www.adas.co.uk

Water Framework Directive: a diffuse perspective

June 5th IW0/CIWEM

Dr Stephen Bolt

Head of Integrated Water and Environmental Management

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Water Quality Agenda 18 yrs investment in point sources (>£50bn) by

water industry UWWTD, Habitats, Abstraction, shellfish, fish, etc Chemical/pathogen quality Much improved water courses

Exposing diffuse pollution Agriculture, Urban, Transport and Air

2005, 70% of rivers are of good biological quality based on pre-WFD parameters (59% in 1990)

BUT….

Water Framework Directive “New” approach to water quality Good ecological and chemical status

Ecology only minor changes from pristine No major taxa absent Nutrients (N & P) Pesticides and other Hazardous substances

Basin Management plans and programme of measures by 2009 – good status by 2015

Point sources mainly about cost, not control Diffuse sources/apportionment Catchment management

HIGHHIGH

GOODGOOD

MODERATEMODERATE

POORPOOR

BADBAD

ECOLOGICALECOLOGICAL

STATUSSTATUS

Pre

ven

t d

ete

rio

rati

on

Re

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No orvery minor {

Slight {

Moderate {

Major {

Severe {

+Quality Standards

Physico-chemical

Degree of modification

WFD TimetableYear River Basin Planning Requirements

2004 Characterisation and risk assessment

2006 Monitoring programmes

2009 Finalise & publish first RBMPs

Measures fully operational

2013 Reviews

2014 Publish 2nd draft RBMPs

2015 Achieve environmental objectives in 1st RBMPFinalise and publish second River Basin Management Plans

2015

River Basin Management Plans

River Basin Districts

9 England and Wales

2 Cross border with Scotland

UK agriculture - size of the problem

x x

Major issues identified

Diffuse water pollution Urban, transport, air and land use (agriculture)

Hydromorphology abstraction alien species A large proportion of water bodies are either

‘definitely at risk’ (1a) or ‘probably at risk’ (1b) of not meeting the environmental objectives of the WFD by 2015 if no action is taken

Headline Results for England &Wales:(% Water Bodies at Risk)

RIVERS - 92.7% (hydromorph, diffuse nutrients) LAKES - 84.0% (hydromorph, phosphorous,

acidification) TRANSITIONAL - 98.5% (hydromorph,nutrients, alien

species) COASTAL - 84.8% (hydromorphology, diffuse

nutrients, alien species) GROUNDWATER - 77.3% (diffuse N, abstraction)

Impact of Agriculture on Water Quality

43 % of phosphorous 60 % of nitrates Majority of silt Pathogens: Bathing & Shellfish waters• Pesticides• Veterinary Medicines• Endocrine disruptors?

East Anglia

Unique region 27,000 square km – 6M people 34% drier, 6% hotter than England and Wales. Important agricultural region (58% of UK

agriculture) High Biodiversity value Growth area A quarter below sea level

Nitrates in East Anglia Forum for Water/recent press interest Example of diffuse pollution

Good chemical status (groundwater) DWD/ND – 50mg/l standard?

Up to 50% of East Anglian arable farms potentially incompatible

Derogations? Time/lesser standards? Large scale landscape changes? Good ecological status? (surface water) Even tighter standards – eg dry wetlands, marine

Diffuse pollution control - Toolkit Major UK challenge Who owns (pays for) problem?

Supportive (CSF/ESF) Incentives (CAP) Regulatory (landscape scale change)

Large gap – agriculture vs. water? Polluter pays - who pays? Increase scale and pace

Issues for debate Much point source investment Exposing significant diffuse issues WFD – step change Polluter pays – who pays? Food production – global competition Self sufficiency Pollution export? Food miles

Summary Landscape scale issues/conflict

Social, economic & environmental Legal constraints?

Need to utilise all available solutions Engage in debate:

What do we want in the UK? Is this where we are going? If not ….. How do we get there?