1. Relationship between EUROWATERNET and the Water Framework Directive, and for broader water reporting
Steve Nixon
ETC/WTR

2. The aim of EUROWATERNET is to
provide the EEA with
“….timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information….”
on the pressures on, state of, and impacts on Europe’s water resources

3. EUROWATERNET Provides representative information on
Rivers, lakes, reservoirs, groundwater bodies
Concept is being extended to transitional, coastal and marine waters
Through the progressive implementation of:
Basic
Impact (specific pressure, substance, policy) and
Fully representative networks

4. Representative 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

5. EUROWATERNET
A non-statutory reporting obligation on EEA member countries
EUROWATERNET is a ‘priority data flow’ - agreed by the NFP/EIONET group and EEA Management Board
Information provided is NOT for legal compliance assessment (Commission’s job)
Information can be used to assess the effectiveness of policies (e.g. are the objectives of Directives being met?)

6. EUROWATERNET
Based on existing national and international monitoring networks
Avoiding duplication of reporting where possible
Assisting in improving existing data flows
Will the Water Framework Directive improve national monitoring and information networks?
Dependent on a Common Understanding, interpretation and ambition being obtained

7. Summary of EUROWATERNET aspects and components

8. Legal requirements for reporting to the Commission under Water Framework Directive
River Basin Management Plans and all subsequent updates (2010)
Summary reports
the analyses required under Article 5 (2005)
monitoring programmes designed under Article 8 (2007)
Interim report (2012)
progress with the implementation of measures

9. Potential information output from River Basin Management Plans - Article 13
Maps (GIS) of
location and boundaries of surface water and groundwater bodies,
ecoregions and surface water body types
monitoring networks
results of the monitoring programmes in terms of water status
Summary of significant pressures and impact
of human activity

10. Data required to produce RBMPs
Ideally the underlying data sets will be included with the graphical presentation on maps
Member States will have to agree to do so as it is (not yet) a legal requirement
Working Group 3.1 under the Common Implementation Strategy is developing a GIS for WFD usage
Commission’s aim is to develop the GIS into a ‘European information system on River Basins and an instrument of policy evaluation’

11. Commission Reports - Article 18 (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

12. Commission Reports - Article 18 (3, 4)
Progress report on implementation based on summary reports
Interim report on progress with implementation based on MSs interim reports

13. Established data flows
EUROWATERNET is providing “timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information” that is used to assess whether the broad objectives and targets of policies are being achieved
Annual updates
All water categories
Relevant determinands
EU, EFTA, EU Accession countries (NIS, Russia)
Pressures, state and impact
Guidelines to improve quality and comparability
Electronic transfer of datasets and information

14. Objectives of Water Framework Directive
To prevent deterioration of the status of all bodies of surface water
To protect, enhance and restore all bodies of surface water, except for artificial and heavily modified bodies of water, with the aim of achieving good surface water status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive

15. Objectives of Water Framework Directive
To protect and enhance all artificial and heavily modified bodies of water, with the aim of achieving good ecological potential and good surface water chemical status at the latest 15 years from the date of entry into force of this Directive
To progressively reduce pollution from priority substances and ceasing or phasing out emissions, discharges and losses of priority hazardous substances
To prevent or limit the input of pollutants into groundwater and to prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater

16. Objectives of Water Framework Directive
To protect, enhance and restore all bodies of groundwater, ensure a balance between abstraction and recharge of groundwater, with the aim of achieving good groundwater status at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive
To reverse any significant and sustained upward trend in the concentration of any pollutant resulting from the impact of human activity in order progressively to reduce pollution of groundwater

17. Objectives of Water Framework Directive
For Protected areas to achieve compliance with any standards and objectives at the latest 15 years after the date of entry into force of this Directive, unless otherwise specified in the Community legislation under which the individual Protected Areas have been established

18. Objectives of other water Directives
Nitrate
To reduce water pollution caused or induced by nitrate from agricultural sources, and preventing further such pollution
Urban Waste Water Treatment
To protect the environment from the adverse effects of waste water discharges from urban waste water treatment works and waste water from certain industrial sectors
To reduce the pollution of freshwater, estuarial and coastal waters by domestic sewage, industrial waste

19. Objectives of the Dangerous Substances Directive
To eliminate pollution of waters by List I substances
To reduce pollution of waters by List II substances

20. Future of EUROWATERNET
Significant gaps in terms of the time when the information and data required under the WFD would become available
Will countries make the datasets available as part of legal reporting to Commission?
Geographic coverage at present different
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

21. How EUROWATERNET is delivering EEA’s needs
Defining what is required and how it can be obtained - policy relevant indicators to “bridge the gap”
Providing timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information
Improving reporting process
Improving information dissemination