EurEau the European voice of the water sector DANVA Congress Aarhus, 18-19 May 2017
Who we are EurEau - the voice of Europe s water sector since 1975 We represent public and private drinking and waste water service providers Our members national water services associations from 29 European countries Employing 540,00 people, the sector makes a significant contribution to the European economy
2. What do we do? 80% of national legislation is pre-determined at EU level. ~ We provide a network for our members to share knowledge and ideas, exchange best practices, analyse common problems and develop effective solutions. ~ We engage with EU policy makers to highlight the role water services play and influence European legislation so as to respond to the common challenges shared by the European water sector.
4. Challenges and Priorities The 9 EurEau Challenges 1. Protecting a vulnerable resource 2. Protecting economic growth and creating jobs 3. The value of water in the circular economy 4. Source-control approach for micropollutants 5. Setting the right price for water services 6. Growing impact of climate change on water 7. Resource efficiency in the water sector 8. Managing long-term assets in a fast changing environment 9. Increasing the public understanding of the water sector
5. EurEau and the EU European Commission ~ EurEau attends and influences the EC Expert Groups meetings of the DWD, UWWTD, BWD. ~ EurEau attends and influences the meetings of the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) of the WFD. ~ EurEau is part of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Water and Water Joint Programming Initiative (JPI). ~ EurEau regularly meets relevant European Commission officials in bilateral meetings.
European Parliament ~ EurEau sponsors the EP Intergroup on biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development, cooperating with the working group agriculture and water management. ~ EurEau regularly meets MEPs on relevant topics in bilateral meetings. ~ EurEau follows the relevant parliamentary committees and shares with MEPs voting recommendations.
Water and the EU: recent developments WFD Approval 2000 Right to Water ECI 2014 DWD 2 stakeholder meetings 2015 UWWTD Approval 1991 Blueprint Publication 2012 DWD Public consultation 2014 Water reuse Guidelines 2016 1973 Danemark enter EEC (9 countries) DWD Approval 1998 BWD Approval 2006 Priority substances directive Approval 2013 Right to Water 2 stakeholder dialogues 2014-15 Water reuse Public consultation 2015 Circular economy Package & action plan 2015 Water reuse 2nd consultation 2017
Water and the EU: what s next Water Reuse Proposal 2017 UWWTD Review 2017 Mercury Regulation Approval 2017 Drinking Water Directive Proposal 2017 Priority substances directive Review 2019 Fertiliser Regulation Approval 2017? Consultation / Strategy Pharmaceuticals in the Environment 2017 Endoctrinedisrupting substances Definition 2017 Water Framework Directive Review 2019 Groundwater Directive Review 2019 Bathing Water Directive Proposal by 2020
6. A voice on the international scene ~ We work with international organisations such as: WHO UNECE NATO OECD.
6. Challenges and achievements
Review of the Drinking Water Directive Commission proposal: end of 2017 Main topics: Annex I: Quality parameters Risk-based approach und water safety planning Better information of end-users Materials/products in contact with drinking water Connecting of consumers to drinking eater networks Probably not in DWD Achievement: Reduction of the number of topics for revision from 16 to 4, which are all acceptable.
Legislative proposal for water re-use Commission proposal: Q4 2017 Main topics: Minimum health and environmental requirements for the re-use of treated waste water a) Agriculture (according to application) b) Groundwater recharge (including sea water barriers) Economic feasibility to be maintained No obligation to re-use water Achievement: Topic proposed to Commission by EurEau, as water re-use is highly relevant in a number of EurEau countries
Biocides regulation Commission agreement: March 2017 (interim approach for the establishment of maximum residue limits for residues of active substances contained in biocidal products for food and feed and specific migration limits in food contact materials) Main topics: Commission proposal did not exclude chlorate, even it is not an active substance, but a reaction product of active substances such as hypochlorite or chlorine dioxide. The proposed limit values would have been difficult to respect for many DW suppliers. Achievement: Agreement: Chlorate is not an active substance and hence not covered by the regulation. It could be addressed in the DWD.
Review of the Fertiliser regulation Commission proposal currently in EU Parliament. Final approval: late 2017 (?) Main topics: ~ Inclusion of organic fertilisers in the Internal Market for fertilisers. ~ Sewage sludge currently not authorised as ingredient. Achievement: ~ EurEau tries to open the door for sewage sludge-based products (for example for struvite): many MEPs support revision clause. ~ Final decision pending. ~ EurEau members to contact their governments.
Water Framework Directive Important dates: ~ EurEau input to WFD implementation: anytime ~ Evaluation of the WFD: 2019 ~ New River Basin Management Plans: 2021 ~ Revision of the WFD: possibly in 2021 EurEau input: ~ EC wants input in current directive (RBMP) and revision ~ Development of EurEau position papers: Customer and cost recovery Greater EU policy coordination River Basin Management Plans Implementation Compliance One-out-all-out principle Deterioration Exemptions Water used for DW abstraction Reference Condition Tools for assessment of status
Commission communication on the investment needs in the water sector Commission plans publication for the end of 2017 Main topics: ~ Regional funds diminish after 2020; ~ Still high investment needs to comply with legislation, face higher requirements (micro-pollutants) and adapt to climate change. Achievement: ~ EurEau supports this initiatives as it represents an opportunity to raise awareness. ~ Commission asked EurEau to provide data. ~ EurEau data collection underway.
Pharmaceuticals in the environment Public consultation: mid-2017; EU strategy: beginning of 2018. Main topics: ~ Increasing media attention, although concentrations in water resources still very low; ~ Polluter-pays principle difficult to implement; ~ Treatment in WWTP expensive; ~ Need for holistic approach involving all stakeholders Achievement: ~ EurEau had supported previous Commission actions, and produced two position papers (human and vets) ~ EurEau pushed for re-launch of EU actions; ~ Real impact of future strategy still open.
Other topics Right2Water ~ EurEau raised the awareness on the complexity of water services and produced several PP (affordability, governance etc.); ~ Result: Commission adopted very realistic approach. CSO ~ Problem set to grow due to climate change; ~ EurEau proposes addressing the issue in the WFD so that a holistic approach (spatial planning etc.) is taken and hot spots can be tackled first; ~ Future actions: contacting Commission to promote our views.
Thank you for your attention Bruno Tisserand Rue du Luxembourg 47-51, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)2 706 40 80 Fax: +32 (0)2 706 40 81 BE 0416 415 347 secretariat@ www. www.