1. Seminar on Drinking Water Protection
21 January 2016, Brussels
Wilko Verweij
Susanne Wuijts
Seminar on Drinking Water Protection | 12 April 2016

2. History and objectives
October 2014: common workshop of groundwater, surface water and drinking water community
January 2016: follow-up workshop in Brussels
Objectives:
Sharing and exchanging best practices
Improve protection of drinking water sources
Improve synergies between directives
Background: plans to revise DWD
Seminar on Drinking Water Protection | 12 April 2016

3. Overlap and distinction
Water Safety Plan is recommended by WHO; risk-based, entire chain
Seminar on Drinking Water Protection | 12 April 2016

4. Differences and similarities
Characterisation
Surveillance monitoring
Assessment : water
body at risk or not ?
Defining measures &
operational monitoring
Implementation
of measures
Follow up &
Operational
monitoring
Differences and similarities
Both DWD and WFD include precautionary principle
Both DWD and WFD are (partly) risk-based
Emphasis WFD: risk-based (but recital!)
Emphasis DWD: precautionary principle
WFD cycle
WSP approach: EPA.ie

5. Revision process DWD Currently DWD-revision is considered
Consultant prepared report for EC
Seminar on Drinking Water Protection | 12 April 2016

6. Recommendations Room for better use of existing legislation
Common Agricultural Policy
Directive on sustainable use of pesticides (2009/128/EC)
Water Safety planning is necessary to safeguard drinking water (quality).
Risk-based compilation of information per abstraction area can contribute to better management (e.g. Netherlands & Flanders)
General: bring DWD and WFD-world (more) together
Seminar on Drinking Water Protection | 12 April 2016

7. Other areas for improvement
Improved protection of sources
Combine voluntary and mandatory measures
More efficient and risk-based monitoring
Follow-up
Collection of good practices
Identification of areas to be included in legislation
Data and information sharing
Better connection of all relevant directives
Seminar on Drinking Water Protection | 12 April 2016

8. Read more
Seminar on Drinking Water Protection | 12 April 2016