Source screening of priority substances under the WFD
Results for (1) Alachlor (priority substance)
Version:
4
Date:
May 2004
Comments on version 1 received from: BE, DE, NL, PT, CZ, UK
Comments on version 2 received from: DE, UK
Comments on version 3 received from: (Comments have been put on the CIRCA website)
The draft concept paper on the control of emissions, discharges and losses of priority substances
(document EAF(5)/6/01, updated version in preparation) outlines the steps to be taken to identify
the relevant measures for emission controls for the priority substances. The source screening is the
first step in this process, which is based on the information collected via the draft fact sheets
produced by Haskoning (available on CIRCA) supplemented by other information and expert
judgement, and takes into account the results of the consultation with the Expert Advisory Forum on
Priority Substances. General details on the classification system applied can be found in the concept
paper and can be summarised as follows:
¾ Category 1: source/pathway may result in or contribute to potential failure of WFD
objectives
¾ Category 2: Not enough quantitative information available to allow classification in category
1 or 3; source/pathway will be reviewed as more data become available
¾ Category 3: no potential release from source/pathway or source/pathway does not contribute
to potential failure of WFD objectives.
Results of classifications
Category Category Category
1
2
3
Source/pathway
Losses to surface waters by diffuse sources
S1 Atmospheric deposition on the water surface
S2 Via drainage and deep ground water
S3 Due to agricultural activities (via leaching, erosion, spills, direct
drainage discharges)
S4 Due to transport and infrastructure without connection to
collection system/sewers (ships, trains, automobiles and airplanes and
their respective infrastructures outside the urban area)
S5 Accidental spills
S6 Release from materials and constructions in non-sewered areas
Discharge to surface waters by point sources
S7 Discharges in sewage effluents or storm water as a result of run
off buildings and constructions in paved urban areas (including run off
from agricultural fields connected to sewer system)
S8 Discharges in sewage effluents or storm water as a result of to
households, consumer use
S9 Due to industrial activities
S9.1 Small and medium enterprises (SME), direct or via STP (nonIPPC installations, including discharges from farmyards)
1
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
S9 Due to industrial activities
S9.2 Large industrial point sources, direct or via STP (IPPC
installations)
(production and formulation of alachlor)
S10 Solid waste treatment
S10.1 Landfills
S10.2 Incineration
Losses from historically contaminated soils
S11.1 Historical pollution of sediments
S11.2 Historical pollution from contaminated land
Emissions to atmosphere
A1
From agriculture and forestry
A2
From traffic and infrastructure
A3
From buildings
A4
From households and other consumer use
A5
From industry IPPC categories
(production and formulation of alachlor)
A6
From industry SME and other non IPPC categories
A7
From waste disposal/treatment areas (land fill and others)
A8
From contaminated land (historical pollution)
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Screening based on:
¾ Haskoning factsheet on alachlor
¾ ‘Presence and movement of dangerous substances in the Czech Republic’, CHMI, 20002002
¾ ‘Bestrijdingsmiddelen in het regenwater in Vlaanderen – Rapport 2001’(Pesticides in
rainwater in the Flemish region - Report 2001 )
Data availability and uncertainties:
The Haskoning fact sheet does not contain quantitative data. The source screening is only based on
a qualitative description of the sources and pathways. Uncertainty exists on whether emissions to air
via production and use are of equal or of less importance than discharges/losses to water. Not much
information from new Member States from May 2004.
Justification for classification:
S3, S7, S9.1 and S9.2 → The production of alachor and the use of it as a herbicide are the only
described primary sources of releases to the environment, where the production seems in general of
less importance than the use but may locally result in a contribution to a potential failure of WFD
objective. There is information from CZ that there is at least one producer in CZ. The classification
to category 1 of sources S7 and S9.1 arises from the fact that use of pesticides in some fields with
drainage systems connected to the sewage systems result in releases covered by S7 and that
handling of pesticides in farmyards may result in releases where a farmyard can be considered as a
source covered by S9.1.
S1, S2, A1 → have been (re-)classified as category 2 due to a lack of quantitative information for
final classification. The uncertainty on the pathway via the atmosphere was confirmed by some
MSs and suggests that the atmospheric route for alachlor is of less importance in general, but is for
example occasionally measured/observed in rain water in Vlaanderen. The primary sources that may
contribute to the releases via these pathways are classified as category 1.
A5 → has been classified as category 3 as losses to air from the production of alachlor are likely to
be insignificant.
2