1. Assessment of the effectiveness of reported Water Framework Directive Programmes of Measures (PoMs)
A.Pistocchi, A.Aloe, S.Bizzi, F.Bouraoui, P.Burek, A.de Roo, B.Grizzetti, W.van de Bund, C.Liquete, M.Pastori, F.Salas, A.Stips, C.Weissteiner, G.Bidoglio JRC IES H01

2. Policy questions for the assessment
“The need for a reliable data basis for PoMs” (par. 4.1 COM draft, 2014, annex)
“Part I”: Are we identifying all relevant pressures and in a homogeneous and consistent way across the EU?
“What needs to be done”(par. 4.2 COM draft, 2014, annex)
“Part II”: Are we addressing them appropriately in the PoMs? [do we agree on the “best” measures to adopt?]
“Part III”: By fully implementing a given PoM, are we really achieving the WFD goals?
What is the risk of failure?
Which preventive/corrective actions should be taken?
The JRC is applying its Integrated Water Modelling Platform (IWMP) to help answering these questions.

3. Part I – Pan-European scale screening of the pressures addressed by member states
“Are we identifying all relevant pressures in a homogeneous and consistent way across the EU?“
JRC Work
Concept WG PoM march 2014
Analysis completed June 2014 (report sent to DG ENV on 6/6/14)
Discussion with DG ENV started November 2014
Publication of report: end of March [link to report draft]
9 December 2018

4. Pressures addressed until now
Rivers
Abstractions
Pollution, diffuse/point
Hydromorphological alterations
Aquifers
Pollution, diffuse
Saltwater intrusion
Transitional and coastal
Pollution, hydromorphological alterations
[Not yet addressed, in particular: lakes (all pressures); aquifers (abstractions)]
9 December 2018

5. Example: Reported pressures - surface waters abstractions
Ranking based on % of river length at risk due to abstractions
9 December 2018

6. Example: JRC indicators - surface waters abstractions
LISFLOOD model
Simulated Water balance
(Impact assessment of the Water Blueprint)
9 December 2018

7. EC DG JRC Indicators vs RPRs in PoMs
Class 1: both RPRs and European indicators rank the RBD relatively high, indicating a problem.
Class 2: both RPRs and European indicators rank the RBD relatively low, indicating less of a problem.
Class 3: RPRs rank the RBD relatively high, while European indicators rank the RBD relatively low.
Class 4: RPRs rank the RBD relatively low, while European indicators rank the RBD relatively high.

8. Pressure identification Classification: examples
abstractions
Diffuse pollution
9 December 2018

9. Summary of results
The comparison suggests that the identification of relevant pressures at the continental scale is not always the same as at the national and regional scale, causing difficulties in the prioritization of investments and doubts about the effectiveness of envisaged measures.
9 December 2018

10. Limitations with models and reported pressures
incompleteness
semantic uncertainty,
European indicators
model uncertainties
Errors/ lack of data (example: dams, hydromorphology).
Analysis of Discrepancies  Collaborative improvement of assessments from both sides  more effective measures.
Reported pressures may suffer from incompleteness and semantic uncertainty, while European indicators suffer from model uncertainties and errors. A discussion of differences between European indicators and river basin assessments in the light of agreed-upon reporting and model limitations may help to collaboratively improve the assessment from both sides, and consequently to design more effectively the measures to be implemented at the respective levels.
Use of the results from this analysis:
“Intercalibration” of pressure assessment
Identification of knowledge gaps
Prioritization of actions
Nudging on poorly reporting MSs
9 December 2018

11. Way forward: “part II”. Potential effectiveness and limitations of measures to manage impacts on European waters
Are we addressing pressure impacts appropriately in the PoMs? [do we agree on the “best” measures to adopt?]
9 December 2018

12. In practice Review of literature
Review, update and integration of JRC hydro-economic model assessments (IWMP)
Interdisciplinary discussion workshops among JRC staff (open to contributions from external experts, coverage of participation costs depending on the budget available)
Production of European-scale synthetic judgments (possibly maps) on:
“What is the level of (cost-) effectiveness of a given (type of) measure in a given context, given the pressures and status of water bodies?”
“Which public/private investments might be mobilized to implement a given (type of) measure?”
“What is the potential for boosting jobs/growth from implementing a (given type of) measure?”
9 December 2018

13. Measures addressed (tentative list)
Water-related directives art. 11(a) and beyond – SUPPLEMENTARY
Management of the water balance:
Water saving requirements and reuse potential art. 11(c)
Water storage requirements (also to address reduced availability under climate scenarios) – SUPPLEMENTARY
Rainwater harvesting – SUPPLEMENTARY
Desalination – SUPPLEMENTARY
Establishing minimum flow regimes – SUPPLEMENTARY
Water pricing (domestic, industrial sector; agriculture) art. 11(b)
Natural water retention measures for flood mitigation, water availability, nutrient and sediment control – SUPPLEMENTARY
Floodplains
Agricultural land management
Urban greening and mitigation of urban sprawl
Forests
Coastal zones management – SUPPLEMENTARY
(Hydromorphological) Restoration of surface water bodies art. 11(l)
9 December 2018

14. Tentative timeline
- June 2014: “part I” delivered (final release march ’15) - July 2015: “part II” delivered on example measures (final release march ‘16) - June 2016: “part III” for the reporting of 2nd RBMPs. To be discussed.
9 December 2018