Monitoring Aquatic Environments and Groundwater Brief

- August 2013 environments and

N°8 groundwater

In-depth knowledge of aquatic environments is a prerequisite in order to protect and restore their «good status», in compliance with the European water framework directive (WFD1). It is with that objective in mind that, starting in 2006, French authorities modified their monitoring systems, for rivers, lakes, estuaries, coastal waters and groundwater. The data collected via these monitoring programmes are used to assess the status of water bodies and thus guide preservation policies. Monitoring - Groundwater Surface waters

The Water framework > The first national inventory3 on the level of surface-water pollution was carried out in directive enhances 1971 by the Water agencies at approximately national monitoring of one thousand sites monitoring the quality of rivers and lakes. This system was aquatic environments progressively stabilised and then reorganised into the national basin network (RNB) in order to standardise monitoring strategies The preservation of water quality and of throughout France. Overseas, the monitoring sufficient quantities of water resources is of the system was established in the 1990s. utmost importance for life on the planet and to > Hydrometric monitoring points were meet the many human needs (drinking water, established on rivers toward the end of agriculture, industry, recreational activities, the 1800s in order to predict floods and etc.). Confronted with the development of determine the hydroelectric potential of urban areas and industry in the 1960s, the each river. Starting in 1980, the responsibility French government became aware of the for monitoring discharges and water need to monitor aquatic environments and levels in rivers was gradually transferred to to assess their degradation. The resulting the Ecology ministry which now funds knowledge rapidly became indispensable approximately 3 600 monitoring points. in orienting policies to manage and protect > Chemical monitoring of littoral waters water resources and to check the efficiency started in 1974 with the national marine of the action. observation network (RNO), managed by Ifremer (Research institute for exploration of The 19642 Water law resulted in the the sea) for the Ecology ministry. Samples establishment of the first national monitoring were initially taken from water, then expanded networks for the quality and quantity of to include animals (fish and shellfish) and surface water and groundwater. Subsequently, sediment, at approximately 100 monitoring monitoring efforts were significantly reinforced points, including overseas. This activity was to meet the requirements imposed by EU and subsequently transferred to the observation French regulations. network on littoral chemical contamination

1 Directive 2000/60/EC (23 October 2000), transposed into French law notably by Law 2004-338 (21 April 2004). Public water information system 2 Law 61-1245 (16 December 1964) and Ordinance 69-50 (10 January 1969). 3 See Progress in monitoring river quality, Onema, 2010.

1 Monitoring aquatic environments and groundwater Brief

August 2013 the in 2008. This improved network (more Similar to qualitative monitoring, the 19925 The WFD was incorporated into French frequent measurements and more monitored Water law put into high gear the creation law by the 20067 Water law and essentially substances) was then reinforced with other of the national network for groundwater expanded on existing water-management networks including the national monitoring quantitative monitoring (RNES-P) with principles in France. It also introduced a network for water and sediment quality in almost 2 200 monitoring points. number of major innovations, including: maritime ports (REPOM), launched in 1997, > mandatory results based on environmental and the monitoring network for coastal Then, to reorganise and clarify the European objectives set for each water body in all types habitats and living communities (REBENT), regulatory system comprising an array of of aquatic environment, according to a strict launched in 2000. These networks are laws on different types of water (surface and timetable; complemented by special networks along the groundwater), water uses (drinking water, > mandatory periodic reporting on the results coasts. Examples are the Breton estuary bathing, etc.) and pollutants (hazardous obtained, any delays noted and failures; network in the Loire-Bretagne basin, as well substances, nitrates), the EU adopted > public consultations to reinforce the as the lagoon-monitoring network (RSL) and the Water framework directive (WFD) in transparency of water policy and encourage the biological integrator network (RINBIO) in October 2000. The WFD6 targets sustainable participation. the Rhône-Méditerranée-Corse basin. use of water in each river-basin district and 4 > The initial networks for groundwater sets environmental objectives: Water bodies are the assessment unit quality were launched in the 1970s, notably > ensure that water quality is not degraded; to monitor the increasing nitrate pollution of > restore good water status. For surface A water body is a hydrographic unit (surface water) groundwater bodies. Then new networks water, this includes chemical status or a hydrogeologic unit (groundwater), having fairly were created to meet the water-quality (substance concentrations) and ecological goals of the 19925 Water law. Following the status (composition of fauna and flora consistent characteristics (geology, morphology, establishment of common monitoring species, habitat quality). For groundwater, it hydrologic regime, etc.) and for which a single methods in 1999, the national network for includes quantitative status (water levels) and environmental objective may be set. groundwater quality monitoring (RNES-Q) chemical status (substance concentrations); The categories of water bodies are rivers, lakes, with over 2 000 monitoring points was set up. > achieve objectives pertaining to protected coastal waters, transitional waters (estuaries and > Finally, monitoring of groundwater levels zones (drinking-water abstractions, bathing lagoons) and groundwater. was launched in the 1950s on a certain waters, etc.); The 11 523 surface water bodies comprise number of large aquifers (e.g. in the Adour- > reduce or phase out the release of certain 229 790 kilometres of river, 1 964 square km of Garonne basin). During the 1970s, BRGM substances and pollutants; lakes, 26 562 km² of coastal waters and 2 840 km² (French geological survey), tasked with > reverse long-standing, significant upward of transitional waters. The 574 groundwater bodies monitoring groundwater levels throughout trends in pollutant concentrations in span 1 092 890 square kilometres. continental France, set up monitoring groundwater. networks on all the large aquifer systems.

Monitoring organised upon management cycles RBMP 2009

RBMP 2015 The WFD set up a common implementation RBMP 2021 method for the 27 Member States, divided into 6-year management cycles based on Programme of Programme of Programme of four main documents: measures 2009 measures 2015 measures 2021 > the article 5 report presents a snapshot Monitoring programme 2006 of the various activities and water uses in a Monitoring Monitoring country, with data on the resulting impacts programme 2014 programme 2020 which serve to identify the problems Environmental requiring action; Article 5 objectives reached not later than 2027 > the monitoring programme describes report 2019 Article 5 the system set up to monitor state of the report 2013 aquatic environments; Article 5 > the management plan sets the report 2004 environmental objectives. In France, this is the river-basin management plan (RBMP, SDAGE in French), a planning tool that has existed since the 19925 Water law; N.B. Each colour represents a management cycle. The dates indicate when each document must be > the programme of measures lists the adopted by the relevant authorities. measures designed to reach the set objectives. 2 6 Directive 2000/60/EC (23 October 2000), transposed into French law notably by 4 See Groundwater monitoring over the decades, Onema, 2013. Law 2004-338 (21 April 2004). 5 Law 92-3 (3 January 1992). 7 Law 2006-1772 (30 December 2006). 2 Monitoring aquatic environments and groundwater

The monitoring programme is essential for > Investigative monitoring is carried out WFD requirements have been clarified the other phases in each cycle because on surface waters to detect the reasons by a number of legislative and government knowledge is required to set objectives why a water body has not achieved good addressing all water categories and the and determine the necessary means. status or to determine the impacts of various types of monitoring. The ordinance A comprehensive overview of the status accidental pollution. dated 25 January 20108 established the of the various water categories is > Additional monitoring is implemented water-status monitoring programme to produced and serves to monitor any to assess the impact of any pressures ensure consistent application throughout changes. It is not possible to monitor weighing on surface waters in two types the country. More recently, the instruction everything everywhere, which is why of protected zones, namely Natura 2000 dated 29 January 20139 clarified the samples are taken from water bodies zones and drinking-water abstraction. implementation rules for the monitoring that are sufficiently numerous and programme for rivers and lakes. representative. The result is an overall The initial monitoring programmes were assessment of water status. The EU has Exploratory campaigns designed in each river-basin district in set a general framework concerning the 2006 for the 2010 to 2015 management monitored quality elements and parameters, In some cases, measurement campaigns cycle. Actual implementation started in monitoring frequencies and methods, are carried out in addition to the WFD 2007 by adapting the existing networks. etc., but there is a degree of flexibility for monitoring in order to acquire new Once established, the monitoring the Member States to adapt the system knowledge. For example, to monitor programmes were approved by the to their specific situations. The system emergent substances: coordinating Prefects and subsequently comprises four main parts having different > a first campaign was carried out in 2011 updated on a regular basis, i.e. at least purposes. on groundwater in continental France; once per management cycle, within one > Surveillance monitoring is a permanent > a second campaign was carried out year following the updating of the article network to assess the overall status in 2012 on surface water in continental 5 report. (qualitative and quantitative) of surface France and in the overseas territories, as In addition, the river basins may have and groundwater. The purpose is to obtain their own additional networks to acquire

well as on groundwater in the overseas Monitoring - Groundwater Surface waters general knowledge. territories. knowledge on a more local scale or on > Operational monitoring is a temporary The data from the measurement specific topics, e.g. nitrates, pesticides or network to assess the status of water campaigns10 are now undergoing analysis for monitoring of restoration projects. bodies at risk of not achieving the by scientists on the national level and the environmental objectives and to monitor results will be presented in 2014. their evolution in response to the programmes of measures.

Monitoring for surface dealt essentially with the size of the river Distribution of surface-water waters basin, taking care to cover all types of surveillance-monitoring points water bodies and to avoid sites close to by category of water body pollution sources and installations, e.g. Source: March/October 2010 report to the EU The surveillance-monitoring network dams. A majority (82%) of surveillance- (Onema) – WIS-FR partners. (RCS) for surface water was deployed monitoring points are located on rivers. 199 in 2007 at 2 043 permanent monitoring Overseas, the insular nature of the Lakes points covering all of France (continental territories means there is a higher and overseas territories). Monitoring percentage of monitoring points for 62 Transitional waters points were selected to acquire general coastal and transitional waters, 109 knowledge on aquatic environments approximately 33% compared to 6% in Coastal waters and not specifically to monitor pollution. continental France. The criteria used to define the network

Rivers Lakes Transitional waters Coastal waters Total Continental France 1 566 197 46 72 1 881 Overseas territories 107 2 16 37 162 1 673 All of France 1 673 199 62 109 2 043 Rivers % 82% 10% 3% 5% 100%

8 Ordinance (25 January 2010) modified, setting up a water-status monitoring programme. 2 9 Circular (29 January 2013) concerning implementation of the Ordinance (25 January 2010) modified, setting up a water-status monitoring programme for surface freshwater (rivers, canals and lakes). 10 http://www.onema.fr/2campagnes-d-analyse-sur-des-centaines-de-molecules-emergentes (in French).

2 3 Monitoring aquatic environments and groundwater Brief

August 2013 the If calculated in terms of river lengths, the national surveillance-monitoring Surface water bodies network has a monitoring point every Source: March/October 2010 report to the EU (Onema) – WIS-FR partners 137 kilometers. The ratio is one monitoring point for 10 square kilometers of lake, one Continental Overseas All of France for 245 km² of coastal waters and one for France territories 46 km² of transitional waters. Number 9 799 1 025 10 824 Monitoring frequencies and cycles are Rivers Number monitored 3 783 97 3 880 calculated to provide sufficient data for % monitored 39% 9% 36% a reliable assessment of water status. Number 434 5 439 Measurement parameters and minimal Lakes Number monitored 311 2 313 frequencies are defined in the January % monitored 72% 40% 71% 201011 ordinance. Monitoring covers all quality elements: Number 84 12 96 Transitional Number monitored 77 9 86 > biological quality elements, i.e. fauna water bodies (fish, crustaceans, etc.), flora (e.g. algae); % monitored 92% 75% 90% > hydromorphological quality elements, Number 120 44 164 Coastal water i.e. discharge, bank condition, width of the Number monitored 92 34 126 river bed, continuity of flow, etc.; bodies % monitored 77% 77% 77% > general physical-chemical (temperature, oxygen, nutrients, etc.) and chemical Number 10 437 1 086 11 523 quality elements (various substances). Total Number monitored 4 263 142 4 405 Some flexibility is accorded to the river % monitored 41% 13% 38% basins to increase or decrease monitoring The measurements carried out at monitoring points are used for the assessments of the frequencies (if justified) in order to take into surface water bodies where they are located. In addition, the measurements at certain account the specificities of each territory. monitoring points are extrapolated to other water bodies having similar characteristics. For example, 38% of all 11 523 water bodies are monitored directly. This proportion varies according to the water category, i.e. 36% for rivers (close to the national average given the high number of monitoring points for rivers), but 71% for lakes, 90% for transitional waters and 77% for coastal water, reflecting the smaller number of water bodies.

Distribution of surface-water operational-monitoring points by category of water body Surface-water operational monitoring started gradually in 2008 and 2009, before Source: March/October 2010 report to the EU (Onema) – WIS-FR partners reaching a total of 4 618 monitoring points. Rivers account for 92% of the monitoring Rivers Lakes Transitional waters Coastal waters Total points and lakes for 5%. Continental France 4 246 217 71 54 4 588 If calculated in terms of river lengths, the Overseas territories 19 0 0 11 30 national operational-monitoring network All of France 4 265 217 71 65 4 618 has a monitoring point every 54 kilometers. % 92% 5% 2% 1% 100% Operational monitoring covers the quality 217 Lakes elements most sensitive to anthropogenic 71 Transitional waters pressures (abstractions, pollution, point or 65 Coastal waters nonpoint-source agricultural and industrial releases, etc.) that often result in good status not being reached. For example, in addition to measurements of chemical concentrations, benthic macroinvertebrates are also monitored because they are highly sensitive to toxic substances and are thus the biological element best suited 4 265 to detecting this type of pressure. Rivers

11 Ordinance (25 January 2010) modified, setting up a water-status monitoring programme. 4 4 not achieving goodstatusandtheexisting pressures. Member State, inaddition totherequirements forwater bodies atriskof monitoring points. The approach dependsonthestrategy selectedby each differently inthattwo-thirds ofthecountriesoptedformore operational- the monitoringsystemreveals thatthecountriesdesignedtheirsystems Ireland. The number of monitoring points per 1 000 km² for each part of 1 000km²). The highestdensitieswere noted in the UnitedKingdom and 57 300 In the EU, the27MemberStatesmonitortheir surface waters at (3 pointsper1 000 km²)and16 thousand square kilometres. France ranks 15 number ofsurface-water monitoringpointsforallwater categoriesper national monitoringsystems, theEuropeancommissioncalculated the correspond closelytothesizeofeach country. To compare thedifferent with caution, however thedistributionofpointsinEUwould seemto amongtheMemberStatesandshould beused «monitoring point»canvary lakes, 2% in coastal waters and 10% in transitional waters. The term > For scope. example: in limited more are system The two other parts of the WFD monitoring save financialandhuman resources. point fordifferent purposesisameansto and relevant, theuseofasinglemonitoring 1% only Wheremonitoring. operational to possible and networks both to 17% 82% contribute to surveillance monitoring, very is different intheoverseasterritorieswhere situation The both. to assigned operational monitoring and 21% are to 63% monitoring, surveillance to exclusively contribute 16% waters, total of 5 506 monitoring points for the surface In system. surveillance-monitoring the in included already are 25% points, operational-monitoring 618 4 the Among programme bytheHealth ministry average, as part of a general monitoring on day per metres cubic 100 than supplying more and abstraction waters surface drinking-water in points for up set > in 2011; detected were substance the for values high Abnormally pollution. chloroform of causes the detect to basin Meuse the in 13 12 2007)concerningthepublic-healthprogramme tosampleandanalysewatersupplied byadistributionnetwork. 2010)modifying the Ordinance(11January Ordinance(21January

Report fromthe CommissiontotheEuropean Parliamentandthe Councilinaccordancewith thearticle18.3ofWFD onprogrammesformonitoring ofwaterstatus,COM(2009)156, April2009. investigative monitoringwasapplied additional monitoringhasbeen Surface-water monitoring inEurope 13 monitoringpoints, ofwhich 75%are locatedonrivers, 12%on th for operational monitoring (4 points per for operational monitoring (4 points per Monitoring aquaticenvironmentsandgroundwater 12 . th for surveillance monitoring monitoring for surveillance

Source: March/October2010reporttotheEU(Onema)– WIS-FR partners andoperationalDistribution ofsurface-watermonitoring monitoringpointsforsurveillance 0 0 100 Km 20 Km French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique 0 Réunion 0 20 20 Km Km

N.B. N.B. with caution. The term «monitoring point» varies among Member States andshouldbeused The term«monitoringpoint»variesamong MemberStates Member States Density ofsurface-water monitoringpoints(per1000km²)inthe Nbr of monitoring points per 1 000 km² Source : WISE -2007 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 0 0 5

Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus Surveillance monitoring Czech republic Germany Denmark RCS andRCOmonitoringpoints RCO operational-monitoringpoints RCS surveillance-monitoringpoints Estonia Greece Not indicated Spain Finland France Hungary 0 Ireland 50 Italy Operational monitoring

Lithuania 100 km Luxemburg Latvia

Malta Not indicated Netherlands Poland Portugal Rumania Sweden

Slovenia © ONEMA,2013 Slovakia United Kingdom

Map by Amandine Clavérolas

Monitoring - Groundwater - Surface waters Monitoring aquatic environments and groundwater Brief

August 2013 the Monitoring for The ordinance dated 25 January 201014 set a guideline value for the minimum density Distribution of groundwater groundwater of monitoring points for each type of quantitative-monitoring points groundwater body. For example, one Source: March/October 2010 report to the EU monitoring point for 500 km² of unconfined (Onema) – WIS-FR partners Similar to surface waters, surveillance groundwater (in contact with the surface) monitoring of groundwater started and one monitoring point for 3 000 km² Continental France 1 584 in 2007, however, it comprises two of confined groundwater, as well as Overseas territories 90 networks, one for chemical aspects sedimentary and alluvial aquifers. The All of France 1 674 (the actual groundwater surveillance- average coverage in France is thus monitoring network) and the other for one monitoring point for 616 km² of Operational monitoring, for chemical quantitative aspects, e.g. groundwater groundwater (582 km² in continental France parameters, has been progressively deployed levels, discharge volumes (the quantitative- and 1 583 km² in the overseas territories). since 2008 at 1 445 monitoring points. monitoring network). The average density is one monitoring The surveillance-monitoring network Two minimum frequency levels are point for 756 km² of groundwater bodies for groundwater was deployed at recommended for the control of (715 km² in continental France and 1 945 1 775 permanent measurement points groundwater quality: km² in the overseas territories). covering all of France. > a complete characterisation every six years covering all monitoring points and all water parameters, during the first year of the Distribution of groundwater Distribution of groundwater surveillance-monitoring points WFD management cycle; operational-monitoring points > analyses once or twice each year on a Source: March/October 2010 report to the EU Source: March/October 2010 report to the EU limited number of substances, with a (Onema) – WIS-FR partners (Onema) – WIS-FR partners sample drawn during a high-flow period and another during a low-flow period for Continental France 1 716 unconfined groundwater, and a single Continental France 1 398 Overseas territories 59 sample per year drawn from confined Overseas territories 48 All of France 1 775 groundwater. All of France 1 446 These frequencies are adaptable if more information is needed. The quality elements are selected to enable monitoring of the impact of The quantitative-monitoring network pressures to which water bodies are was deployed at 1 674 monitoring points. subjected. Measurement frequencies Similar to the surveillance-monitoring must be sufficient to detect the effects network, guideline values for minimum of pressures taking into account the densities were set for each type of water hydrogeologic characteristics of the water body. bodies, with a minimum of one per year (WFD requirement).

Groundwater bodies

Source: March/October 2010 report to the EU (Onema) – WIS-FR partners.

Similar to surface waters, not all groundwater Continental Overseas All of bodies are directly monitored, but the France territories France proportion is much higher. A full 94% of all 574 groundwater bodies are monitored directly, Number 534 40 574 including 89% by the surveillance-monitoring Number network, 78% by the quantitative-monitoring 502 38 540 network and 48% by the operational-monitoring monitored network. % 94% 95% 94% The higher percentages compared to surface monitored waters are due to the limited number of groundwater bodies and their very large relative size. © BRGM

14 Ordinance (25 January 2010) modified, setting up a water-status monitoring programme.

6 6 to quantitativemonitoring. 39% and monitoring, monitoring operational to 21% surveillance to exclusively monitoring contribute 883 15% groundwater, for 3 points the Of monitoring. monitoring, aswellquantitative operational and monitoring surveillance some monitoringpointsserveforboth waters, surface for system the to Similar 15

Report fromtheCommission totheEuropeanParliamentandCouncilinaccordance withthearticle18.3ofWFDonprogram mes formonitoringofwaterCOM(2009)156,April2009. status, monitoring (3pointsper1000km²)and12 monitoring (3pointsper1000km²), 15 Comparisons betweenEuropean in Northern Europe.in Northern France ranks 17 where groundwater isextensively usedfordrinkingwater, than in central Europe(Germany, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, France), isthatmonitoring-pointdensitiesaremain observation much higher significant differences inthesurfaceareas of water bodies. The monitoring (2pointsper1000km²). Groundwater monitoring inEurope 15 countries are difficult due to the countriesare difficultduetothe Monitoring aquaticenvironmentsandgroundwater th for chemical surveillance forchemical surveillance

th th forquantitative foroperational Distribution of groundwater monitoring points for surveillance andoperational monitoring Distribution ofgroundwater monitoringpointsforsurveillance Source: March/October2010reporttotheEU(Onema)– WIS-FR partners 0 0 100 Km 20 Km French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique 0 Réunion 0 20 20 Km Km

N.B. N.B. caution. The term «monitoring point» varies among Member States andshouldbeusedwith The term«monitoringpoint»variesamong MemberStates Nbr of monitoring points per 1 000 km² Source : WISE -2007 Member States Density ofgroundwater monitoringpoints(per1000km²)inthe Surveillance monitoring 100 120 7 20 40 60 80 0

Austria Belgium Bulgaria Cyprus

Czech republic Quantitative-monitoring points RCS andRCOmonitoringpoints RCO operational-monitoringpoints RCS surveillance-monitoringpoints Germany Denmark Estonia Operational monitoring Greece Not indicated Spain Finland

France 0 Hungary

Ireland 50 Italy 100 km Lithuania Luxemburg Latvia

Malta Quantitative monitoring Netherlands Poland Portugal Rumania Sweden © ONEMA,2013 Slovenia Slovakia United Kingdom

Map by Amandine Clavérolas

Monitoring - Groundwater - Surface waters Monitoring aquatic environments and groundwater Brief

August 2013 the

Monitoring is a The main producers of data from water and aquatic-environment monitoring systems 16 complex process Source : SNDE Physical-chemical / Hydrobiology Hydromorphology Quantitative data with numerous Chemical (fauna and flora) participants

Water agencies, DREAL/DRIEE, SN, Water agencies Water agencies, The role and responsibilities of each Rivers DREAL/DRIEE, Schapi19, DDT(M), and offices Onema participant in water monitoring are Onema18 Météo-France (SPC20) stipulated in the National master plan Water agencies, for water data (SNDE16), itself part of the Water agencies Water agencies, Lakes DREAL/DRIEE, and offices Onema national water information system WIS-FR. Onema The latter federates the main public stakeholders in the water field and Coastal Water agencies, Water agencies, Ifremer21, Ifremer, DDT(M) Water agencies organises the collection, storage, use and waters DDT(M)22 (SPEL23) (SPEL) dissemination of the data. Water agencies, Water agencies, > The production of monitoring data is Transitional Ifremer, DDT(M) Ifremer, DDT(M) DDT(M) (SPEL) waters organised on the river-basin district level, (SPEL) (SPEL), under the joint responsibility of the Basin Water agencies regional directorate for the environment BRGM24, DREAL/DRIEE, Groundwater and offices, local local governments (basin DREAL) and the Water agency (or governments Water office in the overseas territories). > The Water agencies are in charge of N.B. producing and organising the monitoring (1) Data producers may be government agencies or subcontractors. data for all water quality elements, aquatic (2) For operational monitoring, local governments may also be involved. (3) In developing national monitoring methods, research institutes are often obliged to collect data over brief periods, ecosystems and pressure assessments. however that does not make them data producers. The basin DREALs are responsible for (4) The cells in the table with no data indicate that the type of monitoring is not implemented for the given water category, quantitative data production. e.g. no quantitative data are collected on lakes. > The Water agencies and basin DREALs call on a number of entities producing to be developed concerned better samples), analysis of a parameter or a data from water and aquatic-environment integration of the physical component biological quality element, and transmission monitoring systems. in the assessment of river status. The of the results. Ecology ministry, Onema, Irstea25, CNRS Finally, monitoring data are stored in However, WFD monitoring is not limited to and the Water agencies worked together national databanks, i.e. ADES27 for data production. A great deal of work must on a protocol, called Carhyce, to groundwater, Naïades28 for the quality first be put into designing measurement characterise the hydromorphology of of rivers and lakes, HYDRO29 for river methods and protocols, then later in rivers. The protocol, used by all discharges and QUADRIGE30 for littoral interpreting and disseminating the data. monitoring participants, serves to collect waters. Data storage must be carried To ensure that the data remain consistent the data required to assess the impact of out in compliance with the formats and and comparable between countries and pressures weighing on environments and specifications stipulated by Sandre31, over time, the WFD requires that the to insert the biological measurements in the National service for water-data and methods used to collect, process and their local physical context. reference-dataset management, in order analyse samples comply with applicable Accredited compliance with methods to ensure consistency and ease of (national and international) standards. The and protocols is a key factor in obtaining use by all stakeholders. The data are advent of new, notably biological quality reliable data. To ensure data quality, then made available to the public on the elements that must be monitored requires the analyses must be carried out by www.eaufrance.fr site. that the Member States create and/or adapt laboratories according to the rules existing protocols to the specific conditions contained in the regulations, notably the in their country. In France, development October 201126 ordinance. The procedure of these protocols is coordinated by the for laboratories covers the entire data- national reference laboratory Aquaref. production process, i.e. sampling (collection, Example of a specific method that had conditioning, transport and storage of

16 Ordinance (26 July 2010) approving the national water data framework. 20 Flood-forecasting service. 17 www.eaufrance.fr/comprendre/les-donnees-sur-l-eau (in French). 21 French research institute for research and exploitation of the sea. 18 National agency for water and aquatic environments. 22 Departmental Ecology ministry services (in particular the SPC and SPEL). 19 Hydrometeorology and flood-prevention support group. 23 Water police for littoral waters. 24 French geological survey. 8 8 26 25 of water intendedforhumanconsumption. abstraction down shut to authorities localinduce may and practices farming on impacts the on informs again which groundwater, in concentrations nitrate farming Another example concerns of monitoring of impacts practices and the the role of infrastructure, etc. and on zones informing contaminated most the in riversandgroundwater, thusidentifying used tomeasure pesticide concentrations are the data monitoring e.g. contamination, how of The results assist in detecting environmental examples results are used. other Below are reached. are objectives set that and resources water of degradation check for to France. particular in in serve water results The of status overall the must information be interpreted, notablytodetermine the produced, Once year. each records data of millions generates environments aquatic Monitoring before takingaction monitoring results Understanding Lab’eau site,www.labeau.ecologie.gouv.fr. analyses inthefieldofwater andaquaticenvironments.Theseconditionsare presentedonthe out Ordinance (27October2011) concerningcertificationconditionsforlaboratories carrying Cemagref). National instituteforresearchinenvironmentaland agricultural scienceandtechnology(formerly Distribution of monitoring points according to nitrate concentrations departmental councils, boards) water Source: providedby CGDD/SOeS(data andoffices,Water agencies ministries, Healthand Ecology regionaland Distribution ofgroundwater monitoringpointsaccording tonitrate concentrations 100% 20% 40% 60% 80% 0% 1996 1997 1998 < 10mg/l 1999

2000 Monitoring aquaticenvironmentsandgroundwater

10 to25mg/l 2001 2002

25 to40mg/l 2003 0 0 © ONEMA,2013 0 0 Source: providedby CGDD/SOeS(data andoffices) Water agencies Pesticide concentrations inrivers2010 20 20 Km 20 20 Km 2004 Km Km Guadeloupe Martinique 0 Réunion Mayotte Guiana 100 Km 2005 40 to50mg/l 2006 0 2007 50 > 50mg/l 9 100 km 2008 2009 31 30 29 28 27 2010 www.sandre.eaufrance.fr www.quadrige.eaufrance.fr www.hydro.eaufrance.fr TheNaïadesdatabaseisstillinthedevelopmentphase. www.ades.eaufrance.fr Average pesticideconcentration per monitoringpoint(µg/l) No data < 0.1 0.1 to0.5 0.5 to5 > 5

Monitoring - Groundwater - Surface waters Monitoring aquatic environments and groundwater Brief

August 2013 the

The results also assist in detecting the Threatened species observed in rivers in 2009-2010 presence of certain aquatic species, e.g. threatened species. According to the Source : BDMAP (Onema) latest edition of the IUCN (International union for the conservation of nature) red list32, 15 species of freshwater fish that may disappear from French waters, i.e. one out of five. They include the European eel, Atlantic salmon, Allis shad, Pike, etc.

Map by Amandine Clavérolas It is acknowledged that the disappearance of a species may have major and unforeseeable consequences on the population dynamics of other species through a cascade effect and can facilitate the installation of alien species. Monitoring activities can also provide data on biodiversity and contribute to informing on the conservation status of species by providing knowledge on populations, e.g. on fish or macroinvertebrates.

Number of threatened species observed No species One species Two species Three species

Evolution of Fontainebleau groundwater levels from 1972 to 2013

The results assist as well in estimating 71.5

resource quantities. Measurements on 71 A.S.L. (m) river discharges and groundwater levels 70.5 supply information required to allocate 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 resources to various uses, i.e. abstractions for drinking water, irrigation and industry. Similarly, these data are crucial in The knowledge on aquatic environments restore the quality of environments, fight providing flood protection for the gained through monitoring enables against pollution and preserve the water population. managers and the administrative authorities resources necessary for life and economic to select the priority actions required to activities.

32 The Red List of threatened species in France, in the chapter on freshwater fish in continental France, IUCN France, MNHN, SFI & ONEMA (2010).

10 10 38 37 38 35 34 33 fo te olcin f ape t their analysis anddatavalidation to samples of collection the (from system monitoring entire the account into ministry on the river basins in 2011, taking codn t a survey a to According of 30millioneuros An annualbudget of 30.5 million euros million 30.5 of represents a total average annual budget monitoring WFD territories, overseas the categories, in both continental France and .. ot fr itrl aes Aog the Among waters. littoral for boats e.g. resources, technical expensive often and morerequire also They points. monitoring national regulations, theyrequire more with compliance in and, larger generally are they because groundwater.is for This for higher are as well as waters, transitional and coastal costs body, 78%, water per represents waters costs of terms In rivers. for 59% including surface of themonitoringbudget, monitoring Within monitoring period, represents just0.7%. 2010-2015 the in euros for the programmes of measures billion 27 of cost total the to Compared the river basins send their reports in the form ofdatasetstoOnema,the riverbasinssendtheirreports intheform check policy consistency andtoassessitseffectiveness.InFrance, policy tosecure implementationcompliance, managementserving to On thenationallevel, thereporting processisanintegralpartof reasonable timedelay. in litigationiftheMemberStatesdonotcorrect thesituationwithina in order to improve policy effectiveness. Failure to comply may result recommendations, proposenewmeasures orrevise thelegislation to assessimplementationcompliancewithEUlegislationandmake and sendreports on WFD implementation. This makes itpossible The Europeancommissionrequires thattheMemberStatesdraft According to a survey bytheEcologyministry, Accordingtoasurvey fortheperiod2007to2010, thetotalcostisapproximately 122 millioneuros,towhichanother59euros mustbeaddedforadditionalnetworks. Thisdoesnotincludedata analysisorcommunicationandinformation work. agenciescalculatefull-timeequivalentjobs differently) andtheresultingfiguresareimprecise,howeveroverallvolumes areaccurate. Costsaredifficulttoevaluate(notablybecause thesurveyed www.water.europa.eu/ ThedatadeliveredtotheEUcommissionareavailable atwww.rapportage.eaufrance.fr. 2002). Law2002-285(28February Data reporting andaccess 38 (not including VAT).including (not 36 y h Ecology the by 37 ) for all water all for ) Monitoring aquaticenvironmentsandgroundwater

Europe), occasionally difficult access to access difficult occasionally Europe), laboratories (samplesmustbesentto local of lack the to due notably territories, overseas the in higher are continental They France. in basins the for similar are kilometer square per costs basins, river agencies, 2007to2010 Source: survey, Ecology-ministry fromthe data Water of euros 2010, perwater category, inthousands Average annualcostsinFrance, 2007to Rivers 18 073 Lakes 1 730 environmental issues. The report data are fed into WIS-FR decision-making processesandaccessto the legal system for accesstoinformation,concerning participationofthepublicin information systemforEurope). information information systemforFrance) andsubsequentlyinto information WISE ensure compliance withtherequirements of the Aarhus to aquatic environments.Disseminationofthereports ismandatory the work accomplished and on the progress made in improving thepublicby toinform providing detailson The reports alsoserve transmission, viatheEcologyministry, totheEuropeancommission. which checks fordataconsistency, thenconsolidatesthedatapriorto 11 Groundwater 6 716 Coastal waters 2 659 Transitional waters 1 090 littoral waters. water bodies and the higher percentage of Lakes 3,9 agencies, 2007to2010 Source: survey, Ecology-ministry fromthe data Water category, inthousandsofeuros to 2010, perwater body andwater Average annualcostsinFrance, 2007 Coastal waters 16,2 Rivers 1,7 33 convention 34 35 (Water (Water Groundwater 11,7 Transitional waters 11,4

Monitoring - Groundwater - Surface waters Brief

August 2013 the Future monitoring

programmes Note on methods

The information presented briefly The data is accessible on the The monitoring programmes will be here was prepared using a method www.rapportage.eaufrance.fr site; revised by the end of 2014, following > a survey on WFD monitoring costs the updating of the Article 5 reports, implemented jointly by Onema, IOWater and implementation of the new and the members of a national working (2007 to 2010), carried out in 2011 by the programmes will begin in 2015. group (GVI) comprising the Water Ecology ministry using a questionnaire Information on the new monitoring agencies and offices, the Water and sent to each river basin. The questionnaire programmes will be sent to the European biodiversity directorate of the Ecology covered all WFD monitoring on all water commission at the start of 2016, as part of ministry, basin DREALs, SOeS and research categories. The instructions stipulated the new RBMPs (river-basin management plans) for 2016 to 2021. To meet the institutes such as BRGM, Ifremer and that cost subtotals were to be calculated above deadlines, the technical details Ineris. Numerical and mapping data were for the various data-production operations will be determined and a government drawn exclusively from: (collection, substance detection and ordinance issued in 2014. > the data, collected in the river basins analysis). The calculated costs did not The General council for the environment and consolidated on the national level, include VAT. They covered the first years and sustainable development (CGEDD) during which the monitoring programmes issued recommendations for the revision contained in the March 2010 report to of the monitoring programmes, after the European commission. The report were launched, at a time when the river consulting all stakeholders, in particular included information on previous steps basins had not all achieved the same level the Water and biodiversity directorate of in WFD implementation, e.g. boundaries of progress; the Ecology ministry, the Water agencies, and the list of competent authorities, plus, > the report of the European commission to DREALs, Onema, etc. The recommendations for each basin, the management plan, the European parliament and the Council, concern: > management of the monitoring programme of measures, Article 5 report, published in compliance with article 18, programme; list of protected zones and monitoring paragraph 3, of the 2000/60/EC Water > better organisation of monitoring programme. (France met the March framework directive, concerning water- networks; 2010 deadline, but sent a follow-up status monitoring programmes (2009) on > enhanced reliability of the data- report containing additional information the basis of data reported in 2007. production system; > better use of monitoring results. and corrections in October 2010).

39 Revising the water-monitoring strategy in France, Report no. 008376-01, CGEDD, June 2013 (in French). 40 For example, the recommendations made by the Onema scientific council may be found at http://www.onema.fr/IMG/pdf/ For more information Saisine-surveillance-CS-Onema12-04-2013.pdf. Data on the monitoring programmes may be found at: www.rapportage.eaufrance.fr Find this document on the internet at: www.eaufrance.fr/IMG/pdf/surveillance_201308_EN.pdf or www.documentation.eaufrance.fr

The French water-information portal at www.eaufrance.fr

Publisher: Elisabeth Dupont Kerlan (Onema) Editor: René Lalement (Onema) Coordination: Isabelle Vial, Janik Michon, Samuel Dembski and Claire Roussel (Onema), Stéphanie Laronde (IOWater) Authors: Katell Petit (IOWater), Janik Michon (Onema) Contribution : Alexandre Liccardi (Onema), Jean-Philippe Goyen (Onema), Pascal Lagrabe (Onema), Bénédicte Augeard (Onema), Amandine Clavérolas (IOWater), Brief Water agencies and offices, basin DREALs

Translation: Bartsch & Cie the

This document was drafted in accordance with the national framework for water data and was submitted to the concerned WIS-FR partners. Production: Communication department, Onema, 5 square Félix-Nadar, 94300 Vincennes - Layout design: Bluelife - Printed on paper from sustainably managed forests by Panoply. 94300 Vincennes - Layout design: Bluelife Production: Communication department, Onema, 5 square Félix-Nadar, 12