1. WG 2.5 Intercalibration. ISPRA, 6-7 December 2001
Water Framework Directive
Common Strategy on Implementation
Working Group 2.5 Intercalibration
ETC/WTR Contribution to WP Task 2

2. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 Questions to be clarified:
Description of work in WP Task 2 of WG 2.5
The first task is to describe how different steps of the intercalibration process, as required by the WFD, are to be carried out in practical terms. The following questions need to be clarified:
How many (and which) water types should be included in the intercalibration, allowing the same degree of confidence in the outcome of the intercalibration exercise within and between ecoregion, taking into account the requirements of the WFD and practical limitations?
What should be the criteria for selection of intercalibration sites and how the selection should be organized?
What is the minimum set of biotic quality elements which needs to be included in the intercalibration (for different surface water categories)?
What are the criteria for selection of biological quality elements with regard to pressures and impacts?
How to deal with the problem that different national typology systems may not be comparable (i.e. Member States may use different typology systems)?
How to deal with the problem that biological monitoring systems may not be fully established in all Member States at the time of intercalibration?
How to deal with the problem that Member States may determine reference conditions for intercalibration sites using different methods?
How to organise and to carry out the formal intercalibration exercise

3. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 ETC/WTR Contribution (1)
LIST of PUBLICATIONS used by ETC/WTR
Aquascop/Gay (1997) Test of the method ‘ecological quality ratios’ - study of the limit good/moderate biological quality. Report to the Agence de l’Eau Rhone-Mediterranee-Corse.
Friedrich, G., Coring, E. and Kuchenhoff, B. (1995). Vergleich verschiedener europaischer Untersuchings - and Bewertungsmethoden für Fließgewasser. Materialien No. 18. Landessumweltamt Nordrhein-Westfalen.
Garcia, J.A. and Velasco, M.T. (1993). Evaluacion de al calidad del agua en la cuenca del Rio Tajo mediante la aplicacion de metodos biologicos. Actas VI, Congreso Espanol de Limnologia.
Ghetti, P.F. (1978). Biological Water Assessment Methods. Proceedings of Technical Seminar held at Parma, Italy, October Edited by P.F.Ghetti. Published for the Commission of the European Communities.
Mainstone, C.P. and Ellis, J.C. (1998). Comparability of ecological quality assessments in the UK and France in relation to the reporting of ecological quality under the proposed EU Water Framework Directive. Report to the Environment Agency. WRc, Medmenham.
Nixon, S.C., Mainstone, C.P., Moth iversen, T., Kristensen, P., Jeppesen, E., Friberg, N., Papathanassion, E., Jensen, A. and Pedersen, F. (1996). The harmonised monitoring and classification of ecological quality of surface water in the European Union. Final report to the European Commission. WRc Medmenham.
Tittizer, T. (1975) Proceedings of the European Scientific Colloqium, Luxembourg
Woodiwiss, F.S. (1978). Comparability study of Biological-Ecological Assessment Methods. 2nd Technical Seminar on the River Trent and Tributaries.

4. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 ETC/WTR Contribution (2)

5. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 ETC/WTR Contribution (3)

6. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 ETC/WTR Contribution (4)

7. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 ETC/WTR Contribution (5)

8. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 ETC/WTR Contribution (6)
SITE SELECTION
Five sites selected by each MS in each of the following mandatory habitat types: 1) lowland stream, 2) lowland river; 3) mid-altitude stream, and 4) heavily modified lowland river.
Five sites should be selected by relevant MS in each of the following special habitat types: 1) Alpine stream and 2) Mediterranean stream.

9. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 ETC/WTR Contribution (7)
Sampling/surveying
Within any one intercalibration group, the assessment system of each Member State should be applied to all intercalibration sites.
Member States should undertake all sampling/surveying associated with their own assessment system, at intercalibration sites located within and outside of their national boundaries.
Sampling/surveying should be undertaken in accordance with the standard methodology for the assessment system being applied.

10. WG 2.5 Intercalibration- WP Task 2 ETC/WTR contribution (8)
data processing
Processing of any samples collected should be undertaken by the Member State owning the assessment system.
All data associated with an assessment system should be generated by the Member State owning that system.
Sample/data processing should be undertaken in accordance with the protocols laid down by the assessment method being applied.
EQR values between assessment systems leads to conversion factors and a common scale of ecological quality