Water Quality ManagementWater Quality Management

in The Netherlands in The Netherlands

Bron: Rijkswaterstaat

•Nationaal Water Plan, dec. 2009

•Beheer and Ontwikkelingsplan voor de Rijkswateren 2010-2015 (ontwerp), dec. 2008

Integrated water managementIntegrated water management

Netherlands – Water LandsNetherlands – Water Lands

Water: the historical source of prosperity and welfare. Water: the historical source of prosperity and welfare.

Enough and clean water: essential for sustained Enough and clean water: essential for sustained economic development economic development

Protection against high waters: a condition for Protection against high waters: a condition for development.development.

Water systems have been optimised for multiple uses Water systems have been optimised for multiple uses and functions: and functions: flood protection, agriculture, navigation, recreation, flood protection, agriculture, navigation, recreation, fisheries.fisheries.

Flood protection

Navigation

Agriculture

Recreation and bathing waterRecreation and bathing water

Other uses

- Fisheries

- Drinking Water

- Energy

- Nature

Competition for spaceCompetition for space

Netherlands – Water LandsNetherlands – Water Lands

Holistic and Holistic and integrated integrated approach to water approach to water managementmanagement

Organization of water managementOrganization of water management

State Water State Water Authority (RWS)Authority (RWS)6 main water 6 main water

systems systems

43 Regional 43 Regional Water BoardsWater Boards

Planning for water managementPlanning for water management

River Basin Management Plans

River Basin Management Plans

River Basin Management Plans

Programmes WB21, WFD, N2000

National Mobility Plan

Legal requirements

National Water Plan

Management and Development Plan

State Waters (RWS)

National priorities

European context

Rivers and Canals

Ijsselmeer region

North Sea & Wadden

South-west Delta

National Water Plan National Water Plan Basic principles in water managementBasic principles in water management Move with natural processes Move with natural processes

where possiblewhere possible Resist where necessaryResist where necessary Use opportunities for Use opportunities for

economic and social economic and social developmentdevelopment

Relation spatial development Relation spatial development & water management & water management

International context International context

National water Plan National water Plan Primary focusPrimary focus

SafetySafety Quantity Quantity Quality (ecology)Quality (ecology)

Other uses Other uses water supply, water supply,

energy, navigation, energy, navigation, industry, recreation, industry, recreation, ….….

dominant water assignments

Vision

Water QualityWater Quality

Historic developmentHistoric development

2020thth century: increased pollution due to population growth century: increased pollution due to population growth and industrial activities and industrial activities

Since 1950’es: tackling hot spots, polluter pays principle, Since 1950’es: tackling hot spots, polluter pays principle, BAT, many WWTPs BAT, many WWTPs

Flood protection works, river training, etc. disturbed natural Flood protection works, river training, etc. disturbed natural water network, ecological processes and self-cleaning water network, ecological processes and self-cleaning potential potential

In 1980’s: spatial aspects addressed. In 1980’s: spatial aspects addressed.

Water QualityWater Quality

International context International context

Cross-border coordinationCross-border coordination

1987: Rhine Action programme impetus to 1987: Rhine Action programme impetus to improvement of water quality of the Rhine Riverimprovement of water quality of the Rhine River

2000: Water Framework Directive: 2000: Water Framework Directive: – Groundwater and surface water quality managementGroundwater and surface water quality management– River basin management plans River basin management plans

Management and Development Plan Management and Development Plan 2010- 20152010- 2015

3 policy guides3 policy guides– Water Management 21Water Management 21stst century (WB21) century (WB21) – Water Framework Directive (WFD) Water Framework Directive (WFD) – Natura 2000 (N2000) Natura 2000 (N2000)

Themes Themes – Enough water Enough water WB21WB21

– Clean WaterClean Water WFD WFD

– Living spaceLiving space WFD & N2000WFD & N2000

– ConnectionsConnections WFD & N2000WFD & N2000

Water quality monitoringWater quality monitoringChemical quality, 2008 Ecological quality, 2008

Water QualityWater Quality

Many improvements (being) made. Many improvements (being) made. Expect to substantially meet chemical Expect to substantially meet chemical

quality norms by 2015 quality norms by 2015 Ecological norms will remain an issue Ecological norms will remain an issue Mainly due to: Mainly due to:

– Dispersed sources of pollutionDispersed sources of pollution– Legacies from the past Legacies from the past – Barriers in water networkBarriers in water network

Measures for Measures for the WFDthe WFD

Living area

Cleaner water

Connections

Progress 2015

State waters

Water QualityWater Quality

Focus on ecology:Focus on ecology:

Creating space for healthy ecologic Creating space for healthy ecologic environmentenvironment

Remove barriersRemove barriers Create connections Create connections

Synergy with other water management Synergy with other water management measures (e.g. room for rivers) measures (e.g. room for rivers)

Fish passagesFish passages

River Basin Management PlansRiver Basin Management Plans

4 basins 4 basins

South-west DeltaSouth-west Delta North Sea and WaddenNorth Sea and Wadden IJsselmeer regionIJsselmeer region Rivers and Canals Rivers and Canals

River Basin Management PlansRiver Basin Management Plans

Jointly prepared with regional water boardsJointly prepared with regional water boards

Plans and measures have been approved at the Plans and measures have been approved at the level of each participating agencylevel of each participating agency

Pragmatic in planning of implementation Pragmatic in planning of implementation

Will be monitored and reviewed every 6 years (2015)Will be monitored and reviewed every 6 years (2015)

Summary

• Planning in water sector has strong spatial and economic relations

• Water quality in broader context of water management

• Focus on restoration and protection of healthy ecology