Water Framework Directive

1
Water Framework Directive

• Implementation and Risk Analysis
• John Sadlier
• Water Quality Section

2
WFD Implementation Deadlines

• All implementation deadlines have been met to
  date
• 22 December 2003
• Directive transposed by Water Policy Regulations
  (SI 722 of 2003)
• RBDs established
• Competent authorities identified
• 22 June 2004
• Report above to EU Commission in prescribed
  electronic format

3
WFD Implementation Deadlines

• 22 December 2004
• Finalise characterisation reports for RBDs
• Establish register of protected areas
• 22 March 2005
• Send summary of characterisation reports for RBDs
• Establish register of protected areas
• 2006
• Monitoring programmes to be established and
  operational
• Work programme for production of RBMPs to be
  published

4
Purpose of Characterisation and Risk Assessment

• To provide comprehensive baseline information for
  purposes of management of each RBD
• To prioritise future actions in relation to
  monitoring, investigations and measures

5
Characterisation Reports

• Comprehensive description of each river basin
  district including
• An analysis of its characteristics
• Mapping the location and boundaries of all waters
  by type
• Identification of pressure and impacts on water
  bodies
• Identification of reference conditions for water
  status
• An economic analysis of water use
• A risk assessment of waters
• Article 5 of WFD

6
Waters at Risk

• A water body will be identified as being at
  risk where the pressure and impact analysis
  shows there is a likelihood a water body will
  fail to meet the environmental objectives of the
  Directive unless management intervention is
  undertaken
• Environmental objectives are
• No deterioration in status of any waters
• All waters to have at least good status by 2015
• Special objectives for protected areas

7
Assessment of Risk

• Assessment is based on available data in 2004
• It is a predicted risk for 2015
• Further characterisation / investigation could
  alter the assessment
• Process must be transparent and all data
  available to the public
• RA is not for classifying water status
• RA is not a water status report

8
At Risk Categories

• Not at risk
• Water body not at risk and available data is
  comprehensive and conclusive
• Water body probably not at significant risk but
  available information needs to be improved
• At risk
• Water body probably at significant risk but
  further monitoring and characterisation could
  alter position
• Water body at significant risk

9
Actions

• Not at risk
• Watch for changes in pressures
• Probably not at risk
• Improve data and review results
• Probably at risk
• Undertake monitoring and further characterisation
• At risk
• Begin operational monitoring, plan measures to be
  taken

10
At Risk Likely to be a High

• Standards are high and extensive
• Waters will be at risk if they are identified
  as being at risk due to-
• Pressures (actual / potential)
• Impacts (actual / potential)
• Wide range of parameters
• Chemical
• Biological
• Morphological
• Abstraction and flow regulation

11
Assessment Results for Northern Ireland (4
October 2004)

• Summary
• numbers of water bodies

At risk High confidence At risk Low Confidence At Risk Total
Rivers 56 42 98
Lakes 42 54 96
Transitional 57 43 100
Coastal 2 16 18
12
Current Activities

• Refining of assessments by RBDs and EPA
• Review of cross-border analysis
• Finalisation of assessments by 22 December 2004