EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

This report details the finding of a project carried out on behalf of the European Commission - DGXI entitled:

Verification of the Vulnerable Zones Identified Under the Nitrate Directive and Sensitive Areas Identified under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

Contract B4-3040/97/000663/MAR/D1

This report presents the results of the investigations carried out in .

FLANDERS

(a) Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

The entire region of was designated as a Sensitive Area under Directive 91/271/EEC.

(b) Nitrates Directive

Surface Freshwater

A report prepared by VMM shows that 77% of the measurements exceeded 10 mg N/l. In the first half of 1997 these measurements showed between 35 % and 75,9 % exceedance. As the influence of households and industry were not taken into account, it was concluded that the influence of agricultural activities was the major source of nitrate pollution.

In the framework of the ecological goals of the Nitrate Directive, namely the protection of water bodies against eutrophication, the quality of the surface waters were compared to the "eutrophication standard"

(orthophosphate: 90%< 0,3 mg PO4-P/l). Since 1990 a negative trend has been identified. More then 80% of the measuring points in Flanders, show that this specific standard is exceeded. As the Nitrate Directive is directly related to the nitrate concentrations, Flemish water quality was also compared to the Dutch quality standards, which ought to prevent eutrophication (total nitrate < 2,2 mg N/l as an average summer value). Since 1990 no trend has been identified. The water quality for approximately 90% of all measuring points in Flanders exceeds the Dutch nitrate limit value. For the "Yzerbekken" this exceedance equals 100%.

When looking at the maximum concentrations map, it can be noticed that the great majority of Flanders has maximum concentrations above 50 mg NO3/l.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT EUROPEAN COMMISSION - DGXI I Groundwater

The results of various studies show that:

• Numerous areas in Flanders show high nitrate concentrations in deeper aquifers. These areas coincide partially with the designated nitrate sensitive areas under the Manure Action Plan (MAP). An extension of these areas appears essential;

• Large areas in Flanders show high concentrations of nitrate in the upper 20-metre layer. The fact that in some areas less nitrates are present in groundwaters does not mean that no problems can be expected. Although it appears essential that additional Vulnerable Zones should be designated, it is actually recommended that the whole of Flanders should be designated as a vulnerable zone because of the fact that there is a potential for groundwater nitrate concentrations to be higher than 50 mg

NO3/l throughout Flanders;

• It is expected that when the concentration of reducing components will get exhausted and nitrate will still be released to groundwaters at the same rate, significant nitrate concentrations will build up at much deeper levels. This will increase the pressure on the deeper aquifers which should stay nitrate “free”. In addition, in most cases, the deeper aquifers are currently overexploited. This means that the tendency will increasingly be to use the shallow groundwaters as drinking waters resources. At this moment in time, this is not a viable solution due to the nutrient content (including nitrates) of these shallow aquifers.

The North Sea

The monitoring data for Sea water (MUMM, 1996, 1997, 1998) clearly indicates that there severe eutrophication conditions occur in both the coastal waters and the estuary from April onwards. Map 2.5 also indicates that the Belgian coastal waters have also been identified as a “eutrophication problem area” by the Oslo and Paris Commission.

BRUSSELS

(a) The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

The regional authorities have designated the entire Senne basin as a Sensitive Area under Directive 91/271/EEC. As the entire region of Brussels-Capital lies within the Senne basin, the entire region can be considered a Sensitive Area.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT EUROPEAN COMMISSION - DGXI II (b) The Nitrates Directive

To date, no Vulnerable Zones have been identified in the region of Brussels- Capital. The main reason for this, according to the authorities, is the insignificance of the pollution originating from agricultural practices in the region. This decision, however, seems to have been based on general assumptions. One of the main problems is the lack of frequent and consistent water quality monitoring (both surface water and groundwater). Due to the lack of data, it is indeed very difficult to assess the quality of waters, the levels of pollution and the origins of such pollution.

Although it is true that the area devoted to agriculture in the region of Brussel-Capital is small, the requirements of the Directive are still valid.

It must also be noted that both Flanders and recognised the contamination by nitrates (as well as its sensitivity to nitrate pollution) of the aquifer of the ‘Sables Bruxelliens’ by designating it (or part of it) as a Vulnerable Zone. The region of Brussels, however, failed to recognised this. One study demonstrated the evidence for nitrate pollution in the ‘Sables Bruxelliens’ and its increase over time. This suggests that all territories lying on the aquifer of the ‘Sables Bruxelliens’ should be considered, in their entirety, as a Vulnerable Zone.

WALLONIA

(a) The Nitrates Directive

Although limited information was available at the time of writing, it seems that the following water bodies do qualify for designation as Vulnerable Zones under the Nitrate Directive:

Table 0.1 Potential Vulnerable Zones

Name Type Criteria

River surface freshwater eutrophication

Aquifer of the Neblon basin groundwater nitrate concentrations

Crétacé de Hesbaye groundwater nitrate concentrations

Crétacé du groundwater nitrate concentrations

(b) The Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

Unfortunately, very limited information on the designation of Sensitive Areas and water quality in Wallonia were available. Therefore a thorough review of the designation of Sensitive Areas in Wallonia could not be carried out.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT EUROPEAN COMMISSION - DGXI III However, the available literature seems to demonstrate that the following water bodies should be designated as Sensitive Areas:

Table 0.2 Water Bodies Qualifying for Designation under Directive 91/271/EEC

Water Body Type Criteria

Meuse - its entire basin in surface freshwater Eutrophication Wallonia

Scheldt - it’s entire basin in surface freshwater Overall poor quality (failing the basic Wallonia requirements for drinking water)

ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT EUROPEAN COMMISSION - DGXI IV