DPSIR

Question 1

Explain the concept of DPSIR using only one paragraph (maximum 4 lines) per letter

Answer 1

• DPSIR framework is a chain of causal links starting with ‘driving forces’ (economic sectors, human activities) through ‘pressures’ (emissions, waste) to ‘states’ (physical, chemical and biological) and ‘impacts’ on ecosystems, human health and functions, eventually leading to political ‘responses’ (prioritization, target setting, indicators, do nothing).
• Driver: An anthropogenic usually economic activity that may have an environmental effect (e.g. agriculture, industry, transport, urbanisation)
• Pressure: The direct effect of the driver (emissions, an effect that causes a change in flow, a change in the water chemistry or ecological functioning)
• State: The condition of the water body resulting from natural and/or anthropogenic factors (i.e. physical, biological chemical indicators)
• Impact: The environmental effect/impact of the pressure (e.g. ecosystem modified)
• Response: The measures taken to improve the state of the water body (e.g. restricting abstraction, limiting point source discharges, developing best practice guidance for agriculture, ‘do nothing’)

Question 2

Sketch how the 5 DPSIR-letters are interlinked

Answer 2

Refer to notes

Question 3

Explain how DPSIR is used as an analytical framework for assessing water issues

Answer 3

• DPSIR framework can be used to analyze important relationships between social and environmental factors
• Analytical framework for assessing water issues - quantify and identify current state of impacts on water environment
• Identify problem -> identify causes -> identify objective -> identify measures to solve problem -> assess costs and benefits and when objective can be achieved

Question 4

Discuss in short the objectives of the WFD in Europe and why DPSIR is an important instrument

Answer 4

• Main goal: to achieve good ecological status of surface waters and good chemical status of Groundwaters in the EU.
• Achieved by assessing:
  > Biological quality (fish, benthic invertebrates, aquatic flora)
  > Hydro-morphological quality (river bank structure, river continuity or substrate of the river bed)
  > Physical-chemical quality (temperature, oxygenation and nutrient conditions) * Chemical quality that refers to environmental quality standards for river basin specific pollutants. These standards specify maximum concentrations for specific water pollutants. If even one such concentration is exceeded, the water body will not be classed as having a “good ecological status”.
• In order to achieve WFD’s goal the water bodies in the EU must have sub-divisions into smaller water bodies, according to pressures and resulting impacts. The emphasis was put on the causal links between pressures from sources and the state of the water bodies, as well as on the measures required to meet the good ecological status. The DPSIR Framework provides an overall mechanism for analyzing such water bodies and environmental problems, with regards to sustainable development.

Question 5

Explain why the river basin or catchment approach is essential to achieve water management

Answer 5

River Basin Management Plans are a requirement of the Water Framework Directive and a means of achieving the protection, improvement and sustainable use of the water environment across Europe. This includes surface freshwaters (including lakes, streams and rivers), groundwater, ecosystems such as some wetlands that depend on groundwater, estuaries and coastal waters out to one nautical mile.

The Directive requires member states to aim to achieve at least good status in each water body within their river basin districts. Each member state must produce a plan for each of the river basin districts within its territory.
Plans must include: objectives for each water body; reasons for not achieving objectives where relevant; and the programme of actions required to meet the objectives

Question 6

Give an example of an indicator for each of the 5 DPSIR letters and explain in short their function

Answer 6

Driver
Factor: Society development
Indicator: Population growth rate

Pressure
Factor: Waste emissions
Indicator: greenhouse gasses emission rates

State
Factor: Environment
Indicator: Soil degradation Index

Impact
Factor: Heritage Security
Indicator: Landscape fragmentation (Bamboo coverage)

Response
Factor: Awareness, training and education
Indicator: Population trained