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Sediment Quality and Water Framework Directive from a European perspective

Gothenburg September 28, 2005

SedNet and Port of Rotterdam example

ir. Tiedo Vellinga Director Environment, Safety and Spatial Planning Maasvlakte 2 Port of Rotterdam Associate Professor Ports and Environment Delft University of Technology

The demand-driven, European The demand-driven, European SedSediment Research iment Research NetNetwork work

www.SedNet.orgwww.SedNet.org

Contaminated Sedimentsin European River Basins

SedNet MissionA European network for environmentally, socially and economically viable practices of sediment management on river basin scale, funded by European Commission, DG-Research as Thematic Network (2002 – 2004)

Outline of presentation• SedNet 2005+• Deliverables and Modalities• SedNet vision on:

• Sediment (role, threats, impacts of contamination)• Sediment management• European policy

• Port of Rotterdam example• Changing perspective on sediment management• SedNet conclusions and recommendations

SedNet 2005+Identity:

- network of sediment professionals- independent platform for expert-advise- positioned between science and end-users/stakeholders

Focus shifted:- sediment quality and quantity issues- river basin scale- including: estuarine/marine sediments, soil erosion and re-erosion

Aim:- disseminate products and especially our messages - balance sediment research demand & supply- be the window on sediment issues to EC DG Environment

Steering Group:Sponsors & COs

Secretariat(CO: TNO)

SETAC sediment WG(CO: Susanne Heise)

UNESCO-ISI(CO: Jos Brils) National Networks:

- Spain- UK- …

Important EC Projects:- Aquaterra- …

River BasinCommissions

Network of Strategic Alliances/Partnerships

DGESedNet

SETAC

UNESCO

NICOLE

LOICZ ESPO

CEDA

…

…

…

Knowledge oriented (JOINT) ACTIVITIES Management oriented

PIANC

Deliverables to ECDeliverables to ECFree of charge, through website: • Contaminated Sediments in European River

Basins• Who-is-who

Commercially published:• Scientific books on specific sediment

management issues (end 2005)

Four scientific books (end 2005)Four scientific books (end 2005)1. Sediment management at the river basin scale

edited by Dr. Phil Owens, Cranfield University, UK

2. Sediment Quality and Impact Assessment of Pollutantsedited by Prof. Dr. Damià Barceló, CSIC, Spain

3. Dredged material treatmentedited by Dr. Peppe Bortone, ARPA Emilia Romagna, Italy

4. Risk Management and Communicationedited by Dr. Susanne Heise, TU Hamburg-Harburg, Germany

ModalitiesModalities• Website: www.SedNet.org• Annual SedNet conference at home base in

Venice• Workshops (see website) • Bi-Monthly E-newsletter, 900 receivers, world-

wide • Promotion at conferences, workshops etc.• Joint Programme of Activities (JPA)• SedNet associated Journal of Soil and Sediments

(JSS)• Participation/cooperation with UNESCO ISI• Advice EU policy development & assist

implementation

The role of sedimentToo much sediment Too little sediment Sediment as

resourceObstruction of channelsRivers fill and floodReefs get smotheredTurbidity

Beaches erodeRiverbanks erodeWetlands are lostRiver profile degradation

Construction materialSand for beachesWetland nourishmentSoil enrichmentHabitat and food for life

(Martin 2002)

Sediment = essential and integrated part of our river basins

Main threatsQuantity related:Too much or too little sediment (previous slide)

Quality related:Contamination: due to their nature many hazardous chemicals stick to sediment

Environmental impacts of contamination

• Decreased abundance of species decreased biodiversity

• Secondary poisoning through consumption of contaminated species

• Decreased water quality (sediment & water quality are linked)

But, at what sediment contamination level do these effects occur?

Assessment of contaminated sediment

Assesses:

But, we know by now: hazard = risk = impact (we lack understanding)

Detects:

Method:

hazard

contaminants

chemical analysis

risk

a.o. toxic effects

(bio)assays

ecosystem impacts

impact

field inventory

Socio-economic impacts of contamination• Decreased valuation of sediment: ‘its

toxic waste’ (while it is a valuable resource)

• Complicating management of dredged material (next slide)

But, no common perception of ‘contamination’:

• Typically countries along same river use different methods

• No uniformity in quality standards or guideline values

• Thus a lack of inter-comparability

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Port of Rotterdam example

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Rhine source control program (POR I : 1984 - 1994)

Source identification and load assessment

Contaminant balances

Legal research

Information campaigns

Dialogues and agreements

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Results agreement VCI - Rotterdam

Compound Discharges 1984 (t) 2000 2005 Red. % ’84-‘05

Zinc 450 100 65 86 %

Chromium 150 20 10 93 %

Copper 80 25 16 80 %

Cadmium 1.2 0.5 0.15 88 %

Mercury 0.6 0.14 0.10 83 %

AOX 1500 300 150 90 %

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Rhine Research Project II

Main objective:

Further reduction of the contamination of the dredged material, as benefits the concept of a sustainable clean port and environment

Outcomes 1st report:

Diffuse sources are problematic(including sleeping and seeping sources)

Sediment management on river basin scale

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(fuzzy) classification of

1. substances of concern

2. areas of concern

3. areas of risk

under uncertainty consideration.

Approach of the study

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Substances of concern (step 1)

Cd and Hg: High bioaccumulative potential, high toxicity.

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Areas of concern(step 2)

km 100

km 200

km 300

km 400

km 500

km 600

km 700

km 800

IffezheimIffezheimHofenHofen

CannstadtCannstadt

LauffenLauffen

downstrdownstr. . HülsHüls

HitdorfHitdorf

km 900km 900

Baggerloch MüllerhofBaggerloch Müllerhof

LoreleyLoreleyEddersheimEddersheimGriesheimGriesheimFrankfFrankf. Ost. OstOffenbachOffenbach

MarckolsheimMarckolsheim

AugstAugst

GermersheimGermersheim

GambsheimGambsheim

GundelsheimGundelsheim

AhseAhse

InflowInflow of Ferndorfof Ferndorf

DetzemDetzem

FankelFankel

BellenkrappenBellenkrappenBauhafen WormsBauhafen Worms

LEGENDLEGEND

Increasing Increasing certaintycertainty

Increasing Increasing hazardhazard

No No indication indication of of riskrisk

Different Different data sets data sets for the same locationfor the same location,,point to point to class class 1 and 31 and 3

No No sediment present but sediment present but high high contamination contamination of SPMof SPM

Classification of areas of concern:

Class 1: potential hazardClass 2: potentially high hazardClass 3: potentially high hazard with high certainty.

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Taking into account the probability, that the sediment is resuspended and transported to the Port, and that it still has a concentration that may exceed the level for relocation of sediment at sea.

km 100

km 200

km 300

km 400

km 500

km 600

km 700

km 800

IffezheimIffezheimHofenHofen

CannstadtCannstadt

LauffenLauffen

downstrdownstr. . HülsHüls

HitdorfHitdorf

km 900km 900

Baggerloch MüllerhofBaggerloch Müllerhof

LoreleyLoreleyEddersheimEddersheimGriesheimGriesheimFrankfFrankf. Ost. OstOffenbachOffenbach

MarckolsheimMarckolsheim

AugstAugst

GermersheimGermersheim

GambsheimGambsheim

GundelsheimGundelsheim

AhseAhse

InflowInflow of Ferndorfof Ferndorf

DetzemDetzem

FankelFankel

BellenkrappenBellenkrappenBauhafen WormsBauhafen Worms

LEGENDLEGEND

Increasing Increasing certaintycertainty

Increasing Increasing hazardhazard

No No indication indication of of riskrisk

Different Different data sets data sets for the same locationfor the same location,,point to point to class class 1 and 31 and 3

No No sediment present but sediment present but high high contamination contamination of SPMof SPM

Evidence for high risk

Evidence for risk

Areas of risk(step 3)

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http://www.tu-harburg.de/ut/bis/Projects.htm

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Outlook

Balanced action in level of protection (sea – river; EU Marine Strategy – EU Water Framework Directive)

Need for management of historic contaminated sediments in the (EU) river basins (f.e. ICPR)

River basin wide water and sediment management concepts are under development but should be elaborated upon

SedNet and Dutch German Exchange as networks to put this issue forward

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European Environmental Policy (Water Framework Directive) historic contamination recognized as source

2009: establishment of measures against contaminating sources at river basins

No-deterioration principle, which implies:Presentation of evidence, that management techniques do not lead to deterioration (f.e. relocation of contaminated sediment into rivers)

Sediments are moving into the focus of EU

Sustainable Sediment Management: challengeSustainable Sediment Management: challenge

Sarno:- heavily contaminated- not much source control

Rhine:- lot of experience

Danube:- 18 countries - from the EU ‘richest’ to ‘poorest’

Changing perspective

Water Framework Directive implementation: Sediment is integrated and essential part of river systems, thus scope will shift from from local to river basin scale sediment management

From hazard to risk based management: Consensus is growing that it is better to look at actual risks or impacts, rather than on checking whether pre-defined sediment quality standards are exceeded

Stakeholders:Their involvement in environmental policy development and implementation processes will become more and more important

Sustainable Sediment Management(according to SedNet)

• in the context of the whole river system • carefully balancing environmental and socio-economical

values • in increased interaction with stakeholders• not resulting in up-/downstream impacts, not now or in the

future• embracing the whole soil-water system (integrated

solutions)• respecting natural processes and functioning

Find solutions:

Conclusions• Sediment is a valuable environmental and socio-

economic resource • As sediment belongs in our rivers, relocation of dredged

material is the preferred management optionBut, although quality is improving, relocation is restricted in many cases. Thus we should continue source reduction efforts

• And we have to manage our legacy of the past• European policies only provide a fragmented basis, to

protect and manage sediment resources• Effective protection and proper management deserves a

more focussed approach

Recommendations

EU policy development: Integrate sustainable sediment management into the European Water Framework Directive

Sediment management: Find solutions that carefully balance the socio-economic and environmental values and that are set within the context of the whole river system

Research:Improve our understanding of relation between contamination (hazard) and its actual impact to ecology and develop strategies to assess and manage the risks involved

Project funding 2002-2004 Project partners 2005+

Venice Port Authority

Free and Hanseatic City of HamburgHamburg Port Authority

SedNet partners

European Commission

Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research

TU Hamburg-Harburg

Rijkswaterstaat

www.SedNet.orgwww.SedNet.org

Thank you for your attention:

Willingness to support?

1. Can you endorse the outcomes of SedNet?2. Do you have recommendations for SedNet?3. Can you support SedNet?4. You can join SedNet!