OECD Expert Meeting on Water Economics & Financing Paris, March, th March 2010

Transcription

1 OECD Expert Meeting on Water Economics & Financing Paris, March, 2010 International Office 17th March 2010 BENEFITS FROM GOVERNANCE, DIALOGUE AND FINANCING AT RIVER BASIN LEVEL: FEEDBACK FROM THE FRENCH EXPERIENCE Examples : floods & drought management Mrs. Coralie NOEL, Deputy Director International Office & International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)

2 Our mission: International Office Office for International Water de l Eau FRANCE Capacity building for better water management : - Integrated Water Resources Management - Management of drinking water supply and sanitation utilities - Management of waste Professional training Information systems International cooperation

3 International Network of Basin Organizations Created in 1994 to facilitate operational exchanges 188 members in 68 countries between basin organizations Operated by the International Office (Paris, France)

4 French case study jointly by Ministry of Ecology and International Office

5 Water challenges in France International Office Water supply: 100% Wastewater treatment: 95% First equipment totally achieved, but investment needed for renewal Organic & chemical pollution well treated New challenges: diffuse pollution (nitrates), heavy metals, drugs residues Implementation of UWW Directive and WFD

6 History of water planning in France International Office River basin institutions Good water Water status management 2015 plans 1964 Water Act 1992 Water Act 2000 WFD 2006 Water Act 2009 Grenelle of Env. Laws

7 River basin management in France 1964 Water Law Coordination of State policy: «Basin Coordinating Prefect» Financing body: Water Agency Dialogue body: Basin Committee Multiyear planning: management plan Public / stakeholders participation

8 River Basin Institutions involving users Basin Committee : a "Water Parliament" Stakeholders Elected officials C Financial action programmes (6 years) 12 billion euros ( ) Financial support to WFD programmes of measures Water Agency : a financing body Water charges (water consumption, pollution, ) State representatives C Subsidies (grants & loans) (treatments, river restoration, )

9 Polluter pays principle at river basin level 7 different water charges according to the user s pressure on the water resource: - water pollution, - modernization of the wastewater networks, - non-point agricultural pollution, - protection of aquatic environments - water abstraction, - water storage in low flow periods, - obstacle on rivers, in relation to floods / droughts prevention

10 Flood / droughts in our International Office management plans prepared by the Basin Committee Example: SDAGE Adour-Garonne - Reinforce river basin governance - Reduce impact of human activities on aquatic environments - Manage the groundwater on a sustainable way - Guarantee water quality for activities and aquatic environments - Manage quantity in view of climate change: floods, scarcity

11 Benefits and beneficiaries of investing in WRM Water quality, flood and drought management

12 Benefits of improved water supply & sanitation in terms of health Large epidemics of cholera during 19th in the parisian area ( deaths in 1832, last one in 1892) Infrastructure works (19th & 20th) : km networks for waste water collection 1927 : decision building the Achères WWTP Direct consequence: end of epidemics Marseille :

13 DBO5 mgo2/l NOD-SUR-SEINE Benefits in terms of water quality: BAR-SUR-SEINE VERRIERES MERY-SUR-SEINE MONTEREAU-FAULT-YONNE SAINT-FARGEAU-PONTHIERRY RIS-ORANGIS CHOISY-LE-ROI -12E--ARRONDISSEMENT SURESNES EPINAY-SUR-SEINE MAISONS-LAFFITTE POISSY MEULAN MERICOURT PORT-MORT POSES ELBEUF ROUEN PETIT-COURONNE LA BOUILLE DUCLAIR HEURTEAUVILLE CAUDEBEC-EN-CAUX TROUVILLE-LA-HAULE HONFLEUR International Office reduction of organic pollution in the Seine river Orge - Yvette Seine - Aval Très bon Très Mauvais Mauvais Moyen Bon Très bon DBO5 ( ) DBO5 ( ) DBO5 (2007)

14 Benefits due to improvement of bathing water 3000 bathing areas Improvement of waste water treatment Implementation of the EU «Bathing Directive» Control by local State services (DDASS) samplings per annum 2008 Assessment Report: 96 % complying beaches Positive impact on tourism (labels, blue flag) Study of Water Agencies 2004: inaction costs= 1 billion euros (annual economic losses if non complying seaside), avoided costs compensate investment in < 2 years

15 Benefits due to better Big flood of the Seine, 1910 flood risk control 85% of the flood plain is now urbanised Such a flood today: 12 billion euros, 1 million people moved, ha flooded for several months, 439 municipalities affected, enterprises impacted, ½ of economic activity stopped 4 lakes-reservoirs «Great Lakes of the Seine» would allow reducing by 33% the economic impacts of floods avoid significant variations (flood or drought)

16 Financing flood prevention International Office State : Fund for prevention of major natural hazards (Barnier Fund) Fed by tax on insurance contracts Flood prevention + compensation to victims ( : 400 ME/year)

17 Economic challenges of drought management Total cost for EU countries: 6 billions euros/year North of Europe is also concerned, including France particularly in the South Need for economic development: meeting the water demand for agriculture, industry In case of droughts: increase of pollution and difficulty to reach EU env. standards Protect aquatic environments and meet the demand at the same time

18 Tools for drought management International Office Water Police: permitting system + control - Maximum volume, which can be abstracted - If scarcity area: lowering of the maximum volume Drought Decrees - In the case of drought, the Prefect can limit or stop abstractions (irrigation) Reserved flow Obligation for operators of infrastructures to reserve a minimal downstream flow to guarantee aquatic life and safe rivers. Replenishment of low water flows When the level of the rivers lowers significantly, obligation to release water from the dams and lake-

19 Drought decrees: example, limitation of water uses, Sept 2009 International Office

20 Water Scarcity National Plan No important drought in France apart in 1976 Water scarcity in Summer 2003 National plan 3 lines: - priority to drinking water supply - sharing between the water uses - water saving measures Importance of dialogue: - National Committee chaired by Minister of Ecology - Committee in each large river basin After a focus on increasing available water : priority now given to the regulation of water demand

21 French national adaptation plan to climate change Decided during the national debate «Grenelle de l Environnement» (2008) Launched in Dec 2009 by the Minister of Ecology A large dialogue will involve public authorities, civil society, private sector with national and regional debates To be adopted in 2011

22 National water information system Gathering of all water data, including on floods and droughts Easy data exchange between data producers Common reference frame, inter-operability

23 Concluding remarks International Office Importance of: - governance,dialogue (basin committees) - monitoring, information systems - upstream/downstream coordination (monitoring, warning system, planning) at river basin level, between stakeholders, countries Some dedicated water charges contributing to financing floods & droughts managt but do not cover total costs, additional costs covered by State, local authorities, What about the financing of future investment needs? (climate change) Better coordinate WRM / floods & droughts (flood plans to be integrated into the 2 nd WFD management plans) Huge needs for capacity building (everywhere in the world) : invest in professional training!

24 For more information: International Office «Organization of Water Management in France» Thank you for your attention! Contact : c.noel@oieau.fr