WFD Flashcards
What year was the WFD adopted by the EU?
2000
What year did the WFD come in to effect in Ireland?
2003 by the European Communities (Water Policy) Regulations 2003.
Why is the WFD unique?
It takes a holistic approach to waterbodies in general. Considering water quality and how the quality of water affects wildlife and their habitats
What was the first wave of European legislation for water resources?
1-1970’s, directives for abstraction of drinking water, fishing waters, shellfish waters, bathing waters and groundwater’s.
What was the second wave of European legislation for water resources?
2-1990’s -
- Urban wastewater treatment
- New drinking water quality directive
-Nitrates directive- Directive for integrated pollution and prevention control.
What was the third wave of European legislation for water resources?
3-2000’s
Water Framework Directive
List 3 aims of the WFD
- Achieving ‘good status’ for all waters by a set deadline.
-Water management based on river basins
-Streamlining legislation.
Name 3 other directives the WFD is linked to.
1-Directive for surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water.
2-Directive for quality required of shellfish waters.
3-Directive for protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances.
How many RBDs on the island of Ireland?
8
How many RBD’s in ROI?
4
How many catchment management units?
46
What are the three quality elements used to classify ecological status?
-Biological elements
-Chemical and physio chemical elements
-Hydromorphological elements.
How many classification categories are there for ecological status?
5- High, Good, Moderate, Poor, Bad
How many classifications are there for chemical status?
Two- Good/Fail
What is the purpose of the classification step?
To identify those water bodies at risk of not meeting the directives Goof ecological quality status by 2015.
What is the purpose of environmental objectives?
To prevent deterioration or decline in high status waters.
To restore good status in declining quality trends
Reduce chemical pollution.
What is the purpose of the programme of measures?
To classify waters(High-Poor)
To review existing discharge licenses to ensure compliance with the new standards.
To reduce/ phase out emission of priority substances.
Name and describe 3 regulations in the programme of measures.
1-Nitrates directive - objective of reducing water pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources and prevent further such pollution.
2-Domestic Waste-water treatment systems- operation and maintenance of domestic waste-water treatment systems, required owners to register their DWWTS and carry out ongoing maintenance and desludging.
3-Urban waste water Treatment- requirements with respect to the collection,treatment, and the discharge of urban wastewater.
Why did Ireland receive a strongly worded letter from the European Commission in 2010?
Not meeting requirements
Ñame 3 significant pressures in the Western River Basin District.
Agriculture
Forestry
Aquaculture
What is a water management unit action plan?
It represents smaller river basins where management of the pressures, investigations and measures will be focused and refined during implementation of this the RBMP.
Describe and briefly explain the three types of monitoring.
Surveillance- providing data on long term trends. Full range of parameters are examined at monitoring sites.
Operational- assess the effectiveness of programmes or measures including measures for combating pollution and measures for maintaining high or good status.
Investigative - applied where the reason for status failures is unknown.
Briefly summarise the results from Cycle 1 (2009-2015)
Water quality remained static - National target of 13% improvement not met. Seriously polluted water bodies decreased from 19 to 6 fue to the ‘Red Dot Programme’ - Urban wastewater discharges.
What knowledge gaps were identified from Cycle 1?
-Inadequate linkage between surface water and groundwater.
-Scientific basis was overly dependent on expert judgement.
-Major criticism towards the structure of the river basin districts.
What was wrong with the large number of RBD’s in cycle 1?
Harder to manage and not specific enough based on each catchment.
What issues arose with the governance and delivery of cycle 1?
- no single body had ultimate responsibility,
-Fragmented institutional structures.
-Poor intro and Inter-institutional relationships and capacity.
-Governance overly complex, responsibilities not defined.
What was wrong with the River basin management plans?
-Measured tended to be over generalised, not specific enough to each catchment.
-oversight of programme delivery and review were weak.
Describe the new governance structure for cycle 2.
-Three tier implantation structure.
-Tier 1; policy and oversight
-Tier 2; Technical implementation (Networking and Reporting)
-Tier 3; Local authorities responsible for the implementation of measures on the ground.
What was the outcome of the Urban Wastewater Treatment directive?
-3.5 billion euros was invested into UWWT infrastructure
-57%>84%>100% compliance
- Irish water created to replace 34 local authorities.
Why and how was cycle 2 delayed?
It was delayed due to the recession leading to a hiatus in the undertaking of key elements of WFD.
Monitoring and compliance undertaken by the EPA, local authorities, Marine institute and other local bodies.
What are the three objectives for cycle 2?
-Full compliance with existing EU legislation.
-Prevent deterioration.
-Prohibiting direct discharges to watercourses from farm roadways.
What is the purpose of ASSAP?
To encourage and support behavioural change, facilitate knowledge transfer, achieve better on- farm environmental outcomes.
Provide one-to-one sustainability advisory service to over 5,000 farmers in high risk ‘critical source areas’ (CSA’s)
What does the online nutrient management plan promote?
Efficient fertiliser use at a national level.
Ñame the two Agri-environment schemes within the RDP.
1-GLAS (Green, Low carbon , Agri environmental scheme)
2-TAMS (Targeted Modernisation Scheme)
What is the objective of GLAS?
To improve the rural environment by improving water quality, mitigating climate change, and promoting biodiversity.
What is the aim of TAMS?
To increase nutrient storage, increasing purchase of low emission spreading equipment, more slurry less chemical.
What actions have Irish waters taken to reduce urban wastewater pressures?
Irish water committed for 255 wastewater treatment-plant upgrades.
EPA licences may need to be reviewed due to improved evidence and priorities in Cycle 2.
Ñame 3 schemes that aim to reduce pressures from forestry.
1-Forest road scheme
2-Woodland Improvement scheme
3-Native woodland conservation scheme
How does the national peatland strategy relate to the WFD?
stated that peatland activities must demonstrate that they do not adversely impact on the environmental objectives of the WFD.
What is the aim of the Bord na Mona sustainability 2030 strategy biodiversity action plan?
Long term rehabilitation of its cutaway bogs, 25 peatlands and improve mitigation strategies for improving water quality from drained peat lands.
What approach is being taken to manage invasive species?
Monitoring, surveillance, early warning protocols, rapid response, control and bio security.
What was the objective for assessing hydromorphological pressures in cycle 2?
Technical guidance, EIA, planning and development regulations 2011.
Briefly summarise the results from cycle 2.
-Identified agriculture as the No 1 pressure impacting water bodies.
-Forestry main pressure impacting the quality of high status waterbodies.
-190 areas of action were prioritised as part of the programme of measures.
-No change in river nutrient status in cycle 2.
Cycle 3- what is the purpose of the WFD fitness check?
To assess whether the current regulatory framework is ‘fit for purpose’.
To assess the effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, relevance and added value of EU water legislation.
What were the 3 main conclusions of the fitness check?
-it is fit for purpose with some scope to improve.
- Directives have led to a higher level of protection for water bodies and flood risk management than could have been expected without them.
- It suggests that the main reasons that the WFD’s objectives have not been reached fully yet is largely due to insignificant funding.
Why is the EU commission referring Ireland to the court of Justice as of January 2023?
Failing to correctly transpose Water Framework Directive protecting waters from pollution.
What are the potential impacts of brexit on the next implementations or RBMP’s?
Two river basin districts are shared with Northern Ireland, they may not comply with EU legislation.
What is the current overall trend in water quality status?
Very little overall improvement in water quality.
Nearly all negative trends are driven by changes in river water quality.
What was the overall progress for ‘at risk’ waterbofied after Cycle 2?
An improvement of 13% in the water bodies prioritised in the Areas for Action.
List the 10 significant water management issues in Ireland.
1-Climate change
2-Eutrophication
3-Hydromorphology
4-Siltation
5-Drinking water
6-Invasive alien species
7-Hazardous Chemicals
8-Urban pressures
9-Aquaculture
10-Antimicrobial resistance
What are the 3 proposed themes for the third river basin management cycle?
An increased level of ambition.
Integrated catchment planning.
Multiple benefits
What role does the common agricultural policy play in the success of the WFD?
Providing a more comprehensive,coherent and coordinated response to deliver significant improvements and to reward farmers for delivering positing environmental outcomes.
