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Water Pollution
Water in the European Union
Why does it need protection?
The importance of water for life and as a component of the global
ecosystem is becoming increasingly clear. It is a resource that not only
provides basic needs for the human population and is the key to
development in particular to generate and sustain wealth through
agriculture, commercial fishing, power generation, industry, transport
and tourism, but water is vital for all global ecosystems. However, the facts
show that we face a global water crisis.
At first glance, this does not appear to apply to Europe’s water. After all,
the continent faces no overall water shortages. However, Europe’s water
quality and Europe’s water management is, in fact, far from satisfactory.
Key Facts about
the Global Water Situation
- Less than 1% of the planet’s water is available for
human consumption.
- More than 1.2 billion people have no access to save
drinking water.
Key Facts about
the European Water Situation
- 20% of all surface water in the European Union is seriously
threatened with pollution.
- Groundwater supplies around 65% of all Europe’s drinking
water.
- 60% of European cities overexploit their groundwater resources.
- 50% of wetlands have “endangered status” due to
groundwater over-exploitation.
- The area of irrigated land in Southern Europe has increased by
20% since 1985.
Given the numerous, and increasing, pressures on our water resources, it
is vital that effective legislative instruments address the problems
effectively and help secure these resources for future generations.
The Water Framework Directive expands the scope of
water protection to all waters and sets a clear objectives
that “good status” must be achieved for all European
waters by 2015 and that sustainable water use is ensured
throughout Europe.
A new, innovative approach
The Framework Directive
- Protects all waters - rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and
groundwaters.
- Sets ambitious objectives to ensure that all waters
meet “good status” by 2015.
- Sets up a system of management within river basins
that recognises that water systems do not stop at
political borders.
- Requires cross border co-operation between
countries and all involved parties.
- Ensures active participation of all stakeholders,
including NGOs and local communities, in water
management activities.
- Ensures reduction and control of pollution from all
sources like agriculture, industrial activity, and
urban areas, etc.
- Requires water pricing policies and ensures that the
polluter pays.
- Finances the interests of the environment with those
who depend on it.
Water is a fragile resource
One drop of a hazardous substance can pollute
thousands of litres of water. Pollution caused today
could remain for generations in our groundwater that
we want to use for drinking water. Indeed, water
resources are affected by many different water uses
like agriculture, industry and households.
In essence, the Framework Directive aims to prevent
pollution at source and sets out a control mechanism
to ensure that all pollution sources are managed in a
sustainable way. It protects groundwater and sets
ambitious objectives for its quality and quantity. For
the aquatic ecosystems of our rivers, lakes and coastal
waters ambitious ecological objectives are also set. Although much of our
groundwaters and surface waters are polluted today, they should all reach
“good status” by 2015.
Using water sustainable
Now we know that so many activities affect water, we can
understand the importance of conserving water and
helping to protect it from pollutants. It is even more
important when we realise that demand is continuously
increasing. It is up to us therefore to ensure that the
Water Framework Directive is implemented effectively to
make sure there is enough water for future generations
and that the water meets high quality standards.
Managing water sustainably is essential for our life.
Cross-border co-ordination and new
water solidarity
Anyone who has visited the large European river basins like the Danube and
the Rhine knows that water does not stop at borders. If that is the case,
then the best way to manage water is by international co-operation. The EU
learned from experience gained in various regions throughout Europe, like
the basin of the Rhine, where a long-standing tradition of international cooperation
exists. The Water Framework Directive requires that all partners
in a given river basin manage their waters in close co-operation. This
stipulates that they set up a common River Basin Management Plan with
measures to ensure that the ambitious objectives of the Directive will be
met within the given deadlines. The Water Framework Directive attempts to
stimulate solidarity around water management within river basins.
Water is everybody’s issue
And just as different countries will have to co-operate to protect water
sources, so will several actors from various sectors. As we all use water in
our daily lives and in our work (whether in a factory, farm or office), it is
important to involve all of us to accomplish the legislation’s objectives. That
is why the Directive encourages all with an interest to actively participate
in water management activities. The more we understand our impacts on
water quantity and quality, the more we can help do our part to protect our
precious water resources. The Water Framework Directive encourages all
citizens to get involved to protect and manage their waters.
The fair price of water
Water is not a commercial product like any other but
should be seen rather as a heritage. However, it is
important to give water a price since pricing acts as an
incentive to encourage more sustainable use and as such,
many European countries have been pricing water for
years. The Water Framework Directive requires Member
States to develop water-pricing policies where all users -
agricultural, industrial and households - contribute in an
adequate way. The principle of the Directive is that the
polluter should pay because at the end of the day,
somebody always has to pay the price for pollution.
However, the Directive allows countries to provide water
services at an affordable price for those in need.
Joint implementation
The way the Water Framework Directive will be
implemented is unique. It relies on the participation of all
the players concerned. It also provides the European
Commission, the Member States, the Candidate Countries
and all stakeholders with an unprecedented chance for a
new partnership to guide the process and ensure effective
and coherent implementation.
Important deadlines
of the Directive:
- December 2003
National and regional water laws to be adapted to the
Water Framework Directive
River Basin co-operation to be made operational
- December 2004
An analysis of pressures and impacts on our waters to be
completed including an economic analysis
- December 2006
Monitoring programmes to be operational as a basis for
water management
- December 2008
River Basin Management plans to be presented to the
public
- December 2009
First River Basin Management Plans to be published
- December 2015
Waters to meet “good status”
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