Event Description

One of the challenges of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) is to meet the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) Directive requirements for priority and priority hazardous substances. A variety of different measures have to be mapped, planned and implemented in order to meet these challenges of this directive in the European river basins. This requires coordination and contributions of all stakeholders.

In implementing the WFD, drinking water resources must be protected to avoid deterioration of water source quality and lead to reduction in the level of purification treatment as described in Article 7(3) of WFD. Similarly, municipal wastewater treatment plants are not able to treat all these substances and therefore have to be backed by an upstream control approach. These are the principles of emission controls embedded in the EQS Directive and WFD. 

The main objective of the seminar is to: identify sources of priority substances not sufficiently addressed by existing measures that significantly contribute to water bodies failing to achieve good status; and to identify potential measures and control strategies to tackle those sources. The seminar will focus on diffuse sources from wide spread urban activities such as commercial and smaller industries, general service activities, households and urban infrastructure.

Programme

Chair: Mr. Pierre-Yves Monette, Secretary-General EUREAU

Event Summary and Conclusions
Mr. Pierre-Yves Monette, Secretary-General of EUREAU opened the seminar. Ms. Dea Carlsson Water Director of the Southern Baltic River Basin District Authority, Sweden welcomed the audience to Sweden and emphasized the importance of meetings and discussion, both in local water boards and in meetings at the EU-level.

Mr. Arne Jamtrot from the Environment and Health Administration, City of Stockholm, Sweden, presented a project (New Pollutants – New Tools) in which Stockholm has identified five substance groups that should be prioritized in the local environmental management: Alkylphenols/alkylphenol ethoxylates,  Antibacterial Agents, Brominated Flame Retardants, Phthalates, Polyfluorinated compounds – PFC.

Mr. Lennart Sorby, Water Director of the Northern Baltic River Basin District Authority, Sweden, observed that in fish, mercury is the main problem. Mainly mercury, cadmium (from the mining industry) and nickel were found in the water analyses. Tributyltin (TBT) from boat paint was also common.  Mr. Sorby pointed out measures like further analyses of Priority Substances (PS) and further emission control upstream as well as protection zones and drainage water treatment in agricultural lands.

Mr. Raphael Demoulière from the French Ministry of Environment focused on PS in urban waste water. He concluded that urban waste water treatment plants are not designed to treat PS  from diffuse sources. There is no systematic monitoring of PS in the treatment plants and the rates are highly variably. A national inventory found mainly zinc, nickel and arsenic in the discharge waters.

Mr. Arthur Thornton from Atkins, UK, described the PS/PHS situation in the UK and the research done to quantify sources in the sewer system. The UK project has concentrated on diffuse sources like domestic inputs (Zn, NP/NPE, DEHP, PeBDE, Pb), town centers (bars, dentists, dry cleaners etc), light industry and runoff (metals, PAH). He concluded among other things that the links to Good Ecological Status need to be demonstrated, requiring significant catchment monitoring.

Ms. Eva Brorström-Lundén from the Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL) presented experiences from the EU-research project SOCOPSE. The project has used existing knowledge to develop guidelines (decision support system), tested in five different areas in Europe, to tackle Priority Substances. Mrs. Brorström-Lundén said that there is often a lack of information on emissions and difficulties in obtaining data. Diffuse sources are important in many locations.

During the panel discussion, mercury, cadmium, DEHP, PFC, PAH and phthalates were pointed out as important Priority Substances. Mr. Jamtrot emphasized the role of textile as an important source of pollutants today.

Main outputs of the workshop were:
• the significance of challenges that we have set ourselves in controlling the Priority Substances/Priority Hazardous Substances;
• the significant costs and risks if the wrong solutions are selected;
• the fact that the challenges can only be met by adopting a range of solutions, 
• no member state will be able to solve these challenges on their own and there is an urgent need for action on EU level.