wednesday, 14 november 2012 european water: assessment of status and pressures prof. jacqueline...
TRANSCRIPT
Wednesday, 14 November 2012
European water:Assessment of status and pressures
Prof. Jacqueline McGladeExecutive Director, EEA
EEA supports the Commission’s ‘Blueprint’
The EEA has prepared several reports over the course of 2012 to support the Commission’s ‘Blueprint to safeguard Europe’s water resources’
The EEA collated data from Member States
WISE-WFDDatabase
(managed by EEA)
And produced assessments with the data
WISE-WFDDatabase
(managed by EEA)
European results
Country comparisons
Maps
Poor ecological status is widespread
Percentage of rivers and lakes with poor ecological status
Percentage of coastal and transitional waters with poor ecological status
What is causing poor status?
What is causing poor status?
Mainly caused by agriculture
What is causing poor status?
Mainly caused by agriculture
Mainly caused by waste water
What is causing poor status?
Mainly caused by agriculture
Mainly caused by waste water
Canals, dams, weirs, dykes, straightening, dredging
But water quality is mostly improving…
• Although water status is poor in many river basins, the concentration levels of many water pollutants are falling
Concentrations of pollutants in water 1992-2010, source: EEA
Some pollutants are declining quickly…
Ammonium and phosphorous levels are on track for achieving good status between 2016 and 2028
But nitrate levels are set to remain high
Good status won’t be achieved even in 2028
Water-dependent biodiversity also at risk
Only 15 % of the assessments for the river and lake habitat types, and 13 % of the assessments for inland water species are in favourable conservation status.
Challenges to improving water status
• By 2015, only 52 % of surface water bodies are expected to reach good status. This is well short of the target.
Challenges to improving water status
• By 2015, only 52 % of surface water bodies are expected to reach good status. This is well short of the target.
• More effort must go into implementing existing legislation.
Challenges to improving water status
• By 2015, only 52 % of surface water bodies are expected to reach good status. This is well short of the target.
• More effort must go into implementing existing legislation.
• There are gaps in our knowledge of chemical status – this must be addressed.
Challenges to improving water status
• By 2015, only 52 % of surface water bodies are expected to reach good status. This is well short of the target.
• More effort must go into implementing existing legislation.
• There are gaps in our knowledge of chemical status – this must be addressed
• Hydromorphology – we must support ‘re-naturation’ methods
Challenges to improving water status
• By 2015, only 52 % of surface water bodies are expected to reach good status. This is well short of the target.
• More effort must go into implementing existing legislation.
• There are gaps in our knowledge of chemical status – this must be addressed
• Hydromorphology – we must support ‘re-naturation’ methods
• The Blueprint addresses these issues.
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