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 Meuse Symposium
Meeting RIWA-GIMPE on June 20, 2006
Supply of drinking water in the Netherlands
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 Rhine 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) • (Antwerp) 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
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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.
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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 Germany 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.
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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