1. The relationship between EUROWATERNET and the Water Framework Directive

2. Presentation contents
Requirements of the Water Framework Directive
Comparison with EUROWATERNET and other work of the ETC/WTR
Gaps in information/requirements in terms of EEA and WFD needs

3. Surface water status

4. Water Framework Directive Article 4 - Environmental Objectives
To prevent deterioration of status of all surface water bodies
To achieve good surface water status (15 years)
For artificial and heavily modified waters (15 years)
Good ecological potential
Good chemical status

5. Water Framework Directive Article 4 - Environmental Objectives
Reduce pollution from priority substances and cease or phase out emissions, discharges and losses of priority hazardous substances
Article Priority hazardous substances - appropriate timetable for cessation not exceeding 20 years after adoption of proposals by EP and Council

6. Water Framework Directive Surface water status
Quality elements for the classification of ecological status (Rivers, Lakes, Transitional waters, Coastal waters, Artificial and heavily modified surface water bodies
Normative definitions for high, good and moderate ecological status classifications in all water types
Definitions for maximum, good and moderate ecological potential for heavily modified or artificial water bodies

7. Biological Quality Elements for the classification of ecological status
1 = composition and abundance 2 = composition, abundance and biomass
3 = composition, abundance and age structure

8. Chemical and physicochemical elements supporting the biological elements
Specific pollutants: Pollution by all priority substances identified as being discharged into the body of water
Pollution by other substances identified as being discharged into the body of water

9. Hydromorphological elements supporting the biological elements

10. Typology, reference conditions and pressures

11. Information required by Article 5 (Characterisation of River Basin District)
typology of water bodies
type-specific reference conditions
significant point and diffuse sources
significant water abstraction, total annual demand, and loss in distribution systems
significant water flow regulation
significant morphological alterations
other significant anthropogenic impacts
estimation of land use patterns
assessment of likelihood of failure to meet the environmental quality objectives

12. Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET
Water Framework Directive
Identification of reference conditions for the surface water body types
EEA
EUROWATERNET selection criteria and network could help with this process

13. Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET
Water Framework Direct.
significant pressures and impact of human activity
EEA/EUROWATERNET
Workbook/guidelines including relationship with IPPC Directive
(Workbook/guidelines including HARP and other initiatives)
Proxy indicators based on Corine Land cover
Eurowaternet-Quantity criteria and harmonised definitions with Eurostat

14. Monitoring

15. Monitoring required by the Water Framework Directive
Surface water monitoring network should:
provide a coherent and comprehensive overview of ecological and chemical status, and ecological potential within each river basin and
allow classification of water bodies
be shown on maps in River Basin Management Plan.
Have an acceptable level of precision and confidence
Be operational within 6 years

16. Surveillance monitoring
“Surveillance monitoring shall be carried out of sufficient surface water bodies to provide an assessment of the overall surface water status within each catchment or sub catchments within the River Basin District.

17. Water Framework Directive - definitions
Surface water:
means inland waters except groundwater; transitional waters and coastal waters, except in respect of chemical status for which it shall also include territorial waters (~22 km).

18. Water Framework Directive -operational monitoring
status of bodies at risk of failing EOs, and
changes in status from programmes of measures.
sufficient monitoring points in
bodies at risk from significant point and diffuse source pressures,
representative of relative risks of occurrence and of failure to achieve good status

19. EUROWATERNET aims to provide 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

20. Comparison of EUROWATERNET and Water Framework Directive
Basic network
Fully representative network
Impact network
Water Framework Directive
Surveillance monitoring
Operational monitoring
Investigative monitoring

21. Reporting

22. Reporting to the Commission
River Basin Management Plans (RBMP) and all subsequent updates
Summary reports
the analyses required under Article 5
monitoring programmes designed under Article 8
Interim reports
progress with the implementation of measures

23. Commission Reports - Article 17 (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

24. Format of information available for Commission reports?
Most detailed information will be in RBMP - in national languages and potentially in different formats
No detailed guidance as yet on how this information is to be delivered to Commission
Much information as maps
format?
numerical data?

25. Information and data arising from WFD DIFFICULTY
Format of information:
paper reports
maps
language
Long time-lag in reporting
2004: First report - summary report
2009: First RBMPs
EEA required to report much sooner

26. Information and data arising from WFD OPPORTUNITY
Develop EUROWATERNET
for the EEA and
as framework system for MSs reporting under WFD
Suitable electronic format is ESSENTIAL
Removal of duplication of effort
Improved data quality
Streamlining reporting process at European level

27. Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET
MAPPING
Maps of marine areas being produced by ETC/WTR
European river network and river catchments (the 1000 largest) maps.
JRC project
Electronic format with a common codification and naming of catchments and rivers
Pan European maps will be produced.

28. Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET - Commission Reports
Representative information on
water types,
water body size,
state (quality and quantity) and
pressures
in each River Basin and at a European level using EUROWATERNET
Information on reference stations and unimpacted water bodies

29. Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET - Commission Reports
Information on riverine loads and direct discharges to coastal waters
Electronic exchange of information and aggregated data using proforma and exchange modules
Data and information stored in Waterbase
Data visualisation using Web applications

30. Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET - Groundwater body characterisation
General description
Meteorological characterisation
Hydrogeology
Human impacts
Excel or Internet-Online Questionnaire
Map
Location and boundaries

31. Online Questionnaire

32. Role of the EEA and EUROWATERNET
Significant gaps in terms of the time when the information and data required under the WFD would become available for use by the EEA.
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.

33. Streamlining the reporting process

34. Streamlining the reporting process Rationalising the need for information
What type of information is required to
assess effectiveness of policies
identify gaps in policies
identify the need for new policies
detect unforeseen changes or problems
Relatively few questions in current reporting requirements on “effectiveness” of Directives

35. Basic considerations
Countries keen to maximise use of their monitoring information
Prevent unnecessary duplication in terms of reporting to international organisations
Information must be used to good effect and mutual benefit
Too many ‘data-graveyards’.
Thus EUROWATERNET is firmly based on national programmes

36. Streamlining reporting and information flow
Streamlining reporting does not necessarily mean a reduction or increase in monitoring - optimisation, use of models
Monitoring maybe more targeted
But there are large gaps in current national monitoring networks to meet current and future information needs - Commission, Water Framework Directive and EEA
Targeted cost-effective monitoring and information needed - “bridging the gap”

37. How EUROWATERNET can deliver EC/EEA needs
Definition of what is required and how it can be obtained - policy relevant indicators to “bridge the gap”
Provision of relevant information
Improve reporting process
Improve information dissemination

38. Streamlining reporting at a European level
EUROWATERNET used for reporting to the Commission
facilitation of information transfer, as monitoring and assessment systems are developed for the WFD
streamlining initiatives started with OSPAR Commission - RID and WATERBASE
WATERBASE to store and disseminate the extensive data collected for the COMMPS procedure

39. Use of EUROWATERNET for reporting on water at a European level
EEA and DG(Environment) to produce a joint paper on how EUROWATERNET can be developed and extended to be the mechanism for reporting to Commission and EEA
Nitrate, UWWT and Framework Directives
Extend to Marine Conventions?
Joint paper should be ready in November 2001

40. Future developments of EUROWATERNET and Water Framework Directive

41. Future priorities for action arising out of the Silkeborg workshop
support focus of new ETC on all water issues, on EWN and indicators, and WFD as the key policy framework for assessment
support co-operation between EEA/ETC and WFD Article 21 Committee in the development of reporting needs and process
ask EEA/ETC to develop EWN/W’base and indicators (including biological) to incorporate transitional, coastal waters and marine waters consistent with WFD needs
Ask EEA/ETC and DGEnv to prioritise development of definitions and measurement methods for ecology/hydromorphology and other areas of uncertainty for EWN/WFD

42. Common Strategy on the Implementation of the WFD
Strategic Co-ordination Group
Expert Advisory Forum (EAF) on priority substances
EAF on groundwater
EAF on reporting

43. Common Strategy on the Implementation of the WFD

44. Common Strategy on the Implementation of the WFD

45. Working group on monitoring
Starting point is the common understanding of the Directive’s monitoring requirements
For example, size of water body covered
Monitoring frequency
Inventories of existing national monitoring programmes - updating of earlier ETC work
Detailed guidance for monitoring each type of water

46. Concluding comments
Current national monitoring and assessment systems do not allow the formulation of indicators of Ecological and Chemical Status in terms of the Directive
These will be developed over time with the progressive implementation of the Directive by MSs
Intercalibration required between national systems
ETC/EEA indicators will accordingly be developed and refined over time

47. Concluding comments
Essential that the progressive and continued development/implementation of EUROWATERNET should go hand-in-hand with implementation of relevant aspects of WFD
This will support initiatives to streamline and optimise the reporting burden at a European level
A fully implemented EUROWATERNET will ‘bridge the gap’ in assessing effectiveness of EU legislation