South Eastern River Basin District - Environmental Quality Standard Development-

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South Eastern River Basin District -
Environmental Quality Standard Development-
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Classification
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Biological

• An assessment of the biological quality elements
  must be taken into account when assigning
  waterbodies to any of the ecological status or
  ecological potential classes.
• The status of each of the biological elements for
  natural waterbodies is determined by measuring
  the extent of the deviation, if any, from the
  reference condition of a particular waterbody.
• Reference conditions are the conditions of the
  biological elements in the absence of pollution
  or disturbance.

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Biological- EQR

• The Ecological quality ratios (EQR) scale for the
  monitoring system for each surface water category
  is divided into the five classes (High, Good,
  Moderate, Poor and Bad) by assigning a numerical
  value to each of the boundaries between the
  classes.
• The values for the boundary between the classes
  of high and good status, and between good and
  moderate status are being established through the
  EU supported intercalibration exercise.

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Biological

• Calculating an Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR)
• The biological quality elements grouping
  comprises four specific elements as follows
• phytoplankton
• macrophytes
• invertebrates
• fish

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Biological

• For each of these elements the Directive
  prescribes a number of parameters

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Classification

• WFD classification systems and environmental
  quality standards (EQS) were developed by the
  Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose
  of assessing the ecological status of surface
  waters in Ireland using these suites of quality
  elements.
• EQSs were developed by the EPA for the following
  elements
• general components (physico-chemical) quality
  elements are as specified in WFD Annex VIII (10
  12), e.g. dissolved oxygen, nutrients and
  temperature
• specific relevant pollutants are those
  identified by Member States as being discharged
  in significant quantities this is also specified
  in WFD Annex VIII (1 - 9), e.g. metals
• Chemical Status-Priority substances are specified
  in WFD Annex X these EQSs have been developed by
  the Commission.

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Classification

• For the general components (physico-chemical) the
  WFD requires, for the purpose of classification,
  the setting of EQS values for the high/good and
  good/moderate boundaries where applicable.
• For the specific relevant pollutants the
  directive requires the setting of a single EQS
  for each pollutant.
• Failure to achieve either one of these standards
  will mean failure to achieve good ecological
  status and thus good surface water status.
• Chemical Status- priority substances the
  directive requires a single standard that will
  separate the two chemical status classes good
  and failing to achieve good set out in the
  Directive

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Classification- Overall

• ONE OUT ALL OUT PRINCIPLE In the
  classification of the ecological status/potential
  for surface waters, the Directive requires that
  the lowest status assigned to either the
  biological quality element, general components
  (physico-chemical), and hydromorphological
  elements or failure to achieve the standards set
  for the specific relevant pollutant will
  determine the ecological status that can be
  assigned to the water body.
• For chemical status failure to achieve any of the
  standards set for each of the substances will
  result in that waterbody failing the test for
  chemical status.

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General Components
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EQS Development- UK TAG Methodology

• The development of EQSs in Ireland is based on
  the same methodology as the UKTAG.
• This process took thousands of sites of good
  biological data and looked at a summary statistic
  of the relating physico chemical data.
• The value which was achieved by 90 of the sites
  was picked as the standard.
• The choice of the 10 point allows for the
  inevitability that some of the sites chosen as
  good biological quality maybe slightly poorer
  than good.

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UK TAG methodology- Irish Context

• Link together the Physico- Chemical monitoring
  data and Q data
• Identify the biological conditions associated
  with high and good status
• High- Q4-5/Q5
• Good- Q4
• Abstract all the good sites and the associated
  physico-chemical monitoring data.
• Identify and calculate the summary statistic.
• Identify the value achieved by 90 of the sites.

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General Components- EQS Development
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General Components- EQS Development- Terminology

• According to the WFD an Environmental Quality
  Standard (EQS) is the concentration (over a
  given time) of a particular pollutant or group
  of pollutants in water, sediment or biota which
  should not be exceeded in order to protect human
  health and the environment.
• A Trigger Action Value (TAV) specifies a
  parallel, more stringent target for environmental
  quality for certain parameters. A Trigger Action
  Value (TAV) is a concept developed for
  establishing Irish standards and will be used at
  national level in Ireland. The TAV will be used
  to prevent deterioration of Irish waters by
  triggering management actions before status
  failures occur.
• An EQS specifies the absolute compliance
  concentration or range for a water quality
  element in the environment. Failure of a general
  component EQS will classify the waters as failing
  to achieve the WFDs ecological status objective

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Temperature

• The maximum temperature for which a Trigger
  Action Value (TAV) of 21.5C is proposed in all
  waters, is based on the Imperative Standards set
  for the support and protection of salmonid fish
  in the Salmonid Regulations.
• The proposed Environmental Quality Standard (EQS)
  limit of 1.5ºC rise above ambient temperature
  outside of the mixing zone in all waters is also
  based on salmonid standards adopted in the
  Salmonid Regulations.

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DO
Rivers and Lakes

• For rivers and lakes a minimum daytime Dissolved
  Oxygen (DO) Trigger Action Value (TAV) of 9 mg/l
  is proposed. This limit links with the Salmonid
  Regulations standard and is supported by
  statistical analysis of Irish datasets.
• A maximum daytime Trigger Action Value (TAV) for
  rivers and lakes of 11 mg/l is proposed as an
  indication of supersaturation conditions.
• This action value range applies to surface grab
  samples collected during the daytime. If this
  range is not complied with an assessment must be
  carried out and if deemed necessary then 24 hour
  DO measurements must taken.
• The existing Salmonid Regulations standard of
  7mg/l recorded over a 24 hour period is proposed
  as a minimum environmental quality standard (EQS)
  for Dissolved Oxygen.

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DO
Transitional and Coastal

• A DO standard for coastal and transitional waters
  has been proposed in line with those percent
  saturation values currently adopted in the EPAs
  Assessment of (TSAS) for coastal and transitional
  waters.
• As with the freshwater standard a lower limit
  (5ile) and a super saturation limit (95ile)
  have been proposed. Statistical analysis of
  unpolluted marine sites showed that the values
  adopted by TSAS represented appropriate EQSs
  values.

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BOD

• For rivers, statistical analysis identified a
  Trigger Action Value (TAV) of less than 2mg/l as
  annual median. If this annual median TAV is not
  complied with investigation and, where
  appropriate, follow-up action must take place to
  address the source of the elevated BOD.
• A maximum Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) of
  less than 5mg/l in rivers is also based on
  statistical analysis and links to the value of
  5mg/l set in the Salmonid regulations. This EQS
  is an absolute maximum with a site failing WFD
  status objectives if any single sample is
  recorded above 5mg/l.
• A TAV of less than 4mg/l is proposed as a 95ile
  of recorded samples, this is in line with values
  adopted by the EPA in their water quality
  management plans.
• An EQS of less than 5mg/l is proposed as a 98ile
  of recorded samples in estuaries, this value is
  derived from the statistical analysis of
  unpolluted site data and ties in with values
  proposed for rivers and the Salmonid Regulations.
  

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pH

• pH ranges have been proposed for both hard and
  soft waters to identify natural acidification
  conditions in rivers and lakes.
• This was determined by linking the pH and
  alkalinity data with summary maximum and minimum
  statistics extracted for hard and soft water
  sites

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Ammonium

• The proposed EQSs are based on the statistical
  analysis.
• The data supported the development of separate
  standards for ammonium concentrations at high and
  at good status sites.
• The EQSs relates to annual median of readings at
  a river site.

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DIN

• The TAV of 2.6mg/l for the freshwater end of an
  estuary is derived from the EPAs Trophic Status
  Assessment Scheme (TSAS) criterion for DIN, this
  has been shown to link to changes in biological
  status and is supported by statistical analysis
  of all unpolluted sites.
• The TSAS value of 0.25 mg/l DIN also has been
  proposed as a TAV for the outer (high salinity)
  part of an estuary.
• Values for DIN are shown in both mg/l and µM
  units to reflect the different units currently
  used in coastal and transitional monitoring
  programmes. The concentrations range between
  2.6mg/l - 0.25mg/l is equivalent to 185µM -
  18µM.

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MRP

• The proposed annual median EQSs for MRP of 34 µg
  P/l and 50 µg P/l in rivers for high/good and
  good/moderate boundaries respectively are based
  on statistical analysis.
• The more stringent proposed river annual median
  TAVs of 16 µg P/l and 30 µg P/l MRP for high/good
  and good/moderate boundaries respectively have
  also been derived statistically.
• The TAVs represent the levels that half of the
  sites (50 of the samples) achieve and are
  consistent with the standards in the Irish
  Phosphorus Regulations.
• Breach of the parallel (more stringent) TAV, in
  line with the existing Phosphorus Regulations,
  necessitates action at Member State level to
  investigate the cause of and take measures to
  prevent a failure of the EQS.
• The proposed EQS is set at an absolute status
  failure limit with any breach being reported to
  the European Commission

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Specific Relevant Pollutants
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Specific Relevant Pollutants

• Specific Relevant Pollutants were included for
  EQS development in Ireland for the following
  reasons
• Substances from the Irish Dangerous Substances
  Directive which were not included on the WFD
  Priority Substances list.
• General inorganic and organic chemicals for which
  EQSs have been developed by UK TAG
• Pesticides for which EQSs have been developed by
  UK TAG
• Substances which were showing in the screening
  monitoring programme

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Specific Relevant Pollutants

• In this study international regulatory bodies
  have been relevant ecotoxicological datasets that
  have been collated by national and evaluated
  along with data from the peer reviewed
  literature.
• Technical reports were developed by WRc for each
  standard.
• These reports were also reviewed by a Peer review
  group consisting of Irish Ecotoxicologists.

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Specific Relevant Pollutants

• The following 11 Specific Relevant Pollutants in
  the ROI have new proposed standards
• Chromium
• Cypermethrin
• 2,4-D
• Diazinon
• Dimethoate
• Linuron
• Mecoprop
• Phenol
• Glyphosate
• Mancozeb
• Monochlorobenzene

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Specific Relevant Pollutants

• It was agreed to retain the S.I. 12 of 2001
  standards for the following standards 7
  parameters
• Arsenic
• Copper
• Cyanide
• Fluoride
• Toluene
• Xylenes
• Zinc
• Fluoride, Toluene and Xylene the new proposals
  were less stringent than the current standards
  under the DS directive
• Arsenic, Copper, Cyanide and Zinc there was a
  lack of adequate data to produce robust new
  standards. Further work will be done at a later
  date on these metals.