Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade General introduction to the WFD Implementation Birger Bjerkeng, Norwegian Institute for Water Research Based on presentation by Nornan Green

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade European Environmental Agency... pursuit of the objectives of preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment, in prudent and rational utilisation of natural resources, and to be based on the precautionary principle and on the principles that preventive action should be taken, environmental damage should, as a priority, be rectified at the source and that the polluter should pay. (Treaty establishing European Community, Article 174)

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and the Council of 23 October 2000 Agreed by the EU commission 29. June 2000 after over three years of debate and signed in December 2000 Establishes a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. May mean extensive changes in regulations and monitoring programme The Directive is legally binding and is to be reflected in national legislation within three years Common approach with respect to interpretation, goals, legislative principles and methods EU Water Framework Directive (WFD)

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Legislation based on precautionary principle Local participation Remedial measures at source Polluter pays River basin management Planning and monitoring WFD - Main principles

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Water body categories Surface waters (ecological/chemical status) Rivers Lakes Transitional Waters (in vicinity of river mouths, partly saline but substantially influenced by freshwater) Coastal Waters (within 1 nautical mile of coast baseline) Territorial waters for chemical status Ground water (chemical status, quantity) Artificial water body Heavily modified water body

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade WFD requirements: Surface waters: Characterisation of surface water body types (system A,B) Establishing type-specific reference conditions Identification of Pressures Assessment of Impact Classify ecological status (chemical status) (intercalibration) Ground water Initial characterisation Further characterisation Review of the impact of human activity on groundwaters Review of the impact of changes in groundwater levels Review of the impact of pollution on groundwater quality Management plans to achieve good status

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade WFD - Main elements Environmental goal Characterising water bodies –Typology –Define reference conditions –Ecological Classification (intercalibration) Monitoring River basin management plan General management plans Goal: Achieve good status

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Surveillance monitoring: supplement and validate impact assessment procedure Basis for efficient and effective design of future monitoring programmes Assess long term changes in natural conditions Assess long term changes resulting from widespread anthropogenic activity Operational monitoring Establish the status of waterbodies identified as being at risk of failing to meet their environmental objectives Assess changes in status of such bodies resulting from the programmes of measures Investigative monitoring Where reason for any exceedances is unknown Where surveillance monitoring indicates that the objectives are not likely to be achieved and operational monitoring has not already been established To ascertain the magnitude and impacts of accidental pollution As basis for establishing programme of measures Types of monitoring:

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade 2003Districts defined, legislative proposals 2004Characterization Pressures, discharge, economic analyses 2006Monitoring Assessment Management plan proposal 2008Discussion of management plan 2009Management plan in operation and published 2012First interim report 2015 (2020)Environmental (emissions) goal achieved 2027Last deadline for reaching goal where delays have been granted Important milestones

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade WFD goals - Hazardous substances Contribute to progressive reduction of emissions of hazardous substances to water. Ultimate aim: eliminate occurrence of priority hazardous substances in the environment achieve concentrations in the marine environment near background values for naturally occurring substances.

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Harzardous substances II (43) Pollution through the discharge, emission or loss of priority hazardous substances must cease or be phased out. The European Parliament and the Council should, on a proposal from the Commission, agree on the substances to be considered for action as a priority and on specific measures to be taken against pollution of water by those substances, taking into account all significant sources and identifying the cost-effective and proportionate level and combination of controls.

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Hazardous substances III (44) In identifying priority hazardous substances, account should be taken of the precautionary principle, relying in particular on the determination of any potentially adverse effects of the product and on a scientific assessment of the risk. (45) Member States should adopt measures to eliminate pollution of surface water by the priority substances and progressively to reduce pollution by other substances which would otherwise prevent Member States from achieving the objectives for the bodies of surface water.

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Hazardous substances IV (52) The provisions of this Directive take over the framework for control of pollution by dangerous substances established under Directive 76/464/EEC. That Directive should therefore be repealed once the relevant provisions of this Directive have been fully implemented. OJ L 129, Water pollution by discharges of certain dangerous substances

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Hazardous substances, definitions I "Hazardous substances" means substances or groups of substances that are toxic, persistent and liable to bio-accumulate; and other substances or groups of substances which give rise to an equivalent level of concern. "Priority substances" means substances identified in accordance with Article 16(2) and listed in Annex X. Among these substances there are «priority hazardous substances» which means substances identified in accordance with Article 16(3) and (6) for which measures have to be taken in accordance with Article 16(1) and 16(8).

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Hazardous substances, definitions II "Emission limit values" means the mass, expressed in terms of certain specific parameters, concentration and/or level of an emission, which may not be exceeded during any one or more periods of time. Emission limit values may also be laid down for certain groups, families or categories of substances, in particular for those identified under Article 16. The emission limit values for substances shall normally apply at the point where the emissions leave the installation, dilution being disregarded when determining them. With regard to indirect releases into water, the effect of a waste water treatment plant may be taken into account when determining the emission limit values of the installations involved, provided that an equivalent level is guaranteed for protection of the environment as a whole and provided that this does not lead to higher levels of pollution in the environment.

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade EMISSION LIMIT VALUES AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY STANDARDS The "limit values" and "quality objectives" established under the daughter Directives of Directive 76/464/EEC shall be considered emission limit values and environmental quality standards, respectively, for the purposes of this Directive. They are established in the following Directives: i.The Mercury Discharges Directive (82/176/EEC) ii.The Cadmium Discharges Directive (83/513/EEC) iii. The Mercury Directive (84/156/EEC) ; iv. The Hexachlorocyclohexane Discharges Directive (84/491/EEC) v.The Dangerous Substance Discharges Directive (86/280/EEC).

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Deviation from natural condition: HighGoodModerateLowPoor No alteration, i.e. natural conditions Small alteration Moderate alteration Major alteration Severe alteration, i.e. large portion of bio.comm. absent Acceptable conditionUnacceptable condition Ecological status - classification

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Biological parametres (phytoplankton, macrophytes and sessile algae, bottom animals and fish) Physical parametres (morphological and hydrology) Water chemistry (nutrients, pH, ANC, temperature, salinity, oxygen and hazardous substances) Classification based on

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Status criteria for phytoplankton

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Status criteria, pollutants

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Environmental quality standards for pollutants for protection of aquatic biota: Standards may be set for water, sediment or biota. Where possible, both acute and chronic data shall be obtained. "base set" of taxa: Algae and/or macrophytes Daphnia or representative organisms for saline waters Fish When setting maximum annual average concentration : Member States shall set appropriate safety factors in each case consistent with the nature and quality of the available data... where data on persistence and bioaccumulation are available, these shall be taken into account. the standard thus derived should be compared with any evidence from field studies.

Extension of the EEA European Topic Centre’s Work Program to the West Balkan Countries in the field of water Norman Green, NIVA Nov 2006, Belgrade Setting the Environmental Quality Standard The following procedure applies to the setting of a maximum annual average concentration: (i)Member States shall set appropriate safety factors in each case consistent with the nature and quality of the available data... (ii) where data on persistence and bioaccumulation are available, these shall be taken into account. (iii) the standard thus derived should be compared with any evidence from field studies.