Water Framework Directive

Implementation and Risk Analysis

John SadlierWater Quality

Section

WFD Implementation Deadlines All implementation deadlines have been

met to date 22 December 2003

Directive transposed by Water Policy Regulations (SI 722 of 2003)

RBDs established Competent authorities identified

22 June 2004 Report above to EU Commission in

prescribed electronic format

WFD Implementation Deadlines 22 December 2004

Finalise characterisation reports for RBDs Establish register of protected areas

22 March 2005 Send summary of characterisation reports for RBDs Establish register of protected areas

2006 Monitoring programmes to be established and

operational Work programme for production of RBMPs to be

published

Purpose of Characterisation and Risk Assessment To provide comprehensive baseline

information for purposes of management of each RBD

To prioritise future actions in relation to monitoring, investigations and measures

Characterisation Reports Comprehensive description of each river

basin district including – An analysis of its characteristics Mapping the location and boundaries of all

waters by type Identification of pressure and impacts on water

bodies Identification of reference conditions for water

status An economic analysis of water use A risk assessment of waters

[Article 5 of WFD]

Waters at Risk A water body will be identified as being “at

risk” where the pressure and impact analysis shows there is a likelihood a water body will fail to meet the environmental objectives of the Directive unless management intervention is undertaken

Environmental objectives are No deterioration in status of any waters All waters to have at least “good status” by

2015 Special objectives for “protected areas”

Assessment of Risk Assessment is based on available data

in 2004 It is a predicted risk for 2015 Further characterisation / investigation

could alter the assessment Process must be transparent and all

data available to the public RA is not for classifying water status RA is not a water status report

“At Risk” Categories Not at risk Water body not at risk and available data is

comprehensive and conclusive Water body probably not at significant risk

but available information needs to be improved

At risk Water body probably at significant risk but

further monitoring and characterisation could alter position

Water body at significant risk

Actions Not at risk

Watch for changes in pressures Probably not at risk

Improve data and review results Probably at risk

Undertake monitoring and further characterisation

At risk Begin operational monitoring, plan

measures to be taken

“At Risk” Likely to be a High % Standards are high and extensive Waters will be “at risk” if they are

identified as being at risk due to- Pressures (actual / potential) Impacts (actual / potential) Wide range of parameters

Chemical Biological Morphological Abstraction and flow regulation

Assessment Results for Northern Ireland (4 October 2004)

Summary% numbers of water bodies

At riskHigh confidence

At riskLow Confidence

At RiskTotal

Rivers 56 42 98

Lakes 42 54 96

Transitional

57 43 100

Coastal 2 16 18

Current Activities

Refining of assessments by RBDs and

EPA

Review of cross-border analysis

Finalisation of assessments by 22

December 2004