RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Handling the risk of drinking water pollution Reaction of RIWA on the “GIMPE- Poster” contributed on the 2nd International Symposium

Meeting RIWA-GIMPE on June 20, 2006

Supply of drinking water in the

Degreeof connection: 99,9% Number of drinking water companies

250 220 211 197 199 200 132 150 140 110 102 100 68 53 36 50 26 1 2 2 6 13 0 1853 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 123 Liter/capita*day Handling the risk of drinking water 2 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 1 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

RIWA-Sections Meuse Scheldt

Vitens cap.: 5 Million

Evides cap.: 2,5 Million

VMW cap.: 2,5 Million Handling the risk of drinking water 3 pollution

Water abstraction NL

22% 60% 18%

Groundwater Meuse Rhine Handling the risk of drinking water 4 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 2 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Handling the risk of drinking water 5 pollution

RIWA –Meuse Members

• (Brussels) BIMW • (Prov. South-Holland) • () AWW DZH • (Flanders) TMVW • (Prov. Limburg) WML • (Flanders) VMW • (Prov. Brabant) BW • (Europoort) Evides • (Zealand) Evides • (Stockage) WBB

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Risk of drinking water pollution 3 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Three reservoirs with a storage capacity of 5 months

Handling the risk of drinking water 7 pollution

Present situation • The river-basin Meuse: – River-basin 33,000 km2 – 950 km rain river – prognoses abstractions: stabile – 1.2 million inhabitants along the river dispose untreated sewage water • Meuse-water as source for drinking water: – abstractions 450 million m3 per year – drinking water consumers: > 6 million – industrial complexes in the Delta: 25 % – role of surface water in the future

Handling the risk of drinking water 8 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 4 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Drinking water source for six million people (B, NL) Run-off Meuse 1976 120 m3/sec 2003 125 m3/sec (annual average) RIWA –Meuse : 450 Mln. m3/annum (long term)

14 m3/sec = 5% MQ!!

Handling the risk of drinking water 9 pollution

Surface Area of the Meuse Basin

26% 22% F 12% B(W) 5% B(FL) 35% D NL

Handling the risk of drinking water 10 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 5 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Population in the Meuse basin

8% 25% F 39% B(W) 5% B(FL) 23% D NL

Populationdensity(capita per km2)

F 75 B(W) 180 H and Bli(ngFL the r)is k2 o60f drinkingD wa t5er 00 NL 460 11 pollution

Waste water sanitation Meuse

100% file recording 2005 15 15 International Meuse Commission 80% 14 2005 22 55 65

60% 89 94 32

40% collection with advanced treatment 66 26 10 Biological treatment

20% collected but no treatment 31 4 19

15 10 No sewarage system 5 4 6 0% F B (W) B (FL) NL D total Handling the risk of drinkingM ewuasete bras in 12 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 6 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Water discharge of the Meuse

Lith 1999-2004

3 Long term mea) n value m /s 2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0 1.1.99 1.1.00 H1and.1.li01ng the ris1k .o1f. 02drinking w1at.e1r. 03 1.1.04 1.1.0513 pollution

EU-Framework Water Directive

• Art. 7, sub 3: Member states must protect the surface water in such a manner, that for the production of drinking water required, the purification process is simplified and the extent is reduced. • 75/440/EEC concerning quality required of surface water intended for the abstraction of drinking water: limit 0,1 μg/l • To reach the ‘sound’ situation 2015 = enormous task

Handling the risk of drinking water 14 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 7 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Main tasks of RIWA –Meuse

• coordinated promotion towards national governments / other bodies • the function as a source for drinking water higher (priority) on the agenda • influence in policy making – availability of quality measurements – involvement in evaluation of action programs – influence in follow up phases, etc.

Handling the risk of drinking water 15 pollution

The Meuse River A shared future – How? (re: Poster GIMPE) • Downstream countries have applied such intensive cattle breeding that their aquifer has become unsuitable for the production of drinking water • Downstream countries should not sue for extra demands on common household upstream in order to reach better river water quality • Walloon enterprises should be safeguarded from effects of low water discharge and thus high concentrations of pollution.

Handling the risk of drinking water 16 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 8 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Aquifer has become unsuitable for the production of drinking water

• Don't do yourself what you accuses the other • Drinking water companies put strong effort in stopping pollution from agriculture and cattle breeding • EC is not intending to defunct the EC- directive on Nitrate

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No extra demands on common household to reach better river water quality • 75/440/EEC reflects the responsibility of states to warrant quality of river water as a source for drinking water production – Water is an essential necessity of life: drinking water + irrigation water – Dependent on surface water after exhaustion aquifer (drying out) • EU WFD - on top of that – focuses on a sound ecological and chemical condition of the river basin water • Upstream can not withdraw from responsibility of problems downstream (à store effluent from production processes and wait for high river flow to decrease concentrations)

Handling the risk of drinking water 18 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 9 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

No extra demands on common household to reach better river water quality - 2

• Drinking water companies invest huge amounts in storage basins, alternative sources en purification techniques in order to safeguard the liable provision of drinking water at all times! • DWC’ies search for (deeper) aquifer and apply for concessions. Much higher cost! • “The polluter pays” – principle versus “Too much is too much”.

Handling the risk of drinking water 19 pollution

Walloon enterprises should be safeguarded from effects of low water discharge • Low water is the mirror image of High water: In barrages and retention area’s have been furnished in order to store water volumes for gradual discharge during low water and to nourish the aquifer • Water sharing of different river basins meets high technical and financial problems with respect to feasibility and - beyond - are multilateral/political very controversial. European support fails.

Handling the risk of drinking water 20 pollution

Risk of drinking water pollution 10 RIWA -GIMPE/GISPE June 20th,l 2006

Walloon enterprises should be safeguarded from effects of low water discharge - 2

• Low water discharge is a mutual problem, so also for drinking water enterprises! • DWC’ies face the annual repeating exceeding of the drinking water standards during low water • DWC’ies remain responsible for the adequate supply of liable and tasty drinking water, at all times.

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Thank you

Risk of drinking water pollution 11