1. Results of the screening of the draft second RBMPs
Thomas Dworak, Fresh Thoughts Consulting GmbH

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Common effort
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Please note
The views expressed are purely those of the authors and assessors and may not in any circumstances be regarded as stating an official position of the European Commission
Aim is to sketch progress made from the 1st to the 2nd River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) with respect to the Commission’s recommendations
It’s a screening exercise not an in-depth assessment
Show the progress made but do not allow a ranking of RBMPs
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Methdology
The screening assessment was organised in three parts:
Compilation of basic statistics from the draft second RBMPs
Summary of headline messages and changes in the draft second RBMPs, in particular changes made from the first cycle, as highlighted by the Member States within the plans;
Screening of the draft second RBMPs for evidence of progress on each of the CSWD 2015 recommendations.
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Basic statistics I
Change in the delineation of surface water and groundwater bodies in most dRBMPs with nearly the same number of dRBMPs showing an increase in numbers of surface water bodies as show a decrease
 comparison between 1st and 2nd plans difficult to make
HMWB: 10 of 21 RBDs designated fewer and 9 RBDs more, with over 50% more being designated in 3 RBDs.
SW ecological status/potential: 12 RBDs show a decrease, 16 RBDs an increase.
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Basic statistics II
SW chemicals status: A decrease is shown for 11 RBDs and an increase also in 11 RBDs.
For GW quantitative status: No change was indicated for 8 RBDs, a decrease is shown for 8 RBDs and an increase in 9 RBDs.
For GW chemical status: No change was indicated for 1 RBD, a decrease is shown for 19 RBDs and an increase in 7 RBDs.
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7. Characterisation of the River Basin District
Almost all screened dRBMPs indicate that changes were made to the way water bodies are delineated and characterised.
There is some evidence of progress on defining reference conditions and in setting boundaries for many quality elements, mainly for rivers and lakes. More extensive gaps still remain for transitional and coastal waters. Some key quality elements are not fully incorporated yet in the assessments.
The analysis of pressures and impacts has improved in several RBDs in different ways, e.g. through improved modelling, improved monitoring and inventories of emissions and discharges.
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8. Monitoring and status assessment
Improving the system of monitoring and the status classification has been a specific point of emphasis in several countries.
Many RBDs report improvements to the monitoring programmes. Gaps still remain, which usually concern one or more of the following: the monitoring of chemical substances, hydromorphological conditions, monitoring of groundwater or monitoring of coastal and transitional waters.
Many RBDs reported positive changes to the methodologies for assessing status: Gaps which still need to be addressed refer to assessment methods for hydromorphological conditions, fish either in rivers or lakes, phytoplankton, macrophytes, and the assessment of the status of groundwater.
Most MS indicated a change in the status classification of water bodies as a result of changes in the characterisation of water bodies, adjustments to the pressures analysis, improved monitoring and assessment methods.
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9. Designation of heavily modified water bodies (HMWB)
Overall, little progress is noted in terms of revising the methodologies and criteria used for designation since the 1st WFD cycle
Overall, little progress is noted in improving the methods for defining good ecological potential (GEP)
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10. Objective setting and exemptions
Only some dRBMPs were explicit on the progress made in achieving WFD objectives formulated in the 1st planning cycle. This indicates the need for more transparency with respect to the achievement of the set objectives.
Several MS report a lack of progress in achieving good status due to: delays in implementing key actions in the PoM and an increase of water bodies in less than good status compared to 2009, because of new assessment systems and monitoring data.
Several MS report that improvements achieved in some quality elements or parameters are not reflected in the overall status because of the one-out all-out principle
Overall, most RBDs indicated that they intended to increase the use of exemptions under Articles 4.4 and 4.5 in the second cycle.
More use of Art 4.7
justification of exemptions only improved slightly and the demonstration of disproportional costs remains a challenge.
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Economic analysis
Several MS have put effort to improve the economic analyses.
Cost recovery calculations are mainly targeted towards water supply and waste water treatment as well as self-abstraction.
The incorporation of Environmental and Resource Costs remains a gap.
More RBDs have expanded their cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses. Methodologies have been improved and more sectors have been analysed.
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12. Programme of measures I
Progress on better understanding pressures and sources, there is still a gap in knowledge on the contribution that basic measures will have on reducing pressures and helping to achieve WFD objectives;
Difficult to also judge the gap that supplementary measures will fill and their contribution to achieving WFD objectives.
A similar picture can be drawn for targeting measures on pressures and drives (sectors).
Information on costs and financing of measures has improved in a few RBDs.
Some progress is noted in terms of including more targeted hydromorphological measures in the planning (more technical measures, less regulatory actions
NWRM are considered in most RBDs considerably
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13. Programme of measures II
Unclear picture on what will be achived by the Nitrates Directive and other basic measures.
Some MS show good progress and provided clear(er) information on the measures planned for UWWT and their contribution to achieving the objectives. Nevertheless, it appears there are still several MS where information provided is poor or indicative of small progress on this issue.
For agriculture, information on supplementary measures has for the most part improved since the 1st planning cycle. RBDs are clearer on the measures they will implement.
Little progress is noted in terms of metering for all abstractions, registering abstractions and the systematic review of abstraction permits
Some more progress is noted in terms of considering ecological flows in existing and planned abstractions.
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14. Programme of measures III
Little progress was found on implementing measures towards chemical substances and assessing how much these measures will contribute to the achievement of WFD objectives. Quite a few RBDs have updated their lists for priority and dangerous substances
For drinking water protected areas, some new measures have been included
For protected areas linked to Natura 2000 areas, additional objectives have been formulated in a few more Member States compared to the 1st cycle, or studies are ongoing to address this.
Progress on specific measures for nature protected areas seems minor so far.
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Many thanks for listening!
12/09/19
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