1. WG C – Groundwater Activity WGC-3 Integrated Risk Assessment and Management
Wouter GEVAERTS
Thomas TRACK
Dietmar MÜLLER

2. Activity WGC-3 (IRAM) OBJECTIVES (Lisbon 2007)
Improved & Integrated Risk Assessment for Groundwater at River Basin Level
update of characterisation under Art. 5 of the WFD (until 2013)
supporting River Basin Management Planning (2nd cycle)
adaptive management
‘lessons learnt’ by implementing the WFD during the last years!

3. Available: Structure proposals Conceptual models Risk Assessment
Activity WGC-3 (IRAM)
Available: Structure proposals
Conceptual models
Risk Assessment
Risk Management
Open for comments until May 29th

4. Activity WGC-3 (IRAM) Conceptual modeling
1 x 10 -5
[m/s]
2 x 10
5 x 10 -4 -6
Monitoring Well
Well
River
Clay
Coarse Sand
Fine Sand
Subsurface Geology
Model Boundary
Homogeneous
Units
Conceptual Model
Aquifer
Aquitard

5. Conceptual model
Conceptual model (CM) is an approach to describe and quantify processes, systems and their interactions.
Simple & helpful for member states
Evolving system that is starting simple and may grow in complexity if needed
Moving from qualitative to (semi-) quantitative where appropriate

6. Conceptual model
Conceptual model (CM) is an approach to describe and quantify processes, systems and their interactions.
Target: aquifer
Covering: groundwater & interactions with unsaturated zone and surface water key drivers, pressures, mechanisms affecting aquifer & receptors
Linking with risk assessment & risk management by focusing on protection of a groundwater body

7. Suggestion for a guidance structure
1 Introduction
2 Definitions
3 Basic CM procedure
4 Aims
4.1 Questions to be answered by a CM
4.2 Spatial & temporal scale
4.3 Processes to be considered
5 Data
5.1 Data needs
5.2 (existing) Data review
5.3 Data collection/acquisition
6 Conceptual model set-up
6.1 Groundwater
6.2 Interaction unsaturated zone & surface water
6.3 Affecting drivers, pressures, mechanisms
7 Validation of CM
8 Application of CM
8.1 CM in risk assessment
8.2 CM in risk management

8. Activity WGC-3 (IRAM) AIM & SCOPE
Conceptual models
Sound system understanding
Understanding of impacts and measures
Risk Assessment
generic elements, specific WFD-implementation
reviewing risk assessment approaches
refining procedures (including monitoring results)
Risk Management
reducing risks, feasible measures at proportionate costs
balancing cost-benefit-aspects
public acceptance

9. WFD/GWD Implementation & Risk Governance
MANAGEMENT SPHERE
Decision on & Implementation of Actions
ASSESSMENT SPHERE
Generation of Knowledge
Purpose (WFD Art. 2 & GWD Art. 2)
Prevent further deterioration, protect & enhance
aquatic and dependent terrestrial ecosystems
Promote sustainable water use
Progressive reduction of groundwater pollution
to maintain good groundwater chemical status
to reverse significant upward trends
RISK MANAGEMENT (Art. 11)
RISK ASSESSMENT (WFD Art. 5)
Programme of Measures:
basic & additional measures
monitoring & control
feedback to planning
Review of Environmental Impacts
delineation of the groundwater body
pressure identification & estimation
vulnerability assessment
analysis of monitoring results
COMMUNICATION
REPORTING
Preparing decisions
Option Option Assessment
Option Identification & Generation
Option Assessment
Option Evaluation & Selection
GW resource, services and uses
identification of human uses
characterisation of ecosystem receptors
economic analysis of water use
RIVER BASIN PLANNING (Art. 13)
EVALUATION (review RBMP)
status compliance assessment
economic analysis (Art. 5 and Annex III)
programme of measures (Art. 11)
public consultation (Art. 14)
CHARACTERISATION
objective setting
status classification & trends
projected gaps by 2015
risk reduction options

10. Activity WGC-3 (IRAM) Risk Assessment
RA are ‘GW-body-specific’ (grouping is possible)
WFD & GWD address
groundwater & groundwater bodies
different objectives (e.g. prevent or limit, status)
scale-issues have to be addressed/defined
relevant processes and parameters taking account of scales
closely linked/based on the understanding of the system provided by the ‘Conceptual Model’
uncertainties, variability, and representatives in data and structures have to be estimated

11. 4 Review of Environ-mental Impacts
Risk Assessment
Guidance structure
1 Aim and Scope
2 Generic elements
relation to RM
Source-pathway-receptor
overview data needs
Extent of impact
Probability of occurrence
acceptability and tolerability
3 Groundwater RA
4 Review of Environ-mental Impacts
Quality & quantity
Surface water correlation
Relevant contaminants, transformation & transp.
extent/significance of impacts
Uncertainties
Conceptual Model
Sampling and analysis
Confidence levels

12. 5 Resources, services and uses
Risk Assessment
Guidance structure
5 Resources, services and uses
Relevant receptors
GW-body management objectives
6 Revision Art. 5 reports
7 Risk Characterisation
Status & trend assessment
Objectives vs. impacts
rough options of measures
Inventory & Comparison existing approaches
IMPRESS Guidance
groundwater RA (WG C workshop report 2004)
(Art. 5 reports)
how to include considerations on monitoring and status assessment
examples risk/exposure assessment models

13. Activity WGC-3 (IRAM) Risk Management
Guiding Principles (not discussed so far)
balancing of economical, environmental, social aspects
addressing impacts at an appropriate scale in space and time
integrative measures, embracing the whole soil/water-system
measures need to respect natural processes and functioning (working with nature)
solutions in close interaction of all stakeholders

14. 3 Risk characterisation
Risk Management
Guidance structure
1 Aim and Scope
2 General framework
relation to RA; analysis & translation of knowledge (and “non-knowledge”)
Informed evaluation of risks& generating options
evaluation
Options, economic impacts
public participation, decisions and implementation
monitoring & feedback
3 Risk characterisation
Collecting, reviewing & summarizing
Gaps by 2015
risk reduction options
recharge zone
reactive zone
towards the receptor
Combined strategies
Confidence & uncertainties

15. Guidance structure 6 PoM (measures) 7 Review RBMP Risk Management
4 Preparing decisions
effectiveness, efficiency
secondary impacts
legal requirements
stakeholder consultation
Evaluation and selection
5 Draft management plans
status compliance assessment
measures
cost-benefit analysis
public participation
6 PoM (measures)
Basic measures
Additional measures
monitoring
feedback to planning
adaptive management approaches
7 Review RBMP
Rework RBMP by 2013
Adapting during 2nd cycle

16. IRGC Risk Governance Framework
MANAGEMENT SPHERE
Decision on & Implementation of Actions
ASSESSMENT SPHERE
Generation of Knowledge
PRE-ASSESSMENT
Problem Framing
Early Warning
Screening
Determination of Scientific Conventions
RISK MANAGEMENT
RISK APPRAISAL
Implementation:
Option Realisation
Monitoring & Control
Feedback from Management Practice
Risk Assessment
Hazard Identification & Estimation
Exposure & Vulnerability Assessment
Risk Estimation
COMMUNICATION
Decision Making
Option Identification & Generation
Option Assessment
Option Evaluation & Selection
Concern Assessment
Risk Perception
Social Concerns
Socio-Economic Impacts
TOLERABILITY & ACCEPTABILITY JUDGEMENT
RISK EVALUATION
Judging the Tolerability & Acceptability
Need for Risk Reduction Measures
RISK CHARACTERISATION
Risk Profile
Judgement of the Seriousness of Risk
Conclusions & Risk Reduction Options

17. WFD/GWD Implementation & Risk Governance
MANAGEMENT SPHERE
Decision on & Implementation of Actions
ASSESSMENT SPHERE
Generation of Knowledge
Purpose (WFD Art. 2 & GWD Art. 2)
Prevent further deterioration, protect & enhance
aquatic and dependent terrestrial ecosystems
Promote sustainable water use
Progressive reduction of groundwater pollution
to maintain good groundwater chemical status
to reverse significant upward trends
RISK MANAGEMENT (Art. 11)
RISK ASSESSMENT (WFD Art. 5)
Programme of Measures:
basic & additional measures
monitoring & control
feedback to planning
Review of Environmental Impacts
delineation of the groundwater body
pressure identification & estimation
vulnerability assessment
analysis of monitoring results
COMMUNICATION
REPORTING
Preparing decisions
Option Option Assessment
Option Identification & Generation
Option Assessment
Option Evaluation & Selection
GW resource, services and uses
identification of human uses
characterisation of ecosystem receptors
economic analysis of water use
RIVER BASIN PLANNING (Art. 13)
EVALUATION (review RBMP)
status compliance assessment
economic analysis (Art. 5 and Annex III)
programme of measures (Art. 11)
public consultation (Art. 14)
CHARACTERISATION
objective setting
status classification & trends
projected gaps by 2015
risk reduction options

18. Activity WGC-3 (IRAM) Sub-act. 1
Working Mode:
exchange (& small group meetings)
Next steps (until November 2008):
comments (today & until May 29th)
volunteers to support drafting (3 drafting teams)
Implementing WFD & GWD: major challenges, problems and lessons-learnt – call for input and background materials from MS by WG C
end of June 2008: 1st drafts (circulation)
September 2008: 2nd drafts (circulation)
November 3rd: draft to Act.3 or WG C members
Final guidance by 2009

19. WG C – Groundwater Activity WGC-3 Integrated Risk Assessment and Management
THANKS!