Module 3: Environmental Objectives, Programme
of Measures, Economic Analysis, Exemptions
Environmental Objectives
Yannick Pochon
Afyon, 2015
Contents
• Reminder and definitions
• Zoom on HMWB
• Examples
Place of Environmental objectives setting
6- PoM
implementation
5- Programme of
measures
4- Setting objectives
3- Monitoring and assessment
2- Characteristation, Pressures and impacts, economic
analysis
1- Transposition, RBD delineation, competent authority, WB
delineation
The requirements of the WFD text
The environmental objectives and the exemptions are set under
Article 4 of the WFD.
This article 4 WFD sets out the "environmental objectives" mainly in
Article 4.1. The main environmental objectives include the following
elements:
•
•
•
•
•
No deterioration of status for surface and groundwaters and the
protection, enhancement and restoration of all water bodies;
Achievement of good status by 2015, i.e. good ecological status
(or Potential) and good chemical status for surface waters and
good chemical and good quantitative status for groundwaters;
Progressive reduction of pollution of priority substances and
phase-out of priority hazardous substances in surface waters and
prevention and limitation of input of pollutants in groundwaters;
Reversal of any significant, upward trend of pollutants in
groundwaters;
Achievement of Standards and objectives set for protected areas
in Community legislation.
The requirements of the WFD text (2)
It is important to note that where more than one
of the objectives relates to a given body of
water, the most stringent shall apply (Art. 4.2),
irrespective of the fact that all objectives must
be achieved.
For heavily modified and artificial water bodies,
Article 4.1 point (a) indent (iii) sets
out "specific objectives" for these specific water
bodies.
(i.e. good ecological potential and good
chemical status)
Achieve protected areas objectives
Some waterbodies require greater protection
(including drinking, bathing and shellfish waters,
nutrient-sensitive areas, protected habitats and
species).
Protected areas must, by 2015, achieve standards
relevant to their designation which may be stricter
than good or high status.
The primary core objective is therefore to ensure
that the waters supporting protected areas are
protected and where necessary improved.
There shall be series of targeted measures
proposed in the RBMP aim to support protected
areas in meeting their stricter standards by 2015.
Prevent deterioration
For surface waters, the core objective is to:
• prevent deterioration, and in particular maintain
high or good status.
For groundwaters, the core objective is to:
– limit pollution inputs and prevent deterioration.
Surface waters and groundwaters already meeting
good or better standards must continue to be
managed to protect them from deterioration.
The implementation of specific measures in the
RBMPs aims to prevent deterioration in these
waters.(Authorisation, permits etc. for example)
Restore good status
The core objective for surface waters is to:
• improve waters where necessary in order to achieve at least good
status.
For groundwaters, the core objectives are to:
• improve quantity and chemical quality where necessary to achieve
good status,
• reverse increasing pollution trends.
The waters currently below good status must be restored to at least good
status where it is technically feasible and not disproportionately expensive
to do so.
The measures proposed in the RBMP aim to improve most of these
waters by 2015, but some waters will take longer to reach their target ...
Reduce chemical pollution
The core objective is to progressively reduce chemical pollution of surface
waters.
Progressive reduction of pollution of priority substances and phase-out of
priority hazardous substances in surface waters and prevention and li
mitation of input of pollutants in groundwaters;
New monitoring programmes for chemical substances in surface waters
are requested.
The case of HMWB
What are HMWB ?
• A formal definition in the directive
• art. 2 #9
• art. 4.3
• Three conditions to be filled simultaneously
• physical alterations by human activity make it impossible to
achieve the good ecological status
• and changes needed to achieve the goal would have significant
adverse effects on the uses / the wider environment
• and other environmental options to serve the same objectives
are technically unfeasible and/or disproportionately costly
Need for an
economic analysis
Flow chart for the designation procedure
Step 1
Significant
adverse effect
Do the measures required for achieving good status have
significant impact on the specific use(s) / the wider environment?
yes
Step 2
Comparison with
alternatives
no
Natural
water body
Can we identify technically
feasible alternatives?
no
yes
Are alternatives significantly better
environmental options?
no
yes
Are costs of alternatives
disproportionate?
Heavily Modified Water Body
yes
no
Natural
water body
Some examples
Objectives for surface waters
 Ecological
status
Objectives for surface waters
 Chemical status
Objectives for protected areas
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy
stem/uploads/attachment_data/file/295942/
annexD.pdf
Objectives for protected areas
Objectives for protected areas