1) The document discusses the status of implementation of EU water policies in member countries. It focuses on the Water Framework Directive and Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. 2) Based on 2009 data, only 43% of water bodies showed good ecological status, short of the 53% target for 2015. Progress has been modest and more integrated implementation is still needed. 3) Regarding the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, collection systems are largely in place but some EU-13 countries still need to meet obligations for secondary/biological treatment, especially in sensitive areas. Compliance in large cities has improved but work remains for sensitive areas.

1. The status of
implementation of the EU
water acquis in the EU –
member countries
Hans Stielstra – DG Environment, Water unit

2. Content
1. State of Environment for water
2. Water Framework Directive
3. Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

3. EEA State of the Environment 2015
5–10 year
trends
Progress to
policy targets
Terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity 
Land use and soil functions No target
Ecological status of freshwater bodies 
Water quality and nutrient loading 
Air pollution and its ecosystem impacts 
Marine and coastal biodiversity 
Climate change impacts on ecosystems No target
Improving trends dominate
Trends show mixed picture
Deteriorating trends dominate
Largely on track
Partially on track
Largely not on track



20+ years
outlook

4. Water Framework Directive – what's
needed?
• Surface waters: good status 2015
• Artificial / heavily modified water bodies: good
ecological potential and good surface water
chemical status 2015
• Groundwater: good status 2015
• (well-justified extensions / exemptions possible)

5. River basins in Europe

6. Freshwater quality
• Much cleaner than 25 years ago, many water bodies are
still affected by pollutants and/or altered habitats.
• In 2009, only 43 % showed a good/high ecological status;
the 10 points expected increase for 2015 (53 %)
constitutes only a modest improvement in aquatic
ecosystem health.
• Water management should improve with the second round
of river basin management plans in 2015-16 – more
integrated implementation, more investment, more time for
measures to take effect.

7. Hydrological systems and
sustainable water management
• Intensive agriculture, urbanisation, energy production and
flood protection have altered European hydrological
systems and freshwater habitats for decades.
• Climate change adds to these challenges (higher water
temperature, more floods or water scarcity).
• Less than half of all water bodies have a ‘good status’.
• Full and coordinated implementation of water and nature
legislation would restore aquatic habitats and foster water
efficiency.

8. WFD Cycles
• 1st – 2003 – 2009
• 2nd 2009 – 2015
 Good Ecological Status?
 3rd 2015 – 2021
 4th 2021 - 2027

9. Reporting 2nd Cycle
• Member States reports due 2015
• Most reports available today (!)
• Assessment started – will finish end this year
• Commission report 2018
• Planned: evaluation (="review") 2019

10. Ecological status

11. Good Ecological Status 2009 and
outlook 2015
No of
MS
No of
water
bodies
% Water
bodies in good
status or
potential 2009
% Water
bodies in good
status or
potential 2015
Progres
s 2009-
2015 in
%
Unknow
n status
in 2009
in %
Ecological
status of
surface
waters
21 82684
43 53
10 15
Chemical
status of
surface
waters
Information unclear to establish the 2009 baseline
40
Quantitative
status of
groundwater
24 5197 85 92 7 6
Chemical
status of
groundwater
12
24 5197 68 77 9 3

12. Ecological status and potential of
surface water bodies

13. Chemical status groundwater

14. Groundwater quantitative status

15. 1st cycle conclusions WFD
• Huge effort put into the RBMPs. Knowledge about status
and the activities that influence better than ever before.
But more effort is needed to ensure achievement of WFD
objectives.
• Good examples of implementation abound – opportunity for
all Member States to learn.
• Water management should be based on a better
understanding of risks and pressures, founded on proper
monitoring. This will help finding cost effective solutions to
ensure the long term sustainable supply of water.
• Continued need for support, exchange, cooperation and
formal enforcement action.

16. Water management - investing in Natural Capital
1st phase
1970-2000
2nd phase
2000-2015
3rd phase
2015-2050
Sustainability
Time
• Treatment and
sanitation
• Flood defence
• Drainage • Water efficiency
• Economic instruments
• Water pricing
• Infrastructure
• Climate proof
• Green infrastructure
• Green/blue cities
• Nature based solutions
• Reduction at source
• Water/food link
• Water/energy link

17. Urban Waste Water –what's
needed?
• Collecting systems and individual or other
appropriate systems (Article 3)
• Secondary or biological treatment (Article 4)
• More stringent or tertiary treatment and
sensitive areas (Article 5)

18. What happened – status 2016
report

19. Urban Waste Water over time

20. Urban Waste Water – what remains
to be done?
• - Timely provision of good quality and complete
datasets
• - Some EU-13 Member States still lagging behind to
meet their current compliance
• obligations, especially on the more stringent
• treatment.
• - Low compliance rates in certain EU-15 Member
States and regions.
• - Compliance in big cities improved, but a number still
discharging into sensitive areas not applying more
stringent treatment