euwareness belgium
Case Study 1: Vesdre River Basin
David Aubin and Frédéric Varone
Case Study 1: Vesdre River Basin
David Aubin Frédéric Varone
April 2002
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) Unité de Sciences politiques et Relations internationales (SPRI) Association universitaire de Recherche sur l'Action publique (AURAP) Place Montesquieu, 1 boîte 7 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve Belgium
Tel: + 32.10.47.2018 Fax: + 32.10.47.4603 Website: www.aurap.ucl.ac.be Email: [email protected]; [email protected];
EUWARENESS is a research project on European Water Regimes and the Notion of a Sustainable Status. Research institutes from six European countries (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland) have been cooperating in this two year project (2000-2002). More information is available on www.euwareness.nl. The project is supported by the European Commission under the 5th Framework Programme, and co-ordinated by the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Table of contents:
I. General description of the Vesdre river basin II. Development of uses (1980-2001) III. Identifying attempts towards integration: intra-cases IV. Discussion on the regime development at a local scale V. Test of the hypotheses of the screening
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 2 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Introduction
Our selection of the case study is established with a series of parameters: - Number and types of uses (rivalries) - Documented case (wide set of available data) - Scale compatible with the requirements of the EUWARENESS project - Emerging river contract (non-binding form of local concertation) - An independant basin (no water input from upstream, opposed to an intermediary basin, e. g. the Haute Meuse basin) - Laboratory for protection perimeters around wells
Localised in the northeast part of Wallonia, the Vesdre basin is a combination of wide natural areas and densely populated industrial areas. It faces strong pollution problems in the river Vesdre and some of its tributaries.
Following the more legal and functional regime approach done in the country screening, we now take a user approach in our case study. Using a bottom-up approach, we start from a local identification of the different water uses. We try to see how these uses are regulated, according to the regional legislation or on a more informal basis. We select four particular rivalrous uses that led to conflicts now overcome. We then replace the intra-cases in the broader analysis of the regime and its institutional arrangement at local scale.
I. General description of the water basin
We stress the particularities of the Vesdre river basin. We present elements of geography and hydrology, including the pollution problem.
1.1 Geographical aspects
1.1.1 Human geography
The Vesdre river basin is located in the northeast part of the Walloon Region, in the Province of Liège. The Province of Liège, a former principauté, is the area surrounding the city of Liège. Liège is about 90 kilometres east from Brussels. The Province of Liège is bordering the Flemish Province of Limbourg, the Dutch region of Maastricht and the German region of Aachen in the North. The East part is bordering Germany, and the South part the Walloon provinces of Namur and Luxembourg.
Map 1: Identification of the Vesdre Basin in Wallonia
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 3 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Source: DGRNE, Etat de l’environnement wallon 2000
The river basin is a well-defined entity in Wallonia. The Region is divided in 14 river basins, which are in fact tributary river basins of either the Escaut or the Meuse. The demarcation of the river basins was quite simple to determine. They follow the watersheds (lignes de crête). The territory of each river basin is defined in a legal document1.
The Vesdre river basin covers an area of 710 km² and is made up of two main rivers, the Vesdre (71 km long) and the Hoëgne (29 km long), a tributary. The basin covers parts of the territory of two arrondissements (Verviers and Liège) and 27 municipalities (see map 1). Along the Vesdre, from the source to the confluent, are set the municipalities of Raeren, Eupen, Baelen, Limbourg, Dison, Verviers, Pepinster, Olne, Trooz, Chaudfontaine and Liège. The three main cities of the basin are Eupen, Verviers and Liège, all located along the Vesdre river. The last is only partly comprised. Along the Hoëgne and Wayai, we find the municipalities of Spa, Jalhay and Theux. Other municipalities have parts of their territory included in the basin: Waimes, Malmédy, Stavelot, Lontzen, Welkenraedt, Thimister- Clermont, Herve, Soumagne, Fléron, Beyne-Heusay and Sprimont.
The basin is densely populated (see table 1) but quite unequally. Population and activities are concentrated along the Vesdre between Eupen and Liège. The sole exception is Spa. However the average density of the basin (428.99 inhab./km²) is much higher than the average density of Wallonia (196 inhab./km²) and Belgium (333 inhab./km²). Thus the density is high in spite of wide natural areas in the southeast. Actually, the remaining part of the territory is covered by forests and grazing areas.
1 AGW 03.02.2001, not yet published
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 4 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Liège is the biggest town included in the basin with 189'510 inhabitants. However only a tiny part is inside (4.2% of the territory). Even if this area has the highest density (2’480.42 inhab./km²), the town which will focus our attention the most is Verviers. Verviers is set entirely along the river Vesdre and accounts 53'620 inhabitants (1/4 of the population of the basin). The other municipalities of great concern in our study are: Chaudfontaine, Dison, Eupen, Pepinster, Spa and Theux. The limits of the communes don’t fit with the limits of the sub-basins. Some municipalities are involved in two or more sub-basins, e.g. Chaudfontaine.
The Vesdre basin comprises a wide set of activities. Forest occupies 43.9% of the surface, mainly in the eastern and southern-eastern parts, and agriculture 32.1%, mainly in the north and west. The remaining part of the territory (24%) is occupied with housing and industry. Industrial zonings are mainly concentrated around Eupen and Verviers. The basin is crossed by two motorways, one north going from Brussels to Köhln (E 40), the other one the north- south axis from Verviers to Fließem (E 42).
The production sector represents 25.6% of the regional activities (hand-made in traditional sectors and medium-sized enterprises in steel, paper, chemical products, food & textile). Agriculture is specialised in market gardening (fruits) and breeding (milk production). Meadows represent 89.3% of the agricultural surface area. Others activities are grouped around the notion of leisure: tourism, recreational areas, bathing, water cures (Chaudfontaine & Spa), fishing, camping sites, natural park of the Hautes Fagnes2, etc. Extraction activities, geothermal pumping, military areas, air base can also be considered.
Table 1 : Population in the Vesdre basin
Municipality Superficies %age located Superficies Population Population Density (km²) inside the inside the (total) in inside the (inhab./km²) basin basin (km²) 1996 basin inside the basin
Aywaille 79,7 0,90 0,7 9.755 0 0,00 Baelen 85,7 100,00 85,7 3.669 3.669 42,81 Beyne-Heusay 7,2 27,80 2,0 11.474 1.890 944,24 Chaudfontaine 25,7 71,00 18,2 20.657 15.580 853,84 Dison 14,1 100,00 14,1 13.954 13.954 989,65 Eupen 96,2 92,40 88,9 17.304 17.304 194,67 Fléron 13,7 61,90 8,5 15.781 8.034 947,37 Herve 56,7 44,80 25,4 16.204 10.916 429,74 Jalhay 106,9 99,50 106,4 7.098 7.000 65,81 Liège 68,7 4,202,9 189.510 7.157 2.480,42
2 The natural reserve of the Hautes-Fagnes-Eifel is classified in IUCN Category IV (managed nature reserve) and has had Council of Europe certification since 1966. It is confirmed both by the application decree of 31.05.78 and the regional decree of 16.07.85 about natural parks (M.B. 12.12.85). It totalises 67'850 ha and a half of it is inside the basin. Some municipalities of the basin are involved : Baelen, Eupen, Jalhay, Malmédy, Raeren, Stavelot and Waimes. The natural park is managed with a management plan by a management commission that is led by the Province of Liège. The Vesdre basin possesses two certified natural reserves (private reserves) and 6 domanial natural reserves (public) managed by the Region (DGRNE-DNF). Four other natural parks are located in Wallonia: Vallées de la Burdinale et de la Méhaigne, Vallée de l’Attert, Plaines de l’Escaut and Pays des Collines). The total protected area is around of 142’812 ha (8.5% of the regional territory), following the decree of 1985 (Source: Région wallonne, L’Etat de l’Environnement wallon, 2000, pp. 234-240).
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 5 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Limbourg 24,6 100,00 24,6 5.358 5.358 217,80 Lontzen 29,0 8,00 2,3 4.828 225 96,98 Malmédy 100,6 10,40 10,5 10.841 0 0,00 Olne 15,9 100,00 15,9 3.634 3.634 228,55 Pepinster 25,0 100,00 25,0 9.129 9.129 365,16 Raeren 72,5 35,80 26,0 9.531 386 14,87 Soumagne 27,2 46,60 12,7 14.335 8.865 699,40 Spa 39,7 96,80 38,4 10.384 10.000 260,22 Sprimont 74,7 29,50 22,0 12.115 2.443 110,86 Stavelot 85,0 2,70 2,3 6.526 0 0,00 Stoumont 108,8 0,03 0,0 2.859 0 0,00 Theux 83,3 92,40 77,0 10.710 10.710 139,15 Thimister- 28,7 25,60 7,3 4.840 926 126,03 Clermont Trooz 24,4 100,00 24,4 7.643 7.643 313,24 Verviers 32,8 100,00 32,8 53.620 53.620 1.634,76 Waimes 97,3 16,40 16,0 6.338 0 0,00 Welkenraedt 24,5 75,00 18,4 8.705 7.850 427,21 For the whole 1.448,6 48,90 708,3 486.802 206.293 428,99 basin
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 6 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
1.1.2 Physical geography
The Vesdre river basin is located in the Haute Belgique. The Vesdre takes its sources (9 sources) at the uttermost ends of the basin in the Fagnes de Steinley3 at the altitude of 625 m. It flows into the Ourthe, a tributary of the Meuse that flows immediately into the Meuse, in Chênée (Liège), at an altitude of 65 m.
The basin is bordered east by the Roer basin, south by the Amblève basin, west by the Ourthe and lower Meuse basins and north by the Berwinne and Gueule basins. The Vesdre crosses the German border for a few kilometres. The first 50 km of its stream are located in wild natural areas. The river forms an oligotrophic lake (126 ha) at the dam of Eupen that constitute an important reserve of drinking water (25 mio m³).
The tributaries of the river Vesdre are too numerous to be enumerated here. Some of them, i.e. some ruisseaux don’t even have a name. There are more tributaries on the left bank than on the right bank (see table 2). The Vesdre receives its first tributary, the Helle, in Eupen. The Gileppe, another important tributary, flows in it in Verviers. The dam of the Gileppe, right above Verviers, provides drinking water to the most part of the town.
Table 2 : Main rivers of the basin
Name Bank Length (km) Altitude Fall (%) Superficies of Source Meeting the river basin point (km²) Vesdre 72,5 625 65 0,8 710 Helle Left 21 665 265 1,9 72 Gileppe Left 12 615 220 3,3 38 Hoëgne Left 29 570 135 1,5 207 Wayai (sub-tributary) Left 19 560 180 2,0 89 Magne Right 15 260 95 1,1 42
The Vesdre river basin is composed of two sub-basins, divided in hydrographic zones according to a regional codification: - Vesdre : zones 560 to 569 (10 zones) - Hoëgne : zones 550 to 554 (5 zones) To be identified, each stream receives a single code of six numbers following this classification. For instance, the Gileppe has the code 564300.
The tributaries, mainly coming from the right bank, i.e. the Gileppe, the Helle and the Hoëgne, have much smaller hydrological basins. The Hoëgne, including its main tributary, the Wayai, constitutes the south part of the Vesdre basin. Its hydrological basin is two times less important than the one of the Vesdre. The total length of the streams that flow down the Vesdre basin is 1417 km. The entirety of the stream of the Vesdre is classified as a non- navigable river (CENN). In the past, the Vesdre was navigable until Olne with special local types of plate boats.
3 The data is due to M. Jacques Tonneau, co-ordinator of the Vesdre river contract and to the Association des Communes du Bassin de la Vesdre asbl
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 7 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Geological aspects and landscape in the basin. The synclinorium of Verviers, the main tectonical unit of the Vesdre basin is divided in three sub-units: the massif of Herve in the northwest, the massif of the Vesdre in the centre and the massif of Theux in the south. From its source to Eupen, the Vesdre crosses rocks formed of quartzite and phyllades, poor in calcium (limestone). The depletion of such rocks gives rise to clay (argile), that enables the forming of peat bogs (tourbières), i.e. some particular kind of wetlands. These rocks have veins of zinc minerals (calamite and smithsonite) containing impurities (by-products of cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron and manganese) and also iron minerals (pyrites). Afterwards, the river crosses grounds formed with sandstone (grès) and quartzophyllades. The rocks of the medium and upper devonian period, richer in limestone (calcaire) do not appear before Membach. The tributaries of the right bank (Magne, etc.) of the Vesdre bring also dissolved limestone, following the crossing of carboniferous limestone (calcaires carbonifères). Such an effect is less happening on the left bank where ground is composed mainly of cambro- ordovicians rocks.
This phenomenon of dissolving enables to classify the Vesdre in categories according to the pH of the waters : - The upper Vesdre is of Fagnard type (type Fagnard): acid water (soft water), little mineralised, unpropitious to diversity of aquatic fauna and flora; - The middle part (between Eupen and Membach) has acid to neutral water, with a better ionic equilibrium. It is of the Ardennes type (type ardennais); - Downstream of Membach, water becomes richer in calcium and bicarbonates ions. Thus the environment is more propitious to the development of varied aquatic fauna and flora (pH neutral). It is the Condruzien type (type condruzien, i.e. the type of the region of Condroz).
Le bassin de la Hoëgne est composé dans sa partie amont de quartzites et de phyllades. Dans sa partie centrale, apparaissent les roches du Dévonien (grès et schistes). Des roches calcaires affleurent seulement à partir du village de Polleur. On observe dans la partie aval une curiosité géologique : la fenêtre de Theux. Cette ouverture visualise la faille Eifelienne qui met en contact deux reliefs de directions et de formes différentes. Les terrains apparus sont d’origine dévonienne et carbonifère (calcaire et dolomie) et forment, par érosion différencielle, une succession de crêtes et dépressions4.
Landscape. En amont se trouvent les Fagnes, qui concentrent la majeure partie du tourisme dans la région. On trouve au nord de la Vesdre les paysages de bocages et de pâturages du Pays de Herve. Au sud, le paysage est de type ardennais (à partir de Fraipont). Le long de la Vesdre, le paysage est perturbé par une quantité très importantes de chancres industriels, vestiges d’une activité indsutrielle intense dans le passé.
1.2 Hydrological aspects
Here we present some characteristics of the water cycle in the basin and hydrogeological data. We also give an interest to hydrological characteristics of the main streams of the Vesdre basin.
4 Sources : ACBV, 1999 and DGRNE, 1999
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 8 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
1.2.1 Water cycle
Climate and pluviometric. La Région wallonne appartient au domaine des climats tempérés des latitudes moyennes. Située sur la marge orientale de l’Océan atlantique, elle subit un climat tempéré de type océanique, caractérisé par une circulation atmosphérique dominante d’ouest. With such a climate, Wallonia benefits important rainfalls, i.e. 15-16 bio m³/year. In the Vesdre basin, the situation is highly contrasted. It rains 1400 mm per year on the plateau of the Hautes Fagnes, but only 750-800 mm in Liège (see table 3). 40 to 45% of the rainfalls directly evaporates in the atmosphere and 4% reaches aquifers.
Table 3 : Average rainfalls in various places of the Vesdre basin
Place Pluviometric (mm or liter per m² per year) Plateau of the Hautes-Fagnes 1400 Eupen 1200 Pepinster 1000 Chaudfontaine 800-850 Liège 750-800
Hydrogeology. Le massif schisto-gréseux du Dévonien et du Cambrien couvre la majeure partie du bassin de la Vesdre (see map 3). Il ne possède que des nappes superficielles à faible capacité de réserve qui se rechargent et se déchargent rapidement ; vite saturées en hiver, elles se trouvent régulièrement à sec après une longue période sans précipitations. Elles sont néanmoins sollicitées pour un débit non négligeable, car elles constituent fréquemment la seule disponibilité locale. Elles sont très vulnérables aux pollutions et aux étiages. Cependant, le massif schisto-gréseux de la Vesdre est entrecoupé de bandes calcaires du Dévonien et du Carbonifère. Ces nappes sont plus abondantes et constituent des réserves à plus long terme. Ce type de nappe peut, en effet, stocker les eaux de pluie de plusieurs saisons. Le nord-ouest du bassin, le Pays de Herve, est également occupé par une alternance de craies du Crétacé et de calcaires du Dévonien et du Carbonifère en nappes captives qui offrent elles-aussi des ressources abondantes. Les craies du Pays de Herve sont des roches imperméables, mais parcourues de fissures. L’eau y circule rapidement, mais à très faible débit.
1.2.2 The river Vesdre and its tributaries
The Vesdre river basin is a tributary of the Meuse, the main river of Wallonia. 4.5 bio m³/y. enter Wallonia as surface water. The global flow of the Meuse is about 12 bio m³. 12’000 rivers flow in Wallonia, through four basins : the Meuse (12,236 km², 3/4 of the territory), the Escaut (1/5 of the territory), the Moselle and the Oise. Surface water covers approximately 0.7% of the territory. The Meuse receives water from around 15 tributaries. Its flow is quite irregular. It fluctuates from 1 to 100 throughout the year.
Hydrology. La Vesdre est une rivière à régime torrentiel, dont le débit est fortement influencé par le niveau des précipitations. Son débit moyen, observé sur 10 ans (1986-1996) est de 10.65 m³/s.. Il a été enregistré par la station limnimétrique de Chaudfontaine, la plus en aval
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 9 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM du bassin. Le minimum observé sur cette période fut de 2.07 m³/s.; le 20 août 1996, et le maximum de 165.85 m³/s., le 22 décembre 1991. Les débits anormalement élevés ont provoqué des inondations dans la partie aval du bassin de la Vesdre (Vaux-sous-Chèvremont, commune de Chaudfontaine) ainsi que sur le trajet d’affluents (la Magne). Le bassin de la Vesdre est compact, l’eau ruisselée atteint rapidement l’exutoire. La Meuse reçoit annuellement environ 336 mio m³ en provenance du bassin de la Vesdre.
La pente moyenne de la Vesdre est de 0.8%. Elle est importante sur les 17 kilomètres qui séparent les sources du barrage d’Eupen (de 625m. à 360 m., pente de 1,9 %). Ensuite le parcours de la Vesdre compte une pente de 1.3% sur 9 kilomètres puis de 0.4% de Membach à Chênée, au confluent de l’Ourthe.
Figure 1 : Fall of the Vesdre
700 Source 600
500
400 Lake Eupen
300 Membach Height (m) Limbourg Verviers Dison
200 Pépinster Olne Trooz Chaudfonaine 100 Chênée
0 0 1020304050607080 Distance (km)
Source: ACBV, 1999
According to the typology defined in the Law of 1967 about the non-navigable rivers5, always in force, we can divide the total lenght of the streams up among three categories: 104 km of the 1st category of NNR, 225 km of the 2nd category, 259 km of the 3rd category and 829 km of unclassified streams. The last are mainly private water.
1.3 Pollution problems6
The pollution of the Vesdre is very old. It comes from the 19th century. The basin has a long industrial history: wool industry in Verviers and metallurgy downstream. Old pollution residues are still present in part. In particular, one finds a strong case of soil pollution with heavy metals (lead and cadmium) on the left bank of the Vesdre in Prayon (Trooz). The pollution is due to the smoke residues of a former plant. This kind of pollution is long to wipe out (effacer).
5 Classement en 1ère catégorie (law of 1967): la Helle depuis le confluent avec la Soor à Membach/Baelen jusqu’à la Vesdre à Eupen, la Hoëgne depuis le confluent avec le ruisseau de Dison à Jalhay jusqu’à la Vesdre à Pepinster et le Wayai depuis le confluent avec le ruisseau de Winamplanche à Spa jusqu’à la Hoëgne à Theux. 6 Source : DGRNE, 1999, pp. 16-21. ACBV, 1999, p. 39.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 10 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
De nombreux travaux montrent que la situation de la Vesdre peut être qualifiée de très grave au début des années 1980. Les éléments de pollution organique augmentent vers Eupen et ne subissent qu’une très faible auto-épuration en aval de la rivière à Chênée. Dans la même période, d’autres études confirment de fortes pollutions de la Vesdre par des métaux lourds (cuivre, plomb, zinc, chrome, cadmium). Au début des années 1980 encore, les indices biotiques montrent une pollution maximale à forte (rivière eutrophisée) depuis Membach jusque Vaux-sous-Chèvremont, avec une faible récupération à Chênée.
Des études plus récentes (1989 et 1996) montrent également la pollution élevée de certains affluents (Stadtgraben, Bach, Ru de Dison, Rus du Ruif, Ru de Baelen, la Waltinne et la Magne), surtout en fin de parcours (Gélouri, ruisseau du Fond des Cris).
At source, the Vesdre river is going through wild natural areas on its first 50 kilometres. It is not polluted in this part, but water is charged with humus materials (matières humiques). The town of Verviers is the main source of pollution (domestic plus industrial wastewater). The part between Verviers and Pepinster is the most polluted of the basin. The last part between Trooz and Chaudfontaine is highly polluted too. The combination of a high density of population and remaining industrial activities in the lower part of the river induces strong quality problems of surface water.
Physical-chemical quality. Situés en zones forestières non habitées, les têtes de bassin (haute- Vesdre, Helle, Gileppe) et les principaux affluents sont de très bonne qualité. Les exutoires peuvent voir leur qualité se détériorer un peu. Pour ce qui est du cours d’eau principal, la qualité se détériore rapidement dès la sortie d’Eupen. La traversée de Verviers contribue à la détérioration et la situation du cours d’eau à la confluence avec l’Ourthe est très mauvaise. Amélioration en 1986 et 1996. Pollution organique de la Gileppe à Jalhay qui n’est plus enregistrée par la suite. La qualité physico-chimique de l’eau sur le cours inférieur de la Vesdre passe d’une qualité moyenne en 1986 à bonne en 1996. La pollution organique reste relativement constante (forte à modérée). En ce qui concerne le degré d’eutrophisation, la rivière passe d’eutrophe à méso-eutrophe en aval d’Eupen et à la confluence avec l’Ourthe.
Biological quality. At the downstream of Spa (sub-basin 552), the indice biotique global was bad in 1985-89 and is medium today. Mauvaise qualité récurrente entre 1985 et 1996. Niveau moyen de la Hoëgne à la confluence avec la Vesdre. Bonne qualité des autres affluents. Bonne qualité de la Vesdre jusqu’en aval d’Eupen où elle devient mauvaise.
The major problems identified are: - A generalised eutrophation of the Vesdre from Eupen to the Ourthe. - A strong organic pollution of the Vesdre downstream to Eupen - A medium to bad hydrobiological quality in the Vesdre downstream to Eupen, in the Wayai downstream to Spa and in the Gileppe - A generalised worsening of the Vesdre itself following a long history of urban and industrial pressures.
The Vesdre river basin is a basin with varied characteristics and a strong human pressure. We find a diversity of water uses on it, not exempts of rivalries. Some conflicts are resolved locally, using the legislation in force.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 11 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
II. Development of uses
As we specified earlier, the approach retained in the case study is at the opposite of the one used in the country screening. The first starts from effective uses of water in a delimited area and period. It is a bottom-up analysis. The second started from enacted pieces of legislation. With it we deducted uses through the outputs of the law (top-down approach).
Our intention in this part is to identify the different uses according to the EUWARENESS classification of goods and services. With the uses we observe in a second part conflictual uses that gave rise to rivalries or even conflicts throughout the period. Most of them seem now to be overcome, but new one could appear in a present future. From uses we describe the different users, stress the rivalries and particularly examine four intra-cases. Finally, we present an aggregate view of the uses in the basin.
2.1 Water uses involved
In the first part we present the different uses of water inside the Vesdre river basin (see table 4). We describe the use, users and actors for each good and service involved.
2.1.1 Living environment
Little is to say about living environment (G&S 1). The final users of G&S 1 are fauna and flora. No data are available about their water consumption. They don’t create any problem for other users. Most human activities threat fauna and flora. In the 1980s, the problem of industrial water, residues of ores and domestic wastewater is more present. The pressure on nature diminishes gradually.
Some areas of the basin are protected as nature conservation areas. But this is not directly related with water. Rivers in southeast of the basin are pure, but not much fauna lives inside. Fishes cannot live in acid water (soft water). The low pH is explained by geological factors (see supra). An important fish life is present in the lower part of the Hoëgne-Wayai sub-basin.
In the lower part of the Vesdre, fish hasn’t lived for a century, because of strong pollution problems. Since 1995, the use of the Vesdre as living environment is re-emerging gradually.
The function of living environment is interesting indirect human users, who make pressure for a greater concern of the problem. They are fishers and professional of the tourist sector.
2.1.2 Consumption
Consumption in the Vesdre basin comes from ground and surface water. Users are numerous (households, industries and farmers) and unevenly distributed throughout the basin. They are provided quasi exclusively with public producers and providers that are the Société wallonne des Eaux (SWDE) for the most part of the basin and the Compagnie intercommunale liégeoise des Eaux (CILE) that provides the communes of Beyne-Heusay, Chaudfontaine, Fléron, Liège and Trooz. Furthermore, some municipalities have an independent water supply service: Dison, Jalhay, Limbourg, Malmédy and Theux.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 12 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Table 4 : Water uses and rivalries in the Vesdre river basin
N° Goods & Types of Users Comple- Competitive Problems services uses mentary use use 1980 2000 1 Living environment Direct Fauna & Nature All Pollution Pollution flora conservatio from n industrial water, absorption and gravel extraction Indirect Tourism Fishers 2 Consump- Direct, Households None Industrial Pollution Scarcity of tion surface and Industries water groundwat groundwater Farmers Mineral water er Hydro-power Pollution Spreading 3 Production Industrial Surface and Paper None Living None None water groundwater, Agro-food environment direct use Metallurgy tourism Textile Fishing Warming Recreation Mineral Groundwater, Spa Living Drinking water Pollution Pollution water direct Monopole environme Absorption Chaufontaine nt Fishing Monopole Agriculture Indirect, Farmers None Living None None spreading of environment manure Drinking water Pesticides 4 Energy Dams Direct, MET Drinking Strategic None None surface water ERPE water reserves Water Direct, Private None Transport None Unidentifie turbines surface water producers Fishing d floating objects 5 Transport & absorption Direct, Households None Living None None indirect, Industries environment discharges Farmers Fishing Tourism 6 Support Gravel Indirect, Gralex None Living None None extraction surface water environment Fishing Indirect, Fishers Living Industrial Industrial None surface water Pisciculture environme water pollution nt Absorption Recreation 7 Recrea- Tourism Indirect Tourists Living Production Pollution Pollution tion environme Absorption nt Water Direct Canoeists Tourism Fishing Pollution Pollution sports Living Minimum environment flows 8 Medical Direct, SPADEL Mineral Absorption None None uses groundwater Château water d'Hauster Tourism 9 Protection Indirect Riparian None Living Flooding Flooding environment 10 Strategic Direct, surface MET None Drinking water Drought None reserves water Energy
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 13 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Table 5: Withdrawals in aquifers in the Vesdre basin, 1992
Type of aquifer Volume withdrawn (in thousand m³) Undifferenciated Cretaceous of the region of 345 Herve Chalks of the region of Herve 514 Carboniferous limestone of the massif of the 1976 Vesdre Devonian limestone of the massif of the Vesdre 816 Schistose-sandstone massif of the Vesdre basin 134 Total for the basin 3785 Total withdrawn in Wallonia 358900 Source : DGRNE, services des Eaux souterraines, in Atlas de l'Eau de la Wallonie, 1995
Withdrawals in groundwater. As we’ve seen earlier, in most parts of the basin aquifers are superficial and have not important reserves. In 1992, 3'785'000 m³ were withdrawn in the Vesdre basin (see table 5). This represents 1.2% of the total withdrawn in Wallonia (358'900’000 m³). In 1995, the number of wells in the Vesdre basin is 135 over 2'859 in Wallonia. The drinking water sector withdraws 1'683 300 m³ from groundwater in 1995, with 46 wells and 1'364'278 m³ with 49 wells in 1997. The volume of withdrawals in the drinking water sector is decreasing over a short period whereas the number of wells rises. It is however not enough to conclude to shortages compensated with the digging of more wells. The main part of drinking water in the Vesdre is provided with surface water retained in dams and it has over-capacities. We observe however a strong increase in private withdrawals (per 3 in two years). It could be explained by a rising number of declared wells to the regional authorities.
Table 6 : Withdrawals in groundwater in the Vesdre Basin, by sector, 1995-1997
Sector 1995 1997 Number of wells Volume Number of wells Volume (thousands m³) (thousands m³) Water 46 1683,3 49 1364,3 distribution Production of 54 1863,9 67 1161,4 mineral water Industry, 35 215,2 54 621,5 agriculture, households Total 135 3762,4 170 3147,2 Source: DGRNE, 1999
Thus very little groundwater is withdrawn in the Vesdre basin compared to the whole region where groundwater reserves are estimated to 550 mio m³. However, we remark that the basin is characterised by a huge number of wells aimed at the production of mineral water sold in bottles. Two private companies exploit these wells: Spa Monopole and Chaudfontaine Monopole.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 14 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
The wells of Spa Monopole and Chaudfontaine Monopole afford for the main part of private wells. They are concentrated in determined areas, where the ground possesses specific geological characteristics. Public wells are more disseminated. Most of them are exploited by the SWDE and some by municipal water distribution services. The pressure on poor and small aquifers is due to the distribution sector. Mineral water producers fear no shortages in provision. So, except for the provision of mineral water, groundwater is rare in the Vesdre basin, sometimes overexploited. The volume withdrawn is quite stable and represents only a small part of the needs in drinking water.
Surface water. Surface water is produced from two dams. One dam cuts the stream of the Vesdre above Eupen, the Vesdre’s dam. The other is on a tributary of the Vesdre above Verviers, the Gileppe’s dam. Production of drinking water from the dams is obviously above production from groundwater. In 1997, the Entreprise de Production et de Grands Transports d’Eau (ERPE) produced 23'571'919 m³ of drinking water from the Vesdre’s dam and 3'255'525 m³ from the Gileppe’s dam. 23% of the production of the Vesdre’s dam is exported out of the basin. The capacities of the dams are neatly higher than the needs. The dams provide also industrial water and produce hydro-electricity.
Meanwhile, some parts of the basin are provided with water coming out of the basin. It is the case for communes close to Liège or communes on the border and on the highest places of the basin. The total consumption of drinking water in 1997 in the basin is the following:
Table 7: Consumption in the Vesdre basin, per sector, 1997.
Users Volume (thousand m³) %
Households 18120 61.5 Industry 10760 36.5 Farmers 560 1.9 Total 29440 100.0
Domestic consumption is clearly at the first place. It is mostly provided with surface water. The water produced by the ERPE, a daughter company of the SWDE since 01.01.2001, is sold after treatment to distribution companies (SWDE, CILE and communal services). The SWDE is the dominant provider in the basin. It expanded until recently with the purchasing of communal distribution services. For instance, the service of Verviers, the main town of the basin, was purchased in 1991. Municipalities have difficulties to finance the renewals of networks, and more particularly, the replacing of pipes in lead. The problem to tackle leaks (fuites) with the rising of the price of water is also central. Over the twenty-year period, the use of drinking water stabilises and even lightly declines.
2.1.3 Production
The good and service production is divided in three categories: industrial water, i.e. water used in the production process, production of mineral water and agricultural uses. Most part of the consumption of water inside the basin is not a final use, but is represented by mineral
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 15 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM water producers that bottle water. 92.1 % of groundwater withdrawn by industry (over 2’087 mio m³ in 1995)7 is bottled.
In industry, water is used foremost for cooling (thermal impact on water), washing and preparation of raw material. Water is supplied by distribution, rainwater, groundwater and surface water. The provision of water for industrial use is assured mostly with surface water and drinking water (see tables 8 and 9).
Table 8: Industrial purchasing in the Vesdre basin, 1996
Hydrological Industrial purchasing in (m³/year) basin Distribution Surface Groundwater Rain Total 550 0 0 0 0 0 551 0 0 0 0 0 552 1.718 534.000 637.053 0 1.172.771 553 0 0 0 0 0 554 615 0 0 0 615 560 0 0 0 0 0 561 560 22.638.336 0 0 22.638.896 562 0 0 0 0 0 563 0 0 0 0 0 564 380 5.681.773 0 0 5.682.153 565 675.001 1.808.873 232.919 265 2.717.058 566 3.556.850 0 8.980 0 3.565.830 567 59.777 58.232 92.647 0 210.656 568 28.194 240 26.845 0 55.279 569 37.427 100.080 781.896 0 919.403 Total 4.360.522 30.821.534 1.780.340 265 36.962.661 Source: DGRNE, direction de la Taxe et de la Redevance, in DGRNE, direction des Eaux de Surface, Projet de plan de gestion des eaux de surface du bassin de la Vesdre, tomes 1, 2 et 3, juin 1999
The data from the region includes in industrial water the water produced by the ERPE that is sold as drinking water (sub-basins 561 and 564). Industrial uses of water are concentrated around Eupen (561), Verviers (565) and downstream. The sectors are manifold: paper, agro- food, metallurgy, textile and urban warming. About the uses, less than 1% of industrial water is used for domestic purposes, 6.1% for cooling, 13.4% are used in the production process and the main part, 79.9%, are either included in the final product or sold to water distribution companies by the ERPE. Industrial activities declined smartly in the 1980s and the reconversion of the basin from heavy industries to services is difficult. The decline of the wool industry in Eupen and Verviers diminished sharply the needs in industrial water.
7 Source : DGRNE, 1999
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 16 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Table 9 : Industrial and agricultural uses in the Vesdre basin, 1996
Hydrological Industrial use (m³) Agricultural basin use Domestic Cooling Industry Retained Total 550 0 0 0 0 0 7.607 551 0 0 0 0 0 14.452 552 13.540 0 690.522 468.709 1.172.771 12.597 553 0 0 0 0 0 32.434 554 252 0 362 1 615 81.524 560 0 0 0 0 0 1.630 561 560 0 710.436 21.927.900 22.638.896 3.532 562 0 0 0 0 0 0 563 0 0 0 0 0 0 564 380 0 155.811 5.525.962 5.682.153 11.667 565 63.849 1.942.242 458.324 252.643 2.717.058 190.491 566 93.835 299.866 2.223.475 948.654 3.565.830 75.450 567 7.182 0 176.973 26.501 210.656 36.309 568 3.403 3.890 38.773 9.213 55.279 71.552 569 25.605 12.661 517.192 393.945 949.403 12.651 Total 208.606 2.258.659 4.971.868 29.553.528 36.992.661 551.896 Source: DGRNE, direction de la Taxe et de la Redevance, in DGRNE, direction des Eaux de Surface, Projet de plan de gestion des eaux de surface du bassin de la Vesdre, tomes 1, 2 et 3, juin 1999
Mineral water producers. The activities of Spa Monopole are concentrated in the sub-basin 552 and those and Chaudfontaine Monopole in 569. Table 8 indicates the supplying of Spa Monopole. Roughly a half of withdrawals comes from surface water, i.e. from the Warfa lake, a small lake of the Wayai river above Spa. This water is used to wash the glass bottles (see table 9, water used in the industrial process). The other half, withdrawn from groundwater is the product itself, i.e. mineral water (incorporated in the product). The consumption of Chaudfontaine is less clear. Other industries are present in the sub-basin. It could not be the only one to withdraw groundwater. However it produces in 1996, 393'945 m³ of mineral water (394 mio litres), less than Spa. After a period of high growth in the 1980s and the 1990s the production of mineral water is now stabilised. Mineral water producers fear above all any problem of diffuse pollution. They claim for perimeters of protection.
Agriculture. Agriculture is not a dominant user of water. It occupies 32.1% of the superficies of the basin, mainly at the north and west, and is specialised in market gardening (fruits), and breeding (milk production). Meadows represent 89.3% of the agricultural surface area. Water is supplied mainly by distribution (72.2%, 551'896 m³ in 1996), the remaining part by sinks and rainwater. The consumption of water is relatively low regarding the other sectors. It is used for domestic purpose, watering of cattle and irrigation. The main agricultural consumption is recorded in sub-basins 554 (Theux), 565, 566 and 568. The last three sub- basins cover the Pays de Herve. The sub-basin 565 located between Eupen and Verviers, the one with the most important consumption, is the widest area (98 km²) and has 56.5% of the land affected to agriculture. Direct water consumption in agriculture is negligible, but indirect uses of water, i.e. diffuse pollution, provoked by spreading are not quantifiable. Nitrates from agriculture don’t exert a noticeable pressure on water in the area.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 17 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
2.1.4 Energy
The Vesdre basin is one of the rare regions in Belgium where hydropower is produced. However the production is of small capacity and not comparable with production in mountainous areas. We find two kind of uses of water as an energy source. The first comes from dams, the other is more with the stream (au fil de l’eau).
The dams belong to the Walloon Region. They are the Vesdre’s dam and the Gileppe dam. Their main function is to supply the area with drinking water. As the needs are met, the surplus is turbinated. The dams are managed by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (ministère de l’Equipement et des Transports, MET) of the Walloon Region. The MET decides on what volumes can be affected to hydropower production. The hydropower plant of the Vesdre’s dam belongs to the ERPE. It provides the water treatment plant linked to the dam in electricity and the surplus is sold to Electrabel. The hydropower plant of the Vesdre’s dam is exploited by the MET itself. It provides the dam in electricity and the surplus is also sold to the network. Turbines are also set in the pipes that go to the treatment plant. Water coming in the dam from close diverted streams could also be turbinated soon.
The other kind of hydropower production is ‘with the stream’. It consists in turbines of low capacity set up at the end of the biefs. The bief is a little canal build along the river that diverts water over a hundred of meters and frees it at the end. The slope (pente) gained on the river is up to make a turbine work with the resulting fall. Four or five turbines work today and some other biefs could be equipped soon. Small producers are sensible to the problem of residues in the rivers that they call ‘unidentified floating objects’.
The use of water as an energy source has a long history in the basin and is nowadays called to rise, while the capacity is limited to the flow of the river. The rising interest for hydropower is explained by a legislation that encourages the recourse to electricity produced with renewable energy sources. The Walloon Region offers a subsidy of 2 BEF per kWh produced, a disposition that makes the production attractive.
2.1.5 Transport and absorption
The wide recourse to this good & service in the basin generates the main problems. Direct rejection from industry in the area of Verviers is responsible of 30-50% of the pollution in the river. However it is domestic water consumption that is in general responsible of pollution in surface water, even pollution with nitrates (56% of the total quantity). The case of agriculture is not examined here because of a lack of data. No model allows an estimate of the polluting charge (charge polluante) of the sector, except for nitrates and phosphorus. Furthermore, because of the law8, the statistical category of domestic discharges is huge. The category comprises not only households, but also agricultural discharges (excepted huge intensive breeding) and discharges of enterprises that employ less than 7 persons. An apart category is tourism. Even if it is unequally developed, it represents a significant charge in certain areas of the Vesdre basin.
8 Decree of 07.10.85 about the protection of surface water
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 18 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Pressure of the problem. In order to measure the pressure of the problem we aggregate the estimates of the region (1999) for discharges in particles (matières en suspension, MES), biological demand in oxygen (BDO5) and the chemical demand in oxygen (CDO). The pressure of discharges due to tourism represents around 3% of the total in the basin. However, in the region of Spa and Theux, it represents around a half of the domestic pollution. This pollution comes downstream of the Vesdre in Goffontaine, with the sewer. Goffontaine (567) receives a net pollution that is three times higher than the pollution generated on the spot9. In general the sewers located in the riverbed generate important transfers of polluting charges. Goffontaine is an important pollution point on the Vesdre. The sewer spreads here the wastewater (domestic water and tourism) of the communes of Spa, Thimister and Theux.
Domestic water is the main source of problems in most populated areas : Spa (551), Theux (554), Eupen and the Herve (565), Verviers (566) and downstream (568 & 569). The polluting charge is important in sub-basin 551 and 554. 60% of the gross polluting charge is diverted in Goffontaine (567). After Verviers (566), the net charge is also higher than the gross charge. The wastewater of Limbourg, the Pays de Herve and Verviers comes out in Wegnez via a sewer. It is the major point of pollution in the basin. The pollution here is 55% domestic and 45% industrial. At its mouth, the Vesdre transfers a part of its polluting charge into the Ourthe, around 10%. The capacity of self-purification of the river is not negligible. The pressure of domestic discharges may be declining. Between 1981 and 1996, the Vesdre basin lost 1% of its population.
About industry, estimates are made with maximum authorised discharges delivered by the Region. The discharge value is generally lower. Industry has the will to limit the emissions of pollutants. Inside the basin, industrial pollution is located mainly in the most densely populated areas. Discharges are concentrated on three points: Eupen (561 & 565), Verviers (566) and Chaudfontaine (569). Herve (565) and Spa (551) are also isolated pollution points.
Most of high volumes of industrial wastewater (2’500-10’000 m³/day) are discharged directly in the river. However the main industrial water consumers possess their own purification plant (STEP). Most of small volumes are discharged in the sewing system. Direct discharges are due either to the absence of sewers or to localisation of the firm along the river.
Sewage and purification. The functions of sewing and purification are assured by the Association intercommunale de Démergement et d’Epuration (AIDE), a single intercommunale of purification (public company) responsible for the whole basin. Three main sewers (collecteurs) were built in the riverbed in the 1950s and inherited by the AIDE (see map 6). The first comes from Eupen and flows out in Membach. A purification plant (25'000 inhab. eq.) has been operational since 1998 that produces good results on the general status of the river. The second collects waste water of Herve and Verviers. It flows out downstream Verviers in Wegnez. Here is the most polluted area of the basin. A purification plant is under construction (170'000 inhab. eq.) and should be operational in 2001. The third main sewer comes from Spa and flows out in the Vesdre downstream Pepinster, in Goffontaine. A purification plant (35'000 inhab. eq.) is planned here. The AIDE already bought the plot. The purification plants under construction today are planned for a long time (mid-1980s), but money was not available. The Vesdre basin is also doted with many little purification plants, from 100 to 20'000 inhabitant-equivalents. The dispersion is explained by former legislation that gave the competence of purification to the communes. We have no data about the efficiency of these plants.
9 Net polluting charge = gross charge + imported charge - exported charge
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 19 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
The problem of domestic pollution in urban areas is going to be resolved. It represents the most important pressure exerted on surface water in the Vesdre basin. The tackle of the problem could in coming years stress other causes of pollution, that are, for the moment, hidden behind more clearly identifiable sources of pollution. We think here about the questions of diffuse pollution and the regulation and control of individual purification plants or sceptic tanks (fosses sceptiques).
2.1.6 Support
Two kind of uses are locally linked with this good & service: gravel extraction and fishing.
A single company, Gralex exploits gravel along the Vesdre . The extraction is not precisely in the riverbed but on the hills along the bank. The company proceeds to the washing of ores (minerais) in tanks. Residues are dried and used as filling material in the quarry (carrière). In the past, the former entrepreneur used to discharge the residues in the Vesdre and that provoked strong pollution problems. But today, the problem is up.
We still lack some data to measure the weight of fishing activities in the basin. Fishing is however limited both by geological and human conditions. First, water is acid upstream of the Vesdre and of the tributaries of the left banks. No fish can develop in such a water. Second, pollution problems in the Vesdre downstream of Verviers, of which eutrophation, prevented fish life. Things have evolved for ten years. Since the mid 1990s fish has came back in the Vesdre. Fishers’ federations are asking the communes for authorisation to fish there. The two main organisations of fishers are the Fédération des Pêcheurs du Sud et de l’Est de la Belgique and the Fédération sportive des Pêcheurs francophones de Belgique. Fishing is however well developed downstream of the Hoëgne. Some pisciculture exists in tributaries. Two main problems threat the activity: industrial pollution and minimum flows. The problems were recurrent but now seem to be overcome.
2.1.7 Recreation
Recreation is not the central function of the resource water in the Vesdre basin. Recreation is mostly used indirectly by the tourist sector. Tourism is not developed equally in the basin. It has been concentrated for a long time in the south part of the basin, around Spa. Tourism should rise smartly in coming years. Investments are planified (objective 2 of the European Regional Funds). It is a mean to reconvert the basin, formerly specialised in heavy industries, particularly textile and metallurgy. The development of tourism in the valley of the Vesdre faces the problem of a global water pollution and landscape cut with abandoned industrial buildings (chancres industriels).
A direct recreational use of water is water sport. Three or four times the year canoeists organise competitions in the streams located downstream of the dams. After a conflict between canoeists and fishers about the release of water from the dams, a convention has been signed with the authority of the dams. Usually, the level of water in the streams is not sufficient to navigate. Baths are forbidden in the entire basin.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 20 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
2.1.8 Medical uses
The fact to use water as a medical end is closely linked with the tourist activities developed around the springs of Spa and Chaudfontaine. The project Aqualis will finance the renovation of the thermal buildings of Spa. European Regional Funds finance the renovation of the castle of Hauster that will receive the thermal activities of Chaudfontaine. The thermal activities should expand in coming years after a long period of slow-down.
2.1.9 Protection
Geomorphologic changes. The main user is an indirect user : the riparian. Despite the fact he is the first concerned, he doesn’t organise the protection by himself. The Walloon Region is taking the question in charge. The considerations are evolving. In public works, the banks are not covered with concrete anymore. Some gabions are now hosting fishes and flora. Protection seems to reconcile with a competitive use: living environment. Alluvial deposits that were not removed by the Region give the other example. The idea, still present in the beginning of the 1980s to conduct water as fast as possible to the sea seems over.
Meanwhile, the main problem faced is still flooding. Flooding is important during two periods, one before 1985 and now with the past flooding of 1998. Flooding changed in nature and the challenge for protection evolved. Now actors are discussing to find new outlets (exutoires) for the water surplus.
2.1.10 Strategic reserves
The function to constitute strategic reserves is assured by the MET. The MET manages dams in a way that there are no shortages in drinking water even during long periods of drought. The two dams of the basin have this function. The pressure of the problem gradually decreased in twenty years. The needs in drinking water are stabilised, so the water reserves need not be at a maximum.
III. Identifying attempts towards integration: intra-cases
During our study of the basin, we identified a series of rivalries between water uses inside the Vesdre river basin (see table 4). All of them can be considered as success stories: the problem has been tackled. We chose the four one that we considered the more relevant: the industrial pollution of the Wayai, the remaining problem of pollution of surface water, the chronic flooding downstream of the Vesdre and the story of lead-poisoning in Verviers.
During our case study, we searched rivalries both between the same categories of users and between different types of users. We didn’t detect any intra-use conflict but mostly extra-use conflict. Nevertheless our last intra-case could be considered as an intra-use conflict. It concerns drinking water above all, even if interests from the industry are represented. The fact is that the fight is not on the sharing of the resource between the same kind of users, but a fight between users and actors of implementation. We’ll come over the question later. The conclusion is that we didn’t identify intra-use rivalries.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 21 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
3.1 Lead-poisoning in Verviers (IC1)
The intra-case concerns the town of Verviers in its entirety. The problem appears in the late XIXth century and is well known since then. Until the end of the story, the north part of the town is supplied with water poisoned with lead. The conflict itself goes from the beginning of the 1980s and ends around 1993-94. The scope of the intra-case is low. Only the G&S 2 is concerned (drinking water), and marginally the G&S 3 (industrial water). The origin of the problem is lead poisoning.
Schedule: 1857 Decision to build the dam 1866 Right given to the commune of Verviers to withdraw water from the dam for industrial uses 1878 Inauguration of the dam 1965 Publication of the first Belgian standards on drinking water. First initiative to build a prior treatment plant 1967 Heightening of the dam 1977, December The Service of the dam is entitled to make a project 1980, 15th July Adoption of the drinking water directive (80/778) 1980 Regionalisation. The Service of the dams is divided in two parts 1981, 19th May First deposit of the specifications of the project, but does not go further 1983 National program of hydraulic works (GTH) under the responsibility of the ministry of Social Affairs and the Secretariat of State on Public Health and the Environment 1984-85 Defeat of the citizens group Action Eau to the Court of first instance of Verviers 1984 Transposition of the directive 80/778. Exemptions 1985, 6th June Opening of the offer for the civil engineering 1985, November Transitory solution to provide Verviers with water (4/5 of the population concerned) 1985, 12th November Beginning of the works 1986 Notification of the European Commission for failure in the transposition of the 1980 directive 1988 Operation of the project of treatment plant given to the regional ERPE 1988-1989 Victory in appeal of Group Action Eau against the commune of Verviers 1988 Opinion (Avis motivé) of the European Commission 1990, 5th july Condemnation of the European Court of Justice 1991 The SWDE gets the management of water distribution in Verviers 1991 Second notification of the European Commission 1992 Inauguration of the treatment plant
Geographic localisation : The intra-case concerns the town of Verviers in its entirety and a part of the municipality of Dison (water distribution network of Verviers). The problem appears in the late XIXth century and is well known since then. Until the end of the story, the north part of the town is supplied with water poisoned with lead.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 22 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Problem description : The conflict itself goes from the beginning of the 1980s and ends in 1992. The scope of the intra-case is low. G&S 2 (drinking water) and G&S 3 (industrial water) are concerned. The industrial use of water has never been disturbed or challenge in the present case.
The origin of the problem is lead poisoning. What is lead poisoning? L’intoxication chronique ou saturnisme peut être la conséquence de l’ingestion régulière de petites quantités de plomb avec l’eau de boisson. La sensibilité au plomb varie considérablement d’un individu à l’autre. Au début, aucun synptômes n’est vraiment caractéristique: inappétence, constipation, goût métallique, insomnie ou nervosité. Plus tard, apparaît un liséré gingival (gencives) de couleur gris foncé. Le symptôme le plus dramatique est la colique du plomb qui provient de spasmes intestinaux très intenses: douleurs dans l’abdomen. Elle est accompagnée fréquemment de maux de tête et de douleurs musculaires et articulaires. Plus tard, apparaissent les paralysies saturnines qui atteignent principalement le nerf radial. L’atteinte des éléments nerveux provoque une paralysie des extenseurs des doigts qui peut remonter au bras, à l’épaule et au thorax. Les nerfs atteints et les muscles qui en dépendent s’atrophient très rapidement. Les cas graves de saturnisme s’accompagnent de troubles cérébraux. Le traitement consiste à combattre les troubles et les paralysies et à évacuer le plomb qui s’est accumulé dans l’organisme. La première mesure consiste à supprimer les causes de l’intoxication.
How were the population contaminated? To understand the story, we must begin with the building of the Gileppe’s dam, achieved in 1875. An important wool industry is set in Verviers. It needs much water to clean up the wool. In summer, the industries know shortages with the lowest water levels. The population is supplied in water with local springs but faces also shortages.
Then a dam is build by the State, to constitute water reserves. The water is retained only to provide industry with water. The town of Verviers has, and still has, an exclusive right to withdraw water in the dam. It provides industries with cheap water. - The wool sector develops thanks to the acid water of the Fagnes that allow a good washing of the raw material - In summer there are water shortages - The dam is build by the State and the town obtains the rights on water. The State finances the dam and the town of Verviers the aqueduct. - Water withdrawals by the commune are free. Industry has a priority in the provision of water.
Then the population claims a right to get an access to that water. The town sets up progressively a distribution network, in lead. The price of water is low and the town manages the network. Water is not purified, before distribution. It comes from the dam, where water is pure. The problem is that water comes out of the Fagnes and is acid (low pH). The soft water corrodes (ronge) the pipes and particles of lead flow in the drinking water. A regular consumption of the water provokes lead poisoning. Everybody knows the problem. But people of Verviers keep thinking that their water is of the best quality. - Through time the symptoms of poisoning are more obvious. The faculty of medicine of Verviers has an interest in such research but has to abandon it after pressure from the industrialists - In the 1970s, the University of Liège conducts a study on blood. It proves the poisoning
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 23 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Heightening of the dam. During the works, Verviers is provided with water from the dam of Eupen - Growing needs and short capacity - In 1967, when the renewed dam is inaugurated, the wool industry has begun its decline
The fact is that industry is keen on having an acid water. The soft water cleans pipes and is really efficient in washing the wool. A treated water would loose those properties. That explains the position of refuse from the industry. The industry has a dominant position in the municipal council. Finally, in order to solve the opposition of the industry, a special pipe will separate gross industrial water from water going to the treatment plant.
- The decision to build the treatment plant. The initiative dates back from the end of the 1970s at the initiative of the minister of the Walloon Affairs. A national project of hydraulic works is launched in 1983 and takes the project in charge. - The service of the Dams makes the plans. It takes several years to attribute the contract. - Rivalry between the ministries of Public Works and Public Health about the leadership in the conduct of the works. The project is delayed. With the regionalisation it is finally given to the Walloon Region - Beginning of the works on 12th November 1985. Many delays - The treatment plant works since 1992 and has a capacity of 90 000 m³/year (current production of 30 000 m³/day)
In 1980 the European Communities adopt a directive about the quality of drinking water (directive 80/778 of 15.05.80) that limits the concentration of lead in drinking water. The directive is translated in Belgium in an execution decree of 27.04.1984 that specifies exceptions, including the case of Verviers where a treatment plant is under construction. A Belgian law, enacted in the 1970s, already mentions quality requirements for drinking water. A high concentration of lead is prohibited in drinking water.
The concentration in lead was not the only one problem with the water distributed in Verviers. It was also dirty water sometimes. In fact, at the entry of the network, only a large gate retained trees. When water in the lake was troubled, the drinking water was brown. People had to wash the suits two times. The baker walked out with buckets to get colourless pure water in order to make white bread. In any case, water needed to be treated in order to become drinking water.
Beginning of the conflict. Around 1981, a lady comes to a neighbour’s committee and asks to make an action against the commune. She wants the law about drinking water is applied in Verviers. On the 350 members of the committee only six families accept. They form the Groupe Action Eau. Among them people are poisoned with lead. The commune of Verviers refuses to move. The Group organises a collection. Neighbours give money, enough to pay a lawyer. The lawyers from Verviers refuse to defend the families. They all answer that they have already pleaded for the commune and that is not convenient. The lawyers come from Liège. The Group looses at the Court of First Instance in Verviers in 1983-84. They win in appeal in Liège in 1986-87.
The commune prepares to go in front of the Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation). The Group has not the means to follow. They make a deal. The commune reimburses the cost of justice, it swears to remedy to the situation and the Group declares to abandon any further pursuits.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 24 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
At the same period the European Court of Justice condemns Belgium the 5.07.1990 for default in the transposition of the directive 80/778. The Court denounces the exception made by Belgium with Verviers.
The commune has no financial means to build the necessary treatment plant. The victory of the Group Action Eau does not modify the situation of the 1/5 of the population that is still not provided with a safe tap water. No transitory measures are put in place - The town of Verviers fears a too important financial burden. It does not recognise the problem of lead-poisoning - The network is in lead and not properly maintained. Water losses are over 33%
During the works Verviers is provided in drinking water with the Vesdre’s dam in Eupen. Here water is treated since the 1950s. But only 80% of the population are provided with water from Eupen. 10'000 inhabitants (20%) continue to consume the non-treated water from the Gileppe’s dam. The project is hard to finance. There are delays in the achievement. In 1990 again 20% (1/5) of the population drinks non-treated water. This part of the population remains more than six years without drinking water. The excuse is the non technical feasibility of an alternative provision.
The treatment plant comes under work only after February 1992. In 1991, the town of Verviers sold its distribution network to the SWDE for EUR 8.5 mio (345 mio BEF). - The town managed the water distribution network - The water was sold to the SWDE because of the financial burden of works of renovation on the network - With the treatment plant, the town would have to buy water to the total production cost and not to the m³. - Prices rose with the SWDE. The water price is the more expensive of Wallonia (2.70 EUR/m³). The people of Verviers pay the water treatment costs
A new lettre de mise en demeure is addressed by the European Commission to Belgium in December 1991 that denounces the delays. The problem will finally be solved with the achievement of the water treatment plant.
Actors involved: The central actor is the municipality of Verviers, which is the owner of the water distribution network until 1991.
Only simple citizens of the commune compose the Groupe Action Eau. The local industry operates an important lobby against the plant, mainly towards the Municipal Council.
The European Commission pushes the case in the ECCJ.
The SWDE buys the distribution network at the end of the affair.
The Ministry of Public Works begins to build the treatment plant. The Ministry of Public Health replaces it.
The ERPE, the regional entity in charge of the water treatment, appears in 1980. It is the manager of the treatment plant.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 25 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Mechanism for problem solving: Here we face a case where the legislation in force is not applied locally. Local authorities involved in the management of water refuse to recognise the problem. The Central State enters the scene once a judgement is given (?), including a European condemnation. Even, no consideration is given to 1/5 of the local population. An obvious problem of poisoning needed more than fifteen years to be resolved.
Critical factors of success: - Judiciarisation of the problem. The judicial activity is sometimes determinant in implementing a legislation locally - Financial resources - Technical management of the problem - Direct interest of the actors
Influence of property rights and public policies: - Change in the actors that benefit of the disposition right on water. The former owner of the water distribution service blocks the solution in order both the avoid the financial burdens of the water production and denies the problem - The formal owner of water (i.e. the State has no responsibility on the quality of water) - No public participation/consultation - Interpolicy and multi-level coordinations - Local politics, but no policy (of water quality)
Concluding remarks: It is an historical case. The problem persists over time as we observe change in the relative weight of the actors and uses. The problem is managed technically (or even technocratically). The solutions are not carried on by the population. People are poorly informed of the quality of the water they drink and are not aware of the problems at stake. A small arena of experts solve the problem without giving justifications
3.2 Chronic flooding in the lower valley of the Vesdre (IC2)
In 1998, in Vaux-sous-Chèvremont, downstream of the Vesdre a major part is under water. Many people think that the flooding is due to a release of water from the dams of the Vesdre and the Gileppe. In fact the problem is only due to rainfalls. The event illustrates the fact that the management of flooding in the basin is assured by a series of local actors. Concertation went to circumscribe this central problem in the basin despite the lack of regulation. It was resolved on the good will of the actors.
Schedule: 1878 Inauguration of the dam of the Gileppe (Verviers) 1920-1921 Periods of drought 1967 Works on the heightening of the dam 1967, 28th December Law on the management of non-navigable rivers 1970 Identification of the zones of flood (DGRNE, unachieved) 1971 Inauguration of the renewed dam 1975-1976 Periods of drought 1980 Regionalisation
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 26 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
1985, 5th July Flood in the valley of the Magne 1985 Pressure of the communes to regulate the water releases (lâchers d’eau) 1985 Decision of the Service of the Dams to recalculate its filling graph 1989 Creation of the Association of the Communes of the Vesdre Basin (ACBV) 1993, December Floods in the valley of the Vesdre 1995, 28th January Floods in the valley of the Vesdre 1997 Floods in the valley of the Magne 1998, 13th-14th Sept. Floods in the valley of the Vesdre (Pepinster, Limbourg, Trooz and Chaudfontaine) 1998, 9th December The ACBV begins a river contract 2000, June Signature of the Convention on a river contract for the Vesdre 2001, February Enquiry on the 1998 floods by the river contract 2003, July End of the inventory and preparation of the contract 2006, July Assessment of the river contract
Geographic localisation: Vaux-sous-Chèvremont is a part of the commune of Chaudfontaine, located along the Vesdre, near the confluence of the Ourthe (sub-basin 569), at a low level, along water. The area is quite systematically under water when it rains a lot in the basin. In 1998, several places are under water: Pepinster, Limbourg, Trooz and Chaudfontaine.
Origin of the problem: For a long time, when rainfalls were too abundant, the manager of the dams was complained to let the water out for safety reasons: the dam was full. People and communes affected by the flooding complained. The problem of flooding was linked with the management of the dams.
In 1985 the communes put the pressure on the national Ministry of Public Works and negotiated. Now the manager of the dam is conscious of the problem that constitute releases of water for the municipalities located downstream.
In 1998, the problem is radically different. It rains a lot (110 litres/m²) downstream of the dams. The manager of the dams keeps in touch with the safety officer of the commune of Chaudfontaine. He releases no water. Local authorities in the basin decide to adapt the basin to such events in the future.
Difficult management of a dam. Droughts in summer and high or long rainfalls in winter must be anticipated. The graph for the filling in of the dam is calculated on a two year period because the dry periods generally goes over two years. With a draught, providing water from the dam during the draught in not a problem. The anxiety of the dam manager is about the year after. The recalculation of the graph in order to avoid the emergency water releases with important rainfall is not an easy task.
The dam of the Gileppe is used for the production of drinking water and the industry. Electricity production is secondary. Question of the minimum flows. The management of the minimum floods and the water releases is uneasy. There are no needs of minimum flows from the dam of the Gileppe due to a tributary downstream that feeds the stream enough. The minimum flows never led to a conflict, except the question of water release for the canoeists in the spawning of fish. A convention is signed between the MET, manager of the dam, the canoeists and the fishers. The convention should be included in the river contract.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 27 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Elements of crisis management. Care for the victims of the floods: management of social problems and payment of compensations. The Region grants loans to the victims and latter intervention of the Calamity Funds. Only a few housing are insured against water floods
Share in responsibility. The first liability goes to the rainfalls, according to the authorities. After that it remains to establish the fault of the manager: - Streaming: the farmer? communes that waterproofs the surface? - Output for the sewing system: the communes or the owner of the main sewers are insured against the risk. The discharge of an excessive volume of water is more frequent. - Overflow of the river. What kind of fault could we find from the manager of the stream. It is much difficult. It is rare to establish a fault in the management of water floods.
Opinions on measures to be taken. This reflects the positions of various local actors from the civil society: - It would be profitable to concentrate on fittings of the streams and on the aggravating factors (bed, banks, works, surface waterproofing, etc.) - Find the remedies against floods in a better land-use planning. Jean Fassote, Friends of the Earth: “il a toujours plu mais la situation va en s’empirant. Il faudra laisser la rivière déborder en certains endroits mais au lieu de ça, on la canalise, on la corsète et en fin de compte elle envahit les maisons” (22.03.2001). - Wise river management: occuper le moins possible le lit majeur, afin de les laisser déborder en cas de fortes pluies (FoE). “Mais à la place que voit-on, Des zones humides qui sont drainées, des remblais illégaux, des nouveaux lotissements en zone inondables” - Think about other types of installations (FoE): éviter la multiplication des surfaces imperméabilisées, l’extension des égoutages, la suppression des haies, bosquets et bandes boisées. Ces interventions accélèrent le débit des eaux et repoussent celle-ci vers l’aval. - F. Soete (IEW): on ne peut plus délivrer des permis de bâtir n’importe où et n’importe comment. Il propose de réduire les surfaces imperméabilisées, d’équiper les habitations d’une citerne d’eau de pluie et de préserver les haies et arbustes. - Françoise Godart (ULB-IGEAT): “Pour se prémunir des inondations, la solution ne consiste pas à élever des murs ou des digues de plus en plus haut pour contenir l’eau. Il faut envisager le problème plus globalement”.
Management of floods and zones liable to flooding. The prevention of floods still obey to a palliative logic. According to the law of 1967, it is necessary to bring water as quickly as possible to the sea. In the practice, the mentalities evolved. The management of water remains fragmented. Today the MET is more and more interested in the renaturation of the banks. However it has no competence on the fittings of the major bed. Zones liable to flooding are expected in the land-use plans but no designated. The commune have also a liability in floods as they deliver building authorisation in such areas.
Actors involved: - Communes of Chaudfontaine, Trooz, Limbourg and Pepinster - Intercommunale of the Basin of the Vesdre, Association des Communes du Bassin de la Vesdre (ACBV). It has the task to coordinate the environmental measures taken by the communes of the basin with the objective to tackle pollution in the water streams.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 28 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
- Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MET), i.e. the regionalised part of the former Ministry of Public Works. The dams belong to the Region and are managed by a service of the MET, the Service of the Dams. - Regional administration of the Environment, DGRNE-CENN, manager of the river Vesdre - Regional administration of land-use, the DGATLP for zones liable to flooding - Company of water transports (ERPE), formerly attached to the DGRNE and now belonging to the Walloon water company (SWDE)
Mechanism for problem solving: Solutions brought to the problem in two times: - Around 1985, the Service of the Dams (MET) decided in collaboration with the ERPE to revise the graph on water filling. Raw water demand was fulfilled with 65000m³/day rather than the 90000m³/day anticipated. In order to maintain such a supply all over the year, the dam had to be full in January-February at a time when the risk of flood is the more important. Then the managers took the risks of water shortages in case of the renewal of a drought year. The reduction of the security of supply allowed use to constitute a volume of 2mio m³ in order to provide an assistance in case of water floods. Since then no water flood in the basin has been aggravated by water releases. - Setting up of a working group on hydrology (30 people) in the river contract. In a second time, the origins of the floods change. In 1998, it rained downstream the dams and it did not avoid floods. During the flood, the dam released only 0.5m³/s. So a working group is set up to understand the causes of floods and to localised the particularly affected areas. All the local actors of (quantitative) water management meet together on a regular basis: the managers of the dams (MET), civil engineers for modelling (MET), hydrologists (University of Liège) and safety managers of the commune. In general, the remedies are conceived according to the floods of the past. As today the nature of rainfalls is changing, new solutions have to be imagined. The working group is setting up a map of the zones liable to flooding. It launched a survey on the victims in order to inventory the damages and the sensitive areas. Work is conducted according the idea that the risk of exceptional floods as the ones of 1998 will rise over time. In the future, the river contract could give some advice to the communes about building licences along the stream.
However the retained approach through the river contract has its limits. In fact, the problem of tougher rainfalls is not limited to the Vesdre basin but is widespread. But the local actors are glad to meet each others. Furthermore, the river contract is limited to informal and non- compulsory consultations. It works on the good will of the participants to present and assume their projects and responsibilities in front of the others. For instance, for the zones liable to flooding, the competency to regulate is managed by the regional administration of land-use planning. However, with a participation to a river contract, the communes are more conscious of their liability.
Critical success factors: - Good will and mutual respect between actors who know each others. We find the same persons in the recalculation of the graph and the constitution of the Hydraulic Group of the Vesdre river contract. - Small community of local actors, aware of the problems met. They are technicians and do not wait until a legislation is adopted to act. Use to work out of particular legal requirements. - The coordination between uses is only due to close contacts between the managers. - The population is little implicated
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 29 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Influence of property rights and public policies: - In the past, and still today, we notice the lack of a preventive logic, particularly with land- use planning, about water floods. There are failures in the intervention of the Region and the social consequences of the inaction are not assumed by the Region, as the Calamity Funds is managed by the federal level. - Regulation is made through property rights. The owners of the dam and of water act, at their own expenses et out of the frame of any public policy. There is little or no action on the landowners in order to modify their behaviour, e.g. limits to the buildings in zones liable to flooding (building license).
Concluding remarks: - Technical management of the problem - The improvements are not supported by a population that is not aware of problems and issues at stake - A close arena of experts solve the problems - The river contract is not an instance of decision-making. Its may exert lobbying at the local and regional levels, by cannot go further. They are no legislative consequences to its decisions - The Hydraulic Group has its limits in its inability to implement its decisions. It needs a relay of the regional administration. Many participants are representatives of the Ration, but it is not sufficient to convinces the competent ministers to act. - The river contract has not the financial capacity. It is an experiment that works at medium term (2-6 years)
3.3 Remaining river pollution problems (IC3)
The low quality level of the Vesdre creates rivalries. Pollution prejudices the development of tourism the only economic reconversion expected for this industrialised area. Link between tourism and water quality, two subjects of priority in the Vesdre river contract.
Schedule: 1857 Verviers knows an economic expansion phase 1888 Commission for the study and purification of the river Vesdre (also in 1921 and 1937). No further developments. 1898 Creation of a protection society of the valley of the Vesdre 1955 Commission for the study and purification of the Vesdre. Call in favour of a collection system (collecteur) 1960 Call of tenders and adjudication of the construction works for the main sewer (achieved in 1971) 1977 Competency of purification given to the intercommunales. Inter-Cours d’Eau is competent for the Vesdre basin, but replaced in 1981 by the AIDE 1980 Regionalisation 1983 Creation of the environmental association Vesdre Vive 1984 First planning of the purification plant of Wegnez 1989 Birth of the association of the communes of the Vesdre Basin (ACBV) 1993 Regional recognition of the river contracts
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 30 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
1994 Start of the financing under the objective 2 of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 1996 Opening of a centre for nature and tourism in Nessonvaux 1998 Entry in operation of the purification plant of Membach 2000 Adoption of the development plan Meuse-Vesdre 2000, October First meeting of the Vesdre river contract. Preparation of the contract 2000, December First meeting of the working group water quality in the Vesdre river contract 2001 Entry into operation of the purification plant of Wegnez 2003 Signature of the Vesdre river contract
Geographic localisation: The whole basin, particularly along the Vesdre between Eupen and Liège. The place concerned is more precisely the valley of the river Vesdre. On both sides of the valley a green tourism is well developed.
But in the valley, abandoned industrial building cut the landscape in many places. The banks are dirty, the river is polluted. No tourist development is expectable in such conditions.
Origin of the problem: The problem is due to a strong remaining pollution, to a smart decline of traditional industries and the necessity to conduct an active economic policy (activity and employment) for the restructuring of the area. - The Vesdre has been a dead river for a long time. The pollution dates back to the 19th century: wool industry in Verviers and metallurgy downstream. Pollution was initially due to the wool industry and later to the paper industry. The quarries are also major polluters. - Three main sewers build along the banks of the river date back to the 1960s. The purification plants that are build nowadays have been planned for a long time.
The European Regional Development Fund allocates money following the qualification of the area to the objective 2 (regions in economic decline) of the EU Regional Funds. Whatever the amount of money available to realise investments, nothing is possible without cleaning the river. - The Meuse-Vesdre industrial area groups 33 communes. Its development was build on metallurgy and this mono-activity of low added-value still dominates. Among the 1997- 1999 the objectives of economic development figure out the Route du Feu, an itinerary that guide tourists through the industrial past of the basin. Tourism substitutes to industry. The sector has an average growth 4,5% per year since 1993. The rise in the hosting potential of the region with an improvement of the environment are complementary lines of action in the Meuse-Vesdre program. The other lines of action remains industrial. - All the communes of the Vesdre basin are not eligible, but only the surroundings of Liège, Verviers, Dison and Pepinster. - Since 1994, the ERDF allowed the realisations of the purification plant of Wegnez and of the tourist centre of the wool. Direct aids to companies and works of infrastructure. - Follow up of the objective 2. The Walloon government expect the creation of 1350 jobs and 87 businesses, with an envelop of 158mio EUR from the ERDF.
Actions of purification - Purification plants of Membach (24600 IE) since 1998, Wegnez (170000 IE) since 2001 et Goffontaine (expected in 2004). At the end of the 1970, nothing in done yet. Only a few
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 31 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
purification plant of small capacity are built are the heads of the basin. The financial means of the intercommunales are insufficient before 1997. - The main sewers are progressively fixed up - Fish is now back in the basin.
Actors involved: - European Union. Both water/environment and structural funds - DG Economy-employment of the Walloon Region - DGRNE - Communes - AIDE - Industries - Province of Liège - The tourist sector.
Mechanism for problem solving: The Vesdre river contract decided by the communes of the basin stress four priorities of which the tourist development is one of them. A specific working group meets regularly (once in a month). An inventory will be realised during one year, which will constitute a basis to negotiate priorities between the actions to be taken. - Interesting natural areas - Tourism is already well developed in the South part of the basin: Spa, Theux, Stavelot, Malmédy - Good geographic situation at the crossroad of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. - Expected nature-friendly tourist development. - Intention to localise the water uses according to the quality of water in particular places.
Initiatives concerning tourism. Development of thermal cures in a competitive environment: Carolus thermen in Aachen (Germany) and Thermae 2000 in Valkenbourg (The Netherlands). The commune of Spa invests in a new thermal infrastructure. The thermal centre of Chaudfontaine reopens in 2001.
Critical success factors: - External financial support and a development based on the past thermal activities of the basin - An environmental awareness from a well structured group of local (municipal) actors (Vesdre Vive and ACBV after) - The Vesdre river contract does not guide the tourist development but ought to give advice on the respect of the environment. - Bad example of other Walloon valleys that developed without respecting nature
Influence of property rights and public policies: Regulation by the public policies: economic development and water purification
Concluding remarks: The river contract completes the framework only marginally with a preoccupation of no negative environmental impact of the development of tourism
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 32 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
3.4 Relationship between mineral water production and the Environment in the tributary basin of the Wayai (IC4)
The first intra-case is about a rivalry that arose between the company Spa Monopole, a mineral water producer and the fishers’ federations. The fishers declared that Spa Monopole was responsible of a series of industrial pollution that occur in the late 1980s, one of which is an accidental pollution of the Wayai with caustic soda
Schedule: 1889 First protection perimeter around the Spa waters 1921 Creation of Spa Monopole 1937 Adoption of the current protection perimeter 1970s Building of a purification plant by Spa Monopole 1974 Signature of the current concession for the exploitation Spa waters (1974-2039) 1980s Accidental pollution by Spa Monopole et demonstrations of fishers 1984 Constitution a scientific team to the fishers’ federation 1991 Decision of the fishers’ federation to set up a river contract 1994, March Conclusion of the convention for a river contract 1995 Renewal of the purification plant of Spa Monopole 1997 End of the inventory of the river contract 1998, 16th February Signature of the river contract 2001 Assessment and conclusion of the river contract 2003-2004 Entry in operation of the purification plant of Goffontaine 2003 Signature of the Vesdre river contract
Geographic localisation : The Wayai is a little river, a tributary of the Hoëgne, located in the south part of the basin. The Wayai comes from the fagnes and has naturally acid water on an important part of its course. The Fagnes concentrate the major part of tourist activities in the basin.
Origin of the problem: The pollution of the river with caustic soda is the most important conflict between the two main parties. During the affair the actors exchange violent arguments via the press. Finally the fisher’s federations propose to Spa Monopole to make a river contract in 1991. • The river contract of Hoëgne-Wayai (CRHW) is initiated following a pollution problem due to an emission of caustic sodium in the river Wayai. A conflict opposes a fishers’ federation to a mineral water producer, Spa Monopole SA. This river contract is at least a forum of mutual understanding for the two parties. Spa Monopole is very sensitive to its public image of nature protector. • The river Wayai endures a series of other cases of pollution: acid punctually discharged by a former enterprise, direct emissions of domestic wastewater due to deficient sewers and domestic diffuse pollution • Summary of the conflicts in the case: Spa Monopole/ fishers about discharges of bicarbonate Spa Monopole/ pêcheurs about the accidental pollution with caustic sodium Other direct discharges
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 33 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Actors involved: - Spa Monopole. La source des Fagnes aurait déjà été fréquentée par les Romains. C’est au XVIe siècle que la ville devient le rendez-vous des têtes couronnées et des artistes. L’exploitation industrielle des sources remonte à 1918 et Spa Monopole est créée en 1921. Spa devient une entreprise moderne à partir de 1924 et ses produits se diversifient. La société Spadel SA se structure à partir de 1947, comprenant Spa, ainsi que les sources de Chevron (Bru et Spontin). Spa Monopole, leader sur le marché belge de l’eau minérale, réalise 4 bio BEF de chiffre d’affaire en 1997. Elle représente 650 emplois à Spa sur une population de 10 000 habitants. Spa Monopole signs contracts with the local and regional public authorities. In the protection perimeter, the administration of Nature and Forests (DNF) manages the communal forests of Spa according to the need to preserve the quality of Spa waters. Spa Monopole has a concession with the commune of Spa to exploit the Spa waters. The concession represents one tier of the municipal budget. The concession resolved an initial conflict between local water distribution and the production of mineral water. Nowadays, in Spa, tap water comes from the dam of Eupen through the SWDE. The property structure of the land inside the protection perimeter is the following: the State (the Region since 1980), with a use right for the commune, the commune and some parcels to Spa Monopole. The protection perimeter is extended in 2001 according to a new legislation. - Fishers’ federations. The Fédération des Sociétés de Pêche de l’Est et du Sud de la Belgique (FSPESB) and the Fédération sportive des Pêcheurs francophones de Belgique (FSPFB) are two associations. The FSPFB groups 40000 fishers. Their objectives are the preservation of the fishers’ interests and to combat pollution. The FSPESB has a scientific team of three people since 1984. - DGRNE - Province - Municipalities: Malmédy, Stavelot, Spa, Jalhay, Theux et Pepinster - The intercommunale of purification, AIDE. Un collecteur vient de Spa et se jette dans la Vesdre en aval de Pepinster. A sa sortie, la STEP de Goffontaine est d’ores et déjà programmée. En Hoëgne-Wayai, les collecteurs sont rainurés. Un examen endoscopique de ceux-ci a été réalisé par l’AIDE en 1995. La partie inférieure des tuyaux est sciée sur toute la longueur du trajet. Le chemisage sur 13 km est terminé en janvier 2001. On a fait une étude pour connaître l’origine de cette fissure (attaque de l’eau), mais l’on a pas trouvé.
Mechanism for problem solving: Spa Monopole agrees the proposition of the fishers’ federations. The river contract is a non- binding concertation mechanism on a voluntary basis that was developing in the Walloon Region. Communes are convinced and other parties joined the scene, e.g. environmentalists, the Region and intercommunales. • Preparation of the river contract is initiated in 1991 and the contract is signed in 1994. The most difficult task is to convince the communes. • The fisher’s federation (FSPESB) has worked on the Wayai since 1984. It chooses the river contract in order to preserve the ecological status of the river.
The convention, a preparatory document before the opening of the negotiation, is signed in March 1994. Spa Monopole plays then a leading role in the animation of the contract. A specific river contract of the sub-basin, anterior to the Vesdre river contract, is signed the 16.02.98 and ends in February 2001. The two parties solved their conflict with the use to work together.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 34 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
• 1994-1996: inventory of interesting sites and problems, information, operations for increasing public awareness, operations of cleaning of the banks and organisation of working groups to assess the necessary works (fitting, sewers) • Since 1997, commitment of the public and private parties, instauration of a management committee and executions of the promises • Identification of the problems of domestic pollution: bas condition of the main sewer in the Wayai and inventory of direct discharges without treatment
Assessment. The global quality of the stream improves, particularly with an upgrading of the purification plant of Spa and an important renovation of the sewers present in the riverbed. • After six years, the CRHW river contracts comes to an end in March 2001. • The assessment is mitigated. Numerous studies have been conducted, works have been realised, but it is too early to measures the benefits on the water quality. • D. Herman, coordinator of the contract : “Nous pouvons évaluer l’impact d’une pollution accidentelle sur n’importe quel ruisseau du bassin. Le contrat de rivière n’a guère contribué à améliorer la qualité des eaux. La mise en place des plans communaux généraux d’égoutage est laborieuse. Un point positif: la fin des travaux de rénovation du collecteur d’égouts de Spa-Goffontaine et l’entrée en service d ela STEP de Goffontaine à la fin 2002. Un regret: le manque de motivation des communes”. • Now the area is under the competence of the Vesdre river contract which integrates the whole basin. • La déception porte sur l’amélioration de la qualité des eaux par pose d’égouttage et par épuration. En 7 ans, le contrat de rivière n’a pas permis de faire beaucoup évoluer la situation, excepté une prise de conscience accrue des problèmes de pollution organique domestique.
Critical success factors: - A solution is found to a local conflict. The actors do everything to forget their former quarrels. Understanding has been created with seven years of a concrete collaboration. - A very active fishers’ federation that initiates the project. - A company that produces a mineral water of a high quality which has very identifiable discharges and a very high concern for the protection of the environment. However the basin faces numerous and isolated pollution sources. - Enlargement of a conflict between fishers and mineral water producers to the more global problem the water quality in the whole tributary basin - The scientific team of the fishers’ federation collect the proofs of the pollution and propose solutions - Strong identity inside the tributary basin of the Hoëgne-Wayai
Influence of property rights and public policies: The river contract mobilises a series of public policies already in place. The initiatives are not always successful. Spa Monopole solves its problem of groundwater protection by securing its property rights, mainly disposition rights. However it builds its action on the existing legislation in order to limit the costs of its intervention.
Concluding remarks: Spa Monopole goes out of a conflict and improves its public image with the Hoëgne-Wayai river contract. However the river contract is useless for it when it concerns the protection of
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 35 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM groundwater. The company uses alternative ways, mainly property rights to secure the quality of its water provision.
3.5 Concluding remarks
- The managers of the dams play a leading role in the regulation of several goods & services - The absence of legislation doesn’t mean that a use is not present - The judicial activity is sometimes determinant in implementing a legislation locally - Some regulation can be determined and implemented between local actors without the enacting of legal document of any source
VI. Regime development at local scale (1980-2001)
We repeat briefly the regime development in Wallonia over the studied period and determine the local owners of property rights on the water resource and the local institutional arrangements.
6.1 Regime changes in the Walloon Region
Between 1971 and 1980, water policy encounters quasi no evolution. In 1980, the regional environmental competence is explicitly recognised in the regionalisation process. Each region has to set up its own administration to manage these questions. Flanders implements the law of 1971 on the protection of surface water against pollution and completes the framework. Wallonia prefers to restart with a new legislation, more suitable to the existing actors in place, i.e. the intercommunales. The public domain on water, and particularly navigable rivers, is transferred from the Central State to the regions.
6.1.1 Development of a complex regime (1980-1995)
Concerning PR, the Walloon Region focuses on a regulation of use rights since 1984 and on a limitation of disposition rights on groundwater. Instead of authorising the withdrawals, the law compels the pumper (‘exploitant’) to be the owner of the land.
The policy design is modified in 1985 for the protection of surface water and in 1990 for the protection of ‘potential drinking water’ (ground- and surface water). Water discharges are taxed. The framework is completed in 1993 with non-binding river contracts that encompass all water uses at a local level. Kayaking is regulated in 1996.
An important differentiation of water uses occurs, with a particular focus on living environment, drinking water, recreation and absorption. Modifications in use rights affect a high number of uses. The implementation field is wide and measures are general. The scope is wide and the coherence is medium. The regime is a complex policy-focused regime.
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 36 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
6.1.2 Attempts towards an integrated regime (1995-onwards)
No changes in PR are observed except the revision of the code on urban planning in 1997. The Region keeps a favour for the regulation of use rights. In 1999, the Walloon Region adopts two decrees, one on environmental permission, the other on the water cycle and the SPGE. The last creates a public company that co-ordinates the distribution water cycle. However the link between this aspect and the questions of quantity, minimum flows and nature protection is not made. The Region currently prepares the implementation measures of the European water framework directive.
During the period the uses and actors in Wallonia remain equivalent of those of the preceding period. But elements of co-ordination are added. The scope is wide and the coherence is high but the competence is too fragmented. The regime is policy-driven and in the way of integration.
6.1.3 Changes in property rights (1980-2001)
The tendency in the Walloon region in PR changes is not to modify formal ownership rights but the regulate use rights. Concerning formal property rights, the main change is the empowerment of the Region about the public domain in 1980. Another change is the requirement that the appropriator of potential drinking water (be it surface or groundwater) must be the formal owner of the land where water is withdrawn. This concerns a perimeter of 10 m around the well (puits).
About disposition rights, the decree of 1990 requires a prior authorisation to withdraw potential drinking water. This is applied for every groundwater withdrawals but also for surface water withdrawals if they occur in specified areas.
The main changes in PR concern use rights. It becomes prohibited to establish holiday houses along riverbanks in zones of natural foreseeable risk. It is also prohibited to damage riverbeds and to disturb fauna and flora in wetland areas.
The goods and services concerned are : living environment, drinking water, recreation and protection. The range of PR changes is somehow limited. We identified who were the owners of the water resource in Belgium, according our typology (see Annex).
6.1.4 Changes in the policy design (1980-2001)
Important changes in the policy design occur within the two regimes identified. During the first period, the laws on the protection of surface and potential drinking water of 1985 and 1990 set up the framework of intervention. Protection zones10 for streams and aquifers must
10 Classement des cours d’eau et caractère piscicole. La législation wallonne sur la qualité des eaux de surface établit des critères de classement des cours d’eau, selon leur importance écologique ou leur fonction économique. Pas de zones de protection, ni de zones d’amont, d’eaux de baignade (two places on the Hoëgne are anyway used as such). Pas d’eaux piscicoles (AGW du 15/12/94 fixant les normes générales d'immission des eaux piscicoles (MB du 16/05/95)). Classement en zones vulnérables: aucune.
Table : Protection of water courses in the Vesdre basin (AERW du 25/10/90 désignant des zones de protection des eaux de surface (MB du 24/05/91)):
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 37 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM be delimited by an execution decree and then protected by the operator of the wells. Every kind of withdrawals and discharges are subject to authorisation and taxation. Plans are set up and subsidies mobilised to build purification plants. Intercommunales of purification are empowered to do the task with public money.
At the same time, legislation is enacted in the direction of an integrated management of water. The G&S living environment is recognised. First, a 1993 regional minister’s memorandum defines the structure of a river contract and modalities to set it up. A 1994 decree requires an environmental planning to protect all environmental topics, included a specific Plan wallon de l’Eau for the water resource. The plan is not achieved yet. The same year a specific decree regulates the navigation, especially kayaking, in Walloon streams.
The second period, i.e. after 1995, is marked with two regional decrees enacted in 1999. The decree on the environmental permission integrates the management of hazardous activities with environmental protection and spatial planning. A single permission will allow the building of the plant and its exploitation in line with local particularities and the environmental requirements. The legislation should be enforced in 2001. The second decree, about the water cycle, proposes to restructure the anthropic water sector (production, distribution and purification of distribution water) in order to finance the measures taken in the former pieces of legislation of 1985 and 1990. The Société publique de Gestion de l’Eau (SPGE) will manage public subsidies and distribute it among the actors of the sector. The former structures build around the SWDE and the intercommunales of distribution and purification remain in place.
The goods & services affected by changes in the policy design over the two periods (1980- 2001) are : living environment, drinking water, production, absorption, support, recreation and protection. Range of G&S affected by changes in the policy design are numerous. However changes affecting the activities of production, absorption and support are not relayed by changes in PR. For these G&S, also delimited by PR, the last change in PR occurred in 1967. Since then the Region took the competence in the water field, but they are not able to modify the civil code. It is only the Federal State that can do it, even if it is not concerned by the resource. So the Walloon Region can operate only marginal changes in PR and has recourse to more PD changes, the easiest to enact, than PR changes.
6.2 Identification of actors in the Vesdre basin
Formerly we have identified water users in the basin. Now we try to determine who are the owners of property rights on the resource, according to the specific water uses. We also
Zones d'eaux potabilisables Vesdre et ses affluents, de leurs sources jusqu'au captage du barrage d'Eupen (contrôle cat. A2) à Eupen Gileppe (bassin de la Vesdre) et ses affluents, de leurs sources jusqu'au captage du barrage de la Gileppe (contrôle cat. A2) à Baelen Zones d’eaux naturelles La Helle (Hill) (bassin de la Vesdre) et ses affluents, de leurs sources jusqu'au (eau dont les caractéristiques particulières sont dues à confluent avec la Vesdre, à Eupen des causes naturelles; c’est le cas des eaux acides et La Gileppe (bassin de la Vesdre) et ses affluents, de leurs sources jusqu'au lac de peu minéralisées qui prennent naissance dans les retenue du barrage de la Gileppe non compris, à Jalhay et Baelen tourbières (Fagnes)) La Vesdre et ses affluents, de leurs sources jusqu’au lac de retenue du barrage d’Eupen, non compris, à Raeren Classement en zones sensibles La Vesdre et ses affluents, de leurs sources jusqu’au captage du barrage d’Eupen (AGW 15.10.1998 (et AM 24.05.1995, anc. AGW La Gileppe et ses affluents, de leurs sources jusqu’au captage du barrage de la 08.12.1994) et AGW 25.02.1999 (et AM 24.05.1995, Gileppe anc. AGW 20.03.1995): La Vesdre, du barrage d’Eupen à sa confluence avec l’Ourthe
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 38 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM present the competence of the different public authorities that stress the local institutional arrangement of the present water regime in Wallonia.
6.2.1 Allocation of property rights between local actors
When we look at the allocation on property rights on the resource at local scale , we observe a wide variety of situations as already identified in the screening (see table 10).
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 39 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Table 10: Allocation of property rights between users, 2001
G&S Formal ownership Disposition rights Use rights rights
Owners Appropriators Producers/ Final distributors of G&S consumers
1 Living environment Public domain or Self-limitation of Fauna and flora private properties disposition rights by the Natural reserves owned owners (either public or by the Region (public) or private) by environmental associations (private) 2 Drinking Surface water Region ERPE (SWDE) SWDE Households water CILE (interbasin) Industries Farmers Groundwater No property SWDE SWDE Households Régies communales Régies communales Industries Farmers 3 Production Industrial water Region Region (potential drinking Industries Industries (excl. distribution No property water) (authorization of Private works water) (groundwater) Industry discharges) Drainage, spreading No property Farmers (indirect use) Farmers Farmers
Mineral water Chaudfontaine Chaudfontaine Monopole Chaudfontaine Consumers Monopole? Monopole
Municipality of Spa Spa Monopole Spa Monopole Consumers Walloon Region Spa Monopole Infrastructure for Chaudfontaine Chaudfontaine monopole Municipal swimming- Tourists tourism Monopole? pool of Chaudfontaine 4 Energy Dams Region MET Electrabel (surplus) ERPE ERPE (SWDE) MET Others (surplus) Micro-production Region (presumption) Private companies Electrabel (surplus) Private plants ('biefs') Others (surplus)
5 Transport & Direct discharges No property Region Industries Industries absorption (authorization of Private works discharges) Public discharges No property AIDE AIDE Households, (sewers) industries Individual discharges No property Region Households Households (surface or groundwater) 6 Support Gravel extraction No property Landowner Gralex (private Industries producer) Private works Fishing Res communes Region on NR and Riparian landowners on NNR Fishers (holding a permit) 7 Recreation Landscape No property Sport No property Region (authorization) Sport federation Sportsmen Thermal springs Municipalities? Spa Monopole SPADEL Customers Chaudfontaine Monopole Château d'Hauster
8 Medical Idem uses 9 Protection Region Region Region Dams Riparians Storm reservoir Zones liable to flooding Region Region Region Dams Storm reservoir 10 Strategic Region Region Region Dams Water consumers reserves Storm reservoir
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 40 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
6.2.2 Institutional arrangement at the local scale
Looking at regime developments we try to set the institutional arrangement as it is set on the spot. We identified several actors of implementation, mostly public administration, if not public actors (see table 11). We find out that the same actors operate in different fields are competent for different G&S. We also observe that the community of actors is rather small and integrated. Actors know each others and even have personal ties. They are often natives of the area and are sensible to the protection of their region.
Table 11: Institutional arrangement in the Vesdre river basin (See annex 1)
Table 12: Evolution of the competences of the institutional actors (1980-2001)
Echelon Service Service Compétences Compétences d'administration de m en oe en 2000 de m en oe en 1990
11 Communes CCCE
Aménagement du Certificats d'urbanisme Permis de bâtir territoire Permis d'urbanisme et permis de Plans communaux lotir d'aménagement Plans communaux Plans particuliers d'aménagement d'aménagement (réglementaire) Communes décentralisées : Schéma de structure communal (réflexion LT), règlement communal d'urbanisme et CCAT 12 CCAT Consultation de la population sur questions locales
Plans communaux Programme d'action sur la biodiversité par les acteurs concernés de développement Inventaire du patrimoine naturel et paysager communal de la nature 13 CLDR Plan communal de développement rural Mise en place d'une agence de développement local à Theux AT, tourisme, etc. Gestion eau Gestion des cours d'eau de cat. Gestion des cours d'eau de cat. 3 3 Autorisation de déversement des Autorisation de déversement des eaux domestiques dans égouts eaux domestiques dans égouts publics publics Epuration et égouttage Epuration et égouttage Mesures d'urgence en cas de pollution Spa Convention pour exploitation des Convention pour exploitation des eaux de Spa. eaux de Spa.
(2001) Délivrance des permis d'environnement (permis d'exploitation et permis d'urbanisme, autorisations de prise d'eau et de rejet) de clat. 1, 2 et 3 sous la supervision des fonctionnaires technique (DGRNE) et délégué (DGATLP) (recours devant gvt régional)
11 Commission communale consultative d’environnement 12 Commission consultative d’aménagement du territoire 13 Commission locale de développement durable
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 41 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Province de Siège à l'AIDE RGPT, étab. classe 1 et recours Liège Service provincial d'information classe 2 sur l'Environnement Prises d'eau souterraine RGPT, étab. classe 1 et recours Cours d'eau 2e cat. et classe 2 réglementation CENN Prises d'eau souterraine Cours d'eau 2e cat. et réglementation CENN Régime forestier et vente de bois Recours en matière d'autorisation de plantation Remembrement rural 14 MET DG Voies Division des Sécurité des barrages Sécurité des barrages hydrauliques barrages Plans d'urgence Plans d'urgence Entretien Entretien Gestion des réserves d'eau Gestion des réserves d'eau Prévention des innondations et Prévention des innondations et soutien des étiages soutien des étiages Gestion de la centrale électrique Gestion de la centrale électrique de la Gileppe de la Gileppe Division des Etudes et travaux relatifs à la Etudes et travaux relatifs à la Programmes, de la production d'eau potable à partir production d'eau potable à partir Réglementation et des barrages des barrages des Etudes 15 DG Voies SEtHy Etude du régime hydrologique Etude du régime hydrologique des hydrauliques des fleuves et rivières fleuves et rivières Prévisions des crues en temps Prévisions des crues en temps réel réel 16 DGRNE Division de l'eau Direction des Cours Gestion et réseau limnimétrique Gestion et réseau limnimétrique d'Eau non des CENN 1ère cat. des CENN 1ère cat. navigables Conseil technique aux Conseil technique aux agriculteurs agriculteurs pour le drainage pour le drainage Avis sur les aménagements de berges Direction des Eaux Fixation des objectifs de qualité Objectifs de qualité de Surface Classement des cours d'eau Autorisations de déversement (zones de protection ou zones sensiles) Gestion et contrôle des autorisations de déversement Modèle PEGASE Gestion des réseaux de mesure de la qualité des eaux à l'immission Supervision des contrats de rivière Gestion des traités internationaux pour la Meuse et l'Escaut Réalisation des plans de gestion et du Plan d'Action Direction de la Taxe Perception de la taxe sur le déversement des eaux usées et de la Redevance industrielles Perception de la redevance sur les prises d'eau potabilisables et de la contribution sur les prises d'eau souterraines auters que potabilisables Agrément des vidangeurs de fosses sceptiques
14 Ministère wallon de l’Equipement et des Transports 15 Service d’Etudes hydrologiques 16 Direction générale des ressources naturelles et de l’environnement du ministère de la Région wallonne
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 42 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
Direction des Eaux Autorisations de captage et Contrôle de l'eau alimentaire souterraines contrôle (investissements, normes de Relévés piézométriques et des qualité, prix) débits pompés Indemnisation des dégâts liés aux Contrôle de la qualité des pompage nappes phréatiques Détermination des zones de protection Contrôle de l'eau alimentaire (investissements, normes de qualité, prix) Indemnisation des dégâts liés aux pompages
Direction de Investissements (collecteurs Investissements (collecteurs l'Epuration des Eaux stations d'épuration et de stations d'épuration et de usées et de la pompage) pompage) Distribution d'Eau Subsides à l'exploitation des Subsides à l'exploitation des ouvrages d'épuration ouvrages d'épuration Subsides aux travaux de Subsides aux travaux de démergement démergement Approbation des PCGE Approbation des PCGE
Direction de la Suivi, préservation et amélioration de la qualité des sols Protection des Sols Valorisation des déchets organiques, dont les boues d'épuration Gestion parcellaire (cartographie informatique)
Direction de Exploitation commerciale Exploitation commerciale Production et de d'ouvrages de production et d'ouvrages de production et Grands Transports d'adduction d'eau, y c. des d'adduction d'eau, y c. des (ERPE) centrales hydro-électriques centrales hydro-électriques associées associées
Service extérieur, centre de Liège
Division de la Nature et des Forêts Gestion écologique du milieu Conservation de la nature naturel Code forestier Conservation de la nature Parcs naturels Code forestier Chasse et pêche fluviale Parcs naturels Chasse et pêche fluviale
Service extérieur, centre de Liège
Service extérieur, centre de Malmédy
Division des Préventions et des Application de la législation Application de la législation Autorisations spécifique aux établissements spécifique aux établissements dangereux, insalubres ou dangereux, insalubres ou incommodes incommodes y c. les carrières y c. les carrières
Service extérieur, centre de Liège
Division de la Police de l'Environnement Contrôle de toutes les pollutions Mesures d'urgence en cas de dans le domaine de l'eau pollution Recherche et poursuite des délits Intervention d'urgence en cas de pollution (SOS Pollutions)
Service extérieur, centre de Liège
Office régional wallon des déchets Gestion des produits de curage et des boues d'épuration ?
DG Agriculture Mesures agri-environnementales Développement rural Modalité d'épandage des gadoues
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 43 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS Case Study Report 1: Vesdre river basin BELGIUM
17 DGATLP Division de l'Aménagement et de Aménagement régional (SDER) Plans de secteur l'urbanisme Plans de secteur Politique foncière Politique foncière CWATUP CWATUP révisé Tutelle des outils locaux d'AT Recours pour les permis d'urbanisme Tutelle des autorisations délivrées par les communes
Direction Fonctionnaire délégué (permis d'urbanisme) extérieure Certificat de patrimoine Avis 18 19 SWDE , CILE , Perception de la redevance pour rejets domestiques Etc. Protection de leurs captages 20 AIDE Assainissement et épuration Assainissement et épuration (sous (sous contrat avec la SPGE) contrat avec la SPGE) SPGE Financement du cycle anthropique de l'eau Réalisation des travaux prioritaires d'égouttage en collaboration avec les communes
17 Direction générale de l’aménagement du territoire, du logement et du patrimoine du ministère de la Région wallonne 18 Société wallonne des Eaux 19 Compagnie intercommunale liégeoise des Eaux 20 Association intercommunal pour le démergement et l’épuration dans la région liégeoise
D. AUBIN - F. VARONE - EUWARENESS 44 10/03/03 - 13:03 EUWARENESS is a research project on European Water Regimes and the Notion of a Sustainable Status. Research institutes from six European countries (Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland) have been cooperating in this two year project (2000-2002). The project is supported by the European Commission under the 5th Framework Programme, and co-ordinated by the University of Twente in the Netherlands.
The EUWARENESS-project has focused on sustainable use of water resources by means of integrated water management. It aims to contribute to the implemen- tation of the EU Water Framework Directive. A better understanding is needed of the dynamic relationships between various conflicting uses of water resources, the regimes under which these uses of water resources are managed, and conditions generating regime shifts towards sustainability. The EUWARENESS-project studied the long term evolution of 6 national regimes, and also - more in depth - the specific regime transitions of 12 water basins across Europe during the last decades. Important issues are the participation of users, redistribution of property rights among users, the coherence between water rights and water policies.
More information: www.euwareness.nl
The EUWARENESS project is joined by: University of Twente (project co-ordinator) - The Netherlands Université Catholique de Louvain - Belgium Université Francois Rabelais de Tours - France Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona - Spain Istituto per la Ricerca Sociale - Italy Institut de Hautes Études en Administration Publique - Switzerland