1. WG C Groundwater Progress Report to SCG SCG-Meeting, 08/09.11.2011
Johannes Grath, Balázs Horváth (EC, DGEnv)

2. Key events in the period May 2011 – Nov 2011
21st WG C Plenary meeting on 12/13 October 2011 in Warsaw. Main topics:
Special Session on Groundwater and Climate Change
Presentation and discussion of MS needs concerning CC and groundwater, presentation of current research projects
Continuation of WG C Activity 1 – Exchange of best practice:
Discussion and agreement upon final draft report on Groundwater dependent terrestrial ecosystems
Implementation of Art. 6 GWD Measures to prevent or limit inputs of pollutants into groundwater (presentation of MS approaches and discussion)
Continuation of WG C Activity 2 – Contribution to review of Annex I/II of GWD
Discussion and agreement upon final draft report “Review of Annex I/II of Directive 2006/118/EC and recommendations for revision”

3. WG C Activity 1: Technical Report on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE)
Summer 2011: request for written approval by members of WG C
October 2011: presentation of comments and final discussion at WG C meeting  agreement
minor editorial amendments
October 2011 – delivery to SCG and available on CIRCA

4. WG C Activity 1: Technical Report on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE)
Scope
Its purpose is to collate current available experience,
To contribute to clarification of terms,
To make use of already existing CIS documents and
To suggest pragmatic technical solutions for the implementation of the provisions regarding the interaction of GW-bodies with directly dependent terrestrial ecosystems but leaving flexibility for MS according to the specific needs.
State of the report
not a CIS guidance document
At the current stage it seemed more adequate to provide information in a technical report
Approaches are fully in line with already existing CIS guidance doc‘s (e.g. Wetlands, Monitoring, Status & Trends, Risk assessment and Use of Conceptual Models)

5. WG C Activity 1: Technical Report on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE)
Issues addressed
Identification of terrestrial ecosystems „directly“ dependent on a GWB
„Significant“ damage to GWDTEs
Importance of proper characterisation – with regard to risk assessment and status assessment
GW quality and quantity needs of GWDTE – how to determine
Monitoring
Naturally adapted ecosystems to naturally elevated concentrations
Status assessment, threshold values and trigger values
„in-combination“ effects: different sources of pollution loads – how to deal with it?
Status assessment and size of a GWB versus GWDTE
Not specifically the scale but: identification as significant (important) AND significantly damaged

6. WG C Activity 1: Technical Report on Groundwater Dependent Terrestrial Ecosystems (GWDTE)
Recommendations:
Multi disciplinary teams - co-operation of hydrogeologists and ecologists
Cooperation of GW and SW organisations when dealing with GWDTEs
Make use of interdisciplinary networks e.g. via SPI, EU-funded research, … to further develop GWDTE issues and sharing of knowledge
Request to SCG for endorsement

7. WG C Activity 2: Contribution to the review of the GWD in 2013
Questionnaire
Series of Questions asking WG C members to indicate whether changes are needed to Annex I and II of GWD
Annex I – GW Quality Standards
Annex II – Threshold Values (parts A-C)
Method for deriving TVs
Minimum list of TVs
Reporting requirements
26 returns: 21 are from MS, 2 from NGO, 3 from Others
Source: Rob Ward presentation at WG C Meeting Budapest 04/2011

8. WG C Activity 2: Contribution to the review of the GWD in 2013 - recommendations
Annex I
No new pollutants and associated groundwater quality standards are proposed for Annex I.
A definition for “relevant metabolite” should be developed and introduced in to Annex I.
Clarify to what metric groundwater quality standards apply i.e. maximum or mean concentration.
Consider the need to establish a lower groundwater quality standard for the four pesticides with a drinking water standard (0.03 µg/L) than that generally applied (0.1 µg/L).

9. WG C Activity 2: Contribution to the review of the GWD in 2013 - recommendations
Annex I
Definition “relevant” metabolite
discussion of a number of proposals on the wording for a definition (e.g. SANCO/221/2000 – rev10)
 agreement could not be reached.
Recommendation:
further consideration is needed to develop a suitable and relevant definition.
any definition will/may also have implications for other Directives
 involvement of all relevant stakeholders and experts.

10. WG C Activity 2: Contribution to the review of the GWD in 2013 - recommendations
Annex II
No change to Annex II (Part A)
No change to the current “minimum list of pollutants“ in Annex II (Part B)
Include a requirement (in Annex II (Part B)) to consider Directive 2008/105/EC (priority substances) when setting threshold values for groundwater bodies at risk due to potential impacts on surface water chemistry and ecology.
No significant change to Annex II (Part C). Change required to clarify need to report the range of natural background concentrations (in d(i)).
Request to SCG for endorsement

11. Ad hoc Activity: Workshop on „Groundwater and Climate Change“
Objective of the Workshop: collect existing information and establish the knowledge base
Policy requirements and knowledge gaps of the member states
first step taking into consideration the guidance document 'River basin management in a changing climate”
Inputs from scientific results of FPVII research projects
Genesis, WATCH, Aquaterra
national research projects which address the pressures and impacts of CC on groundwater
share information and exchange views between Member States and stakeholders
what are the needs for future work in CC and groundwater, both from policy and scientific perspective?

12. CC impacts are potentially everywhere
Control
Future
Dryer summers Netherlands
Evidence that CC affects GW all over Europe, but with very different effects
S-Europe: overall decreasing trend in recharge
W, Central, Alps and N Europe:
Changes is seasonal regimes => water scarcity in summers
Snow melt earlier in the year Sweden, Alps
Dryer summers western europe
Length of recharge season
Changes in land use to adapt to those changes
Alps
Other seasonal regimes Sweden
Source: presentation H.P. Broers WG C meeting

13. Secondary impacts count
2 mei 2019
Secondary impacts count
Pressures on groundwater systems tend to increase,
Primary effects of climate change
associated human induced changes of surface and subsurface water management (= secondary effects)
Secondary impacts of are expected to have the largest short-term effects on groundwater resources.
increase of water demands and abstractions of groundwater for irrigation
water scarcity in summers
Land use change may affect groundwater recharge and quality
Energy policy (heat storage, CO2 storage, biofuels)
Source: presentation H.P. Broers WG C meeting 13

14. Increased pressures on groundwater
Increase of competition between different groundwater uses
Irrigation (more groundwater, less surface water)
drinking water
energy use (storage of heat, CO2 storage etc)
Competition between uses and GW ecosystem services
Base flow and Environmental Flow Needs
Groundwater dependent ecosystems
Source: presentation H.P. Broers WG C meeting

15. Next WG C meeting in March 2012:
Key next steps
Next WG C meeting in March 2012:
Activity WG C 1: exchange of best practice
Drinking water protected areas
Monitoring
Status/Trends/Threshold values
 Discussion, whether existing guidance doc’s are regarded as sufficient
Elaboration of summary report of the workshop on „Groundwater and Climate Change“ – conclusions, recommendations and proposal for way forward
Presentation to SCG in spring 2012
Reply to SPI-Questionnaire end Nov 2011
Link with „Water scarcity and droughts“ group will be established
Discussion and identification of issues for next mandate period