WG C Groundwater Progress Report to SCG SCG-Meeting, 08/09.11.2011 Johannes Grath, Balázs Horváth (EC, DGEnv)

Key events in the period May 2011 – Nov 2011 21st WG C Plenary meeting on 12/13 October 2011 in Warsaw. Main topics: Special Session on Groundwater and Climate Change Presentation and discussion of MS needs concerning CC and groundwater, presentation of current research projects Continuation of WG C Activity 1 – Exchange of best practice: Discussion and agreement upon final draft report on Groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems Implementation of Art. 6 GWD Measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater (presentation of MS approaches and discussion) Continuation of WG C Activity 2 – Contribution to review of Annex I/II of GWD Discussion and agreement upon final draft report “Review of Annex I/II of Directive 2006/118/EC and recommendations for revision”  

WG C Activity 1: Technical Report on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE) Summer 2011: request for written approval by members of WG C October 2011: presentation of comments and final discussion at WG C meeting  agreement minor editorial amendments October 2011 – delivery to SCG and available on CIRCA

WG C Activity 1: Technical Report on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE) Scope Its purpose is to collate current available experience, To contribute to clarification of terms, To make use of already existing CIS documents and To suggest pragmatic technical solutions for the implementation of the provisions regarding the interaction of GW-bodies with directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems but leaving flexibility for MS according to the specific needs. State of the report not a CIS guidance document At the current stage it seemed more adequate to provide information in a technical report Approaches are fully in line with already existing CIS guidance doc‘s (e.g. Wetlands, Monitoring, Status & Trends, Risk assessment and Use of Conceptual Models)

WG C Activity 1: Technical Report on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE) Issues addressed Identification of terrestrial ecosystems „directly“ dependent on a GWB „Significant“ damage to GWDTEs Importance of proper characterisation – with regard to risk assessment and status assessment GW quality and quantity needs of GWDTE – how to determine Monitoring Naturally adapted ecosystems to naturally elevated concentrations Status assessment, threshold values and trigger values „in-combination“ effects: different sources of pollution loads – how to deal with it? Status assessment and size of a GWB versus GWDTE Not specifically the scale but: identification as significant (important) AND significantly damaged

WG C Activity 1: Technical Report on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE) Recommendations: Multi disciplinary teams - co-operation of hydrogeologists and ecologists Cooperation of GW and SW organisations when dealing with GWDTEs Make use of interdisciplinary networks e.g. via SPI, EU-funded research, … to further develop GWDTE issues and sharing of knowledge Request to SCG for endorsement

WG C Activity 2: Contribution to the review of the GWD in 2013 Questionnaire Series of Questions asking WG C members to indicate whether changes are needed to Annex I and II of GWD Annex I – GW Quality Standards Annex II – Threshold Values (parts A-C) Method for deriving TVs Minimum list of TVs Reporting requirements 26 returns: 21 are from MS, 2 from NGO, 3 from Others Source: Rob Ward presentation at WG C Meeting Budapest 04/2011

WG C Activity 2: Contribution to the review of the GWD in 2013 - recommendations Annex I No new pollutants and associated groundwater quality standards are proposed for Annex I. A definition for “relevant metabolite” should be developed and introduced in to Annex I. Clarify to what metric groundwater quality standards apply i.e. maximum or mean concentration. Consider the need to establish a lower groundwater quality standard for the four pesticides with a drinking water standard (0.03 µg/L) than that generally applied (0.1 µg/L).

WG C Activity 2: Contribution to the review of the GWD in 2013 - recommendations Annex I Definition “relevant” metabolite discussion of a number of proposals on the wording for a definition (e.g. SANCO/221/2000 – rev10)  agreement could not be reached. Recommendation: further consideration is needed to develop a suitable and relevant definition. any definition will/may also have implications for other Directives  involvement of all relevant stakeholders and experts.

WG C Activity 2: Contribution to the review of the GWD in 2013 - recommendations Annex II No change to Annex II (Part A) No change to the current “minimum list of pollutants“ in Annex II (Part B) Include a requirement (in Annex II (Part B)) to consider Directive 2008/105/EC (priority substances) when setting threshold values for groundwater bodies at risk due to potential impacts on surface water chemistry and ecology. No significant change to Annex II (Part C). Change required to clarify need to report the range of natural background concentrations (in d(i)). Request to SCG for endorsement

Ad hoc Activity: Workshop on „Groundwater and Climate Change“ Objective of the Workshop: collect existing information and establish the knowledge base Policy requirements and knowledge gaps of the member states first step taking into consideration the guidance document 'River basin management in a changing climate” Inputs from scientific results of FPVII research projects Genesis, WATCH, Aquaterra national research projects which address the pressures and impacts of CC on groundwater share information and exchange views between Member States and stakeholders what are the needs for future work in CC and groundwater, both from policy and scientific perspective?

CC impacts are potentially everywhere Control Future Dryer summers Netherlands Evidence that CC affects GW all over Europe, but with very different effects S-Europe: overall decreasing trend in recharge W, Central, Alps and N Europe: Changes is seasonal regimes => water scarcity in summers Snow melt earlier in the year Sweden, Alps Dryer summers western europe Length of recharge season Changes in land use to adapt to those changes Alps Other seasonal regimes Sweden Source: presentation H.P. Broers WG C meeting

Secondary impacts count 2 mei 2019 Secondary impacts count Pressures on groundwater systems tend to increase, Primary effects of climate change associated human induced changes of surface and subsurface water management (= secondary effects) Secondary impacts of are expected to have the largest short-term effects on groundwater resources. increase of water demands and abstractions of groundwater for irrigation water scarcity in summers Land use change may affect groundwater recharge and quality Energy policy (heat storage, CO2 storage, biofuels) Source: presentation H.P. Broers WG C meeting 13

Increased pressures on groundwater Increase of competition between different groundwater uses Irrigation (more groundwater, less surface water) drinking water energy use (storage of heat, CO2 storage etc) Competition between uses and GW ecosystem services Base flow and Environmental Flow Needs Groundwater dependent ecosystems Source: presentation H.P. Broers WG C meeting

Next WG C meeting in March 2012: Key next steps Next WG C meeting in March 2012: Activity WG C 1: exchange of best practice Drinking water protected areas Monitoring Status/Trends/Threshold values  Discussion, whether existing guidance doc’s are regarded as sufficient Elaboration of summary report of the workshop on „Groundwater and Climate Change“ – conclusions, recommendations and proposal for way forward Presentation to SCG in spring 2012 Reply to SPI-Questionnaire end Nov 2011 Link with „Water scarcity and droughts“ group will be established Discussion and identification of issues for next mandate period