generations Environmental objectives and integration of managements are key elements Common Implementation process is essential to ensure success – example for good governance Analysis reports will provide important results – crucial first step WFD – Summary / Conclusion

Protection of all waters across Europe, based on comparable principles and objectives Binding objectives, at the same time providing flexibility on the tools how to achieve them Implementation with full participation of all interested and involved parties Long-term planning basis for technical, financial and political decisions WFD – Outlook

References and links