Significant Water Management Issues (SWMI) Report South Eastern RBDAC Dec 2006

SWMI – What is it? Public information and consultation report to encourage active involvement of all interested parties in the Water Framework Directive Article 14 – interim overview of the significant water management issues in the river basin, made available for public and users comment, 2 years before the beginning of the river basin management plan A “local” document

SWMI - What is it? SWMI = Significant Water Management Issues  Significant Water Issues  Management Issues How to identify priorities and focus efforts for the first river basin management plan?

Significant Water Issues Significant water issues: –Article 5 analysis –OSPAR nutrient quantification –National reports –Historical catchment plans & water quality reports –P Reg plans etc –Compendium of responses/stakeholder responses –Expert review –RBD groups (3 issues & good practice examples?)

Significant Water Issues POMS – National Issues Schedule of Approved Studies & Lead RBDs Leading RBDMeasures & Standards Study Name WRBD 1. On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems 2. Forest and Water ShRBD 3. Freshwater Morphology SERBD 4. Setting Chemical Water Quality Standards SWRBD 5. Industrial & Municipal Regulation 6. Dangerous Substances 7. Marine Morphology 8. Heavily Modified Water Bodies & Artificial Water Bodies 9. Water Balance Model for Setting Chemical Water Quality Standards ERBD 10. Abstraction Pressures 11. Groundwater Risk from Diffuse Mobile Organics 12. Urban Pressures in rivers, transitional and ground waters 13. Further Economic Characterisation

Management Issues Management issues: –What management tools are already in place? –Where are the management gaps? –What are the solutions?

SWMI Template Length between 30 and 40 pages How many issues 9 or 10 Language Plain English (non technical) Use of question and answer format to aid input Style Well illustrated Hardcopy vs electronic Hard copy - alternative formats & translations

SWMI Template Ownership of the Report RoI RBD lead authorities - POMS CG - NTCG Consultation link to RBDAC RBD report vs National report RBD report gives local ownership & leads to draft plan 8 RBD reports – full harmonisation However as the main RoI POMS studies are national: Much of the content is generic Each project will input to every SWMI Requires close co-ordination

SWMI Template Chapter Headings 1.0Introduction 2.0Assessment of Pressures and Impacts 3.0Significant Water Management Issues 4.0Measures 5.0Next Steps and Conclusions Timescale publish 22 June 2007

SWMI Template 1.0Introduction Introduction to the WFD What is the WFD? What are its objectives? What is status? When must the objectives be achieved? Who is responsible for implementing the WFD? How is this being done? What has NI/Ireland done so far? What is NI/Ireland doing now? (further characterisation/surveys) What will NI/Ireland do next? How is NI/Ireland co-operating with neighbouring Member States? Introduction to the River Basin District The (SE/Shannon/SW/We/Ea/Neagh Bann/NWNE) RBDs vital statistics RBD Protected areas Why a SWMI report? How can the public get involved and make a difference?

SWMI Template 2.0Assessment of Pressures and Impacts What pressures and impacts have been assessed Abstractions Physical changes (morphology) Point Diffuse Others How have significant issues been identified? What are NI/Ireland’s most significant issues? (analysis by RBD) Groundwaters/Rivers & lakes/Transitional & coastal waters Does the RBD have any special significant issues? (analysis by RB or hydrometric area with RBDAC input)

SWMI Template 3.0Significant Water Management Issues (what is the issue, what new data, what new results, any future trends) Ireland (POMS) Abstractions Morphology Freshwater Morphology Marine Morphology Point Sources Industrial & Municipal Discharges (Dang Subs) CSOs? Quarries, mines landfills & contaminated land Diffuse Sources Agriculture (Diffuse Mobile Organics) On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems Forest and Water Urban Areas RBD issues (eg peatlands) Other issues Northern Ireland (FCA) Abstractions and Flow Regulations Morphology Freshwater activities Marine activities Point source discharges (Dang Subs) SIMCAT Diffuse losses (screening tool) Agriculture Septic tanks Forestry Urban areas Transport networks? RBD issues (how to identify?) Other issues

SWMI Template 4.0Measures What are measures? What existing NI/Irish measures support the WFD? How can new NI/Irish measures be put in place? SWMI – what measures are needed and who will be involved? (for each SWMI describe existing measures, gaps requiring future measures (national or local) and identify responsible parties and sectors) Summary RBD programme of measures and responsible parties

SWMI Template 5.0Next Steps and Conclusions Setting WFD Objectives What are the WFD objectives? What are alternative objectives? –Extended deadlines –Temporary deterioration in status –New modifications and new sustainable development activities –Designation as Heavily Modified & Artificial Water Bodies –Less stringent objectives The Role of Further Economic Characterisation – (scenarios?) When will alternative objectives apply? (indicative list of sites?) Future characterisation work RIA SEA Conclusions Summary Gap and live issues The draft First River Basin Management Plan Future planning cycles Consultations

SWMI Group Discussion Three discussion groups (1, 2, 3, 4 & 5) Kilkenny CoCo rep to record agreed issues for feedback session Water Issues What issues are the most significant? What do you see as the main causes of these problems? Management Issues What are the management gaps? Is there ownership of local problems? What activities might help to deliver improvements? Other Input from Stakeholders Identify good practice examples in the SERBD?

SWMI RBDAC Discussion Water Issues Planning and landuse change Agriculture & changes (eg biofuels) Point discharges – WWTP, WTP, industries, landfills, mines & quarries Dumping Rural housing/septic tanks Climate change (flooding & droughts) Weirs & boats movements Alien species/biodiversity Abstractions – protection of sources/water shortages Domestic behaviour – consumption & product usage Road & urban drainage & loss of flood plains

SWMI RBDAC Discussion Management Issues Joined up development control – plan & upgrade before development Lack of resources Economics – charging Lack of ownership of the problems Education & awareness campaigns Enforcement – use of power Support for NGO initiatives Nitrates Regs Riparian zone protection Water harvesting & alternative treatments

SWMI RBDAC Discussion Other Input from Stakeholders Several litter picking initiatives Barrow floodplains Quarry silt ponds (not increased) Fair trade advertising SUDS schemes on new developments Constructed wetlands