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6 Prospects: Approaches of Integrated Management
general protection comprises a prohibition on direct discharges into the ground water body,
and a requirement to monitor ground water bodies so as to detect changes in chemical
composition.
Quantitative Status
Quantity is a major issue for ground water. There is only a certain amount of recharge
into ground water each year, and of this recharge, some is needed to support connected
ecosystems. For good management, only that portion of the overall recharge not needed
by the ecology can be abstracted. The Directive limits ground water abstraction either for
drinking water or irrigation purposes to that quantity.
Pollution Control
In the past the approach to pollution control at European level was concentrating on the
source mainly by technological approaches. Other approaches on pollution control were
dealing with the capacity of the receiving environment in the form of quality objectives.
Due to methodological problems in applying one of these objectives, a consensus was
developed that both approaches are needed in practice. Regarding the source, all existing
technology-driven and source-based control measures must be implemented as a first step
(e.g., polluter-pays-principle). The framework comprises a list of priority substances to
take action at EU level, prioritized on the basis of risk. Afterwards, the design of the most
cost-effective set of measures to achieve the reduction of the load of those substances is
required, taking into account both product and process sources. If measures taken on the
source side are not sufficient to achieve these objectives it urges responsible organizations
to take additional measures.
The River Basin Management Plan
The river basin management plan is a detailed document of how the objectives set for the
river basin (ecological status, quantitative status, chemical status and protected area objectives) shall be achieved. This plan has to include all results of a comprehensive analysis:
the river basin’s characteristics, a review of the impact of human activity on the status
of water bodies in the basin, the remaining gap for meeting these objectives and a set of
measures designed to fill the gap. An additional component is that an economic appraisal
of water use within the river basin must be carried out to provide the basis for a rational
discussion on the cost-effectiveness of possible measures. Public participation is essential
for the preparation of river basin management plans.
Public Participation
There are two main reasons for intense public participation. The first is that the decisions
on the most appropriate measures to achieve the objectives in the river basin management
plan will be the need to balance the interests of various groups. An economic analysis
might provide a rational basis for this, but it is essential that the process is open to the
scrutiny of those who will be affected.
6 Prospects: Approaches of Integrated Management
general protection comprises a prohibition on direct discharges into the ground water body,
and a requirement to monitor ground water bodies so as to detect changes in chemical
composition.
Quantitative Status
Quantity is a major issue for ground water. There is only a certain amount of recharge
into ground water each year, and of this recharge, some is needed to support connected
ecosystems. For good management, only that portion of the overall recharge not needed
by the ecology can be abstracted. The Directive limits ground water abstraction either for
drinking water or irrigation purposes to that quantity.
Pollution Control
In the past the approach to pollution control at European level was concentrating on the
source mainly by technological approaches. Other approaches on pollution control were
dealing with the capacity of the receiving environment in the form of quality objectives.
Due to methodological problems in applying one of these objectives, a consensus was
developed that both approaches are needed in practice. Regarding the source, all existing
technology-driven and source-based control measures must be implemented as a first step
(e.g., polluter-pays-principle). The framework comprises a list of priority substances to
take action at EU level, prioritized on the basis of risk. Afterwards, the design of the most
cost-effective set of measures to achieve the reduction of the load of those substances is
required, taking into account both product and process sources. If measures taken on the
source side are not sufficient to achieve these objectives it urges responsible organizations
to take additional measures.
The River Basin Management Plan
The river basin management plan is a detailed document of how the objectives set for the
river basin (ecological status, quantitative status, chemical status and protected area objectives) shall be achieved. This plan has to include all results of a comprehensive analysis:
the river basin’s characteristics, a review of the impact of human activity on the status
of water bodies in the basin, the remaining gap for meeting these objectives and a set of
measures designed to fill the gap. An additional component is that an economic appraisal
of water use within the river basin must be carried out to provide the basis for a rational
discussion on the cost-effectiveness of possible measures. Public participation is essential
for the preparation of river basin management plans.
Public Participation
There are two main reasons for intense public participation. The first is that the decisions
on the most appropriate measures to achieve the objectives in the river basin management
plan will be the need to balance the interests of various groups. An economic analysis
might provide a rational basis for this, but it is essential that the process is open to the
scrutiny of those who will be affected.