1. Water Statistics Activities under the PHARE and TF-Programmes – Lessons learned, Challenges for the Future
Meeting of the Working Group "Statistics of the Environment“
Sub-Group "Water“
October 2007
Luxembourg
Michael Nagy

2. Contents of the Presentation
Some slides about the 2001 and 2004 PHARE / TF Programmes on Water Statistics
Results
Lessons learned, recommendations and challenges for the future

3. Facts about PHARE and TF Projects on Water Statistics
1st Project (PHARE 2001):
Project Period
Wastewater Tables 4-7
Project organisation: BC Grants + external experts + 2 Workshops
2nd Project (PHARE 2004, Transition Facility 2004)
Project Period
All JQ-Tables
Project organisation: BC Grants + external experts + 3 Workshops

4. Main Objectives of the Programmes
Significant and lasting improvement of response rates to JQ
Consistency of JQ-data with WFD, UWWTD, EPER/PRTR,…
Expert reports with proposed action points
Country specific guidelines assisting in the application of the Eurostat data collection manual for the JQ on Inland Waters
Expert Report on the completeness and quality of the data collected and transmitted to Eurostat in 2006
Online helpdesk for the duration of the project
Synthesis report summarizing the key issues for all BCs

5. Participating Countries
Legend:
P = Pilot project :Eurostat Grant
M = Mission by external expert

6. Types of Pilot Projects
Inventories on UWWTPs and industrial water users
Glossaries and national water statistics manuals
Setting up rules for cooperation of NSI with other institutions
Database development
Modification of existing NSI questionnaires according to JQ terminology and structure
Re-classification of activities according to NACE
Linking of registers of different institutions
Use of emission coefficients
Use of GIS for water statistics

7. Results I: Improved Response Rates
Optimized use of existing data:
Initiation of formal and informal cooperations between NSI and other institutions
Motivation to provide data which is calculated or estimated
Initiation of new data collections
e.g. UWWTD-Registers
Use of coefficients, e.g.
hydraulic capacity / load  p.e.
calculation of emission loads
calculation of water abstraction and water use

8. Results II: Improved Data Quality
Clear and agreed national terminology
Development of quality checking procedures
Multiple use of data (consistency and coherence)
Use of metadata

9. Institutional Dimension
Institutional Cooperation: Required the Consideration of 3 or more Dimensions…
Institutional Dimension
Water Authorities
Ministries
Env. Agency
NSI
Water Assoctiation
Hydrographical Institute
Households
Industries
Agriculture
Thematic Dimension
Wastewater
Water abstraction and use
Hydrography
Sewage Sludge
Reporting Dimension
UWWTD
WFD
JQ on Inland Waters
Sewage Sludge-Directive
EEA
WISE
SEIS

10. Results III: Proposal for (small) modifications of the JQ on Inland Waters
Extension / clarification of definitions
Clear up inconsistencies  change / deletion of some definitions
Structured metainformation-system

11. Examples for proposed changes of JQ
Definitions to be changed, e.g:
„Other wastewater treatment“:
include WW treatment of army camps, hospitals, hotels…
seperate „industrial wastewater treatment“ (tbd)
Explanation of difference between „Total sludge production“ and „Total sludge disposal“
Clear definitions for „Septic tanks“ and „Cess pools“
„Industrial (process) wastewater“ is misleading and could be deleted
Structural changes of the JQ:
Type of WW collection in Table 7
Metadata system: simple to fill in, considering data coverage, accuracy and determination of data (M/C/E)
„Recharge minus ecological discharge“ really necessary?
Link to Water Accounting (e.g. SEEAW, NAMEA Water):
To be discussed…

12. Discussion of „tricky“ case examples I
City
5. How to consider the WW of this city in the JQ? 6
Factory fence of softdrink producer (NACE 15)
Car pool
Activity: NACE 60 4 5
Wastewater of car pool
3. Is this to be considered as water supply to NACE 60 1
Wastewater of water purification unit
Water abstraction and purification
for own use
(operated by softdrink producer)
Activity: NACE 41
IWWTP
Activity: NACE 90 10 94
Wastewater of bottling unit
Electricity production
Activity: NACE 40
4. How to consider this WWTP and its WW in the JQ?
Bottling unit
Activity: NACE 15 19
100
149
150
1. ´Water abstraction by NACE 15 / 41 / 40?
100 or 250 units?
2. Is this cooling water discharged by NACE 15 or 40?
IWR

13. Discussion of „tricky“ case examples II
City
Discussion of „tricky“ case examples II
Factory fence of softdrink producer (NACE 15)
How to report the water supply of this city in the JQ?
Car pool, NACE 60 2
Wastewater of car pool
Canteen, NACE 55 3
Wastewater of canteen 30 2
Wastewater of water purification unit 1 1
Water abstraction and purification
for distribution and own use,
NACE 41
Wastewater
treatment,
NACE 90 5 64
Wastewater of production and bottling
Electricity production,
NACE 40
Softdrink production and bottling, NACE 15 8
100
149
150
IWR

14. Lessons learned / Recommendations
Inter-institutional cooperation is very important (formal or informal):
NSI
Environment Agencies
Ministries
Hydrographical Institute
Water Association …
Covering all themes of T1 – T7
Covering all relevant EU Directives and EEA-Reporting
 Implement and maintain a system of IDs which allows links to other databases

15. Lessons learned / Recommendations
Double-check reported classification of activities (which establishments might be considered differently in different reporting frameworks and water accounts?)
Double-check the used classifications, in particular:
UWWTP
other WWTP
Sludge generation / sludge production
Independent treatment
Collecting system
Septic tank
Cess pool

16. Lessons learned / Recommendations
Use existing data!!!
PRTR for industrial emissions
UWWTD-Reporting for UWWTD data
WFD-Reporting
Provide metainformation (footnotes):
Coverage of data (e.g. > 80% of emissions)
Source of data (e.g. PRTR)
Accuracy of data
Determination of data (measured / calculated / estimated)
Don‘t provide blank cells (if data is not available, indicate „n.a.“)
Develop a national glossary on water statistics terms together with water administration
In case of „tricky situations“ (e.g. public water supply is carried out by a soft-drink company)  case by case decision, but be consistent in time series.

17. Challenges for the Future
JQ as data basis for water accounts?
How to deal with principal / secondary / ancillary activities?
Maintenance of a JQ-Hotline / Helpdesk?
Integration of JQ on Inland Waters into WISE
Data on diffuse pollution
Structural changes of the JW on Inland Waters
Change / extension of existing definitions
Benefit from the WISE on the data input side
Further promote the use of JQ data

18. …and don‘t forget the social aspects of water statistics
Thank your for your attention!